Why Your Phone Charges Slowly (Even With a New Charger) — The Battery Might Be the Culprit

It’s the worst. You finally have a spare moment, so you plug your phone in. Then… you wait.

An hour goes by. Nothing.

You doze off on the couch and wake up to check your phone, but it’s not much better. The battery is stuck at 15%, even though it’s been plugged in for hours. It’s going to take all night to charge!

You’re angry and disappointed. You’ve tried everything you can think of to fix it. New charger? Check. Fancy cable? Check. Every wall socket in the house? Check. Closing all those pesky background apps? Check.

But you’re still waiting for your phone to charge.

You’re almost out of solutions. What else can it be?

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The Answer Few People Consider: Your Battery

The most common reasons your phone charges slowly are charger issues, wall socket problems, software bugs, or maybe your background apps really are hungry for battery.

But there’s one more — and it’s a piece of the puzzle most people completely ignore.

If your phone charges very slowly, chances are your battery is old or damaged.

Inside this article, we’ll explain:

• Why your phone charges slowly (even if it has a new charger)

• The most common reasons people blame for slow charging

• Tell-tale signs your phone battery might be the problem

• The best course of action to fix your charging problem

• How a new battery can make your old phone feel new again — and save you thousands over buying a new phone

• Why you should buy your replacement battery from Battery Mate

Let’s dive in!

1. Common Reasons People Think Their Phone Charges Slowly

One of the worst things about your phone charging slowly is that it’s rarely one single, obvious problem.

Smartphones are complex devices. A million little parts and systems interact in mysterious ways to make a functioning, useful product.

So it’s not surprising that sometimes a problem has many causes. Some people have a vague suspicion that “something is wrong with my phone,” but they have no clue where to start.

And that’s before we even begin to acknowledge the dreaded, unpredictable bug: the human element.

In many cases, the reason a phone is charging slowly is really simple — but also bafflingly frustrating. Things like:

Faulty Charger or USB Cable
Cheap or worn out cables and chargers are a common cause of low power output, leading to painfully slow charging speeds. Damaged wiring or incorrect voltage compatibility can result in charging that’s slower than it should be. 

Dirty or Damaged Charging Port
Lint, dust, and other grime can build up inside your phone’s charging port, preventing the cable from making a good connection. This is especially common for people who store their phones in pockets or bags.

Background Apps Running and Draining Power
Certain apps — particularly social media, GPS, and games — are notorious for running in the background and using up power even as your phone is charging.

Software Glitches After Updates
Buggy software updates or corrupted system files can mess up your phone’s ability to manage charging correctly.

All these things are possible. And of course, people have tried everything — new chargers, cables, ports cleaned out, full factory resets — and none of it works.

And so most people go on charging their phones in exasperation, or looking for other solutions like replacement batteries.

Most people don’t fix this problem until well after they should.

What they almost never do is replace the battery. Until now.

2. Signs Your Battery Might Be the Real Problem

When charging your phone is taking all day, how can you know if your slow charging is due to a failing battery?

If your battery is damaged, here are the most common signs to look out for:

Phone Charges Erratically or Only In a Certain Position
If your phone only charges when the cable is twisted a certain way or if the phone is at a certain angle to the wall socket, this can be a sign the battery is damaged internally or causing connection issues.

Battery Percentage Jumps or Stalls
If your phone suddenly jumps from 50% to 80% after an hour of charging, or if the battery percentage refuses to move from 70% no matter how long it’s plugged in, this indicates a battery that’s struggling to properly hold charge and report battery life.

Phone Gets Warm While Charging
If your phone is noticeably hot to the touch every time you charge it, the battery may be degraded and struggling to handle the power flow.

Phone Drains Very Fast Right After Charging
If your phone drops from 100% to 70% in minutes, or dies unexpectedly even though it was fully charged, the battery health is probably very poor.

Battery Health in Settings Reads “Service” or Shows Reduced Capacity
iPhone and some Android owners can check this in the battery settings section of their phone. A “service” recommendation or less than 80% maximum capacity is an indicator it’s time for a battery replacement.

If you’re seeing one or more of these signs, the chances are pretty good your battery is causing your slow charging problem.

3. Why Batteries Charge Slowly

If you think your phone is charging slowly because of your battery, you might be right.

And it’s not your fault. Here’s why:

Batteries Are Not Made to Last Forever
Lithium-ion batteries are designed to hold their maximum charge for about 300-500 full charging cycles. A year or two of regular phone use is more than enough for the battery to visibly degrade in capacity and power efficiency.

Old or Damaged Batteries Have Higher Resistance
The more a battery is used, the more “internal resistance” it builds up. The greater this resistance, the slower energy can flow into the battery during charging. It’s like trying to fill a water bottle that’s half full.

Your System Throttles Itself to Protect Your Phone
Phones have safety systems that slow down charging to prevent fires, explosions, or battery damage. So if the battery is damaged, it may “throttle” or slow down charging even if the charger and cable are good.

So even with a brand-new charger and cable, your battery might be slowing itself down. Check our replacement options here.

4. What to Do About It

The good news is you don’t have to put up with your achingly slow phone.

If you want to charge fast and full again, here’s what to do next:

Check Your Battery Health
iPhone users, open Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and look at the “Maximum Capacity” percentage. Lower than 80%? Probably needs replacing.

Samsung users, navigate to Settings > Battery and then tap Battery and Device Care > Diagnostics. Run a battery diagnostic.

For other Androids, or more detailed battery information, there are some apps like AccuBattery that will let you see your battery’s health.

Swap Your Charger and Cable Once to Double Check
OK, so before you run off and assume it’s your battery, try one last time swapping in a different, certified charger and cable.

You can use our own certified chargers and cables if you like, but avoid cheap third-party cables and chargers that are likely to under-voltage and output.

Clean Out Your Charging Port
Lint and grime buildup is one of the most common causes of charging issues. Use a toothpick or can of compressed air to gently remove any junk in your charging port. No need to go crazy with metal objects or water here.

Still slow? Then it’s time to bite the bullet. Yes, that means replacing your battery.

5. Replace the Battery: The Best Fix For a Slow Charging Phone

A new battery may be all that stands between you and a faster, fully-charged phone again.

Here’s the part most people don’t realise:

Replacing your battery can make your phone feel like new again, without the $1,200 price tag of a brand-new device.

Repairing your battery restores:

• Fast charging speed

• Full-day battery life

• Smooth performance (your phone may even run faster, since some slow down when the battery is bad)

Don’t worry, swapping out your phone’s battery is easier and more affordable than you might think.

At Battery Mate’s Mobile Battery Collection, we’ve got a huge range of compatible replacement batteries for most popular smartphones — ready to ship.

Choose your own DIY method, or we can arrange a certified professional installer to handle it for you. Whatever’s easiest, we’re here to help you extend the life of your phone and save money in the process.

6. Why Buy Your Replacement Battery from Battery Mate

You might be wondering, if a battery is a battery, what difference does it make who I buy it from?

And you’d be right to be a little skeptical. After all, if you need a battery replacement, chances are you don’t want to pay a premium for one that’s “special.”

The problem is, cheap replacement batteries can fail quickly. They’re prone to swelling and overheating, or can even cause damage to your phone.

Choosing the right replacement battery is one of the most important factors for saving money, and keeping your phone working.

Here’s why thousands of Australians choose to buy replacement batteries from Battery Mate.

Australian Stock For Fast Delivery
We don’t make you wait weeks for batteries to arrive from overseas. We ship directly from Australia to get batteries to you as fast as possible.

12-Month Warranty
We believe in our products. That’s why all our batteries come with a full 12-month warranty.

Quality-Tested Parts
Every battery we sell has been quality tested for compatibility and performance, to make sure it meets manufacturer specifications.

Compatible With All Major Phone Brands
Our mobile battery range covers most popular brands. We’ve got you covered whether you own an iPhone, Samsung, Huawei, or other popular brands.

Friendly, Real Customer Support
Got questions? We can help you find the right battery, and offer advice if you need installation help too.

When you choose Battery Mate, you get quality products, service, and support to keep your phone working the way it should.

Conclusion

Slow charging is one of the most common and most frustrating issues smartphone users encounter.

You’ve already tried new charger, cleaned your port, and shut down background apps… but your phone is still charging in slow motion.

Don’t ignore your battery.

Take action today. Do a quick battery health check. If it’s degraded, a new battery is a fast, affordable solution.

Visit Battery Mate’s Mobile Battery Collection today to browse a quality-tested, warrantied selection of replacement batteries for your phone.

A new battery will make your phone feel like new again — without the shocking cost of a brand-new device.

Ready to repair your phone and save money? Browse Battery Mate’s Mobile Batteries and get your phone back to its best today.