Battery life thread

[Scout_313]

I had a somewhat light to moderate day today (some texting, e-mail, and web browsing) and after 13 hours of being off of the charger, I was only down to 50%. This was on 4G all day and completely blows away the Bionic that I tried for about a week.

Edited to elaborate for TBacker:
-GPS is on (all options checked).
-K9 Mail using push plus polling every 30 minutes.
-Weatherbug Elite updating the weather every 30 minutes.
-No bluetooth.
-No wi-fi.
-Auto brightness.
-Facebook only updates manually and does not have location turned on.
-No task killer being utilized and I have never opened the SmartActions app.

 

[TBacker]

This thread is meaningless unless everyone reporting gives the same basic info:

* Using a task killer (a negative believe it or not)?
* What radios are on (Bluetooth, 3G, LTE, GPS)?
* Screen brightness (Auto, or xx%)?
* Push or pull email (pull or polling uses much more battery)?
* Does your social networking app have location turned on?

That's a start. Otherwise it's all apples and oranges.

Don't take this post the wrong way... I'm not raining on any ones posts here, just making sure the "wonderful lifes" v.s. "this sucks" are in context - that's all.

 

[tekhinator]

I had a somewhat light to moderate day today (some texting, e-mail, and a little web browsing) and after 13 hours of being off of the charger, I was only down to 50%. This was on 4G all day and completely blows away the Bionic that I tried for about a week.

Edited to elaborate for TBacker:
-GPS is on (all options checked).
-K9 Mail using push plus polling every 30 minutes.
-Weatherbug Elite updating the weather every 30 minutes.
-No bluetooth.
-No wi-fi.
-Auto brightness.
-Facebook only updates manually and does not have location turned on.
-No task killer being utilized and I have never opened the SmartActions app.

Sounds pretty good.

 

[jcapen87]

Alright...here's my battery situation (I am pleasantly surprised after reading such blatantly negative reviews)

CDMA on, LTE off
Wi-Fi on at home (weaker signal) for about 3 hours, off at work (about 10 hours)
Bluetooth off
Google location services on, GPS off
E-mail push, no location for social networks
automatic screen brightness
All installed apps (not core processes) set to auto-end list after 2 minutes

I've used it for some Maps, Kik Messenger, Texting, Email, light web browsing, one ten minute call.

20 hours off charger, 40% battery left.

I'll take it for a first charge cycle

 

[jcapen87]

Let me correct myself...21 hours 55 minutes off charger, 40% battery life.

A breakdown of what's used my batt:

Android OS 22% Facebook 2%
Display 20% Browser 2%
WiFi 18% Words Free 2%
Phone idle 12% com.motorola.home 2%
Cell Standby 10% Twitter 2%
Voice Calls 7%

 

[milkshed27]

I'm also getting pitiful battery life. Use it for some mild web browsing and texting then and hour or so of game and it's dead (from a full charge). I'm using Advanced Task Killer and notice that there's ALWAYS tons of apps running. As soon as I kill all of them they start popping back up instantly. Please tell me I have something set up wrong. Battery life is the only thing I don't love about it and really don't want to return it.

I would try not killing apps with Advanced Task Killer. Let Android manage memory on it's own. These task killers end up wasting more battery rather than help conserve it. Every time you kill those apps they just start right back up again causing more resources to be used and more battery power being drained.

If the app is written properly it should not be draining battery while running in the background, unless of course it was made to do so by the developer. So just let those apps be. Unused memory is wasted memory.

I also have Advanced Task Killer on my phone as I find it more intuitive than the stock Android application manager. However, I use it ONLY if an application starts to misbehave.

If you feel having a task killer is necessary, my advice would be to set it so that it does absolutely nothing unless you open it. Try going into the settings in ATK and uncheck the auto start at boot, uncheck the auto kill feature and uncheck the option to place it on your task bar.

Also, if you have any widgets for social networking/news/sports etc., check and see if they refreshing too often. If they are try upping the time in between refreshes. Same goes for email. Unless you rely on email for work related purposes, I personally feel having push emails are unnecessary. I set all my email accounts to never refresh, they only do so when I open up the email app and refresh manually. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[milkshed27]

Nevermind...

 

[jcapen87]

That sounds like plenty good enough battery life. Would you mind posting a few of your top battery drainers from the battery use in settings?

I posted that shortly after my original post, figured some people would be interested to know. Let me know if for whatever reason you don't see it

 

[jcapen87]

I would try not killing apps with Advanced Task Killer. Let Android manage memory on it's own. These task killers end up wasting more battery rather than help conserve it. Every time you kill those apps they just start right back up again causing more resources to be used and more battery power being drained.

If the app is written properly it should not be draining battery while running in the background, unless of course it was made to do so by the developer. So just let those apps be. Unused memory is wasted memory.

I also have Advanced Task Killer on my phone as I find it more intuitive than the stock Android application manager. However, I use it ONLY if an application starts to misbehave.

If you feel having a task killer is necessary, my advice would be to set it so that it does absolutely nothing unless you open it. Try going into the settings in ATK and uncheck the auto start at boot, uncheck the auto kill feature and uncheck the option to place it on your task bar.

Also, if you have any widgets for social networking/news/sports etc., check and see if they refreshing too often. If they are try upping the time in between refreshes. Same goes for email. Unless you rely on email for work related purposes, I personally feel having push emails are unnecessary. I set all my email accounts to never refresh, they only do so when I open up the email app and refresh manually. Hope this helps and good luck.

Agreed, task killers are much more trouble than they are worth. I work at a Best Buy Mobile and most of the problems we see with Android phones are caused by either task killers or anti-virus apps. You're better off just not using them. That IS pitiful battery life...maybe your battery is defective? I'm still on my initial charge from almost 24 hours ago, still have about 40% left and I used it a relatively good bit today

 

[motm95]

I'm still on my initial charge from almost 24 hours ago, still have about 40% left and I used it a relatively good bit today

Seriously? That seems like awesome battery life. Can you provide more detail about your usage, e.g. 4G etc. I am really considering the Razr but I'm worried about the battery life based on all these forum posts. I had an HTC Evo a year ago and ditched it to go back to my Nexus One because the battery life was so bad. I really don't want to repeat that.

 

[jcapen87]

Seriously? That seems like awesome battery life. Can you provide more detail about your usage, e.g. 4G etc. I am really considering the Razr but I'm worried about the battery life based on all these forum posts. I had an HTC Evo a year ago and ditched it to go back to my Nexus One because the battery life was so bad. I really don't want to repeat that.

My original post:
Alright...here's my battery situation (I am pleasantly surprised after reading such blatantly negative reviews)

CDMA on, LTE off
Wi-Fi on at home (weaker signal) for about 3 hours, off at work (about 10 hours)
Bluetooth off
Google location services on, GPS off
E-mail push, no location for social networks
automatic screen brightness
All installed apps (not core processes) set to auto-end list after 2 minutes

I've used it for some Maps, Kik Messenger, Texting, Email, light web browsing, one ten minute call.

20 hours off charger, 40% battery left.

I'll take it for a first charge cycle



- I plan on posting again over the next few days as I go through more charge cycles. THEORETICALLY battery life should only improve after the first few charge cycles

 

[motm95]

You did post that earlier, sorry for not seeing it. Thanks for the info!

 

[jcapen87]

I might even brave the LTE waters tomorrow...

 

[sj993]

I'm on my first full charge...

Auto brightness, gps, wifi, bluetooth off, LTE on, battery extender on. I've done some light browsing, few texts, phone call, I'm at 19% after 23hr 50min.

Pretty decent so far.

 

[tspeice87]

I would try not killing apps with Advanced Task Killer. Let Android manage memory on it's own. These task killers end up wasting more battery rather than help conserve it. Every time you kill those apps they just start right back up again causing more resources to be used and more battery power being drained.

If the app is written properly it should not be draining battery while running in the background, unless of course it was made to do so by the developer. So just let those apps be. Unused memory is wasted memory.

I also have Advanced Task Killer on my phone as I find it more intuitive than the stock Android application manager. However, I use it ONLY if an application starts to misbehave.

If you feel having a task killer is necessary, my advice would be to set it so that it does absolutely nothing unless you open it. Try going into the settings in ATK and uncheck the auto start at boot, uncheck the auto kill feature and uncheck the option to place it on your task bar.

Also, if you have any widgets for social networking/news/sports etc., check and see if they refreshing too often. If they are try upping the time in between refreshes. Same goes for email. Unless you rely on email for work related purposes, I personally feel having push emails are unnecessary. I set all my email accounts to never refresh, they only do so when I open up the email app and refresh manually. Hope this helps and good luck.

I've now deleted the Task Killer completely. I've got a full charge and will see if it gets any better.

 

[TBacker]

Of those who have given enough detail, it seems that battery use by LTE alone (other radios off as much as possible) = having bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi left on (with LTE off).

It seems if you are like me and don't want to be switching radios on and off all day to save power, it's simply a matter of limiting or foregoing LTE use. It's unfortunate that LTE can't be more efficient, but we are on bleeding edge, first-gen LTE chipsets right now.

BTW - as others have said, leaving GPS enabled doesn't mean it's always running. The GPS is dormant unless an app calls it to get location.

 

[o4liberty]

Getting a full day with heavy use !

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[ItsMeCD]

I charged it yesterday, which was very fast btw. The phone has been off of the charger for about 15 hours.

I have wifi on, along with GPS (all options checked). I am running the Facebook and Twitter apps from the market and syncing the built in Facebook account for gallery integration. The market apps are syncing every hour. My primary Gmail account is active obviously. Weatherbug is also syncing hourly. I am in a 3G only coverage area.

I've played Words Free and sent a few dozen text messages today. NFL app has been on screen for a little more than an hour off and on.

I'm at 68%

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[Harvey Wallbanger]

I want to know how long the battery will last in a worst case scenario. LTE ON, Bluetooth ON, Screen ON at 100% brightness, GPS ON, Wi-Fi ON. And use the phone for at least 10 min per hour and download a fair amount of data, and play a few levels of Angry Birds while you're at it.

Under those circumstances will the charge last 1 hour?, 2 hours?, 5 hours?

Thanks

 

[Bond32]

I want to know how long the battery will last in a worst case scenario. LTE ON, Bluetooth ON, Screen ON at 100% brightness, GPS ON, Wi-Fi ON. And use the phone for at least 10 min per hour and download a fair amount of data, and play a few levels of Angry Birds while you're at it.

Under those circumstances will the charge last 1 hour?, 2 hours?, 5 hours?

Thanks

I'm guessing 5 hours. I have my replacement, so I will see how it does today. I'm at work right now but j will be on my phone a lot.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk