A portable electronic device employs a method for recovering power to a rechargeable battery used therein when the battery is in a low state of charge. The portable electronic device includes at least a power management subsystem (PMS), a main processor subsystem, and the battery. When the battery is incapable of supplying boot-up power to the processor subsystem, power is provided from a battery charger to the PMS to power-up the PMS. The PMS then determines the battery's type and a state-of-charge (SOC) parameter for the battery, and compares the SOC parameter to a threshold, which is based on at least the battery type. If the SOC parameter is less than the threshold, power is provided from the battery charger to the battery for use in recharging the battery. Otherwise, power is supplied from the battery to the processor subsystem to facilitate general operation of the portable electronic device.