Most of us own mobile phones, which usually need to be charged at least once per day. Even then, many of us leave our phones to charge overnight, or forget to unplug the chargers when they’re not in use. Well, if your latest electricity bill was higher than you expected, you will be happy to know that your phone charging habits likely aren’t at fault.
Canstar Blue has crunched the numbers to find out how much electricity charging your phone uses compared to other devices and household appliances.
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How much does it cost to charge a phone?
According to Canstar Blue data, the hourly cost of charging a phone can cost anywhere from 0.43c to 0.64c, depending on the model and battery capacity of the phone. While these costs are in no way likely to break the bank over the course of a year, it can still be helpful to understand what these costs look like and how they may impact your electricity bills.
To illustrate these costs, we’ve taken a selection of popular smartphone models currently available in the market and broken down their hourly and annual charging costs, based on their battery capacity below. These are calculated using an assumed electricity rate. Actual costs may differ depending on your electricity rates, the number of times you charge your phone and the model of phone you have.
Cost of charging a mobile phone
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| Phone Model | Battery capacity | Hourly Charging Costs | Annual Charging Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 | 3,349mAh | 0.43c | $1.56 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 4,383mAh | 0.56c | $2.05 |
| Google Pixel 8 | 4,575mAh | 0.59c | $2.14 |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | 4,855mAh | 0.62c | $2.27 |
| HTC u12+ | 3,500mAh | 0.45c | $1.63 |
| Nothing Phone 2 | 4,700mAh | 0.60c | $2.19 |
| OPPO Find x5 | 4,800mAh | 0.61c | $2.24 |
| Huawei Mate 60 Pro | 5,000mAh | 0.64c | $2.33 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 06/11/2023. Average electricity usage rate of 32.8c/kWh based on single rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,347 kWh. Annual charging costs assumes charging for one hour per day, 365 days per year with a 3.9v lithium-ion battery.
Compare cheap electricity plans
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Should I unplug my phone charger when I am not using it?
Unused mobile phone chargers can be a source of phantom load, also known as standby power or vampire power. This refers to situations where a device consumes electricity despite no one using it. So, if you are looking to prevent electricity wastage in the home, it may not be the worst idea to unplug your phone charger when you aren’t using it. Rest assured though, it won’t cost you a fortunate if you forget!
Compare SIM-only phone plans
Here is a selection of postpaid plans from Canstar Blue’s database with a minimum of 20GB of data, listed in order of standard cost, lowest to highest, then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Try using our mobile phone plan comparison tool to see a wide range of plans from other providers. This table includes products with links to referral partners.
Here is a selection of prepaid plans from Canstar Blue’s database with a minimum of 10GB of data each month, listed in order of standard cost, lowest to highest, then by data allowance, largest to smallest. If you want to compare a larger range of offers from other providers, use our phone plan comparison tool. This table includes products with links to referral partners.
Original Author: Brendon O’Neill
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