A charge cycle is 100% of the battery's capacity used, whether in one go or spread over several partial discharges, so going from 100% to 50% and back counts as half a cycle. Recent Pixel phones are rated to keep up to 80% capacity for about 800 to 1000 cycles, and shallow discharges and less time at full charge stretch that further.
Battery life is often described in years, but manufacturers rate it in charge cycles. Understanding what a cycle is, and what makes each one more or less costly, explains why two identical phones can age very differently.
What is a battery charge cycle?
A charge cycle is the use of 100% of the battery's capacity. It does not have to happen in one go. Google defines the cycle count of a Pixel battery as the number of times the battery has completed a full discharge and recharge, including partial discharges added together. Apple describes it the same way: using 50% one day and 50% the next adds up to one complete cycle.
So the number of times you plug the phone in is not the number of cycles. Someone who tops up from 70% to 100% three times a day may use fewer cycles than someone who charges once from 5%.
Does a partial charge count as a full cycle?
No. Only the share of capacity used counts. Google gives a simple example: if you use your phone from 100% down to 50% and then charge it back to 100%, that counts as 0.5 cycles.
| What you do | Cycles counted |
|---|---|
| 100% to 0%, then a full recharge | 1 |
| 100% to 50%, then back to 100% | 0.5 |
| 100% to 50% on Monday and again on Tuesday | 1 in total |
| 80% to 60%, then back to 80% | 0.2 |
How many charge cycles does a phone battery last?
Manufacturers publish the number of cycles after which the battery should still hold about 80% of its original capacity:
| Phone | Rated cycles |
|---|---|
| Pixel 3 to Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Fold | About 800 cycles, keeping up to 80% capacity |
| Pixel 8a and later | About 1000 cycles, keeping up to 80% capacity |
| iPhone 14 models and earlier | 500 complete cycles, keeping 80% capacity |
| iPhone 15 models | 1000 complete cycles, keeping 80% capacity |
A battery does not stop working when it reaches its rated count. It simply holds less charge than when it was new, and Google recommends a replacement once capacity drops below 80% or the rated count is reached.
Does a shallow discharge make the battery last longer?
Yes, by a large margin. Battery University tested how many cycles lithium-ion cells deliver depending on how deeply they are discharged each time. For an NMC cell, a common lithium-ion chemistry:
| Depth of discharge | Approximate cycles |
|---|---|
| 100% | 300 |
| 80% | 400 |
| 60% | 600 |
| 40% | 1000 |
| 20% | 2000 |
| 10% | 6000 |
These are cycles at each depth, not full-cycle equivalents, but the lesson is clear: small, frequent top-ups are gentler than running the battery flat. Lithium-ion has no memory effect, so there is no benefit in waiting until it is empty.
Does charging to 100% use up cycles faster?
Charging to 100% does not count as more cycles, but keeping a cell at its highest voltage wears it faster. Battery University lists how cycle life changes with the charge voltage:
| Charge voltage per cell | Cycles | Energy stored |
|---|---|---|
| 4.20 V | 300 to 500 | 100% |
| 4.13 V | 400 to 700 | 90% |
| 4.06 V | 600 to 1000 | 81% |
| 4.00 V | 850 to 1500 | 73% |
| 3.92 V | 1200 to 2000 | 65% |
The rule of thumb from the same source: every 0.10 V below 4.20 V roughly doubles the cycle count, but the battery holds less energy per charge. Heat makes the stress of a high charge worse.
Can I see my battery cycle count on Android?
It depends on the phone. On a Pixel 8a or later, open Settings > About phone > Battery information. Google lists older Pixel models as not showing this information, and many other Android phones do not show a cycle count in their settings at all.
What do phones do to make cycles last longer?
Manufacturers have built the findings above into their charging settings:
- Pixel: under Charging optimization, Adaptive Charging finishes charging just before you usually unplug, and Limit to 80% stops at 80% for long-term battery health. Google's Battery Health Assistance, on Pixel 6a and later, lowers the battery's maximum voltage in stages between 200 and 1000 cycles.
- Samsung Galaxy (One UI 6.1 and later): in Settings > Battery > Battery protection, Basic stops at 100% and resumes only once the level drops to 95%, Maximum stops charging at 80%, and Adaptive uses Maximum while you sleep and switches to Basic before you wake up.
What does Maqbis show about your charging habits?
Maqbis does not count cycles for you; for that, use your phone's own Battery information screen where it exists. What the app shows is how you actually use each cycle:
- The 24-hour chart of the battery level shows how deep you go each day, and whether the phone spends long stretches at the top.
- The last charge duration and the charging current show how each charge went.
- A notification tells you when charging is complete, so the phone does not have to sit at 100% for hours unnoticed, and another warns you when the level is low.
Seeing your own pattern is often enough to change it: unplug a little earlier, top up a little more often, and keep the phone out of the heat. Maqbis is free on Android 7 and above, without ads or subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Does plugging in my phone count as a charge cycle?
No. A cycle is counted by how much capacity you use, not by how many times you plug in. Using 50% and recharging is half a cycle, so two such charges make one cycle.
Is it better to let the battery run down to 0% before charging?
No. Lithium-ion batteries have no memory effect and do not need full discharges. Battery University's tests show that shallower discharges give many more cycles than full ones.
Where can I see my battery's cycle count on Android?
On a Pixel 8a or later, go to Settings > About phone > Battery information. Many other Android phones do not show a cycle count in their settings.
Does limiting the charge to 80% really help?
Yes. Battery University's data shows that a lower charge voltage, which means a battery that is not filled to the top, gives far more cycles at the cost of less energy per charge. That is why Pixel and Samsung phones offer an option to stop charging at 80%.
