Yes, you can use your smartphone while charging. There is no danger in using your phone while it's charging. When you use your phone while charging, the battery is charging at a slower rate than normal to allow enough power for the ongoing usage.
However, using your phone while charging will cause it to charge much more slowly. That's because you're drawing power from the battery at the same time that you are trying to charge it. In fact, using your phone while it's charging is one of the main culprits behind slow charging speeds.
It's safe to use the phone while charging. It will slow the charging rate slightly, as the energy from the power source goes to operate the phone, and the battery is charged with whatever is left.
There is no danger in using your phone while it's charging. This myth comes from fears about batteries overheating. Lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous if they have any type of manufacturing defect, but this is rare.
Don't charge any electrical devices, including phones and tablets, on your bed or under your pillow while you sleep as they could overheat and cause a fire. If possible, avoid charging devices unattended or overnight, and when necessary only charge them on a hard surface such as a desk.
Keep your cell phone at least 3 feet away from your bed to limit radio frequency exposure. Turn your cell phone off before you go to bed (if you don't rely on your phone's alarm clock) Turn your phone on Airplane Mode.
Charging your phone overnight occasionally probably won't make a noticeable difference in the battery life for years to come, but if you do it every night consistently, you will probably notice your battery performance degrading over time.
The most common myth about overnight charging is that it can overload your battery. This is simply not true. All smartphones are designed with protective measures that prevent the battery from overcharging once it's full. As soon as the battery reaches 100%, it stops charging.
Your phone's vibrations do more than wake you up, and electromagnetic radiation impacts your brain activity and can be harmful to the heart and brain. Moreover, the overall impact of using a phone near you before sleep is forked and should be kept at a distance if not switched off.
When used properly, no. But batteries can present a fire risk when over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water or if they are damaged. It's really important to charge them safely too.
Phil Buckle, the chief executive at the charity Electrical Safety First, advises against charging devices overnight at all. “When you go to bed, switch everything off.”