This little-known feature helps preserve the health of your battery

To preserve the health of their batterysmartphone users can now count on the direct charge. Spotted at Google last summer, this system, already available for a long time on certain Android devices, avoids repetitive charge-discharge cycles which contribute to battery degradation. A convenient solution for users who often use their phone while charging it.

How does direct charging work and why use it?

Direct charging allows your smartphone to receive power directly from an external source, without going through the battery. In other words, the battery remains inactive: it is neither recharged nor used to power the phone. Unlike traditional systems, where the battery continues to undergo charge cycles even when plugged in, this technology significantly reduces wear and tear.

One of the main benefits is the reduction in heat generated. Indeed, charging and intensive use of a smartphone, such as during gaming sessions, produce significant heat. This can accelerate battery degradation and cause “thermal throttling”, where the phone’s performance is deliberately reduced to prevent overheating. With direct charging, these issues are alleviated, helping to preserve both battery life and overall performance.

Read: the myth of the universal USB-C charger lived, we tested, we cried

Additionally, this technology eliminates micro-charging cycles, those fluctuations between 99% and 100% that occur when the device remains plugged in after a full charge. In the long term, these micro-cycles contribute to the decrease in battery capacity. By keeping the battery inactive during extended charging sessions, direct charging limits this slow but damaging form of wear and tear.

Which smartphones support direct charging and how to activate it?

Although this charging optimization is a recent feature on Google Pixel devices, it has been available for longer from some manufacturers. Here are some of the brands that support this technology, as well as how to activate it:

• Google : Pixel smartphones, from the Pixel 9 series up to Pixel 6, support charging optimization since Google’s December update (Feature Drop). To enable this feature, make sure your device is up to date, then go to “ Settings > Battery > Charging Optimization “. Activate the option “ Limit to 80% » to prevent your phone from exceeding this threshold, even when plugged in. Note that this does not work at 100% charge or other intermediate levels.

• Samsung : Many recent models, such as those in the Galaxy A35 to Galaxy S24 range, support this feature. You can activate it via the “ Game Launcher ”, in the “ Game Booster » by selecting the option “ Pause USB Power Delivery “. However, this feature only applies during your gaming sessions. Once the application is closed, the phone will resume normal charging. The feature is also available on older models, like the Galaxy S22.
• ASUS : ASUS gaming phones were among the first to offer charging optimization. This option can be found in the application “ Game Genie ”, in the “ Battery maintenance ”, where you can also set a custom load limit between 80% and 100%. Recent models like the Zenfone 11 Ultra and ROG Phone 9 Pro still have this feature.
• Sony : Xperia smartphones offer this functionality under the name “ Heat Suppression (HS) and Power Control » accessible in the application « Game Enhancer “. However, it must be activated individually for each application.

Other brands and devices, particularly those aimed at mobile gamers, offer similar options such as Black Shark, REDMAGIC or IQOO smartphones. We hope to see this important technology gain popularity and find it on more and more Android devices in the future.

???? To not miss any news from 01net, follow us on Google News and WhatsApp.

Source :

Android Authority