In a tablet, should you always use batteries or plugged in?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I have a Microsoft Surface Go 3 tablet. I hate the frikken thing. I only use it when I'm on Senior Forum. That's the only thing it can handle. So, after I'm finished using it, I have to recharge it. It seems kind of dumb, why not just use it plugged in. But when I do that, I get notices saying only charge the battery to 80%. Online, nobody really answers should you plug it in or always use batteries?
(They say if doing a huge task, which lasts longer than battery life, plug in- DUH!!!!)
 

I'm not sure there is any single "right" answer.

It used to be bad to stay constantly plugged in. But with time the battery management circuitry and algorithms were improved, and they'll slow and then cut off charging to improve battery life.

Older laptops just blindly dropped to trickle-charge. That's sorta, kinda ok for older battery chemistries but not so hot for long life in Lithium chemistries.

So it really depends on the laptop. They should make this more prominent in instructions and even in software (pop-up warnings if unplugging is the proper action).
 
If I am not using my tablet, I unplug it from power. When using it I plug it in. If there is no power available, then I use the battery. It’s a somewhat older one and I am not sure if it has the newer software that will control charging to improve battery life. I have seen no evidence that is has this feature. My newer laptop does have the feature and it will control charging on its own.
 

I keep my large iPad plugged in most of the time, and have always done so, and it always works fine that way. I use it with the external keyboard case, so it just is always sitting on my desk like a laptop would be doing.
The iPad lifts right off of the case when I want to hold it, like when I am using it for artwork, and the charger actually connects with the case instead of the ipad, so one cord keeps both devices charged.

With the iPad Mini, I use it for reading, so that one is mostly not plugged in , and after I am done reading, I plug it in to charge overnight. It does not seem to matter either way, but older devices seem to need charged more as the battery gets older and does not hold as charge for as long a time.

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Tablets given usual more intended mobile portable use should have longer lasting batteries versus laptops. With more powerful laptops, keeping them plugged into AC is expected while occasional portable use is not designed intended to last long. Or one may use a larger rechargeble lithium ion USB power bank to allow more freedom versus AC wall connections.
 
My laptop battery charge goes down fast so I keep it plugged in. However, it's not recommended for the battery to charge to 100% when plugged in all the time. So there's a setting on my laptop that stops it charging as it nears top capacity. My phone is the same way.
 
Nathan said:
The MS Go 3 is about 3 years old, yes? If so, the battery is getting 'elderly' in electronic years. Just plug it in when you're done using it...or not. Maybe just leave it unplugged and see how long it runs until actually needing a recharge.
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I use it about 2-3 hours and it'll be 45-55% left. It seems kind of dumb to use the batteries, only to plug it in when I'm done to charge the batteries. But when I used it with power, I'd get notifications saying I had to keep it at 80%. If this thing got run over by a truck, it wouldn't ruin my day.
 
There may be a setting that lets you change the charging from 80% to 100%; not sure for your model. I have a Samsung phone and tablet. To save the life of the battery, Samsung recommends not charging to 100% (I've seen articles about that generally being the case). The option is provided under Battery protection>Maximum. There may also be programs running in the background that use up your charge.

Do you have an optimization feature? Mine is under Device care. Optimization might help.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I have a Microsoft Surface Go 3 tablet. I hate the frikken thing. I only use it when I'm on Senior Forum. That's the only thing it can handle. So, after I'm finished using it, I have to recharge it. It seems kind of dumb, why not just use it plugged in. But when I do that, I get notices saying only charge the battery to 80%. Online, nobody really answers should you plug it in or always use batteries?
(They say if doing a huge task, which lasts longer than battery life, plug in- DUH!!!!)
Click to expand...
If you always use it plugged in, it won't matter if it only charges to 80% (other than the warning messages might be annoying).
 
I plug my iPad in at night, unplug in the morning. It lasts until evening. Is around 15%. I use it a lot.
 
I am using an old Apple iPad. I also have a PC which I could use, but much prefer the iPad. I can post while relaxed on a couch watching TV. The battery charge level is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. Right now 27%. Charging usually is done overnight. Very easy, reliable built in battery.
 
Brookswood said:
If I am not using my tablet, I unplug it from power. When using it I plug it in. If there is no power available, then I use the battery. It’s a somewhat older one and I am not sure if it has the newer software that will control charging to improve battery life. I have seen no evidence that is has this feature. My newer laptop does have the feature and it will control charging on its own.
Click to expand...
Same here.
 
Alkaline batteries placed into either a MiNh or lithium-ion charges may cause over heating issues. Likely why the hand sets eventually leaked acid and corroded while the equipment still seemed functional. Should Google the handset model name and read what kind of batteries are expected then buy some of them. You ought not have eventual issues finding other uses for the AAs like in flashlights etc. Clean the handset mess with paper towel and contacts with small cotton stick swabs soaked with some alcohol and then the sort of clean contacts with a usual soft pencil end pink eraser. Good habit to use a headlamp (as also in flashlight or bright lamp) while cleaning electronic contacts.

With such low voltage products, a low resistance to current flow in any part of the circuit path is important including battery contacts. So don't clean them while eating popcorn. Metal contacts might look ok but still be oxidized with a thin semi resistant layer or contaminant film that robs voltage energy. That is how the eraser can make certain it is clean. I highly recommend any people that have regular AA/AAA/C cell sized battery needs eventually move to Nickel Metal Hydride rechargebles and assign marked black marker pen numbers on them. Some of the newer multi battery simultaneous chargers today have nice LCD alphanumeric voltage and status displays and can charge intelligently whatever is inserted.

What Happens If You Charge a Non-Rechargeable Battery - Battery Skills
 

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