One problem every smartphone user can relate to is the problem of the battery life of their phones. Be it an iPhone or Android, no smartphone is immune to low battery problems.
If you are keen about making your smartphone battery last longer, here are nine things that can help.
However, the more black pixels you can get on your screen, the better for your battery life. Set a dark wallpaper as your default, and try using dark themes on apps when possible.
Your iPhone or Android device will always try to connect to a cellular network when possible, and this can put a strain on your battery if you’re in an area with limited (or no) service.
Switching on Airplane Mode in Settings will stop this from happening. You however should take note of the fact that you won’t be able to make or receive calls while you activate this mode.
A lot of apps on iPhone and Android use “location services”. This can reduce battery life, so it is essential you take note of it. You can tell if an app is using location services by looking out for a small arrow on the top of your menu bar.
Each time your phone receives a notification from the network, it lights up and, depending on your settings, vibrates or makes a noise, too. This settings run down your battery, especially if you are the type that receives a lot of updates.
If you’re on an Android device, download the Snapdragon BatteryGuru. This app is created by Qualcomm, the same company that manufactures phone processors. The app learns your usage habits and automatically adjusts features on your phone to optimize battery life.
While the app is not available for iPhone users, there are several other apps that help you avoid wasting power.
Even if you’re not using an app, it can run in the background and sap battery life from your smartphone. Android devices allow you to “multitask” with apps running behind the scenes. It is best to force stop all the apps you are not using if you intend to conserve the battery of your phone.
If your phone’s lithium-ion battery gets too hot, it’ll discharge its energy faster and could even degrade the maximum life of the battery over time. Don’t carry it in your pocket if you can avoid it (especially if your pants are tight), and never leave your device sitting in direct sunlight or in a hot car.
The brighter your screen, the more battery it’s eating. Lowering your screen brightness is easy as all you need to do is go to your settings and turn down the lights to keep your phone running longer.
Another simple-but-forgettable tip: If you’re not using your smartphone to connect to wireless Internet, switch the wi-fi settings to “off.” This will stop your phone from looking for networks, thereby saving resources.