Your iPhone like any wireless device relies on batteries. Unfortunately, due to the chemical process that allows the lithium and electrolyte coated layers inside the battery to store and discharge electrons, the more reactions that take place, the less reactive they are. In short, it is dying every time you use a battery cycle.

     One battery cycle could be compared to a 1 gallon jug, the first time you pour out one gallon (no matter if you pour out a little then fill it back up, or pour the whole thing out at once.) If the amount that you've poured out totals to 1 gallon, you have just lost 1 cycle and your jug just got smaller and holds a little less than 1 gallon. Its been estimated that every cycle you use, you loose about 1/2 - 1 minute of normal usage.

     Most of you will get anywhere from 200-500 cycles out of a 3g iPhone battery. If the iPhone had an easily replaceable battery this wouldn't be a big issue, but remember back when you first held an iPhone? Remember tugging on the back cover trying to get it to somehow slide off? Well it didn't, and it has been designed, in such a manner, that almost every major component needs to come out of the phone before it can be replaced. In the case of the original 2g (edge) iPhone the battery is soldered (welded) to the circuit board.

Tips on longer iPhone battery life:

For those of you who have a new iPhone an wish to keep it around as long as possible, here are a few suggestions.

1. Use your precious battery cycles sparingly, turn off or turn down any power hungry features when they are not in use (WIFI, Bluetooth, Screen Brightness).

2. Use it in normal operating conditions, temperatures too high or too low will rapidly cause degradation. Leaving it in your car uncovered is always a bad idea.

3. Water is any electronic device's Grim Reaper. Even if its in its gaseous state (humidity), H2O can cause metal contact points on the circuit board to oxidate and corrode, shorting out components. Other than making a bridge to simply drain and kill the battery, this can also kill major components in the phone. If water makes its way into the battery it can (and does) neutralize the required chemical reactions. If thats not enough horror, we've seen water damaged phones get hot enough to catch fire.

4. Typically you shouldn't see much difference whether you use it a little, then charge a little, or completely discharge the battery before you recharge it (As required by the older NiCad batteries). In our experience the best method is to use it and charge it as needed throughout the day. Then about once every 3-4 weeks you should completely discharge the battery before charging it again. This apparently resets the power management chip on the battery, making sure its in sync with the amount of charge it takes in and the amount of power that is used.

     Now for the shameless plug. For those of you who heavily use your iPhone, or have one older than the magical 1 year  mark, there is a good chance that you are experiencing degraded battery life spans. If this is the case let us replace your battery ($50), or if you are comfortable with doing it yourself, order the parts from our parts store ($20).

Good luck,

Aaron Price

Co Founder

Gadget Grave