Symptoms
- Battery percentage drops much faster than before the drop
- Phone may feel warmer than usual
- Battery percentage may jump erratically
Likely causes
- PossiblePhysical damage to the battery cell itselfA drop can dent or stress the battery, degrading its capacity or causing a partial short.
- PossibleLoose battery connector causing intermittent contactCan cause erratic readings and drain as the connection flickers.
- CommonScreen or component damage drawing extra powerA cracked screen or damaged sensor can stay active and drain power unnecessarily.
- PossibleCoincidental app or software issue unrelated to the dropWorth checking battery usage stats before assuming hardware damage.
What to do
- Check battery usage stats in settings to see if one app is unexpectedly using a lot of power.
- Look for any bulging or warmth that would suggest battery damage rather than software.
- Restart the phone to clear any temporary process that might be stuck running from the impact.
- Compare battery drain over a day or two against your usual pattern before concluding it's drop-related.
- If drain remains high with no unusual app activity and the timing lines up with the drop, have the battery tested by a professional.
Tools and parts
Replacement batterySearch: “battery replacement for your model”
When to call a pro
A repair shop can run a battery health check to see if capacity dropped suddenly, which points to physical damage from the fall.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.