I highly recommend using the free app Greenify.
It is not a gimmick and really works. Takes a little bit to understand at first but basically you install it, tell it which of your installed apps you want it to hiberate when not in use, and it does so automatically or by an easy button shortcut.
You dont require root but if you by chance are rooted then it goes even farther by letting you hibernate system apps too.
I have it on my phone and tablet. Inreases by battery life by 20%.
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