We’re reaching a critical point for mobile phone development. In 2012 manufacturers have promised us powerful quad-core processors and more vibrant displays. They’re cramming more and better components under the hood, too, allowing us to replace more of our existing gadgets with just a single smartphone. While these are all generally positive developments, they do come with a downside: they draw more power from our batteries.
For moderate level users, this might not be an issue. But frequent users will start to see their batteries lasting less and less. Some companies, such as Motorola and Samsung, have made it a point to focus on battery life, but we have seen little actual progress — and Motorola’s solution, as seen with the Droid RAZR MAXX, simply comprises a larger sized battery. It’s up to us to find ways to extend our battery lives. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to do this.
Turn the radio off
Your smartphone is always searching for signal. Even when you have three bars, it’s searching for a stronger signal. Unfortunately, the process of searching for signal can be one of your phone’s biggest battery drains. The weaker the signal, the harder it works to find a stronger one. You can, of course, take measures to prevent this.
If you’re in an area with no signal, turn off your radio. This comes in handy especially with underground transportation. You know that you won’t have a signal while you’re underground, so you can turn it off when you’re riding and turn it back on when you come back above ground. When you have a weak signal, you might consider turning off 3G or 4G data. That way you can still get calls and texts, but your phone won’t waste battery searching for a stronger signal.
Pay for apps
For many smartphone users, particularly those on Android, free apps have become something of a norm. Developers have taken advantage of this craving for free by offering two tiers of apps. They’ll have their normal pay version, and they’ll also have a free version. How does the free version make money? By serving advertisements. Unfortunately, the process of serving those ads can take a toll on your battery.
A recent study shows that the ad serving process accounts for about 75 percent of a free app’s battery usage. (Via “>New Scientist.) Switching to the premium version, then, can eliminate that toll and help you preserve battery life. That’s not to say that you should pay for all of your apps; rather, it’s that you can create a better balance by paying for some, while using the free, ad-based version for others.
Dim the backlight
Unsurprisingly, your screen backlight eats up a lot of battery. Both Android and iPhone have auto brightness features that help keep that under control. But you can control your own brightness. This comes in handy, especially when your battery runs low. Dimming the backlight might be just what you need to squeeze a few more minutes of use out of your smartphone.
Extend your battery
There are a couple of hardware solutions that can work for heavy users. The first is an extended battery. These are available for every platform, and they do exactly what’s advertised. You’ll get up to double the battery life. The downside: with double the battery life comes double the battery size. Extended batteries require special battery doors, because they’re basically add-ons to your existing battery. That extra bulk might not appeal to users who value a smartphone’s thinness.
Users who want to avoid bulk can carry around a second battery, but this is also inconvenience. It means rebooting the phone when swapping batteries. It also means buying a special smartphone charger that allows you to charge the phone and a spare battery at the same time. It’s not ideal, but it will let you use your smartphone without fear of losing battery life completely.
While these tips will help, they’re not a long-term solution. Eventually manufacturers and developers will have to put a greater emphasis on energy efficiency. That means hardware that consumes battery power more efficiently, and apps that conserve battery life wherever possible. It appears that everyone’s hands might be forced in this one, too. With a wave of powerful smartphones coming down the pike, the issue of battery efficiency seems like one we can’t ignore for much longer.
Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of BBGeeks.com, along with several other niche tech blogs.
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