Do Phone Batteries Wear Out if They Are Connected to Power All the Time?

[eric_s07]

First of all, this is a question related to phones rather than PCs, so I'm sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong section. I have an iPod Touch 5th generation that's been setting in a drawer for a long time. I'm trying to re-purpose it as a flip clock which I intend to place on my nightstand and the device is going to be connected 24/7 to the power. I was wondering if the iPod Touch's battery will be unusable if I ever want to use it again for listening to music or anything else. I know it's an old device, but those are really expensive and hard to get where I live. It'd be a shame to break it without realizing it. Or maybe I'm exaggerating and nothing will happen. Thanks in advance!

[StaffCorporal]

Yeah it is not great for a litium-ion battery to be fully charged all the time. It is definitely not as bad as draining it a tiny amount and then recharging it fully or draining it fully and recharging. But over time it will degrade.

[dizmo]

Depends largely on the battery's management. If the device isn't smart enough to realize it's connected to AC power, and as soon as it hits 100% it cuts the charge, then only starts charging it once it hits say 99%, eventually yes, the battery will die. They have a finite number of charge cycles before they really start to degrade, so for every 100 times it has to charge that 1%, you're losing a charge cycle.

 

If you're worried about it, I'd just shell out the money for a proper clock.

[bmx6454]

not nearly as badly as regular use, but yeah, it will wear out.

[eric_s07]

Thanks everyone! Man you guys are both helpful and quick! I love video game and usually when I post a question in other forums, I get a response hours or even days later

[LinusTech]

I've had a couple phones due prematurely from this. 

 

They were a couple generations old tho (galaxy s6 variants iirc) so maybe it's improved now *shrug*

[GenericFanboy]

Had a note 8 that i would let charge for quite a while after it hit a 100%, all i can say is that damn phone only lasts 1 hour. Not sure if possible with the ipod touch, but maybe take the battery out and let the phone run on the power from your cable. 

[The_Ellimist]

I know the Logitech G903 (not a phone but stay with me) actually stipulates in its manual (for powerplay) not to expect full charge as it lets it drain then charge then drain based on Logitechs own best practice for maintaining the battery. They also say that that it will not charge to 100%. So it depends on the device as to its batter maintenance plan I guess.

[SkilledRebuilds]

My Galaxy Note 9 with a 4000Mah is fully charged and my counter is now 3752Mah fully charged. (AIDA64 BATTERY)

[Snowarch]

i had a galaxy note 3 die on me from letting it get really low then charging. so that can kill phone-like devices early too if done often.