Charging your Nothing phone’s battery to 100% all the time can degrade its performance, which is why it’s recommended to stop charging at a certain percentage. Thankfully, Nothing OS has this feature built-in. Whether you’re using the latest Nothing OS 3.0 or the older 2.6, you can set a custom battery charge limit to maximize battery lifespan.
In this guide, I’ll tell you how to use the custom charging mode and why it matters.
Enabling Custom Charging Mode in Nothing OS
Below, see how I set a custom charging limit on the Nothing Phone 2a Plus running Nothing OS 3.0:
- Open the Settings app on your Nothing smartphone.
- Scroll down and tap on Battery.
- Select Battery Health.
- Enable Custom Charging Mode by turning on the toggle.
- Use the slider to set the battery percentage at which you want charging to stop.
You can currently choose from three options for your charging limit: 70%, 80%, or 90%, depending on your phone usage and charging habits.
- 70%: Ideal if you tend to keep your phone plugged in or on a wireless charger for long periods. This setting reduces battery stress and prolongs its lifespan, especially when you don’t need a full charge to get through the day.
- 80%: A balanced option for everyday use. It provides enough battery life for typical use while still limiting battery wear, making it a good middle ground.
- 90%: Choose this if you need your phone to last longer between charges but don’t want to strain the battery by charging to 100%. It’s a good choice when you rely heavily on your phone and can’t recharge often.
Why Set a Charging Limit?
If you’re wondering why you should set a charging limit, it’s because your phone’s lithium-ion battery experiences stress at both extremely low and high percentages. Charging it to 100% or keeping it plugged in constantly puts extra strain on the battery, accelerating wear and tear.
Over time, this stress reduces the battery’s ability to hold a charge, meaning it won’t last as long between charges. By charging it to less than full, say 80%, you minimize the voltage and stress the battery experiences, helping it stay healthier for longer.
Custom Charging Mode vs. Smart Charging Mode
Your Nothing phone offers two charging modes: Smart Charging and Custom Charging (the one we discussed earlier).
Smart Charging works like adaptive charging, analyzing your phone usage and charging patterns. It learns when you usually unplug your phone (like when you wake up), then adjusts the charging speed to keep your battery at a lower percentage longer, finishing the charge closer to the time you’ll need it. This way, your phone doesn’t sit at 100% overnight, reducing battery stress.
In contrast, Custom Charging Mode allows you to set a fixed limit (e.g., 70%, 80%, or 90%). Once enabled, it stops charging when the battery reaches the set percentage. Custom Charging Mode automatically disables Smart Charging because the two modes are designed to manage battery levels in different ways.
If you don’t have a regular sleeping schedule or tend to charge your phone randomly throughout the day, I recommend using this feature to increase the battery longevity.
