Real World battery life?

**MrVivekB** · 11-18-2012, 06:37 PM

Can those lucky folks who got an N4 please post about battery life in their real life experience once they have all their data sucking apps installed? I use g+, fb, Words with Friends, Dropbox, weather, and Good (enterprise email).

I wasn't able to successfully place my order on D-day, and absolutely must have announced unlocked GSM phone in my hands by 12/7 as I'm going on an overseas trip a little after that. Given that I'm just twiddling my thumbs waiting on a restock, I've started looking at options like the International Galaxy Note 2.

My biggest needs are for a good camera, and at least 6 hours of battery life. Android 4.2 & photosphere are extremely desirable but not mission critical. I'd really prefer a Nexus for no bloatware and fast updates but if that's not an option or if the battery sucks I'll cry and get over it.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

**harrycarry250** · 11-18-2012, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by MrVivekB

My biggest needs are for a good camera, and at least 6 hours of battery life. Android 4.2 & photosphere are extremely desirable but not mission critical. I'd really prefer a Nexus for no bloatware and fast updates but if that's not an option or if the battery sucks I'll cry and get over it.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Then you're fine! I am getting a full day out of my Nexus 4. I text, use about a full hour of web, use maps, snap some pics, and check fb every so often. Right now I have had my phone on battery for 12 hours since my last charge. Screen time on is 2 hours and with auto brightness in my mushroom cave my display is using 33% percent of my battery. I had the phone on the charger for about an hour and I am at 18%. Overall my battery life is acceptable, if not good. It is better than my battery experience with the gs3 and on par with my iPhone 5(HSPA+ mode).

**Andrew Martonik** · 11-18-2012, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by MrVivekB

My biggest needs are for a good camera, and at least 6 hours of battery life. Android 4.2 & photosphere are extremely desirable but not mission critical. I'd really prefer a Nexus for no bloatware and fast updates but if that's not an option or if the battery sucks I'll cry and get over it.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Think I can guarantee 6 hours of usage the way you describe lol. Not a very lofty goal.

**MrVivekB** · 11-18-2012, 08:38 PM

Cool & wow, many thanks. I've got a few portable battery chargers, and am within a power outlet most of the day so my needs are low. I have my apps check for data updates very often so I chew through batteries. Although I suspect some of that is due to 4G/lte.

Now I just need to hope the Play store is restocked by 11/29 otherwise I'll have to find a TMo store with stock. I'm on AT&T so I'll have to pay the ETF.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

**Tallonjf** · 11-18-2012, 08:51 PM

Are you talking six of screen on time or six hours away from a charger. One of those is extremely likely. The other one though...

**ryjb** · 11-18-2012, 09:05 PM

I've been using mine heavily this weekend and have been getting about 8 hours. When the newness wears off I bet I can get all day. That is typical for me.

**Tallonjf** · 11-18-2012, 09:14 PM

Is that 8 hours screen on time?

**ryjb** · 11-18-2012, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Tallonjf

Is that 8 hours screen on time?

That showed 6.5 hours on screen time. But this was using YouTube and other battery intensive things.

**Exergy** · 11-18-2012, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by noname3151

That showed 6.5 hours on screen time. But this was using YouTube and other battery intensive things.

Wow, that's great! I was very fearful of the battery sucking. Not anymore.

**D3lit3** · 11-18-2012, 09:36 PM

I need the phone in my life now.

**ryjb** · 11-18-2012, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by jshultz89

Wow, that's great! I was very fearful of the battery sucking. Not anymore.

Perhaps this will help give you a better idea. Once again I've been using battery intense things. That's my battery at 42%. And I suspect the battery will get a little better after break in.

**safavi** · 11-18-2012, 09:49 PM

I have been using mine for a few days and there definitely seems to be something going on with the software side. I typically find that "Android OS" and "Android System" together consume way more battery than the screen as a percentage of usage and way more than I am used to from my previous phones.

I currently have Google Now, Latitude, Location History, one gmail + one google apps account syncing. I can still manage my currently light usage, but as I start using the device for music etc... I can definitely see a problem. It seems clear to me that there is some software bug at play, at least on some devices/configurations. Often times I see that the device has spent hours at the 384 MHz state when it was supposed to be sleeping.

**DNicolasL** · 11-18-2012, 10:59 PM

I get about 3.5 hours of screen on time on my GSM G-Nex. I hope the Nexus 4 is an upgrade.

**Andrew Martonik** · 11-18-2012, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by safavi

I have been using mine for a few days and there definitely seems to be something going on with the software side. I typically find that "Android OS" and "Android System" together consume way more battery than the screen as a percentage of usage and way more than I am used to from my previous phones.

I currently have Google Now, Latitude, Location History, one gmail + one google apps account syncing. I can still manage my currently light usage, but as I start using the device for music etc... I can definitely see a problem. It seems clear to me that there is some software bug at play, at least on some devices/configurations. Often times I see that the device has spent hours at the 384 MHz state when it was supposed to be sleeping.

I'm seeing very high "Android System" usage on my Galaxy Nexus with 4.2 also. Checking into it I see no wakelocks or anything of the sort. I just think more system applications are actually getting lumped into "Android System", so it's being reported higher.

**MrVivekB** · 11-18-2012, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Tallonjf

Are you talking six of screen on time or six hours away from a charger. One of those is extremely likely. The other one though...

I meant away from charger, perhaps 3 hours of screen time. The latter posts show that won't be an issue.

Although, my HTC One X has been sucking down battery MUCH faster in the past week. As in, 3 hours away from charger. I wonder if one of my apps is thrashing the data connection, and whether it's the same issue some of you are experiencing.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

**Eric Kane** · 11-18-2012, 11:46 PM

This is only on my second charge cycle with a lot of web browsing, texting, and about 50/50 on Wi-Fi/HSPA+. Also about 50 minutes on voice calls. It should get even better after a few more cycles.

**Andrew Martonik** · 11-18-2012, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by ericsckane

This is only on my second charge cycle with a lot of web browsing, texting, and about 50/50 on Wi-Fi/HSPA+. Also about 50 minutes on voice calls. It should get even better after a few more cycles.

Good to see. thanks for reporting in. Looks very similar to normal usage on a GSM Galaxy Nexus.

**safavi** · 11-19-2012, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew Martonik

I'm seeing very high "Android System" usage on my Galaxy Nexus with 4.2 also. Checking into it I see no wakelocks or anything of the sort. I just think more system applications are actually getting lumped into "Android System", so it's being reported higher.

I do see some strange behavior it's just hard to know exactly what is causing it. I have disabled the location based stuff from Google Now (transit directions, places of interest etc...) and will see how I fare tomorrow.

When I looked at the battery stats output, I recall seeing some wakelocks that I didn't recognize. Specifically, I have "msm_hsic_host" as the top item.