Wish the industry would focus on improving battery life

[jrswizzle]

come on people, real innovation is how thin the phone is....

Real innovation hasn't happened since 2010....if we're talking smartphones specifically, then not since 2007.....

Quit throwing that word around....and let go of the whole "Apple fanboys think Apple innovates/invents everything"....there are a few who perpetuate that stereotype, but it doesn't help when Android fans stoke the fire.

I like how thin my iPhone is. I'm always up for more battery life, but have no issue making it through a day+ on a single charge with ANY of my smartphones (including my Nexus 4). Simply charge overnight, and that's it.

 

[nick_elt]

Real innovation hasn't happened since 2010....if we're talking smartphones specifically, then not since 2007.....

Quit throwing that word around....and let go of the whole "Apple fanboys think Apple innovates/invents everything"....there are a few who perpetuate that stereotype, but it doesn't help when Android fans stoke the fire.

I like how thin my iPhone is. I'm always up for more battery life, but have no issue making it through a day+ on a single charge with ANY of my smartphones (including my Nexus 4). Simply charge overnight, and that's it.

someone cant see sarcasm. And it wasn't directed to any side either, I quite happily use both.

 

[Michael Goff]

Isn't big.LITTLE supposed to help with battery life?

 

[matttye]

Isn't big.LITTLE supposed to help with battery life?

Supposed to.

It remains to be seen how much of a difference it will make vs. just ramping down the processor's clock speed when needed.

 

[Michael Goff]

Supposed to.

It remains to be seen how much of a difference it will make vs. just ramping down the processor's clock speed when needed.

My point was more... there is beginning to be more of a focus on battery life these days. I think we're passing the point where "good battery life" and "have to have a giant phone" are almost the same thing.

 

[matttye]

My point was more... there is beginning to be more of a focus on battery life these days. I think we're passing the point where "good battery life" and "have to have a giant phone" are almost the same thing.

Not with Android

Windows phone/iPhone: yes, I agree.

 

[jrswizzle]

My point was more... there is beginning to be more of a focus on battery life these days. I think we're passing the point where "good battery life" and "have to have a giant phone" are almost the same thing.

I'm looking forward to seeing what IGZO can do for iOS devices' battery life. My iPad mini already is a monster when it comes to battery life, but am always up for an increase on my iPhone - especially if the tech used is an improvement over the predecessor (IGZO = ability for tighter ppi).

 

[Michael Goff]

I'm looking forward to seeing what IGZO can do for iOS devices' battery life. My iPad mini already is a monster when it comes to battery life, but am always up for an increase on my iPhone - especially if the tech used is an improvement over the predecessor (IGZO = ability for tighter ppi).

If Apple uses IGZO and comes up with their own version of big.LITTLE, then iPhone and iPad users win out.

Yeah, I said it, steal from your competitors. All tech evolves on the shoulders of other tech.

 

[jrswizzle]

If Apple uses IGZO and comes up with their own version of big.LITTLE, then iPhone and iPad users win out.

Yeah, I said it, steal from your competitors. All tech evolves on the shoulders of other tech.

big.LITTLE isn't really required for Apple processors given the tightness of control they have anyways.

If Apple all of the sudden reversed course and started putting beefy processors in their devices, they might need this. But as it currently stands, Apple is perfectly fine using really only what the device needs and finely tuning it to get the maximum power with maximum efficiency.

big.LITTLE is, IMO, Samsung's way of matching Apple's chips' efficiency. I still marvel how Apple does so much with so little (relatively speaking).

 

[cynics]

Or you simply make sure your phone is charging when you aren't using it.....

Or would you be snowboarding for 24 hours straight?

I get why some like the removable battery...but I for one (and I'm obviously not alone) couldn't care less about having to carry around and remember to charge another battery....I also much prefer the designs of just about every other manufacturer over Samsung.

If I wanted, I could buy an extra battery pack for my iPhone - if my 5 ran out of juice, just slap that extra battery pack on and go. But I'd venture a majority of people are like me and simply charge their phones overnight - or have a cable with them and keep their phones at least somewhat charged, whether through a wall outlet or the car or the computer.

Its a niche feature that all those other companies decided not to care about because 90% of their customers don't care either. They'd spend forever and a day including ALL the features ANYONE would like - though Samsung seems to be trying their best.

I go backpacking for a week or more and take my iPhone. It's a pain for me to carry multiple external chargers. When you are buying things because they weigh an ounce less then another product a external charger is a real pita. An extra battery weighs nothing in comparison.

I try to keep my phone off but when I do get a bit of signal I check in with family and work. Plus its essential for an emergency. A dumb phone would do the job but then I lose camera functionality so then I'll need to carry a digital camera and add more weight. Granted I keep the phone off and/or in air plane mode to converse battery when backpacking/camping so that helps.

In a VERY weak signal area like in the woods way off the grid the battery in an iPhone will last 2-3 hours. This is from a couple minutes ago.

That's in a moderate signal area. At home I can get over 8 hours.

Regardless I don't think even people that get a day out of their iPhone would complain about having even more battery life. It's really something you can't have to much of.

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big.LITTLE isn't really required for Apple processors given the tightness of control they have anyways.

If Apple all of the sudden reversed course and started putting beefy processors in their devices, they might need this. But as it currently stands, Apple is perfectly fine using really only what the device needs and finely tuning it to get the maximum power with maximum efficiency.

big.LITTLE is, IMO, Samsung's way of matching Apple's chips' efficiency. I still marvel how Apple does so much with so little (relatively speaking).

Do so much what?

Apple does a good job of not letting anything do so much and in the end it converse battery life. This is a good and bad thing.

Background task are nearly all suspended. The OS doesn't really do much and in the end the battery last a long time.

 

[jrswizzle]

I go backpacking for a week or more and take my iPhone. It's a pain for me to carry multiple external chargers. When you are buying things because they weigh an ounce less then another product a external charger is a real pita. An extra battery weighs nothing in comparison.

I try to keep my phone off but when I do get a bit of signal I check in with family and work. Plus its essential for an emergency. A dumb phone would do the job but then I lose camera functionality so then I'll need to carry a digital camera and add more weight. Granted I keep the phone off and/or in air plane mode to converse battery when backpacking/camping so that helps.

In a VERY weak signal area like in the woods way off the grid the battery in an iPhone will last 2-3 hours. This is from a couple minutes ago.

Image

That's in a moderate signal area. At home I can get over 8 hours.

Regardless I don't think even people that get a day out of their iPhone would complain about having even more battery life. It's really something you can't have to much of.

Oh I agree that you can always have more battery life, but you kind of made my point about the whole "removable batter being a niche feature" thing - cool for you, but not many people (generally speaking) go backpacking for a week and are concerned with every ounce.

I'm interested in what you were doing during that 4 hours....and how bright you keep your screen? I'm currently at 83% with 8 hours of standby and 1.5 hours of usage....

I've gone multiple days without recharging my iPhone as well. The only time I've noticed a massive drain are when using the navigation. Generally I keep my iPhone on auto-brightness (which is usually at about 35-40%).

I think IGZO will be a nice addition for Apple this year - coupled with a smaller die SoC, they should be able to promote some big battery life with the 5S.

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Do so much what?

Apple does a good job of not letting anything do so much and in the end it converse battery life. This is a good and bad thing.

Background task are nearly all suspended. The OS doesn't really do much and in the end the battery last a long time.

I don't find hardly any difference in multitasking between my iPhone 5 and Nexus 4.

I'm talking about how they can pack as good, if not better battery life in the smallest package out there. How their dual core processor can keep up with quad core processors.

The OS isn't supposed to do too much - that's the philosophy behind iOS. The apps do the heavy lifting.

In the end, my iPhone can do just about any task my Nexus 4 can do.

 

[zbarvian]

On Apple's "Why You'll Love The iPhone" page, it says they use an Apple-created battery chemistry instead of just a standard, off-the-shelf battery. I wonder if this explains why the iPhone manages such good battery life with such a measly battery size, or if it's just marketing shenanigans. Either way, I think Android needs to focus on battery conservation like iOS.

 

[jrswizzle]

On Apple's "Why You'll Love The iPhone" page, it says they use an Apple-created battery chemistry instead of just a standard, off-the-shelf battery. I wonder if this explains why the iPhone manages such good battery life with such a measly battery size, or if it's just marketing shenanigans. Either way, I think Android needs to focus on battery conservation like iOS.

Supposedly, it is a different battery chemistry. Li-Ion will only go so far....they'll continue to get jumps by advancing surrounding technology until someone innovates.

 

[Zwhaler]

There are solutions to low battery life. iPhones can be used in 3rd party cases with extended batteries. Android phones can be purchased with 3rd party batteries that are significantly larger or battery life cases like on the iPhone. Don't like the bulk? Too bad. Bigger batteries literally means bigger batteries so if you like the iPhone 5 the way it is then that's because the battery capacity is lower to make for a thinner profile.

 

[thehustleman]

All phones should come with a battery like the RAZR MAXX until battery technology improves

Either that or make the battery removable

 

[daneoni]

I agree. Improve battery and durability. I still miss the Nokia 3210 sometimes. Incredible battery life and built like a tank.

 

[zbarvian]

It's just mind-boggling to me that literally ALL the other technology powering our phones has improved dramatically except for the battery, which continues to hinder other progress.

 

[mib1800]

I am truly impressed with what Samsung did with Note2. Its battery is like 50% bigger than S3 but Note2 battery performance is like nearly double the usage/screen time of S3 (and with a bigger screen at that)

So hopefully Samsung continues this trend and makes the S4 outperforms the Note2 charge drain rate.

 

[iEvolution]

Some of you forget... The more frequently you have to charge a battery the quicker its life expires, they can only take so many cycles.

If this was improved, battery life would also be improved.

The industries obsession with thinness is definitely affecting this potential.

 

[thehustleman]

Some of you forget... The more frequently you have to charge a battery the quicker its life expires, they can only take so many cycles.

If this was improved, battery life would also be improved.

The industries obsession with thinness is definitely affecting this potential.

This is true, we need balance and replaceable batteries to just swap out

 

[cynics]

Oh I agree that you can always have more battery life, but you kind of made my point about the whole "removable batter being a niche feature" thing - cool for you, but not many people (generally speaking) go backpacking for a week and are concerned with every ounce.

I'm interested in what you were doing during that 4 hours....and how bright you keep your screen? I'm currently at 83% with 8 hours of standby and 1.5 hours of usage....

I've gone multiple days without recharging my iPhone as well. The only time I've noticed a massive drain are when using the navigation. Generally I keep my iPhone on auto-brightness (which is usually at about 35-40%).

I think IGZO will be a nice addition for Apple this year - coupled with a smaller die SoC, they should be able to promote some big battery life with the 5S.

----------



I don't find hardly any difference in multitasking between my iPhone 5 and Nexus 4.

I'm talking about how they can pack as good, if not better battery life in the smallest package out there. How their dual core processor can keep up with quad core processors.

The OS isn't supposed to do too much - that's the philosophy behind iOS. The apps do the heavy lifting.

In the end, my iPhone can do just about any task my Nexus 4 can do.

To be honest I think there might be something wrong with my iPhone 4S battery. Last week or so its been really bad. After I posted that message with that pic the phone died and the battery was at 3% when it died.

I keep brightness set to 25% and my daily usage is tapatalk, Facebook but mostly emails, phone calls and text.

For example. I took my phone off the charger today around 9:00 to 9:30 AM. I talked on the phone for 30-50 minutes, checked one email, sent a dozen or so text, and used tapatalk to post two messages in this sub forum one of which is this post.

I have a fresh copy of iOS I got with iTunes and the resent update yesterday. I'll give it another week or so before making an appointment with a genius.

Which I think is another valid point IMO. If the battery was user replaceable I could just buy a new one and throw it in. But now I need to either buy tools and a battery and tear the phone apart hoping I don't damage anything, or drive 40 miles to the nearest apple store and waste half of a day AND pay an arm and a leg for a new battery + labor.

How much does it cost to have apple replace a battery in an iPhone 4S? Phone is 1 year 3 months old.

 

[SpyderBite]

Anyone else agree?

Nope. But I think Mophie should advertise more and that Apple should organize a One-to-One class in its stores that covers best practices in power management with mobile devices.

 

[jrswizzle]

To be honest I think there might be something wrong with my iPhone 4S battery. Last week or so its been really bad. After I posted that message with that pic the phone died and the battery was at 3% when it died.

I keep brightness set to 25% and my daily usage is tapatalk, Facebook but mostly emails, phone calls and text.

For example. I took my phone off the charger today around 9:00 to 9:30 AM. I talked on the phone for 30-50 minutes, checked one email, sent a dozen or so text, and used tapatalk to post two messages in this sub forum one of which is this post.

Image

I have a fresh copy of iOS I got with iTunes and the resent update yesterday. I'll give it another week or so before making an appointment with a genius.

Which I think is another valid point IMO. If the battery was user replaceable I could just buy a new one and throw it in. But now I need to either buy tools and a battery and tear the phone apart hoping I don't damage anything, or drive 40 miles to the nearest apple store and waste half of a day AND pay an arm and a leg for a new battery + labor.

How much does it cost to have apple replace a battery in an iPhone 4S? Phone is 1 year 3 months old.

Something like that would be covered under warranty/AppleCare....although 15 months is outside the standard warranty so I don't know.

Here's where my iPhone 5 is at the moment:

 

[sk1wbw]

I don't think cell phone manufacturers make batteries, to they? So the battery makers need to concentrate on bigger and better batteries.

 

[watchthisspace]

http://www.gizmag.com/tin-whisker-battery-anode/22905/

This article from June 2012 says that the inventors of Tin Anode batteries hoped to have it commercialised within a year, so maybe we're not far off?

There always seems to be talk of battery advancements like this, yet nothing seems to come into fruition or the new technology just disappears Hopefully something does get commercialised and we become less dependent on daily charging.