Cellular Phone Battery Technology

Wireless phones have come a long way from the bulky radiophones of yesteryear that one could hardly call portable. Today's wireless offerings often weigh less than 7 ounces and can be small enough to slip into a shirt pocket. These improvements in wireless phone size and weight are thanks in large part to advances in battery technology.

Let's take a look at the three battery technologies common to current cell phones.

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad)
Although newer high-performance phones have rendered it nearly obsolete, NiCad is still commonly used in many consumer electronics for its durability and low cost. Among its pros and cons:

• Compatibility. Older phones are more likely to require NiCad. It generates relatively little heat, and many older phones cannot withstand the more heat-intensive NiMH or LiON batteries.

• Durability. It charges quickly and handles well under extreme temperatures.

• Shorter Lifecycle. It provides relatively less power per charge, so you must recharge it more often. You can usually recharge it over 700 times before reaching the end of its useful life.

• Memory Effect. If you recharge a NiCad battery before it has completely discharged (run out of energy), it will "forget" that it has all of that extra capacity. So it will only partially recharge, leaving you with a weaker battery.