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.
 

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