Using a smartphone while it is charging does not harm the battery, contrary to a common misconception, according to a report examining phone-charging myths. Most modern handsets rely on "bypass charging" technology, which diverts incoming power directly to running apps rather than to the battery when the phone is in heavy use, preventing the overheating that can degrade battery health over time.

The feature, first seen in the Sony Xperia 1 II in 2020 under the name Heat Suppression Power Control, is now common on phones from Samsung, Google, Xiaomi and ZTE, though Apple's iPhones do not yet support it. Even on devices without bypass charging, using the phone simply slows the charging speed rather than damaging the battery, and users are advised to stop only if the device becomes excessively hot. The article also debunks other myths, noting that leaving a phone plugged in overnight is safe because charging automatically stops at 100%, and that batteries do not need to be fully drained before recharging.