I'm officially obsessed with my battery's 'health score' in Android 16

Battery health information on Android 16 is among my new favorite features. It's new to native Android phones, but OEM devices already have it.

It made me wonder why it took so long to become widespread. It's existed on Apple devices since iOS 11.3 in 2018. It's even available for older devices like the iPhone 6.

However, the feature has many uses. Just having the context alone makes replacements worth it instead of having to guess. I check it enough to miss it if it wasn't there. Here's why.

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By  Faith Leroux

I'm afraid of a bad battery

It can supercharge or ruin my experience

Early battery degradation is my top cause of a poor phone experience. The first Infinix phone I ever used was the Hot 6 with a 4,000mAh capacity.

But constant draining and overheating made it unusable after some months. I eventually shied away from the brand because its products didn't meet my usage demands.

Now I'm back in its ecosystem, and the jump to a 6,500mAh cell backed by a liquid and fan cooling system feels life-changing. The drop from my Hot 6's 100% rated battery to 80% health would have left it at 3,200mAh.

My calculations are based on taking the original mAh rating and multiplying it by the health percentage. On my GT 50 Pro, it's a 1,300mAh drop that makes it 5,200mAh. It still holds more charge than most Samsung flagships start with.

Hence, I'd want to know what's causing any dramatic decline in the big battery size within 12 months. Most proper lithium-ion cells retain 90% of their original capacity after the first year.

Unless I were planning to resell the device, I would use the information to track habits accelerating the wear rather than rushing to a service center. Go to Settings > Battery & Power Saving > Battery Health & Charging > Battery Health to see your phone's score.

I've found a way to plug in without burning juice

My battery's tools work hard to maintain its health score

I'd say my worst phone habit is using it while it's powering up. In a day, I spend up to three hours with it plugged in.

The combination of charge and discharge currents is more thermally damaging than either process alone.

Now that I understand batteries better, I pay closer attention to anything that raises the temperature. Reducing my screen time and app activity is something I still struggle with.

Luckily, each phone upgrade has introduced tools that help me realistically manage my usage. The GT 50 Pro is my first with bypass charging.

The feature reroutes power from the charger directly to hardware components. That way, the battery won't cycle continuously, and there won't be concentrated hotspots around the motherboard.

Coupled with the HydroFlow cooling system and MagCharge accessory, there's less electrical stress.

Liquids in my phone absorb and spread energy across a larger surface area. The fan then draws energy from the chassis as it builds and spreads it into the air.

Without these capabilities on my previous Realme 12+, temperatures sometimes exceeded 40°C within 30 minutes of gaming. I occasionally had to disconnect the charger and let the phone cool down.

Thankfully, the battery life is good. I put my phone through countless charge cycles for two years and didn't see a drastic change in screen-on time.

I checked the battery health with the Ampere app, and my device had reached 84%. It would've been nice to verify it natively.

I predict my phone's lifespan with verified standards

There are fewer repair surprises ahead of me

I've not had a battery replacement in years. My preference is to buy a new device instead of doing a swap. It's mostly because my phones make it to three years or reach software support limits. By then, the battery might not be the only thing showing its age.

I'd rather avoid unexpected costs and also repair traps. Some technicians profit from user ignorance. Checking my phone's Battery Health is one way I'm reminded of my consumer rights.

It's harder for anyone to blame design flaws on my usage or push for unnecessary repairs.

I owe part of my exposure to the European Union. Under Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670, which started applying in June 2025, phone makers must prove that their batteries can survive at least 800 full charge cycles while still holding at least 80% of their original capacity.

Sadly, EU laws don't apply to buying tech in my region. Official manufacturer support in Nigeria is thin at best, and only a handful of notable brands maintain any meaningful local presence. Even Apple does not have a single authorized service center.

It's why the market thrives on refurbished devices and grey imports. The battery, among other specs, can be whatever the seller decides to write on the box.

At the same time, EU regulations have spotlighted brands that are serious about the market to meet their standards globally. It's more about cutting expenses from running separate firmware pipelines than prioritizing customer experience, but I'll take it.

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Any manufacturer willing to meet the standards, which are demanding, can deliver a phone built to a higher bar in my region.

Before I make any orders, I check the EU's EPREL online registry first. I enter the phone's model name, and see its verified cycle rating, how many hours the battery lasts per charge, the drop resistance class, repair score, and IP rating.

My GT 50 Pro is confirmed for 1,000 cycles and 51 hours 43 minutes of battery endurance per charge.

I have about 650 cycles remaining before it hits 80% of its original capacity. I don't expect it to drop to 88% after 300 cycles. Otherwise, there's a problem.

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By  Tyler Lacoma

Keep cool with Android

I plan to keep my phone for its full five years of security updates, or at least until its three years of major Android upgrades are done.

Although it's primarily a budget gaming phone, I also use it as my mini workstation and movie theater when I don't feel like using my laptop.

There is only so much its engineering can do to preserve it. It's why I'm intentional about how and when I charge or use it.

I avoid fast charging when the cell is already warm. Otherwise, I'll speed up chemical aging inside it. I also perform life-saving battery settings, such as enabling dark mode and disabling adaptive brightness with the always-on display.