The battery is one of the most important elements of any mobile device without which it simply will not work.
For many users, the principles of working lithium-ion batteries still remain covered with a curtain of secrets. And so much that they would quite satisfy the answer in the style of "Terrible in Magic Crystal".
To understand the basic principles of mobile batteries at all, not necessarily study the fundamental chemistry for several years. But if you want to approach the purchase of a smartphone as soon as possible, it will not be superfluous to understand at least in basic terminology.
What is mah and why the letter "A" is the title?
Mach designation really looks unusual. The letter "A" is written with the title because according to the international system of "Ampnos" is always indicated by the title "A". The term mah is a reduction from the milliamme aver. This unit of electrical charge measurement is used to determine the battery capacity. Moreover, machines are used when working with mobile batteries. If we talk about larger batteries (for example, automotive), then there is a term "amper hour" or "Ah", 1 Ah = 1000 mAh.
MAH unit is calculated by multiplying the battery life to the ampere of the charge current. In fact, everything is not so difficult, as it seems. For example, if you have a battery, but you do not know its container, then all you need to do is to connect it to the consumer charge in 1000 mAh and see how long it will work. If the battery is discharged in an hour, then its capacity is 1000 mAh, if after 7.5 hours, then you are a battery with a capacity of 7,500 mAh.
Of course, in practice, things are not so smooth and in reality, the discharge rate will depend not only on the device, but also from the user. Do not forget about resource-proof applications that can faster than others to spend the battery charge. Therefore, the Mach parameter gives a good idea of how long the battery will last an average. However, this indicator says far from the whole story. That is why before buying a smartphone, you should read the reviews and check that other users write.
The battery life is inversely in proportion to how much you will be disappointed with your new smartphone or tablet.“Downs too fast” - this complaint can be seen in the comments and reviews of almost all modern mobile devices. If you are looking for a good phone that you can use safely during the day, be sure to pay attention to its battery capacity, which is measured in mAh.
Can the battery be replaced?
Ten years ago, an old battery could be easily replaced with a new one. But today it is much more difficult to find an Android device with a replaceable battery. Moreover, almost all manufacturers of mobile devices make them unrecoverable.
The main problem is the so-called "arms race". Lithium-ion batteries began to actively spread in the early nineties. Since then, thanks to technological progress, their maximum possible capacity has tripled. Impressive, isn't it? In terms of dimensions, at the moment the size of a modern lithium-ion battery is only a third of its older brother from the nineties.
Another problem is that the processors continue to continuously increase performance. First of all, by increasing the number of basic elements (transistors). Since the nineties, their number has grown 100 times.
This means that a modern smartphone can freely use virtual reality technologies and play complex 3D graphics on a gorgeous screen, while still running on a battery from the nineties. Processor power is so far ahead of the capabilities of batteries that manufacturers have to seriously think about how to fit a battery inside the case that would be enough for at least a day of active use. In addition, consumers want the thinnest possible devices, and a huge battery only increases the size of the smartphone.
Put yourself in the place of the manufacturer. To make the battery removable, it must be placed in a special bulky case so that any user can handle it safely. All this does not extend the battery life of the device, but simply wastes precious free space. But it is the dimensions of smartphones that are of paramount importance. That is why manufacturers prefer to make them non-removable.
Will the situation change in the future?
I would like to believe that over time the situation will change dramatically. Technologies do not stand still, almost every day the data transfer speed, processor performance, photo and video quality are increasing. Smartphones can now record high-definition video and run complex resource-intensive applications. But when it comes to progress in the field of lithium-ion batteries, everything is not so simple.
Some researchers are trying to find alternative materials that could completely replace lithium-ion batteries, while others are trying to find other ways to solve the problem, which could greatly reduce the size of the batteries.
For example, Li-imide batteries that use an electrolyte that prevents the formation of hydrofluoric acid are being actively studied. This increases the overall battery life, generates much less heat, and most importantly, reduces battery swelling.
That's right, over the course of its life, the charging capacity of any battery decreases. In addition, manufacturers are forced to create special cavities inside their devices so that in the future the battery can fill this free space.
As we mentioned earlier, the dimensions of mobile devices are critical today. Therefore, if you know how to make a battery that will not grow so much over time, then precious millimeters can be used to increase battery capacity, and hence the battery life of the device.
Therefore, apparently, the situation is unlikely to change in the near future. The only exception is a sharp technological leap. If you don't let your smartphone out of your hands, then perhaps you should abandon the thin flagship and look for a bulkier device with a large battery capacity.
Possible solutions to the problem
Although the physical size of the battery is still very limited for the reasons described above, you can still extend the battery life a little. Unfortunately, we cannot advise you to switch to a smartphone with a removable battery, because these days they are practically no longer produced, and you can find only a couple of decent models on the mobile device market.
Alternatively, you can purchase a smartphone or tablet that supports fast charging technology. Almost all modern Android devices have it, and this applies not only to flagships, but also to relatively budget devices.
Of course, this will not solve the problem with battery life, but you will agree that it is much easier to quickly recharge a smartphone with a small battery and immediately return to work than to spend long hours recharging a powerful battery.
You can also carry a portable charger with you. Then you can always “revive” a dead smartphone or tablet if there are no other power sources nearby.
