Smartphone Dies Quickly Even When Plugged In

Why the Answer Is Correct

Option D, performing a battery health test, is the correct first action because the symptom pattern — a device that runs only a few minutes before shutting down — is the classic signature of a lithium-ion battery that has degraded or lost its ability to hold charge under load. A battery that reports charge but collapses minutes later (sometimes from swelling or cell imbalance) fails exactly this way, and it fails even while plugged in because the battery can no longer buffer power to the system. Per CompTIA's mobile device troubleshooting workflow, technicians should verify the component most likely to be failing with a non-destructive diagnostic before replacing hardware. A battery health test is quick, built into most mobile operating systems, and directly confirms or eliminates the leading hypothesis. It also guides the correct remediation path: battery replacement rather than a cable swap or software cleanup.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option B, checking the cable for damage, is a reasonable baseline step, but it does not fit the evidence here — the phone does power on and operate for minutes, so current is clearly reaching the device, and a damaged cable would typically prevent charging or cause intermittent connection rather than a steady few-minute run time. Option A, scanning for malware, addresses performance degradation, background drain from rogue apps, or pop-ups, not a hardware-level shutdown where the device cannot remain powered even while plugged in. Option C, disabling roaming, is a cellular voice/data setting that has no bearing on a device's ability to stay powered on; it belongs to network connectivity troubleshooting, not power diagnostics. None of these three options addresses the failing-power-source pattern described in the scenario.

Community Comment Notes

One commenter agreed with the battery diagnosis, noting 'Phone dies after only minutes even while plugged in → first investigate whether its battery is failing,' which aligns with the verdict of D. A second commenter countered that 'It should be on when plugged, correct answer is B; check cable first.' That reasoning overlooks the fact that the phone does stay on briefly, proving the cable is delivering some power, so the cable is not the limiting factor in this scenario.