Why is my screen usage such a high percentage of my battery?!

[Ruchi td]

So I got the S4 3 days ago. I have already returned one handset due to abnormal 7hr battery drain. I'm on my second handset from the same store and its no different. I'm seeing a large percentage of my battery is being taken up by my screen. My screen usage percentage usually shows 80 on an average even after I switch on the screen after it has been charging at night. Hitting refresh does nothing and it re,aims b/w 77 to 80% pretty much all day till my battery dies in around 8 hours. My avg on screen time is 4 hrs. Auto brightness is turned off and set to a very low number. Phone is in power saving mode. Wifi gps and most other samsung features are turned off. I don't even watch videos or play games on this thing.

Going by what other ppl r showing as their screen usage(~40-50% of their battery), mine seems abnormally high. I guess this is yet another defective handset from the same store.

P.S I'm with AT&T

 

[Aquila]

So I got the S4 3 days ago. I have already returned one handset due to abnormal 7hr battery drain. I'm on my second handset from the same store and its no different. I'm seeing a large percentage of my battery is being taken up by my screen. My screen usage percentage usually shows 80 on an average even after I switch on the screen after it has been charging at night. Hitting refresh does nothing and it re,aims b/w 77 to 80% pretty much all day till my battery dies in around 8 hours. My avg on screen time is 4 hrs. Auto brightness is turned off and set to a very low number. Phone is in power saving mode. Wifi gps and most other samsung features are turned off. I don't even watch videos or play games on this thing.

Going by what other ppl r showing as their screen usage(~40-50% of their battery), mine seems abnormally high. I guess this is yet another defective handset from the same store.

P.S I'm with AT&T

https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...133&sads=ieXF6nFm3xxXU2ngZdpTUhfw6RM&sadssc=1

The high % seems to be because everything else is off... but that doesn't really explain why it is dying so fast. 4 hours of on screen time isn't too abnormal, but since everything else is off, it makes the 8 hours seem really low. Is your mobile network on? If you are on 3G or 4G and in a low signal area that could potentially be draining it, but you should see that in the charts if that's the case. That screen is huge and it's going to be a big part of your battery, especially if you're not using it for much, but I agree, your numbers seem a little weird.

 

[AlphaVictor87]

Just did a check for you OP as i am with AT&T and yah my screen is at 41% and i've been getting about 16-18 hours on days with very little use. probably around 10-12 with just regular emails/texting/internet/games.
However i do not have power saving mode on, so i'm not sure what that does. I'm just hesitant to use it.

 

[The Hustleman]

So I got the S4 3 days ago. I have already returned one handset due to abnormal 7hr battery drain. I'm on my second handset from the same store and its no different. I'm seeing a large percentage of my battery is being taken up by my screen. My screen usage percentage usually shows 80 on an average even after I switch on the screen after it has been charging at night. Hitting refresh does nothing and it re,aims b/w 77 to 80% pretty much all day till my battery dies in around 8 hours. My avg on screen time is 4 hrs. Auto brightness is turned off and set to a very low number. Phone is in power saving mode. Wifi gps and most other samsung features are turned off. I don't even watch videos or play games on this thing.

Going by what other ppl r showing as their screen usage(~40-50% of their battery), mine seems abnormally high. I guess this is yet another defective handset from the same store.

P.S I'm with AT&T

https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...133&sads=ieXF6nFm3xxXU2ngZdpTUhfw6RM&sadssc=1

How much screen time?

That's the main drain.

Screen always uses more power than anything else

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

Just did a check for you OP as i am with AT&T and yah my screen is at 41% and i've been getting about 16-18 hours on days with very little use. probably around 10-12 with just regular emails/texting/internet/games.
However i do not have power saving mode on, so i'm not sure what that does. I'm just hesitant to use it.

That is awesome! Where do you live and whats your 4G LTE coverage like? I only get 3 bars, and there is no way to switch off 4G. I dont know why my screen is at 80% that makes no sense to me.

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

How much screen time?

That's the main drain.

Screen always uses more power than anything else

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

On screen time this morning is 2hrs and battery is already at 60%...I managed to switch off my LTE yesterday so I have much better signal now, but battery is still crap...

This is driving me nuts. This phone is going to die by 4pm like it did yesterday...and all im doing is whatsapping intermittently....

 

[Almeuit]

Screen is usually always the highest drain of a phone.

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.

 

[Wilbur]

On screen time this morning is 2hrs and battery is already at 60%...I managed to switch off my LTE yesterday so I have much better signal now, but battery is still crap...

This is driving me nuts. This phone is going to die by 4pm like it did yesterday...and all im doing is whatsapping intermittently....

https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...367935835518&sads=F0nZgV8zRpqqPRWcS5Lm1ufD_gkhttps://mail-attachment.googleuserc...367935776701&sads=4ObW_eST0uECqJZQJ89SgWQP8J4https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...895&sads=xxojS-IsUKls5EgdxWhDkqTrlkg&sadssc=1

Thankfully you can swap batteries on the S4. Have you considered buying spare batteries?

Amazon.com: Anker? 2 x 2600mAh Li-ion Batteries for Samsung Galaxy S4, with screen protector, white phone case, with Anker free travel charger, with NFC/Google Wallet [18-Month Warranty]: Electronics

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

Screen is usually always the highest drain of a phone.

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.

How is your screen usage so low? I'm so stumped!

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

Thankfully you can swap batteries on the S4. Have you considered buying spare batteries?

Amazon.com: Anker? 2 x 2600mAh Li-ion Batteries for Samsung Galaxy S4, with screen protector, white phone case, with Anker free travel charger, with NFC/Google Wallet [18-Month Warranty]: Electronics

This is already a second new handset with a new battery. AT&T switched out my first one cz it was doing the same thing.

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

Thankfully you can swap batteries on the S4. Have you considered buying spare batteries?

Amazon.com: Anker? 2 x 2600mAh Li-ion Batteries for Samsung Galaxy S4, with screen protector, white phone case, with Anker free travel charger, with NFC/Google Wallet [18-Month Warranty]: Electronics

This is already a second new handset with a new battery. AT&T replaced the first one cz it was draining after 7 hours. This new handset is doing the same thing. Something is really wrong!

 

[Almeuit]

How is your screen usage so low? I'm so stumped!

My screenshot is only for 3 hours of battery usage. Hence why.. But also I am using alot of other apps like slacker radio which are using battery. As you said you are only using the phone intermittently so that means there aren't many apps to use up your battery... So the biggest drain is the screen since nothing else is sucking juice.

Below are older Screenshots of my battery. Mind you I am still on the S3 but I wanted to post to show you screen is usually always your highest drain. Big screens do that .

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

16 hours is amazing!!!!!! I think I'm better off getting an S3 :'-\

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

My smart scroll and air gestures such as hovering over a message etc dont work either...i think im stuck with a phone with a gazillion bugs...!

 

[mpdofficer514]

Im not having any problems with my AT&T S4 battery. 50% brightness

Sent From My Galaxy S4 Using Android Central App

 

[Ruchi Dholakia]

Im not having any problems with my AT&T S4 battery. 50% brightness

Sent From My Galaxy S4 Using Android Central App

1 DAY!? That is awesome! I'm getting a new handset in a couple of days. Lets see if that helps...

 

[Almeuit]

Im not having any problems with my AT&T S4 battery. 50% brightness

Sent From My Galaxy S4 Using Android Central App

1 DAY!? That is awesome! I'm getting a new handset in a couple of days. Lets see if that helps...

Depends on his network usage as well. As you can see from my previous shot you can see how much wifi was on. That always plays a factor.

Below are older Screenshots of my phone on the weekend. Wifi alot more and I don't use the screen as much but able to stretch it. I use auto brightness as well.

Edit - also Ruchi you said you are getting 4 hours of screen time. That sounds pretty good.. Your usage on battery is high due to you not using many apps and the screen being the only big drain.

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.

 

[The Hustleman]

Im not having any problems with my AT&T S4 battery. 50% brightness

Sent From My Galaxy S4 Using Android Central App

You're a light user though, I see why you get that type of time

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[84guy]

71% screen power usage almost 3 hours screen time on, no complaints here 50% left

 

[lupusanimus]

That's crazy! Mine is always between 49-75% and with medium usage lasts me 15-18 hours. I have Location Services, GPS, and some Google stuff disabled. I keep my brightness on auto and don't have an issue. I have a Sprint Galaxy S4 and currently use 3G. I also disable WiFi when I'm not home and have notifications disabled for most of my apps. The GS3 that my uncle has usually lasts about the same (more like 15-17 though.)