Poor battery life has the biggest impact on smartphone consumer satisfaction. The more functionality we pack into our smartphones, the more power they need to run.
Running out of juice is still the number one annoyance for smartphone owners. We’re not much closer to long lasting smartphone batteries, because we’re still reliant on the same old technology.
While we wait for the hardware development to catch up, the alternative will be to conserve battery life.
As it is with our energy levels, battery life can be effectively utilized and managed, leaving nothing to go to waste. Without a battery charger or a spare battery with you everywhere you go, you’ll have to make due with minimizing the consumption of battery juice.
How do you make that battery last? What are the essential tips for saving smartphone battery life that will see you through the day?
Dim Your Screen
As smartphone screens get bigger, the display is responsible for eating more and more of the battery life. Reducing brightness level on your screen will have an impact.
Decrease the screen timeout.
You’ll find it in Settings > Display. Make it as low as you possibly can before you find it terribly frustrating that your screen keeps turning itself off. On Windows Phone you’ll find the option in Settings > Lock + wallpaper > Screen times out after. On BB10 it’s Settings > Display > Screen Lock Timeout.
Use Dark Background
If you have an AMOLED screen, then you can save battery by using a dark background. The technology turns off pixels when they are black, so if you have predominantly black wallpaper, then you can actually save a lot of battery power.
Disable GPS
Your smartphone has a GPS unit that allows the sending and receiving of signals to and from satellites to determine your exact location. When left running in the background, some of these apps may continue to send and receive signals. It takes a lot out of your battery to continuously do that, even if you aren’t aware of it.
Switch Off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G/4G When Not In Use
Energy is consumed whenever your smartphone searches for signals, Wi-Fi, 3G or Bluetooth etc. When the reception is poor, the phone will continue scanning to attain a good connection. Repeated searches for these signals can easily make your battery level drop a notch.
Keep your apps up to date.
Developers often release updates for apps and games that offer improved optimization and this can have a big impact on battery life. If you discover a battery hog, then have it uninstalled.
Keep it Cool
Keep your smartphone as cool as possible. Sitting in direct sunlight on the dashboard of your car will actually drain the battery faster.
Charge Your Battery Correctly
Different batteries respond to different charging schedules. Most smartphones have lithium-ion batteries. One thing that many people do which can degrade the battery’s health is to leave it plugged in after it is fully charged. If you’re going to charge your phone overnight, then try to use a charger that shuts off once the battery is full. It’s also best not to let your battery fully discharge too often.
.jpg)
