By now, you would have read about the unfortunate accident that happened to a Malaysian woman who was electrocuted to death while using her still charging phone.

Here are five things you need to know before you start charging your phone’s battery and using it while still plugged:

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5 Things To Know About Your Phone's Battery Before Charging

1. Don't Use Knockoff Chargers or Cables

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Knockoff chargers and cables can come at a mere fraction of the original’s pricing but trust us, it’s definitely going to do more harm than good to your phone.

If the originals seem too pricey, opt for off-brands (e.g. Belkin). This video from Lifehacker will show the difference between the three.

Photo: Pixabay

2. Don't Charge Your Phone Overnight

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Despite how your smartphone might know when to stop charging when it’s been fully charge, charging overnight could still harm your phone.

Overcharging could cause your battery to overheat or use up the charge cycles in your lithium-ion batteries.

Photo: Pixabay

3. Don't Let Your Battery Hit Zero

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These days, our Apple and Android smartphones only have a finite number of charging cycles and letting it drain all the way kills one cycle completely.

Photo: Pixabay

4. Heat Ruins Batteries

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As mentioned earlier, overeating can ruin phone batteries.

While charging, it’s wise to place the phone on a solid flat surface so heat dissipates faster and more evenly.

Photo: Pixabay

5. Avoid Wireless Charging

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While it might be convenient to just place your phone on a charging pad, it can often generate more heat than required.

Photo: Pixabay