Can You Charge a Phone and Use It at the Same Time Without Damaging the Battery?

Can You Charge a Phone and Use It at the Same Time Without Damaging the Battery?

No, you can't simultaneously charge and discharge a lithium-ion battery. This is because the chemical reaction that powers these batteries involves lithium ions moving in only one direction at a time. They move from the positive to the negative electrode to charge, and in the opposite direction to discharge. They can't do both at once.

When a phone is plugged into a charger, the power adapter typically supplies electricity directly to the phone's internal circuits. The battery will not discharge during this process unless the power from the adapter is insufficient.

However, a special situation arises when the charger's power output is too low to meet the phone's power demands, especially during high-power activities like gaming. In this case, the battery must work alongside the charger to provide the necessary power.

So, why do people say that using your phone while charging can damage the battery? It's all about heat. When charging, the battery generates heat, and when the phone is in use, it generates even more heat. High temperatures are a major factor in accelerating the degradation of a battery's health. The combination of charging and high-power usage significantly increases the heat, which is what ultimately damages the battery.

What Is Bypass Charging?

Some phones, like certain models from brands such as Black Shark, feature bypass charging. This is a special feature that allows the power from the charger to directly bypass the battery and supply power only to the phone's internal components. The battery does not charge at all during this process.

This has two main benefits:

1. Reduced heat: The battery doesn't heat up because it's not being charged, which helps mitigate a key cause of battery degradation.

2. Improved performance: With less overall heat, the phone's performance won't be throttled due to high temperatures, leading to a better user experience, especially during demanding tasks like gaming.

This feature, however, is not common and is typically found on a limited number of high-end or gaming-focused phones.

Claims About "Bypassing" Battery Damage

You may see claims from some brands, especially for Magnetic Power Banks, that they "crack" protocols to prioritize supplying power to the phone directly, thus preventing battery damage.

As we've established, every charger and power bank supplies power directly to the phone's circuits. This part of the claim is true.

However, if a phone doesn't support bypass charging, a high-power charger will simultaneously charge the battery while the phone is in use. If the charger's power is insufficient, the battery will also be forced to discharge to supply power to the phone. Therefore, any claim that a product "will not damage the battery" is largely misleading or comes from a lack of understanding.

About ESC

ESC is a professional power bank manufacturer with over a decade of production experience. The factory is ISO9001 certified, and its products have received numerous safety certifications, including CE, RoHS, FCC, and IEC62133. All power banks are built with high-quality cells from major, publicly-listed companies to ensure they are safe, durable, and reliable. They are engineered to be explosion-proof, have strong battery life, high charging conversion efficiency, and do not overheat, offering a long service life.