If your phone’s battery is struggling to last the day, it might be time for a battery health check. This can also help when you’re buying a used smartphone. iPhones have had the battery health feature for a while, and, Android is finally catching up.
Android 14 has new BatteryManager APIs to keep a tab of your phone’s battery health, cycle count, charging status, manufacture date, and more. Unfortunately, you can’t check the battery health and other details in settings yet. For that, you’ll need to use a third-party app and grant ADB (Android Debug Bridge) permissions.
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Check Battery Health Using aBattery on Android 14
Below, I’ve used the aBattery app and Shizuku to check my Pixel 8 Pro’s battery health. So before you begin, you can download and install both apps on your Android 14 running phone.
Download: aBattery app
Download: Shizuku
Let’s look at the steps:
Step 1: Turn On Developer Options
On your phone, head to Settings > About device and tap the Build number seven times. You’ll see a ‘You are now a developer’ message. After that, close the settings.
Step 2: Set Up Shizuku app
1. Open the Shizuku app. Tap on Pairing > Notification Options.
2. Turn on the toggle for All Shizuku notifications. Then, return to Shizuku and tap Developer Options.
3. In Developer options, choose Wireless Debugging. Toggle on Use wireless debugging and tap Allow.
4. Next, tap Pair device with pairing code. Shizuku will automatically pop up – enter the pairing code shown on your screen.
5. Head back to Shizuku and tap Start.
Step 3: View Battery Health in aBattery app
Open the aBattery app on your Android phone. Tap on Maximum Capacity and then tap Allow all the time when prompted. You will see your phone’s current battery health (maximum charge holding capacity). For example, my Pixel 8 Pro shows a maximum capacity of 99%. That means, it can hold up to 99% of its original charge capacity.
Alternatively, You Can Use Batt app on Android 14
Batt is another app that shows battery health and status information on devices running Android 14. Like aBattery, you’ll need to enable developer options and set up Shizuku app as we did above. Get the app and install it on your phone.
Download: Batt
Here’s how to use it: Open Batt app, tap Let’s Go > tap Allow all the time to grant Shizuku access. You will see your phone’s current battery health alongside charge cycles, manufacturing date, and first usage date.
Unfortunately, neither aBattery nor Batt works on Samsung Galaxy phones due to compatibility issues with One UI. Also, the accuracy may vary across devices – these apps only report what the operating system tells them, which further depends on data reported by specific components on your phone.
Don’t Have Android 14? Check Battery Health Using AccuBattery
AccuBattery app uses its custom algorithm to estimate your battery health. It learns the battery’s actual design capacity and then measures how much charge it accepts during each charging session.
Over the course of 4-5 charging sessions (which usually takes about a week), it’ll compare the actual charge capacity to the design capacity. This is how it estimates your battery degradation and current battery health percentage. You can get the AccuBattery app from the link below and install it on your phone.
Download: AccuBattery
Here’s how to use it: Open AccuBattery app and allow it permission to run in the background. Charge your phone normally. After you’ve completed a few charge cycles, the app will show the phone’s battery health. It gets accurate as you complete more charge cycles.
In the screenshots below, my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s battery has an estimated 92% health based on the last five charging sessions.
AccuBattery also provides insights into battery capacity trends and wear over time. However, note that this data will be reset if you reinstall AccuBattery or perform a factory reset on your phone.
Also, remember that battery health readings aren’t always 100% accurate. You may find an error margin of +/- 5%. This is normal, considering there’s always some margin of error, and lithium-ion batteries don’t always have the exact capacity listed on the label. That’s why manufacturers often mention design capacity (theoretical maximum) alongside full charge capacity (typical usable capacity).
Keeping Battery Healthy for a Longer Time
Battery degradation is inevitable, but there are ways to slow it down and keep your battery healthier for longer:
- Use Adaptive Charging: This feature learns your usage habits to optimize the charging process.
- If you’re a Samsung Galaxy user: Turn on the Battery Protection feature to help extend the life of your battery.
- Batteries don’t like extremes: Keep your phone in moderate temperatures. Extreme heat or cold can shorten battery life in the long run.
- Stick with good quality accessories: Use the original charger and cable that came with your phone, or a certified third-party option. Avoid generic or counterfeit accessories.
- No need to always top off: Try to keep your phone’s battery between 40-80%. Constant 100% charges can put a strain on it over time.
- Let your phone charge slowly: If you want to charge your phone overnight, use a slow charger. Samsung Galaxy phone users can try a Bixby routine to turn off fast charging during those hours.
- Gaming + charging = not the best combination: Avoid playing heavy games or watching videos while plugged in – it can put extra stress on the battery.
- Samsung Galaxy phone owners can try these battery saving tips, so you’ll need to charge your phone less often.
If your phone’s battery health has dipped down to 70-80% of its original capacity, you may notice unexpected shutdowns, performance dips when running heavy games or apps. If this gets annoying, it’s probably time to consider a replacement. An authorized service center can help you get a fresh battery and make your phone feel like new again.
