My HOW-TO way to increase Android Battery

=X= · 08-18-2011, 07:14 PM

A few months back I had a co-worker come over to my desk and complain about his Android battery life(hold off before you agree).

He explained that after he rooted/ROMed his phone with CM7 he now has lost 10% battery over a 6hr period. I look at him and say your kidding right that's great battery life. He retorts back by saying usually by the end of the day he's usually down to 2%. That's 98% battery life at the end of the day.

So being a good friend with an open mind, I call him crazy and dismiss his claim. So he comes back the next day during lunch to show me he's only at 1%. Sure enough he is. We track down what he does and what settings he has and it comes down to a Data plan. He's on a Pay as you go and disables his data plan.

So I've been running some test over the last two weeks to see what kind of battery life I get with my data on and with my data off.

DATA
Here is the result.

Data ON 4% per hr
Data OFF 1/2 per hr

Heavy Data (streaming/surfing/mobile AP) 10%-15%

For the data results above I've used my phone under normal circumstances, as a productivity tool(calendar, mail, to-do list) and reading books.

It seems my battery life didn't match his battery life, but my screen is twice the size of his phone. I'm thinking that plus I use my phone more than he does.

CONCLUSION
It seems my co-worker was on to something and addresses something most android users suffer from, huge battery drain. While it's not always an option to disable the data plan. Knowing this little trick can help keep your phone alive for those moments when you don't have readily access to a power outlet.

=X=

FatDog · 08-18-2011, 09:36 PM

There are lots of battery monitors on the Marketplace that will show you what is using your battery up.

On my Droid 2 phone I have turned off GPS, WiFi and other constantly running services and I loose about 10% battery per day. Any app that wants to use a service asks before turning it on.

On my Viewsonic tablet the power-drain seems to be about 30% per day but I do use Netflix on it so I charge it up at night and I am fine.

jgray · 08-18-2011, 10:20 PM

No, he's not crazy and neither are you. You don't need to root a phone and/or install a custom ROM to get better battery life. Disabling the cellular data feature (Mobile Data) is the key. Doing this does not disable the ability to make/receive phone calls. This is not the same thing as Airplane Mode, which disables all radios in the phone.

If your Android phone does not have a Mobile Data option that you can toggle off, get Quick Settings (a free app on the Market). Quick Settings can live in the top Notification bar and it allows you to toggle/change many settings.

Another way to accomplish almost the same thing is simply to turn WiFi on. This will by default turn off Mobile Data. Although the WiFi radio will draw some current, even when not connected, the overall battery savings vs leaving Mobile Data on is huge.

Since I have WiFi at work, I often turn on WiFi on the phone while I'm there. This way, I still get email and such via WiFi, while saving battery. I often use the phone as an MP3 player, so the WiFi trick helps quite a bit.

Joe

Marseille · 08-19-2011, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

It seems my battery life didn't match his battery life, but my screen is twice the size of his phone. I'm thinking that plus I use my phone more than he does.

Networks, firmwares and different applications can affect how much savings you get. If one network has less of a signal, it can lead to more scanning and searching for a signal. If one phone has inferior firmware, it can still do more scanning, or something else inefficient, signal notwithstanding. Apps doing lots of background transfers draw extra power if a radio is available for use.

I'm prepaid like your friend and have always controlled my radios. I also use droidwall now to further control apps even when a radio is on, though mostly to save data rather than battery.

RainingLemur · 08-19-2011, 10:31 AM

My phone (Verizon) hasn't been too bad on the battery life. I keep the screen brightness turned down, and have had the "data on/off" toggle on my first home-screen for as long as I can remember. I also made sure to recalibrate the battery once I rooted it so as to enjoy a better battery life, in addition to removing some of the bloatware crap that automatically runs on startup and saps life.

Also, a user here recommended Juice Plotter from the market, and I stand behind it. It's been a useful tool.

FatDog · 08-19-2011, 03:24 PM

Oh - I remember that a "Live Wallpaper" seemed to be a big power drain according to my battery app so I disabled it in favor of a static wallpaper.

But the cell-phone part is a huge variable. The phones will all ramp up/down the power depending on the signal strength. At my desk or home the phone probably drains 10% of the battery per day. But if I leave the phone plugged in my car two levels down in the underground parking structure - the battery is almost dead after 9 hours because of the extra power it is using to reach the cell system.

According to the Battery app - the power drain on my phone is:

Phone Idle: 53%
Cell Standby: 40%
Display: 4%
Android System: 2%

=X= · 08-20-2011, 10:02 PM

Hey all thanks for the additional tips I'll take a look at some of the apps

wodin · 08-22-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgray

Another way to accomplish almost the same thing is simply to turn WiFi on. This will by default turn off Mobile Data. Although the WiFi radio will draw some current, even when not connected, the overall battery savings vs leaving Mobile Data on is huge.
Joe

This seems at odds with my experience on my HTC EVO 4G, but not on my 7" 3G (Verizon) Galaxy Tab. I always keep WiFi turned on on both devices. I have WiFi at home, but not at work, so when I'm home they both default to WiFi, but at work they both use 3G. Both have stock Gingerbread, and the settings are the same for both.

So here's the dichotomy. On weekends (at home), the tab gets better battery life but the phone gets worse; but on weekdays (at work) it’s just the opposite.

GreenMonkey · 08-23-2011, 02:59 AM

I use a custom widget (widgetsoid on the market) to create a custom power control widget - it's got a brightness toggle, GPS, wi-fi, bluetooth, airplane mod, and wi-fi hotspot toggle.

Just having them easily toggleable on your homescreen helps. I found my wife's phone with the hotspot enabled the other day (she forgot about it for a few days...I guess she tuned out the little blue notification).

I don't normally bother to turn off data unless I'm in a very poor signal area. I do set individual apps (like weather) that sync to less frequent syncing (maybe once a day).

Blossom · 08-23-2011, 08:50 PM

I get a about 36hrs on my battery. I have found that the Market itself is a huge battery drain on my phone. I use my phone for Facebook, texting, talking, reading, news, weather and reminders alerts. Gaming will drain a battery fairly quickly. I use to have lots of games apps now I have Yahtzee and Sudoku and that's it. The most used app is my ereader app to read my books before bed. I never turn 3G off and I seldom use WiFi.

I do have Quick Settings app I use it mostly for a flashlight.

08-18-2011, 07:14 PM	#1
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	My HOW-TO way to increase Android Battery A few months back I had a co-worker come over to my desk and complain about his Android battery life(hold off before you agree). He explained that after he rooted/ROMed his phone with CM7 he now has lost 10% battery over a 6hr period. I look at him and say your kidding right that's great battery life. He retorts back by saying usually by the end of the day he's usually down to 2%. That's 98% battery life at the end of the day. So being a good friend with an open mind, I call him crazy and dismiss his claim. So he comes back the next day during lunch to show me he's only at 1%. Sure enough he is. We track down what he does and what settings he has and it comes down to a Data plan. He's on a Pay as you go and disables his data plan. So I've been running some test over the last two weeks to see what kind of battery life I get with my data on and with my data off. DATA Here is the result. Data ON 4% per hr Data OFF 1/2 per hr Heavy Data (streaming/surfing/mobile AP) 10%-15% For the data results above I've used my phone under normal circumstances, as a productivity tool(calendar, mail, to-do list) and reading books. It seems my battery life didn't match his battery life, but my screen is twice the size of his phone. I'm thinking that plus I use my phone more than he does. CONCLUSION It seems my co-worker was on to something and addresses something most android users suffer from, huge battery drain. While it's not always an option to disable the data plan. Knowing this little trick can help keep your phone alive for those moments when you don't have readily access to a power outlet. =X=

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08-18-2011, 09:36 PM	#2
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	There are lots of battery monitors on the Marketplace that will show you what is using your battery up. On my Droid 2 phone I have turned off GPS, WiFi and other constantly running services and I loose about 10% battery per day. Any app that wants to use a service asks before turning it on. On my Viewsonic tablet the power-drain seems to be about 30% per day but I do use Netflix on it so I charge it up at night and I am fine.

08-18-2011, 10:20 PM	#3
jgray Fanatic Posts: 554 Karma: 2928497 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Clara 2E & Sage	No, he's not crazy and neither are you. You don't need to root a phone and/or install a custom ROM to get better battery life. Disabling the cellular data feature (Mobile Data) is the key. Doing this does not disable the ability to make/receive phone calls. This is not the same thing as Airplane Mode, which disables all radios in the phone. If your Android phone does not have a Mobile Data option that you can toggle off, get Quick Settings (a free app on the Market). Quick Settings can live in the top Notification bar and it allows you to toggle/change many settings. Another way to accomplish almost the same thing is simply to turn WiFi on. This will by default turn off Mobile Data. Although the WiFi radio will draw some current, even when not connected, the overall battery savings vs leaving Mobile Data on is huge. Since I have WiFi at work, I often turn on WiFi on the phone while I'm there. This way, I still get email and such via WiFi, while saving battery. I often use the phone as an MP3 player, so the WiFi trick helps quite a bit. Joe

08-19-2011, 10:31 AM	#5
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	My phone (Verizon) hasn't been too bad on the battery life. I keep the screen brightness turned down, and have had the "data on/off" toggle on my first home-screen for as long as I can remember. I also made sure to recalibrate the battery once I rooted it so as to enjoy a better battery life, in addition to removing some of the bloatware crap that automatically runs on startup and saps life. Also, a user here recommended Juice Plotter from the market, and I stand behind it. It's been a useful tool.

08-19-2011, 03:24 PM	#6
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Oh - I remember that a "Live Wallpaper" seemed to be a big power drain according to my battery app so I disabled it in favor of a static wallpaper. But the cell-phone part is a huge variable. The phones will all ramp up/down the power depending on the signal strength. At my desk or home the phone probably drains 10% of the battery per day. But if I leave the phone plugged in my car two levels down in the underground parking structure - the battery is almost dead after 9 hours because of the extra power it is using to reach the cell system. According to the Battery app - the power drain on my phone is: Phone Idle: 53% Cell Standby: 40% Display: 4% Android System: 2%

08-20-2011, 10:02 PM	#7
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Hey all thanks for the additional tips I'll take a look at some of the apps

08-23-2011, 02:59 AM	#9
GreenMonkey DRM hater Posts: 945 Karma: 2066176 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Nook ST glow, Kindle Voyage	I use a custom widget (widgetsoid on the market) to create a custom power control widget - it's got a brightness toggle, GPS, wi-fi, bluetooth, airplane mod, and wi-fi hotspot toggle. Just having them easily toggleable on your homescreen helps. I found my wife's phone with the hotspot enabled the other day (she forgot about it for a few days...I guess she tuned out the little blue notification). I don't normally bother to turn off data unless I'm in a very poor signal area. I do set individual apps (like weather) that sync to less frequent syncing (maybe once a day).

08-23-2011, 08:50 PM	#10
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I get a about 36hrs on my battery. I have found that the Market itself is a huge battery drain on my phone. I use my phone for Facebook, texting, talking, reading, news, weather and reminders alerts. Gaming will drain a battery fairly quickly. I use to have lots of games apps now I have Yahtzee and Sudoku and that's it. The most used app is my ereader app to read my books before bed. I never turn 3G off and I seldom use WiFi. I do have Quick Settings app I use it mostly for a flashlight.

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