How to Detect a Damaged Phone Battery: Symptoms, Tests, and Safety Measures

Understanding the signs of a damaged phone battery is crucial for maintaining both functionality and safety. While a damaged battery may appear fine on the surface, there are clear symptoms and tests you can perform to ensure your phone is safe to use. In this article, we'll discuss how to identify if a phone's battery is damaged and what actions to take.

Signs of a Damaged Battery

The symptoms of a damaged battery can be subtle but important. A damaged battery may heat up during charging or emit a chemical odor. Perhaps most concerning, a damaged battery can lose its charge quickly or even explode, posing a significant safety hazard.

Physical Signs of Compression or Bulge

One of the most obvious signs is physical damage such as compression or bulging. This can be caused by internal damage, overcharging, or stress from the phone's case. If your phone exhibits physical deformation, it’s important to address the issue immediately.

Chemical Odors and Heating During Charging

A damaged battery may produce a chemical odor or heat up when charging, especially when temperatures drop below freezing. This is a significant safety risk and should not be ignored.

Lack of Charge Retention

Another clear indicator of a damaged battery is a loss of charge retention. A properly functioning battery can hold its charge even after a full charge cycle. If your battery drains quickly or does not retain its charge, it may be time to investigate further.

Explosion Risk

Finding any sign of bulging, swelling, or damage to the casing can indicate an immediate risk of explosion. Continued use of a damaged battery can be extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. It’s advisable to seek professional help to ensure the safety of both your device and your person.

Testing Battery Health

To determine the health of your battery, you can perform several tests. These tests are designed to measure the actual capacity of your battery, which can help you decide whether it needs to be replaced.

Testing with AccuBattery and AIDA64 Apps

One effective method is to use third-party apps like AccuBattery and AIDA64. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to perform these tests:

Install AccuBattery and AIDA64 apps: Make sure you give them all the necessary permissions.

Keep AccuBattery open: Ensure the app remains open, even in the background.

Allow the phone to die: Take note of the battery’s status in the last 4 charges before it shuts down.

Charge the phone: Recharge the device, and as soon as the charge appears onscreen, power on the phone.

Open AccuBattery: Allow the app to remain in the background if needed.

Charge beyond 100%: Allow your phone to charge beyond the point where it claims to be 100% charged.

Use AccuBattery: Open AccuBattery and record the full milliamp (mAh) charge from a low battery state to a full charge.

Open AIDA64: The app should show the full battery capacity. Although rumors suggest AIDA64 rates the remaining capacity, it’s beneficial to verify through this step.

Repeat the process: Kill the phone again and repeat the charging and testing process. This will provide a more accurate measurement.

Calculate battery capacity: Divide the full charging capacity by the charge percentage and multiply by 100 to get the real battery capacity.

End of Life (EOL) Damage: A battery is considered damaged if it’s under 77% of rated capacity. If it’s under 84%, consider replacing it.

Conclusion and Safety Measures

Regularly checking battery health, handling the device with care, and using genuine charging accessories can help extend battery life. If you notice any of these signs, especially physical damage like swelling or leakage, it’s crucial to stop using the device immediately. Continued use of a damaged battery may pose a safety hazard. In such cases, consult a qualified technician or the manufacturer for advice on battery replacement or repair.

By understanding the symptoms and performing regular checks, you can keep your device safe and functioning optimally. Ignoring these signs can lead to dangerous situations, so always prioritize your safety and the longevity of your device.