"DX Stellar batter life" (PC World)

[evo678]

Don't know if this is a repost but PC World has an article up about DX's battery life.

LINK TO ARTICLE

Never mind the jumbo 4.3-inch display, high-res 8-megapixel camera, or speedy 1GHz processor, the finest feature of Motorola's new Droid X smartphone may be its ability to hold a charge.

Too boring? Not at all. Some smartphones are better at power management than others, and the differences are often dramatic. As mobile phones continue to pile on the features, their ability to manage energy efficiently will become a bigger issue with consumers. A 4G-ready phone that acts as a mobile hotspot looks great on paper. But if it's dead as a brick before the day is done--without a power outlet or spare battery in sight--well, that's one ugly reality check.

In recent days I've had a chance to do some hands-on testing of two new Android smartphones: the HTC EVO 4G (Sprint, $200), which is already shipping; and the Droid X (Verizon Wireless, $200), which hits stores in about a week.

Both handsets have a boatload of features, and the EVO one-ups the Droid X by including a second front-facing camera. But when it comes to battery life, the Droid X puts the EVO to shame.

Using both phones the way average folks do--Web browsing, a few calls and texts, and some audio (Pandora) and video (YouTube) streaming--I found that the EVO seldom lasted longer than a day. And if I streamed a lot of video or activated the phone's built-in mobile hotspot, the EVO might die within three or so hours.

The Droid X, by comparison, could run a solid two days between charges, based on normal use. Pushed to the limit (e.g., non-stop video streaming), it still might last an entire workday. (I tested both phones over a 3G connection, as Sprint's 4G service isn't available yet in my area.)

Verizon Wireless says the Droid X has eight hours of talk time, and 220 hours of standby time. Sprint's specs don't list the EVO's talk/standby times. I've seen estimates of four to six hours of talk time for the EVO at various tech sites, but those numbers seem generous. The Droid X has a 1540mAh battery; the EVO's is 1500mAh.

While my tests weren't exactly scientific, they did offer a peek at these phones' power-management skills under real-world conditions. Larger screens, speedier chips, faster broadband, and other advanced features are taxing the latest smartphones' staying power. Will mobile batteries be able to keep up?

 

[Vihzel]

Awesome

"But when it comes to battery life, the Droid X puts the EVO to shame."

 

[Airmaxx23]

I had to charge my Incredible twice a day (during the night and midday) with my Droid X I charge it at night and that's it, and I've been playing with it a lot.

 

[Vihzel]

Just remember... in August, there's a release for the 1930mAh battery that will add ONLY 1mm of thickness The battery life will basically be insane on the Droid X.

 

[benjiedude]

Just remember... in August, there's a release for the 1930mAh battery that will add ONLY 1mm of thickness The battery life will basically be insane on the Droid X.

I heard this was actually do out at launch, no?

 

[Airmaxx23]

I just put it on the charger when I go to bed so I don't think I'll need an extended battery.

 

[jroc]

^Thats the beauty of better battery life with the X. Most ppl probably wont even need an extended battery.

 

[Vihzel]

I heard this was actually do out at launch, no?

I've read conflicting reports but according to the press conference that Motorola had, it's coming out in August. I heard of another extended battery perhaps by Verizon but I don't know much about that.

 

[Rimzy]

Das Naayyceee. I assume you can also charge the phone by pluggin a usb into a computer, like u will an ipod touch right, i am a student so i always have my laptop, battery life is not a problem for me...

 

[Wolfedude88]

Das Naayyceee. I assume you can also charge the phone by pluggin a usb into a computer, like u will an ipod touch right, i am a student so i always have my laptop, battery life is not a problem for me...

Yep sure can, I always did that when my Incredible was getting low. Worked like a charm.

 

[droidSPARX]

doesn't incredible and nexus have awful battery life? I wonder if HTC doesn't know how to manage power and battery life

 

[Gummibands]

Das Naayyceee. I assume you can also charge the phone by pluggin a usb into a computer, like u will an ipod touch right, i am a student so i always have my laptop, battery life is not a problem for me...

Same here. I'm always near outlets and places to plug in cause I have a laptop on me 24/7. Hahaha. I pulled out my laptop one day in class hooked it up and then started charging my cellphone, itouch, and tomtom. My teacher wanted to know how many docks I had on my laptop and I told her two in the back and four on the right front side hahaha. She was like mine only has two. Lol I was like well I bought mine this year to replace my lemon one of the past four years.

 

[Vihzel]

doesn't incredible and nexus have awful battery life? I wonder if HTC doesn't know how to manage power and battery life

HTC sure hasn't shown that they know how. There have been major battery issues with the Incredible and even worse on the EVO. At least Motorola knows what it's doing in that department.

 

[damstr]

Good to here because on my really slow days Im a power user. Although I try to use my ipad as much as possible to keep my phone battery level high. Haha

 

[Rimzy]

Same here. I'm always near outlets and places to plug in cause I have a laptop on me 24/7. Hahaha. I pulled out my laptop one day in class hooked it up and then started charging my cellphone, itouch, and tomtom. My teacher wanted to know how many docks I had on my laptop and I told her two in the back and four on the right front side hahaha. She was like mine only has two. Lol I was like well I bought mine this year to replace my lemon one of the past four years.

Haha, thats awesome, what laptop do u use? Mine has only 3, your teacher must be nice, mine would have flipped out!

 

[Gummibands]

Haha, thats awesome, what laptop do u use? Mine has only 3, your teacher must be nice, mine would have flipped out!

Lol I have an HP Touchsmart TX2z or something like that. And what is my teacher going to say to me? I'm in college and all my devices are in charging mode which is like standby mode so they aren't technically on. Lol although I do sit at the front of the class. Hahahaha so I guess it could be distracting.

 

[Rimzy]

Lol I have an HP Touchsmart TX2z or something like that. And what is my teacher going to say to me? I'm in college and all my devices are in charging mode which is like standby mode so they aren't technically on. Lol although I do sit at the front of the class. Hahahaha so I guess it could be distracting.

ooh thanks, i'll look that up, i was thinking of getting the new hp dv7's that came out, back on topic = i <3 droid x

 

[Gummibands]

ooh thanks, i'll look that up, i was thinking of getting the new hp dv7's that came out, back on topic = i <3 droid x

The hp touchsmart is really nice you should check it out. But ya can't wait for the droid.

 

[hawkijustin]

HTC sure hasn't shown that they know how. There have been major battery issues with the Incredible and even worse on the EVO. At least Motorola knows what it's doing in that department.

I just got 11hrs on my evo with HEAVY use. Im talking 2+ hrs of gps to and from worlds of fun, using it all day to check the weather radar map (stupid rain) texting, facebook, lots of pictures and a 5 min video and well over a hour of 4g web while it rained. BTW i was only at a 90% charge before i left and i got home with a 15% charge. If the X gets that much better battery then my evo then the battery alone is worth the jump.

 

[Ryobi]

PC World is the spawn of Satan.

 

[Steven58]

ok... that makes me very, very happy. I've been hearing great things about the battery life and the call quality. I will definitely have to try this baby out.

 

[Vihzel]

PC World is the spawn of Satan.

Who or what did Satan get in bed with that he produced a website? lol

 

[irishpride]

PC World is the spawn of Satan.

Haha...pcworld does stay pretty constantly on steve jobs jock. Just take a look at any comparison of the iphone to any Android phone, its ridiculous.

 

[rjoudrey]

ooh thanks, i'll look that up, i was thinking of getting the new hp dv7's that came out, back on topic = i <3 droid x

HP's suck! Get an ASUS.

 

[rushmore]

I think the Inc gets a bad rap due to the weak a55 battery HTC put in the device. It seems weaker than 1300 and did not last 3/4 of a day without a charge, but the 1750 Seidio has about 30% charge for me at the end of the day and no need to charge during the day.

Seems the HTC OEM battery for the Inc is 1100mah- at best.

Still, a 45nm chipset should use less juice and factor in TI's hardware level battery management- the 3630 is hard for the 65nm Snap to beat.