Android and battery usage

[mikeymikec]

On my phone (which I consider to be OK in this respect), I get about 4 days out of it before re-charging, and if I check out the battery usage stats the screen is always the biggest consumer of power, which I would also expect. FWIW, mine is a HTC Desire C running Android 4.0.x. I had a play around with CPU-Z on Android after noticing it in an Anandtech review, and the CPU usage was between 0 and 20% on average.

My dad's phone is a Samsung GS2 running Android 4.2.x IIRC. I was surprised to find that "Android OS" was the biggest battery consumer on his phone ('screen' was something like fourth place), but his needed charging (I think) every 2 days (it wasn't more than mine, I'm sure of that). What was even more surprising was, I installed CPU-Z on it to see whether CPU usage on it was higher than expected, and it seemed to be averaging something like 30-40% constantly. I tried using a Task Manager-style app to kill as many processes as possible, same thing. I also restarted the phone and gave it about 5 minutes to calm down after reboot, same thing.

Is the GS2's behaviour surprising to anyone else? If so, any suggestions?

I'd say my dad uses his phone less than I do.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Google services and android OS are 2nd and 3rd behind the screen on my Samsung GS4. I have to charge it every two days or so. I dont do anything too crazy on the phone, just texting, facebook crap and other rinky dink things.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

GS2 might have some battery reporting issues. It's always showed android OS at the top, but I believe this is just a bug.

If I were you, I'd focus on wakelocks and check Android OS again to see if your phone is actually staying awake. The early 2011-2011 days of worrying about the battery meter are gone. It's more about deep diving into which apps keep your phone awake and what not.

It's hard to make a conclusion off of the battery screen unless its a blatant offender like Google Services.

 

[mikeymikec]

If I were you, I'd focus on wakelocks and check Android OS again to see if your phone is actually staying awake. The early 2011-2011 days of worrying about the battery meter are gone. It's more about deep diving into which apps keep your phone awake and what not.

How should I go about doing that?

One other thing I've had to do on his phone is force various google services into not downloading data via mobile network in the background, which they were doing even though mobile data/network had been disabled. My dad is on pay-as-you-go / pre-pay and it was costing a fair bit every time say 200KB of data was sent/received.

 

[JimmiG]

Wow 4 days
The LG G2 is the first Android phone I've had that can last a full work day on the stock battery. My previous devices would die some time during the afternoon unless I topped them off around noon....

 

[mikeymikec]

Wow 4 days

Bear in mind that most of the time the wifi and mobile data is off on my phone. I occasionally switch either on if I want to go on the Internet for some reason, then switch it off when I'm done. I keep the screen dim with an easy method of increasing the brightness (if necessary) on the main screen. Otherwise I use it as an e-book reader typically once a day. Aside from e-book reading, I use my phone for about 10-15 minutes a day I would guess.

 

[Yuriman]

I've had as much as 4 and a half days on my GS2, with mobile data and sync on. You'll want Better Battery Stats.

I've noticed on my devices that (generally) wakelocks are worse on newer versions, with the most significant increase being 4.0.x -> 4.1.x, and I'm still trying to get them under control on my Moto X. A lot have to do with system apps auto-updating, sending usage statistics, or GPS, and need to be disabled individually. That said, there's a good chance that Android OS will remain on top unless you really strip the phone.

This is pretty much your best-case scenario without removing anything useful:

Cell standby can be much higher if you are in a poor signal area - and that alone can kill a phone in 2 days, depending on the hardware.

From wife's phone old phone (also a GS2):

The battery spike was a reboot, the battery meter became confused. Both are with the stock battery.

 

[Radeon962]

Most of the newer phones will stay on for days if you don't use them as they are very efficient in stand by mode. But why have a smartphone if you are not going to use it?

 

[tsupersonic]

Most of the newer phones will stay on for days if you don't use them as they are very efficient in stand by mode. But why have a smartphone if you are not going to use it?

I feel the same. If you are going out of your way to pay for a data plan, then you might as well get the most out of your smartphone. Otherwise stick to a feature phone or a feature phone with WiFi/tablet (and hope there is a hotspot).

The Nexus 5 with 2 push accounts and moderate usage for calls/texting/light gaming nets me 2 full days of use. I could probably get more out of it if I started disabling GPS/Bluetooth/autosync, but that defeats the purpose of a smartphone.

 

[mikeymikec]

The Nexus 5 with 2 push accounts and moderate usage for calls/texting/light gaming nets me 2 full days of use. I could probably get more out of it if I started disabling GPS/Bluetooth/autosync, but that defeats the purpose of a smartphone.

I guess that depends on what you want from a smartphone. I have no use for autosync, I switch on GPS when I use the satnav, and I use Bluetooth about twice a year I guess.

 

[Yuriman]

I guess that depends on what you want from a smartphone. I have no use for autosync, I switch on GPS when I use the satnav, and I use Bluetooth about twice a year I guess.

Pretty much this for me as well. I'm currently paying $10 per month for my service and loving it.

 

[alangrift]

Most Smartphones nowadays dont last as long as the old trackphone counterparts. Since, phones have been getting a lot of upgrades and consume more and more power, but batteries really haven't changed at all in the past few years so thats the main reason.

 

[BrightCandle]

I get about 4 days with a completely idle phone and see the Android idle as the top item and the mobile idle second. I have found the latest 4.4 has helped quite a lot with idle power consumption, I didn't used to go more than about a day. But also I reset the phone, got rid of a load of rubbish I wasn't using in the process and I suspect the removal of all those services helps a great deal as well. I highly recommend going through a reset every now and then to clean up what is running on there.

 

[lopri]

I don't think there is inherent disadvantage when it comes to battery life in Android, compared to other mobile OS'es. It's simply a matter of hardware + software combination. That's obviously a "duh" statement, but I think it's still worth remembering. Sony Xperia Z Tablet that my friend had for a couple of weeks had some stunning battery life when Sony's battery saving mode was activated. He auto-syncs just about everything without giving much thought but that tablet had an iPad-like standby battery performance. That experience completely squashed my misconception that Android is inherently leaky under standby.

Then again I don't know what kind of magic (cheat?) Sony did/does with that device to achieve such a feat. I've read somewhere that particular device completely stops all syncing or push/pull during standby when power-saving mode is enabled. I read it later on and did not get a chance to verify it on the Z tablet.

 

[soulcougher73]

I must be doing someting wrong. My moto x is pretty much dead at the end of the day. But i use it so who knows.

 

[zerogear]

lopri - when Battery stamina mode is activated in Sony's phones, auto-sync stops completely. It doesn't pull any data and remains in deep sleep mode until you turn on the screen.

 

[Binky]

4 days on a smartphone is phenomenal. 2 days is still pretty damned good. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Mine always says that texting uses the most battery, which is very strange, since I barely text. Heck, I barely even use my phone as a phone. I get maybe 2-3 days which I'm happy with. I try to charge it every day if I think about it though.

Is it possible that the last Android update has increased battery life, or is it just me? Seems better.

 

[mikcav]

i got s2 and battery lsts 4 hours if im lucky. ok im a heavy user but why have a fone as powerful as some netbooks n not use it? way i see it an s2 is designed for heavy use. if all i wanted to do was call n sms i would use a java fone. anyway im thinking of getting a 3500ma high capacity battery but would a normal 1000ma charger give a 3500ma battery a full charge? and would a 3500ma battery last noticibly longer than the generic 1650ma

 

[StrangerGuy]

I don't think there is inherent disadvantage when it comes to battery life in Android, compared to other mobile OS'es. It's simply a matter of hardware + software combination. That's obviously a "duh" statement, but I think it's still worth remembering. Sony Xperia Z Tablet that my friend had for a couple of weeks had some stunning battery life when Sony's battery saving mode was activated. He auto-syncs just about everything without giving much thought but that tablet had an iPad-like standby battery performance. That experience completely squashed my misconception that Android is inherently leaky under standby.

Then again I don't know what kind of magic (cheat?) Sony did/does with that device to achieve such a feat. I've read somewhere that particular device completely stops all syncing or push/pull during standby when power-saving mode is enabled. I read it later on and did not get a chance to verify it on the Z tablet.

I got the Xperia SP with Stamina mode. All it does is to cut off data entirely and only allowing incoming calls and SMS to wake up the phone when its on standby. Works very well to save battery life to the point of achieving Nokia dumbphone standby time, but nothing magical about it.