WHAT do you take with you when you leave your house? Chances are, the first things that come to most people's minds are "phone, wallet and keys", but especially the phone.
With the thought of a dead phone enough to induce panic in some, power banks or portable batteries have also become essential items in our lives.
However, there are situations where you need as quick a charge as possible to keep your phone alive, and a popular tip suggests that putting your phone in flight mode can help it charge more efficiently.
Does this simple hack really work?
Verdict:
TRUE
Flight mode, also known as airplane mode, is a setting on mobile devices that disables all wireless communication features, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections.
Originally introduced to prevent interference with aircraft systems, it must be activated on flights to remove potential signal disruptions to the plane's communication and navigation apparatus.
However, when activated, airplane mode can also save device battery by preventing the phone from constantly searching for wireless networks and limiting other background activity and connectivity functions, which are typically significant drains on battery life.
In theory, by turning off these features while the phone is charging, more of the incoming charge can be allocated to the battery itself. In other words, the phone can focus more energy on replenishing the battery rather than other processes, resulting in a more efficient charge.
However, the actual difference in charging speed varies depending on several factors. In areas with weak network signals, the impact of airplane mode on charging may be more obvious as the phone would be expending more energy actively trying to establish and maintain connections.
When the phone is not already expending a lot of battery on background processes, on the other hand, the impact of airplane mode will be negligible. As such, this hack is unfortunately not a miraculous solution that dramatically alters charging speeds.
Those looking to maximise their charging efficiency are better off using a fast or high-capacity charger, closing unused apps, keeping the phone in a cool environment and, most importantly, not using the phone while it is charging.
That being said, such strategies can be combined with the airplane mode hack if one is really desperate for the most efficient charge in an emergency.
References:
1. https://electronics.
2. https://www.cnet.com/tech/
