Modern gadgets aren’t magic, but they’re also not what people said about them ten years ago. Smartphones, laptops, speakers, and even public Wi-Fi are surrounded by myths that still live in people’s minds. It’s time to separate common sense from tech folklore.
Here are 14 of the strangest tech myths in 2026.
1. Closing apps in the multitasking panel is helpful
Myth: The fewer apps open, the longer the battery lasts and the faster the phone.
Reality: Modern iOS and Android manage memory on their own. Forcing apps to close can actually use more battery. Only close apps if they’re frozen.
2. First charge should be after full discharge
Wrong: Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries don’t suffer from the “memory effect.” Full discharge doesn’t calibrate the battery — it actually speeds up wear.
3. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drain the battery a lot
Modern wireless modules have almost no effect on standby battery life. The main consumers are the screen, processor, and active apps.
4. Charging your phone overnight is harmful
Modern controllers stop charging at 100% and charge in pulses. Overheating, deep discharges, and heavy use cause the most wear.
5. 120 Hz screens are just marketing
High refresh rates actually make the interface smooth and animations and games comfortable. Adaptive displays lower the rate in static scenes, saving battery.
6. You can’t charge in power-saving mode
On the contrary: Power-saving reduces heat and strain on the battery; charging works normally. The mode doesn’t interfere with the charging controller.
7. Smartphones demagnetize bank cards
Fiction: The phone’s magnetic field destroys the magnetic stripe. Reality: NFC chips and weak emissions make this fear groundless.
8. Laptops shouldn’t stay plugged in all the time
Modern laptops limit charging to 70–80% and monitor temperature, so the battery isn’t harmed. The key is not to keep the battery at extreme levels for too long.
9. More megapixels = better camera
Megapixels only affect resolution, not photo quality. Sensor size, lens aperture, stabilization, and processing algorithms matter more.
10. Virtual RAM replaces physical RAM
No. Virtual RAM is just a portion of storage used temporarily. It doesn’t speed up the system, it only keeps apps in the background longer.
11. Speakers and smartphones listen to us
Reality: Algorithms analyze behavior, not conversations. “Coincidental” ads are the result of big data and interest prediction, not constant monitoring.
12. Public Wi-Fi with a password is safe
A password only protects against random connections, not data interception. Use a VPN, mobile data, and don’t enter sensitive info unless necessary.
13. Incognito mode is fully anonymous
Incognito hides history and cookies on your device, but websites, providers, and employers can still see activity. True anonymity requires additional tools.
14. Phone radiation is harmful
Myth: A phone near your body is dangerous. In fact, it emits normal radio waves with no proven harm. Most radiation occurs during active data transmission, not from a phone lying nearby.
