Samsung Galaxy Shield Icon Means Battery Protection, Not Security, Engadget Reports

According to Engadget, modern smartphones include features to extend battery life, such as pausing or limiting charging, and these may be enabled by default. On Samsung Galaxy phones with Battery Protection, the shield icon appears whenever that feature is active. The reason is how lithium-ion batteries age. They experience more stress when they remain at their highest charge levels for long periods, which leads to faster battery degradation. Leaving a phone plugged in for hours at 100 percent is not ideal in the long run.

Engadget notes that charging to 100 percent does not damage the phone. A full charge is useful when a user will be away from a charger all day. Phone batteries are built to last, and users may not notice degradation after a few months, but after keeping the same phone for a couple of years the effects become noticeable. Samsung and other companies have developed features to slow that process.

Battery Protection offers different modes. Basic is the least aggressive and the one most people should use, according to Engadget. When the battery reaches 100 percent, charging stops even if the phone remains plugged in. As soon as the battery level drops to 95 percent, charging starts again automatically. Maximum mode lets users choose exactly when the phone stops charging. Options range from 80 to 95 percent. The lower the level, the more the battery is protected over time, but the less battery life a user gets on a single charge.

There is also a third option called Sleep Time Protection. Engadget reports it learns usage habits and stops charging at 80 percent overnight. It resumes automatically to bring the phone to a full charge just before the user wakes up.

To change these options, users can open the Settings app on a Galaxy phone and look for the Battery menu. They can tap Battery protection and toggle the switch on or off. If they enable it, they choose between Basic or Maximum. Selecting Maximum also shows a slider for setting the charging level cap. Sleep Time Protection is also available as a third option.

Whether to use Battery Protection depends on power habits, Engadget says. If a user tends to leave the phone plugged in overnight or on a desk charger all day, it is worth turning on. The user probably will not notice it in action, and the phone will likely reach a full charge before it needs to be unplugged. As a result, the battery will remain healthy for longer, which is especially important for those who plan to keep the same device for years.

If a user does not have a set charging routine, Engadget says it might be worth keeping Battery Protection turned off. Long trips or battery-intensive activities often require constant recharging, so reaching 100 percent as quickly as possible can be a good idea in those cases. The option can be changed whenever needed, so there is no need to stick to just one battery mode. Engadget also notes that changing some Android settings can help improve battery life.