Technologies
Best Wired Headphones for Audiophiles in 2025
From budget to premium models, these are the best wired headphones, based on testing by CNET’s audio experts.
Our Experts
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
What to consider
Budget
Know how much you’re willing to spend on headphones before you start doing serious research.
Open-back or closed-back
You can get better, more open and airy sound from open-back headphones, but they do leak — and let in — sound. Closed-back headphones are better for noisier environments.
Smartphone compatibility
Most of today’s smartphones no longer have a headphone jack. That means you can’t plug a passive wired headphone into a smartphone without an adapter (for a 3.5mm jack) or portable USB-C headphone amplifier.
Comfort
It’s important to know you can wear your headphones for long periods of time, without any pain or pinching.
Do you have the right equipment?
Some audiophile headphones are harder to drive, so you may need a headphone amp to get optimal sound quality.
Return policy
Make sure you buy from a reputable source, so you can return the headphones if you try them out and don’t care for them.
I’ve been testing headphones for 20 years, and though I like the convenience of wireless cans and earbuds, if you want the best sound quality possible, wired headphones are still the way to go. True, many wireless headphones include a cord that turns them into wired headphones. But the models on this best list are wired-only unpowered headphones, and none of them have active noise canceling, which has a tendency to degrade sound quality. Note that with some wired headphones that are harder to drive, it’s best to use a headphone amp, including compact, affordable models like the iFi Go Link and iFi Go Link Max. CNET home audio editor Ty Pendelbury helped evaluate some of the headphones on this list.
Pros
- Excellent, accurate, highly detailed sound
- Lightweight and comfortable, at less than half a pound
- Cushy ear pads provide good passive noise isolation
- One short (1.2 meter) and one longer (2.5 meter) cable included, as well as a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter
Cons
- No carrying case or pouch included
- Ear pad depth may be too shallow for all ear sizes
We’ve always been fans of Sony’s MDR-7506 wired studio monitor headphones, which have long been favorites of recording engineers and other sound professionals. The new-for-2024 MDR-M1 headphones are essentially a premium version of the 7506, delivering sound that’s hard to match for the price. These are the wired headphones that’ll make you realize what you’ve been missing after listening to wireless headphones for so long. They feature big, open sound with excellent clarity and accuracy, along with tight bass. Not only is their sound a noticeable step up from the 7506’s, but these also get high marks for their comfort level (they weigh a svelte 216 grams). No, there isn’t any noise canceling, but the soft, cushy ear pads offer good passive noise isolation.
Though they play louder with a headphone amp, they’re easy to drive (50 ohms), so you can plug them directly into a computer’s headphone port or a smartphone (likely with a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter). They come with 1.2-meter and 2.5-meter straight detachable cables and a 3.5mm to 6.3mm screw-in plug adapter, but they don’t include a carrying pouch or case. The only downside I see is that the ear pads aren’t all that deep, so it’s possible that people with large ears that stick out a bit might have some issue with the M1’s fit — your ears might press up against the drivers, which are notable for serving up distortion-free audio, even at higher volume levels. That said, they look and feel like an upgraded version of the 7506, so if those worked for you, these should too.
At $280, Sennheiser’s new-for-2025 HD 505 open-back headphones aren’t cheap, but they’re pretty affordable as far as audiophile-grade headphones go. Though these aren’t a major upgrade over the HD 560S — they’re built on the same HD 500 series chassis — they are superior. They include some small design improvements and they sound better, with slightly tighter bass and smoother treble, which makes the headphones more revealing.
I found the 237-gram HD 505 headphones lightweight and quite comfortable to wear during longer listening sessions. According to Sennheiser, they have a 120-ohm transducer with frequency response stretching from 12 to 38,500 Hz and less than 0.2% harmonic distortion (I used them with iFi’s new $80 Go Link Max DAC dongle). The headphones come with a 6-foot cable with a 3.5mm plug, and they include a 6.3mm adapter. The cables and ear pads are «modular,» which means they can easily be swapped out.
If you’re considering this model versus the HD 600, the entry-level model in Sennheiser’s 600 series, the HD 600 arguably offers a touch more clarity. But you can make a case that the HD 505’s bass performance is a little tighter, cleaner and more natural sounding. It’d be nice to see some HD 505 discounts to make them even more affordable than the HD 600 headphones. But only time will tell whether that happens.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Attractive retro styling
- Excellent sound for the price
Cons
- Nondetachable cable
Geared to home studio production, multimedia content creation and «detailed everyday listening,» the new-for-2025 Audio Technica ATH-R30x headphones are about as good as you get for entry-level open-back audiophile headphones. Not only are they relatively lightweight and quite comfortable to wear, but they also have an attractive retro design and seem sturdily built (thee cable is nondetachable, however, and quite long). The sound is exciting, with up-front vocals and weighty enough bass to suit most genres, though you may encounter some listening fatigue over longer listening sessions due to that exciting sound. Sennheiser’s entry-level open-back headphones, the more expensive HD 505 cans, offer a bit better bass definition and smoother treble, along with better soundstage solidity. But these ATH-R30x headphones are fun and cheap, and they sound really good for the money. If you want monitors at this price that offer less sizzle in the treble and better solidity to their soundstage, the closed-back Sony MDR-V6 ‘phones are a good alternative.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Detailed, balanced sound with tight bass
- Very comfortable
- Detachable-cord design
Cons
- No integrated microphone
- Bulky
Like the Sony MDR-7506, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x have been around for years and are a staple monitor headphone. Among the best-sounding wired monitors you’ll find for less than $200, they feature accurate, well-balanced sound. The headphones fold up and come with three detachable cables, including a coiled cable, so you can attach a longer or shorter cable depending on your needs.
Pros
- Comfortable (so long as you don’t have a very big head)
- Improved bass and treble performance (more clarity)
- Less bass-shy than many studio headphones
- Good build quality
Cons
- Should ideally be paired with a headphone amplifier
- Open design leaks sound
Though the Sennheiser 660S2 headphones may seem expensive, they’re one of the more affordable true audiophile headphones, sharing the same design as their predecessor, the 660S model. The changes are all on the inside, with improved airflow and upgraded drivers that include a new ultralight aluminum voice coil. This leads to better sound, with the bass adding more depth and definition, while the treble gains a bit more clarity and sizzle (the very natural-sounding mids remain pretty much unchanged as far as I can tell). The soundstage also seems more spacious and airy — yes, these are open-back headphones, so they do leak sound.
Note that the 660S2 requires some extra power to drive (it’s now a 300-ohm headphone), so you’ll want to pair it with a dedicated headphone amplifier. I did manage to use it with an iPhone, but I plugged it into the $80 iFi Go Link Max portable USB-C DAC that’s designed for use with USB-C smartphones (Lightning and USB-A adapters are also included). They sounded great while I listened to high-resolution tracks from Qobuz, the music streaming service.
Audiophile headphones usually have a very neutral sound profile, but the 660S2 ‘phones don’t suffer from being overly so. They mix in just enough excitement while also managing to sound really clean and smooth. They’re also comfortable headphones, though some people with larger heads have complained that they feel a bit too tight. (I have a more medium-size head, and they felt good over long listening sessions.)
Pros
- Superb sound if you get a tight seal
- Comfortable fit
- Silicone and foam ear tips included, along with two detachable cables
- Nice carrying case
Cons
- Design may not be a perfect fit for everyone
- Pricey
For a lot audiophiles, Sennheiser’s flagship IE 900 in-ear monitors are the gold standard for IEMs. However, they cost around $1,500. Not surprisingly, the step-down IE 600s aren’t at the IE 900’s level, but they still sound great, and they cost almost half the price. Though you’re going to get a little more bass extension with the IE 900s, which are also more revealing, I was plenty pleased with the tight, punchy bass and smooth treble performance of the IE 600. The mids are a tad forward but sound quite natural, and there’s a nice openness to the sound even though these are an in-ear model. These very articulate headphones allow you to hear each instrument distinctly on more complicated tracks, yet they manage to avoid being so revealing that they cause listening fatigue (some high-end headphones are so revealing, they accentuate the flaws in less well-recorded tracks to the point where you get fatigued).
Alas, with in-ear headphones (better known as earbuds), the key to optimal sound quality is getting a tight seal. In my case, these 3D-printed zirconium metal alloy buds ended up fitting my ears perfectly with the largest ear tips (I used the silicone tips, but three sizes of foam tips are also included). You get two proprietary micro-miniature coaxial (MMCX) detachable cables, with 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations. The cables have moldable ear hooks that you can bend to your liking and wrap around your ears. I’m used to having issues with this type of IEM around-the-ear design, so I was surprised by how well they ended up fitting. Other folks might not be so lucky, however.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Clean, clear sound
- More dynamic sounding and less bass-shy than many studio headphones
- Good build quality
Cons
- Wired-only headphones with no extra features
We were fans of Beyerdynamic’s earlier DT 770 Pro headphones. The new DT 700 Pro X model is easier to drive than the 770 Pro, thanks to the company’s new Stellar.45 sound transducer with an impedance of 48 ohms, so it plays better with smartphones, tablets and laptops without requiring a headphone amp.
These headphones are targeted at content creators who want accurate audio reproduction, but they’re a bit more dynamic sounding and less bass-shy than many studio headphones, which tend to restrain the bass and hew to a very neutral sound profile. The DT 700 Pro X headphones are revealing and clean-sounding and offer invitingly open sound (particularly for closed-back headphones). They make you realize what you’ve been missing listening to similarly priced Bluetooth headphones.
Unlike the earlier DT 770 Pro ‘phones, which are being sold at a nice discount (around $160), the DT 700 Pro X cans come with two interchangeable (detachable) straight cables in different lengths, and the DT 700 Pro Xs arguably have a cleaner look than their predecessor.
Solidly built — they weigh 350 grams — they’re quite comfortable, featuring upgraded soft, velour-covered memory foam earpads that offer decent passive noise isolation. The earpads and the headphones’ other parts are replaceable, Beyerdynamic says.
The company also sells the open-back DT 900 Pro X headphones for $30 less. That model should provide slightly more open, airy sound, but the big drawback is that people around you can hear whatever you’re listening to — and sound also leaks in. This closed-back version is more versatile.
French audio company Focal is known for its high-end speakers and headphones. You might call it the Bowers & Wilkins of France. Some of its wired audiophile headphones cost upward of $3,000. But its entry-level Azurys, a $549 closed-back model, is more accessible to general consumers in terms of both price and design. Though these headphones don’t sound as open and airy as their open-back sibling, the Hadenys ($699), the closed-back design allows you to use them around others, whether that’s at home or in an open-office environment. Their cord also has a built-in microphone, which allows you to make calls with the headphones and is a tip-off that the Azurys are more for general use than some audiophile cans (to use the headphones with most smartphones, you’ll need a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter or a portable USB-C DAC like the Ifi Go Link or Go Link Max).
As for their design, both the Azurys and Hadenys are built on the same eye-catching chassis as Focal’s excellent Bathys ($799) wireless headphones. While they may not look or feel as luxurious as Focal’s higher-end models, they share some of those models’ design traits, and I found them comfortable to wear for longer listening sessions. At 306 grams, they aren’t too heavy, and thanks to the cloth covering on the ear pads, they didn’t steam up my ears as much as some over-ear models do in warmer environments. Overall, they seem fairly durable.
These are studio headphones, which means they have a more neutral sound profile. But I found they had enough bass energy to inject some excitement into my listening sessions, and the treble certainly has some sparkle to it. You aren’t going to get sound that’s as clean or pure as what you’d get with Focal’s higher-end models, but they do sound a little more revealing than the Bathys. Like that model, the Azurys headphones are easy to drive, so you can use them with devices like a laptop, phone, tablet or digital music player without using an amp.
Pros
- Affordable
- Very good sound for their modest price
- Attractive design
- In-line remote and microphone for Android and iOS
Cons
- Not suited for workouts
1More’s Triple Driver in-ear headphones have been around for a while, but they remain a value favorite of CNET home audio editor Ty Pendelbury. The Triple-Driver’s sound is not only full and warm but nicely detailed too. There’s plenty of bass oomph, and definition is decent enough. The midrange sounds clear and natural. These are headphones that will appeal to audiophiles but that cost less than $70.
Pros
- Clean sounding and accurate
- Great bass
- Affordable
- Rugged
Cons
- Fixed cable
- Not fashion-forward
The MDR-7506 headphones, like their stablemate MDR-V6 cans, are one of the most popular models for professional use, and their hard-wearing design is only part of the appeal. Though the sound between the two Sony designs has a family resemblance, with a very clear and balanced frequency response, the MDR-7506s pull ahead due to a more robust bass response — and they’re cheaper! Though they don’t have a replaceable cable like the Audio-Technica M50X headphones do, the 7506s are affordable enough that you can buy another set if they ever break down.
Pros
- Great bass
- Sound is nonfatiguing
- In-line mic and portable design
Cons
- Not the best for clarity
- No sound isolation
With an inline microphone and enhanced styling, the Massdrop version of the popular Porta Pro headphones is also $10 cheaper. The sound is warmer and smoother than you’d expect from an open pair of on-ears, and they offer a decent bass response. The headphones also fold up, with a hook-style design that helps with portability. With their retro flair and sub-$40 price tag, the Massdrop x Koss Porta Pro X headphones are a definite no-brainer for people looking to upgrade from no-name buds.
Pros
- Less than $10
- Lightweight
- Several color options available
- Great sound for the money
Cons
- No storage pouch
- Version with integrated mic doesn’t sound as good
Panasonic’s ErgoFit RP-HJE120 in-ear headphones, which come in multiple colors and retail for less than $10, sound remarkably good for the money, with clean, well-balanced sound that offers good clarity and punchy bass. A version of these wired earbuds with an integrated microphone (the RP-TCM125) costs slightly more but doesn’t sound quite as good for some reason.
Wired headphones FAQ
Are wired headphones still good?
Wired headphones didn’t stop existing once Apple got rid of the headphone port, with millions of people still using wired models. The benefits are that you don’t need to charge wired headphones, and they’re compatible with any device that has a headphone jack. Furthermore, the best medium- to high-end headphones, which are still being made today, are all wired. The only caveat to some of the more exotic models — and we’re usually talking in the thousands of dollars — is that they will require a separate headphone amplifier.
Are wired headphones better than wireless Bluetooth headphones?
Wired headphones are great, and the best ones will always sound better than lossy Bluetooth models. It’s all about the application. For instance, wireless earbuds are good for commuting, while wired ones are good for airline travel, since most in-flight entertainment systems don’t offer a Bluetooth connection. If you’re at home, then there’s no real reason to go wireless unless you simply don’t like headphone cords, which can sometimes be quite long. In summary, Bluetooth is best for convenience, while wired is best for sound quality.
What are the best wired headphones with a mic?
Depending on what you’re using them for — connecting to a phone, or to a digital media player — you may find that headphones with a remote are more useful than those with a microphone. One reason is that it’s difficult to find a phone with a headphone jack these days, and headphone adaptors like the iFi Go Link Max don’t work with microphones. If you’re using it for PC, there is still a wide range of gaming headsets available.
How do I make sure my wired headphones don’t break?
The cable is always the first part that fails, so if you’re looking for longevity, buy headphones with a replaceable cable — most 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cables are quite inexpensive, though premium cables can cost a lot. Note that if the headphones have a fixed cable, take care not to yank it.
Budget
Open-back or closed-back
Casual or analytical listening
Fit, aka comfort
Do you have the right equipment?
Compatibility with smartphones
Return policy
How we test over-ear headphones
We test over-ear headphones based on three key criteria: design, sound quality and value.
Design
We assess not only how comfortably the headphones fit (their ergonomics) but also their build quality, including the quality of included cables and whether cables are detachable. We also note whether the headphones come with a carrying case or pouch and assess its quality.
Sound quality
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
Value
We determine value after considering the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they’re able to deliver compared with other models in their price class.
Other wired headphones we tested
V-Moda M-200: V-Moda’s M-200 headphones were released in late 2019. These clean- and detailed-sounding over-ear headphones have excellent bass response, and the cushy earcups mean they’re also comfortable to wear. Featuring 50mm drivers with neodymium magnets, CCAW voice coils and fine-tuning by Roland engineers — yes, V-Moda is now owned by Roland — the M‑200s are Hi‑Res Audio-certified by the Japan Audio Society. Other V-Moda headphones tend to push the bass a little, but this set has the more neutral profile you’d expect from studio monitor headphones. They come with two cords, one of which has a built-in microphone for making calls. It would be nice if V-Moda offered Lightning or USB-C cables for phones without headphone jacks. Note that last year V-Moda released the M-200 ANC ($350), a wireless version of these headphones that includes active noise canceling. They also sound great, but their noise cancellation, call quality and overall feature set don’t match those of the AirPods Max.
Technologies
Kohler Wants to Put a Tiny Camera in Your Toilet and Analyze the Contents
The company’s new Dekoda toilet accessory is like a little bathroom detective.
Some smart litter boxes can monitor our pets’ habits and health, so having a camera in our human toilet bowls seems inevitable. That’s just what kitchen and bathroom fixture company Kohler has done for its new health and wellness brand, Kohler Health.
The $599 Dekoda clamps over the rim like a toilet bowl cleaner, pointing an optical sensor at your excretions and secretions. It then analyzes the images to detect any blood and reviews your gut health and hydration status. Depending on the plan you choose, the subscription fee is between $70 and $156 per year.
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At toilet time, you sign in via a fingerprint sensor so that the device knows who’s using the facilities. (Please wash your hands before signing out or tracking your progress.) Then, check in with the app for the day’s analysis and trends over time.
Wait until you’re off the pot, though, before you start doomscrolling your health. The device has a removable, rechargeable battery and uses a USB connection.
Kohler says it secures your data via the aforementioned fingerprint scanner and end-to-end encryption, and notes that the camera uses «discreet optics,» looking only at the results, not your body parts.
«Dekoda’s sensors see down into your toilet and nowhere else,» the company says.
Kohler warns that the technology doesn’t work very well with dark toilet colors, which makes sense. I’m sure there could be an upsell model with a light on it. Maybe the company could add an olfactory sensor, since smell reveals a lot about your gut health too. It could track «session» length or buildup under the rim to alert whoever has responsibility to clean it.
Kohler must have been straining to find appropriate lifestyle photos to include with the publicity materials. Many of the images are hilarious, featuring fit-looking men and women drinking water and staring off into space contemplatively — probably thinking about gas.
Technologies
Who’s Up to Fight Mega-Corporations in the Outer Worlds 2 on Xbox Game Pass?
Save the universe by fighting one CEO at a time in The Outer Worlds 2, plus play other great games coming to Xbox Game Pass in October.
Space is the final frontier, and it’s packed with some devious mega-corporations who are out to make a buck in The Outer Worlds 2. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can fight them in the highly anticipated sequel starting on Oct. 29.
Xbox Game Pass offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device, with prices starting at $10 a month. While all Game Pass tiers offer you a library of games, Game Pass Ultimate ($30 a month) gives you access to the most games, as well as Day 1 games, like Hollow Knight: Silksong, added monthly.
Here are all the games subscribers can play on Game Pass soon. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in October, including Ninja Gaiden 4.
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PowerWash Simulator 2
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 23.
If you’ve ever spent hours watching people on YouTube clean dirty rugs, cars and other grimy objects, you should check out PowerWash Simulator 2. As the name suggests, this sequel is all about blasting away dirt and filth from pools, homes and other objects around town. You have a furry kitty companion, and yes, you can pet them when you’ve finished cleaning.
Bounty Star
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 23.
The American Southwest has devolved into a lawless, post-apocalyptic desert called the Red Expanse in this game. You’re out to clean the place up in this game by taking down major bounties issued by the government, and the best way to do that is by piloting and customizing a giant mech, of course. When you want to nurse your wounds, head back to your run-down garage to rest, grow and cook food and raise animals. It’s like a cozy Armored Core game.
Super Fantasy Kingdom (game preview)
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 24.
After returning from a hunting trip, you find your 8-bit kingdom wrecked in this game. You must rebuild your domain in this roguelite, city builder. But as night falls, hordes of monsters emerge to tear everything back down. Build, mine, cook and grow your home, and prepare to defend it from all dangers.
Halls of Torment
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 28.
Get ready to descend into the deadly Halls of Torment in this retro, horde survival game. You can choose between 11 playable characters, each with their own playstyle, and equip various items and abilities to survive waves of enemies. This game is like Vampire Survivors, so if you like that game give this one a shot.
The Outer Worlds 2
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 29.
Clear your calendar for this sequel to the award-winning sci-fi adventure, The Outer Worlds. This time, you’re an Earth Directorate agent investigating the cause of devastating rifts that could destroy humanity. You have a new ship, new crew, new enemies and mega-corporation goons standing between you and the answers.
1000xResist
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Nov. 4.
One thousand years in the future, humanity is hanging on by a thread after a disease spread by alien occupation forces people to live underground in this sci-fi adventure game. You play as Watcher, and you fulfill your duties well, until one day you make a shocking discovery. This game won a Peabody Award in 2024, and it was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Game Writing that same year, so get ready for a story like no other.
Football Manager 26
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 29.
Get ready for a more immersive matchday experience in the latest installment of the Football Manager franchise. You can build a star-studded squad with new transfer tools, and this entry features official Premier League licenses and women’s football for the first time in the series’ history.
Game Pass subscribers can play the standard or Console edition of this game.
Games leaving Game Pass on Oct. 31
While Microsoft is adding those games to Game Pass, it’s also removing three others from the service on Oct. 31. So you still have some time to finish your campaign and any side quests before you have to buy these games separately.
Jusant
Metal Slug Tactics
Return to Monkey Island
For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now and check out our hands-on review of the gaming service. You can also learn about recent changes to the Game Pass service.
Technologies
Does Charging Your Phone Overnight Damage the Battery? We Asked the Experts
Modern smartphones are protected against overcharging, but heat and use habits can still degrade your battery over time.
Plugging your phone in before you head to bed might seem like second nature. That way by the time your alarms go off in the morning, your phone has a full charge and is ready to help you conquer your day. However, over time, your battery will start to degrade. So is keeping your phone plugged in overnight doing damage to the battery?
The short answer is no. Keeping your phone plugged in all the time won’t ruin your battery. Modern smartphones are built with smart charging systems that cut off or taper power once they’re full, preventing the kind of «overcharging damage» that was common in older devices. So if you’re leaving your iPhone or Android on the charger overnight, you can relax.
That said, «won’t ruin your battery» doesn’t mean it has no effect. Batteries naturally degrade with age and use, and how you charge plays a role in how fast that happens. Keeping a phone perpetually at 100% can add extra stress on the battery, especially when paired with heat, which is the real enemy of longevity.
Understanding when this matters (and when it doesn’t) can help you make small changes to extend your phone’s lifespan.
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The science behind battery wear
Battery health isn’t just about how many times you charge your phone. It’s about how it manages voltage, temperature and maintenance. Lithium-ion batteries age fastest when they’re exposed to extreme levels: 0% and 100%.
Keeping them near full charge for long stretches puts additional voltage stress on the cathode and electrolyte. That’s why many devices use «trickle charging» or temporarily pause at 100%, topping up only when needed.
Still, the biggest threat isn’t overcharging — it’s heat. When your phone is plugged in and running demanding apps, it produces heat that accelerates chemical wear inside the battery. If you’re gaming, streaming or charging on a hot day, that extra warmth does far more harm than leaving the cable plugged in overnight.
Apple’s take
Apple’s battery guide describes lithium-ion batteries as «consumable components» that naturally lose capacity over time. To slow that decline, iPhones use Optimized Battery Charging, which learns your daily routine and pauses charging at about 80% until just before you typically unplug, reducing time spent at high voltage.
Apple also advises keeping devices between 0 to 35 degrees Celsius (32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) and removing certain cases while charging to improve heat dissipation. You can read more on Apple’s official battery support page.
What Samsung (and other Android makers) do
Samsung offers a similar feature called Battery Protect, found in One UI’s battery and device care settings. When enabled, it caps charging at 85%, which helps reduce stress during long charging sessions.
Other Android makers like Google, OnePlus and Xiaomi include comparable options — often called Adaptive Charging, Optimized Charging or Battery Care — that dynamically slow power delivery or limit charge based on your habits. These systems make it safe to leave your phone plugged in for extended periods without fear of overcharging.
When constant charging can hurt
Even with these safeguards, some conditions can accelerate battery wear. As mentioned before, the most common culprit is high temperature. Even for a short period of time, leaving your phone charging in direct sunlight, in a car or under a pillow can push temperatures into unsafe zones.
Heavy use while charging, like gaming or 4K video editing, can also cause temperature spikes that degrade the battery faster. And cheap, uncertified cables or adapters may deliver unstable current that stresses cells. If your battery is already several years old, it’s naturally more sensitive to this kind of strain.
How to charge smarter
You don’t need to overhaul your habits but a few tweaks can help your battery age gracefully.
Start by turning on your phone’s built-in optimization tools: Optimized Battery Charging on iPhones, Battery Protect on Samsung devices and Adaptive Charging on Google Pixels. These systems learn your routine and adjust charging speed so your phone isn’t sitting at 100% all night.
Keep your phone cool while charging. According to Apple, phone batteries perform best between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 22 degrees Celsius). If your phone feels hot, remove its case or move it to a better-ventilated or shaded spot. Avoid tossing it under a pillow or too close to other electronics, like your laptop, and skip wireless chargers that trap heat overnight.
Use quality chargers and cables from your phone’s manufacturer or trusted brands. Those cheap «fast-charge» kits you find online often deliver inconsistent current, which can cause long-term issues.
Finally, don’t obsess over topping off. It’s perfectly fine to plug in your phone during the day for short bursts. Lithium-ion batteries actually prefer frequent, shallow charges rather than deep, full cycles. You don’t need to keep it between 20% and 80% all the time, but just avoid extremes when possible.
The bottom line
Keeping your phone plugged in overnight or on your desk all day won’t destroy its battery. That’s a leftover myth from a different era of tech. Modern phones are smart enough to protect themselves, and features like Optimized Battery Charging or Battery Protect do most of the heavy lifting for you.
Still, no battery lasts forever. The best way to slow the inevitable is to manage heat, use quality chargers and let your phone’s software do its job. Think of it less as «babying» your battery and more as charging with intention. A few mindful habits today can keep your phone running strong for years.
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