Help Which is Better on Battery: Push E-mail or Polling?

[dabomb224]

There are really two questions that I have about this.

- Does the standard Gmail application that comes with the phone (not the email app) utilize polling on a set schedule, or is it set to automatically push messages to the phone as soon as they hit the Gmail server? I have noticed that what it does seems to correspond to my Google Account Settings (and what I have checked). Specifically, when I check off the "Sync Gmail" feature, I seem to get my Gmail emails on my phone in real time. Does this mean that checking this option allows Gmail to "push" emails to my phone, or is it simply polling at very frequent intervals?

- Which, in your experience, uses less battery: setting the phone to poll for e-mails every 30-60 minutes, or simply having the server "push" the e-mails straight to the phone? Also, does "pushing" e-mails work when Syncing is turned off (via the Power Control widget)?


Basically I'm trying to find the most efficient combo that would allow me to receive my e-mails in a timely manner, while maximizing my battery life. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[dabomb224]

Any advice on this one?

 

[Mojorisen]

There are really two questions that I have about this.

- Does the standard Gmail application that comes with the phone (not the email app) utilize polling on a set schedule, or is it set to automatically push messages to the phone as soon as they hit the Gmail server? I have noticed that what it does seems to correspond to my Google Account Settings (and what I have checked). Specifically, when I check off the "Sync Gmail" feature, I seem to get my Gmail emails on my phone in real time. Does this mean that checking this option allows Gmail to "push" emails to my phone, or is it simply polling at very frequent intervals?

Google's Mobile OS supports Push e-mail based on Microsoft's ActiveSync platform, including push Gmail. I sometimes get the emails on my phone before I see them on my PC.

- Which, in your experience, uses less battery: setting the phone to poll for e-mails every 30-60 minutes, or simply having the server "push" the e-mails straight to the phone? Also, does "pushing" e-mails work when Syncing is turned off (via the Power Control widget)?

In all honesty, I have never noticed much of a battery difference between the two. However, I would say the major importance of this question relies more-so on how important your email(s) is/are to you. If you depend on them for business and need them immediately, Push would probably be the best option for you. If you're like me, and only get to emails when you can/want to, the Push may be a better option. But try each one for about a 3 day span - see which one suits you better.

Hope this helps some.

 

[dabomb224]

Definitely informative, thank you. Do you know whether the stock "gmail" app utilizes push or polling? This gmail app is different from the "email app", which has clearly defined options for setting up push and polling. The gmail app doesn't seem to have any options menu to alter settings.

 

[Mojorisen]

I'm pretty sure Gmail, by default, is Push.