new user - battery issues - can't find answer

[Scanner85]

Just got this phone and love it so far; however, the battery does not last more than about 5 hours on a charge with normal usage. i understand that this phone will use more battery than my old blackberry, but that would last me at least 24 hours and sometimes up to 48. 5 hours id just ridiculous.

i searched but cant seem to find a good answer. had phone for about 4 weeks now. i'm not rooted and not sure i'm ready to do this yet. considering taking the phone back to best buy for another battery. any help woul dbe greatly appreciated. if a new battery doesnt fix the problem, then i'll have to get a different phone because i need it to last more than 6 hours. thanks.

 

[chud]

We need waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more information.

Like how many accounts are you syncing? What apps are constantly running? GPS? Wifi? etcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetcetc

 

[Scanner85]

i have gps and wifi enabled. i use wifi when i'm home. have my gmail, yahoo email, aol email, and microsoft exchange email for work on push. apps currently running:
settings
facebook (just stopped this)
heytell
unc athletics (keeps opening even if i stop it)
espn fanatsy football 2011 (keeps opening even if i stop it)
at&t u-verse mobile
weatherbug elite (since the stock weather channel app always showed the wrong location)
bunny shooter
com.android.sprintmenu
google services
maps
exchange email
swype

 

[chud]

i have gps and wifi enabled. i use wifi when i'm home. have my gmail, yahoo email, aol email, and microsoft exchange email for work on push. apps currently running:
settings
facebook (just stopped this)
heytell
unc athletics (keeps opening even if i stop it)
espn fanatsy football 2011 (keeps opening even if i stop it)
at&t u-verse mobile
weatherbug elite (since the stock weather channel app always showed the wrong location)
bunny shooter
com.android.sprintmenu
google services
maps
exchange email
swype

Facebook app is H O R R I B L E. If you can find an alternative like Friendcaster, I would definitely look into that.

turn off GPS.

Can you maybe consolidate all those personal email accounts? Like maybe have them all forward to your gmail?

I don't know why bunny shooter needs to be running if youre not using it. And if you keep going in and closing those other two apps, youre not doing your phone any favors since it just keeps using battery power to re open them.

I dont have any experience with heytell.

weatherbug is pretty lightweight so i wouldnt worry about that one.

I think GPS, Facebook, and all those emails syncing are killing you.

 

[MarkHirt]

Actually GPS does not drain the battery unless it's being used AND it is always on anyway (even when off), turning it on just gives non system apps the permission to use it. That said if one is constantly using it uninstall it

WiFi is a real killer, when not connected it constantly hunts for a new connection

 

[jimijames]

I've been running for about a week on my Nexus. Are you on 3G alot? I use wifi at home and battery life is very good. At work, I stream over a marginal 3G connection and that ruins any hope of getting more than a few hours without charging. I also noticed that when I am not streaming, the 3G at idle will suck up a lot of juice (syncing 3 email accounts and weather every hour, GPS always on, wifi off if I do not have access). I've turned off 3G when not in use at work and have seen dramatic battery life improvements. Basically (for me), seems the weaker the 3G signal, the quicker the battery drain.

 

[kevincwelch]

WiFi is a real killer, when not connected it constantly hunts for a new connection

I'm not sure I agree with this statement, and I have yet to find a consensus statement on just how much wifi drains the battery.

I have my wifi policy set to sleep when the screen is off. Loading up the battery stats clearly shows wifi near the bottom of the rank list when my phone is in sleep mode in my holster for several hours. It also clearly shows the spikes in activity.

I will admit that if you have it set to never sleep, it will be scanning frequently.

I also think it is a mix when your 3G signal is variable.

---

For the OP, having come from a Blackberry a few years ago to the EPIC 4G I too was shocked with the battery life of Android phones in general.

You have to remember this: the screens are HUGE battery drainers for android phones. I have found that the biggest increase in battery has been decreasing the screen brightness.

Like this previous poster I've quote, I too leave GPS on and use it only when needed, and I have never noticed it to drain battery life significantly when "off". (It does drain when using it, of course.)

Programs that constantly poll and sync really do decrease the battery, so consolidation is helpful. I recently turned sync off and got rid of the GMail app. I now use K9 Mail and poll every 30 minutes. I have noticed increases in battery life.

If you set Market to automatically update, it will. This will drain battery.

4G drains battery.

I agree: Facebook is TERRIBLE.

Get programs like Spare Parts or Start-up Auditor to see what is using up your battery and keep offending programs from starting or restarting (if you don't use them).

And, I hate to say this, rooting and installing a better kernel and ROM really does make a difference. On days with light use, I get >24 hours. On days with moderate use, I get about 14-16. I don't consider myself a "heavy" user.

 

[MarkHirt]

I'm not sure I agree with this statement, and I have yet to find a consensus statement on just how much wifi drains the battery.

I have my wifi policy set to sleep when the screen is off. Loading up the battery stats clearly shows wifi near the bottom of the rank list when my phone is in sleep mode in my holster for several hours. It also clearly shows the spikes in activity.

I will admit that if you have it set to never sleep, it will be scanning frequently.

I may try that for a few days, my issue with WiFi (at the places I go) is that it's actually slower the 1 bar of 4G

I agree: Facebook is TERRIBLE.

Tell me about it. I got a friend request sometime while I was sleeping last night and it hung, The phone woke me when the 25% battery alarm I have set in Settings Profiles triggered.

 

[kalex]

I have my wifi policy to never sleep and dont' see any battery drain. what I disabled was Network notification this is what actually constantly scans for wifi signal when you are not connected. If you disable it you should see better battery life. If you are in poor 3g area disabling wifi sleep policy will actually benefit you if u have wifi signal. When the phone sleeps apps still use data so if your wifi is disconnected while screen is off apps will use 3g and 3g radio is more demanding on battery life than wifi

 

[kevincwelch]

I have my wifi policy to never sleep and dont' see any battery drain. what I disabled was Network notification this is what actually constantly scans for wifi signal when you are not connected

Interesting. Didn't think about that as a potential issue. I've unchecked this and will see how things go for the rest of the day.

I'm basically letting my phone idle this weekend...checking various things:

1. deep idle on
2. deep idle off
3. affect 30min polling has
4. wifi sleep on
5. wifi sleep off
6. gps on (not using)
7. gps off

We'll see how it goes: Pool Party 1.5/GLaDOS 1.7