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Whenever you buy a new gadget or any electronic device that runs on battery, you might have noticed a unit called MAH. MAH is a unit that tells you about the battery life of a device. You must have noticed MAH mentioned in the specifications while purchasing a new mobile phone or a powerbank. It sometimes says 5000mAh or 10000mAh, this tiny unit holds great weight if we talk about how long your phone’s battery will last.
This blog will cover the full form of MAH, what it is, how it affects battery performance, some examples to understand the use of MAH and many more details about the unit MAH.
What is the Full Form of mAh?
MAH stands for Milliampere Hour. It is a unit which is used to measure the electrical current that a battery can deliver over a specific period of time (generally one hour).Let’s understand MAH in simple terms, MAH is basically the battery’s capacity. It can be understood in such a way that how a water tank’s size tells us how much water it can hold, similarly MAH tells us how long your device can work.
The more MAH a device has the longer it will work without the need to charge it again and again.
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What is Milliampere Hour?
MAH is a unit which is commonly used to know the battery capacity. It helps to get an idea about how long a device will work after one full charge. The more the MAH is, the longer battery life the device has.
Whenever you are buying a new phone or a powerbank, it is suggested to check the battery life and MAH on batteries. You must keep in mind that MAH does not tell anything about the charging speed or the battery health but it helps you to know just about the battery capacity.
MAH is a simple concept but it can create confusion in your mind if you do not understand it properly, have a look at the below example for clarifications. So, let’s assume that your mobile phone has 2000mAh battery but your phone only needs 1000mAh per hour to work, in this case the battery will last for 2 hours. The battery life depends on the phone also.
- If the phone uses more power then the battery drains faster.
- If the phone uses less power then the battery stays for a longer duration.
Why is MAH important?
MAH tells you how long your device’s battery will last before you need to recharge it. A device with a higher MAH battery is always considered better as it provides longer battery life. MAH is used in almost all devices that run on battery. Some of the devices are mentioned below:
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Power banks
- Bluetooth Earphones
- Smartwatches
- Laptops
- Cameras
If you are someone who constantly has to work on your phone, laptop or your tablet then MAH becomes more important for you because if you have to work all day, you would definitely want and need a device whose battery lasts for a longer duration.
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For example- if you need your device for gaming, video streaming or 8-9 hours long office work then you would require a device with higher battery capacity as compared to someone who just uses their device for messaging or calling, they might even adjust with a slightly lesser battery capacity.
How to Choose the Right MAH Battery?
If you are planning to buy a new device but are confused about how to choose the right MAH battery rating? Don’t worry, you’ve landed at the right place. Read along to make the right decision in choosing your new device.
If you are someone who only uses your phone for basic calling and messaging then a smaller MAH battery would work for you. But, if you are someone who uses your phone or laptop for continuous scrolling, streaming or playing games then you should consider a device with a higher MAH battery.
Have a look at the below table to make a quick and correct decision:
| Use | Recommended MAH |
| Less use (calls, messages) | 3000-4000 mAh |
| Medium use (scrolling social media, browsing) | 4000-5000 mAh |
| High use (gaming, video streaming) | 5000+ mAh |
Common Misconceptions About MAH
MAH just tells you about the battery capacity but many people usually misunderstand its meaning, use and what it actually represents. A higher MAH means that the device will last longer without needing to recharge but that is not always the case, it even depends on the type of device and how much it consumes to work.
Let’s have a look at some of the common misconceptions that people have regarding MAH and clear them out.
1. Higher MAH means better battery
A higher MAH battery may drain faster depending on the device it is used in. If the device consumes more power then the battery will die faster.
2. MAH refers to charging speed
Many people believe that higher MAH represents faster battery but this is not the case. MAH has no relation with charging speed.
3. Higher MAH mean bigger battery size
Higher MAH does not mean that the physical size of the battery will also increase. High capacity batteries also come in compact and small sizes.
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FAQs on MAH Full Form
If a battery has MAH, will it have longer battery life?
Yes, in most of the cases batteries with higher MAH have a longer and better battery life. But it also depends on the device’s power consuming capacity. If the device consumes more power then the battery drains faster. If the device consumes less power then the battery lasts longer
Is MAH and WH same?
No, Milliampere Hour (MAH) and Watt-hour (WH) are not the same. MAH measures electric charge whereas WH measures actual energy.
Is there any effect of MAH on how fast my phone charges?
No, MAH is all about battery capacity. It does not impact how fast or slow your phone charges.
