Does the battery on your Android phone continually run low?
Do you forget to charge your cell phone at night? Are you missing important calls and messages simply because your battery is dead?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone! Not only is low battery life one of the most common consumer complaints about smartphones, it is also one of the most frustrating.
Some users even purchase a new phone simply because the manufacturer promises a longer battery life. In most cases, this is simply unnecessary. While it’s true that cell phone batteries degrade slowly over time, much of the problem lies with the setup and use of the phone.
There are many easy steps you can take to improve the battery life before you resort to junking your phone. While some of these suggestions may involve a sacrifice you are unwilling to make, others will probably go unnoticed. Just pick the ones that work best for you!
- Everyone loves a bright screen on their cell phone. However, if yours is cranked up to the max, tone it down just a notch. You might not notice and it could have a big impact on your battery life.
- Vibrate is a great feature, but it’s a battery hog that you may not always need. Try turning it on only when necessary.
- If you regularly download apps, music and videos, try doing this only at times when your phone is plugged in.
- Uninstall any apps that you DO NOT use. Some of these may drain your battery even when not in use. Conversely, update any apps that you DO use. Many updates are designed to reduce battery consumption.
- Turn off GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use. These all put a load on your battery. Your phone may have a power control widget to assist with this.
- Turn off your cell phone when a good connection is out of reach. Otherwise, the phone continually consumes your battery while searching for a connection.
- Charge your phone frequently. The conventional wisdom is that you shouldn’t let your battery run all the way down before recharging it.
- Reduce the screen timeout. This defines the length of time that your screen remains lit after your last phone activity.
- Try to store your phone in a cool place. Avoid leaving it in a hot car.
- Don’t use the flash on your phone camera unless you really need it.
- Reduce the automatic polling frequency for e-mail or apps like Facebook and Twitter. You may even want to change some of these settings to manual mode.
If these tips still don’t improve your phone’s performance, try the following:
- Review the battery usage measurements on your phone. You can navigate to Settings -> About Phone -> Battery -> Battery Use to see the apps and features that are still taking a big toll on your battery. Remove apps or change settings for any that you don’t need.
- Consider installing a battery management app. Programs like Easy Battery Saver or Battery Doctor may employ some tools that you haven’t yet tried.
Making just a few of these changes can have a substantial impact on the battery life of your phone. For some users, this could extend the life of the phone altogether.
Finally, if you do decide to throw in the towel and replace your batteries or phone, be sure to recycle it. At least you can take comfort in knowing that you aren’t leeching toxic chemicals into the environment.
