Help Verizon - Galaxy Nexus - Ideas on how to improve battery life?

[TheSuperman]

Hi guys,
Do we have any confirmed tips on how to improve the battery life on the Nexus, without sacrificing email, SMS, MMS, & text delay?

 

[Outatime]

I keep a charger with me and don't worry about it. I'm not going to disable features on my phone. I have noticed a significant improvement in the past week or so. I'm on a day one phone.

 

[deel]

yea, this answer above doesnt help at all.


i read in another post that one user was keeping wifi on all the time, this is supposed to help the battery since the phone wont be searching and switching from 3g to 4g.

or another way would be just to leave the phone on 3g, and then switch to 4g when you need to use data

 

[TheSuperman]

How to set and keep it on 3g? I've had some issue finding the right place for that?

 

[elmerjr128]

Settings > More... > Mobile networks > CDMA only.

This should help your battery life a bit. I was getting piss poor battery life until I rooted and flashed a few specific kernels.

In particular, I was using LeanKernel 1.6.6 exp3 and getting very good battery life, but have recently switched to Franco 16.0. I've been getting exceptional battery life with it, as you can see below.

Running AOKP Milestone 3. Have Franco.kernel frequencies set to 700/1000mhz using francoTurtle governor with hotplug enabled.

This is with all the bells and whistles turned on, GPS, sync, etc. It's a beautiful thing.

 

[krouget]

Hi guys,
Do we have any confirmed tips on how to improve the battery life on the Nexus, without sacrificing email, SMS, MMS, & text delay?

It requires root, but I've been served relatively well by underclocking my phone on the stock kernel, using SetCPU and some practical profiles.

This doesn't disrupt anything, and it ensures nothing gets out of hand when not using the device. Again, I've set various profiles for underclocking to take place during screen-off events, such as sitting idle (obviously), but also while on calls (since I'm unlikely to be multitasking). I figure the little periods of smart underclocking and proper app settings, serve to extend battery life that much more.

That said, I piggyback this with Juice Defender, though not with any type of heavy setting. Like you, I don't want much disruption from my incoming messages, so I'm fine with 5-15 minute intervals of no data (it isn't a dramatic savings in battery life, but 25% helps).

Also, the 4.0.4 update finally addresses the Android OS battery draw bug (at least from what I've seen/tested), which I'm hoping helps to improve battery life in the longrun. However, it's too soon for me to tell, but my fingers are certainly crossed.

All in all, I don't detoggle LTE, Wifi, or bluetooth, as I couldn't be bothered. Everything works as I expect it to and I get through the waking hours just fine, with normal usage.

 

[elmerjr128]

Juice Defender

Apps like these hurt more than they help. That's just another process you're forcing the phone to run 24/7.

 

[Caddyman]

Settings > More... > Mobile networks > CDMA only.

This should help your battery life a bit. I was getting piss poor battery life until I rooted and flashed a few specific kernels.

In particular, I was using LeanKernel 1.6.6 exp3 and getting very good battery life, but have recently switched to Franco 16.0. I've been getting exceptional battery life with it, as you can see below.

Running AOKP Milestone 3. Have Franco.kernel frequencies set to 700/1000mhz using francoTurtle governor with hotplug enabled.

This is with all the bells and whistles turned on, GPS, sync, etc. It's a beautiful thing.

same here

unlock and root phone
flash aokp kang milestone 3
flash franco kernel

prosper.

 

[Tim K]

Tips:
1. Use 4G only when needed. 4G uses more battery than 3G. Always use Wifi whenever possible. Wifi uses less juice than 3G or 4G.

2. Screen brightness - keep it low. I'd say under 30% but I use 10% unless I'm outdoors.

3. Sync-ing. Only sync what you need to. email/gmail, contacts, calendar, etc. Don't sync google+, photos or anything else that you don't NEED constant updates for (twitter, facebook too). All of those things have apps that will refresh as soon as you load them.

4. Phone calls. Phones calls use a lot of juice. No tip really, just keep that in mind.

-TK

 

[Outatime]

yea, this answer above doesnt help at all.

Sorry deel, I thought it was. My point was to stop fighting it. Accomodate the phone's awesomeness.

 

[krouget]

Apps like these hurt more than they help. That's just another process you're forcing the phone to run 24/7.

It depends what you mean by hurt, but with regard to improving battery life, it hasn't in my experiences. Do you have any specific examples?

In the low reception area where I work, its cutting data for a number of hours each day, which means my phone isn't burning through battery as it struggles to maintain signal (or switch between CDMA and LTE). I've confirmed with numerous tests that it only helps battery life (with other potential downsides*). Sure, it stays in memory as an active process, but it would have to be taxing the CPU more aggressively than I use data at any point in time, to offer worse life-- as it stands now, its comparable to bluetooth and/or wifi; either of which contributing to a mere 3-5% draw, overall. That pales to the 100+% improvement I've seen from JD, in various cases (on aggressive settings). Regardless of settings and some other factors, though, I've never seen it hurt overall battery life.

*My issue with JD is that it can take some time to regain data, especially on more aggressive settings. However, with the update to the radios in 4.0.4, I'm once again testing to see how it behaves. Thus far, it's bearable.

 

[Caddyman]

Jjuice Defender works for what it is, if used properly it will help with battery life.

but what it is, is crippling your device. some people are ok with that ("that" being not having data for blocks of time), some people aren't, it really is personal preference.

 

[trophynuts]

Moving thread to VZW Galaxy Nexus
Reason: Thread is specific to the VZW Galaxy Nexus

Thank you for understanding.

 

[hurricane630]

How does JD hurt your phone more than help?? the main purpose of it is to increase battery life by turning off data when the screen isn't on. You still get a signal so can still receive calls and texts. But it turns the data back on when the screen turns on. it doesn't kill apps or anything like that, and you can adjust it to sync so many times a day if you choose. This isn't like ATK. This app helps, doesn't hurt(unless like said before, you must have data on 24/7, then it isn't good for you lol). JD and a good rom/kernel combo is a good place to start for battery improvement!

 

[Deathshead]

Go to the Market and download Franco's Kernel App.

Once you flash the new kernel you enable Enhanced hotplug in the settings,
This shuts down one of the cpu cores when utilization is low.

The Next steps are play with the undervolt settings. but I havent really bothered.

My best day on my Nexus with the extended battery was 1 day 7hours 55minutes.
This was just with
Hotplug enabled,
Auto brightness
LTE off.
Moderate- high useage.

I run no radio shutdowns as I like real time updates on all my stuff and hate when Im downloading a file over 100mb and the screen shuts off and kills the download.

 

[TheSuperman]

To be honest, I'm not sure if I want to root this phone. I spent so much time rooting my Samsung Galaxy that it turned into a constant fight, and I'd be playing with it all day. I also found 1 million different opinions on rooting, along with a ton of way to implement it. I found that it was taking over my day.

So far I've disabled 3g, and disabled some of my widgets, as I've heard widgets can be a battery hog. I'll see how it works next week while I'm at work.

 

[havi007]

To be honest, I'm not sure if I want to root this phone. I spent so much time rooting my Samsung Galaxy that it turned into a constant fight, and I'd be playing with it all day. I also found 1 million different opinions on rooting, along with a ton of way to implement it. I found that it was taking over my day.

So far I've disabled 3g, and disabled some of my widgets, as I've heard widgets can be a battery hog. I'll see how it works next week while I'm at work.

Dude this is not the same. It was a piece of cake no issues like a touchwiz phone. Hardware isnt the same.

Running a 4.0.4 rom, stock 4.0.4 kernel, wifi on all the time, extended batt. So loving it

 

[Theeulogy]

Dude this is not the same. It was a piece of cake no issues like a touchwiz phone. Hardware isnt the same.

Running a 4.0.4 rom, stock 4.0.4 kernel, wifi on all the time, extended batt. So loving it

If I took mine straight off the charger I could not get 3 hrs of screen time before the battery was dead, and I am running the extended battery. I have been blown away at how poor the battery life is on this phone. I am currently running AOKP milestone 3 with Franco 16 and franko turtle 350/1000. I am switching back to the droidx, I could always make it 16 hrs on it with at least 4 hrs screen time.

I am dead after 12 hrs on the Nexus, and have never gotten better than an hour of screen time period.

 

[zerocool79346]

If I took mine straight off the charger I could not get 3 hrs of screen time before the battery was dead, and I am running the extended battery. I have been blown away at how poor the battery life is on this phone. I am currently running AOKP milestone 3 with Franco 16 and franko turtle 350/1000. I am switching back to the droidx, I could always make it 16 hrs on it with at least 4 hrs screen time.

I am dead after 12 hrs on the Nexus, and have never gotten better than an hour of screen time period.

You have something wrong. I can get 5 hoursish screen on if I take it straight off the charger and use it non stop.

 

[havi007]

I would seriously go to your vzw store and ask for a warranty to replace it maybe u have a bad batt or a bad phone. If you are not rooted ... wait how good is your 4g network where you are at. One thing to take into consider if you are going back in forth with the 4g network then that could be ur reason I am always on wifi when it is available to me. Which is almost all of my day.

 

[Theeulogy]

I would seriously go to your vzw store and ask for a warranty to replace it maybe u have a bad batt or a bad phone. If you are not rooted ... wait how good is your 4g network where you are at. One thing to take into consider if you are going back in forth with the 4g network then that could be ur reason I am always on wifi when it is available to me. Which is almost all of my day.

I dont have 4G here at all. Even on Wifi, I would not be able to get over 3 hrs screen time on a battery. I have upgraded to the Verizon extended battery. I might try to get the phone replaced, but WILL NOT do a refurb!

 

[Theeulogy]

BTW I have a "day one" device.

 

[Sandroidfan]

I dont have 4G here at all. Even on Wifi, I would not be able to get over 3 hrs screen time on a battery. I have upgraded to the Verizon extended battery. I might try to get the phone replaced, but WILL NOT do a refurb!

I think there is something going on if yours is not lemon. You should get a lot longer than that on WiFi. How does your typical battery stats/history screens look like?

 

[jr313]

You could update to 4.0.4 if your rooted or even if your not, im getting amazing battery life with stock rooted 4.0.4 and stock kernel 4g all day full bars also. I honestly am getting better battery life with this setup than any rom kernel combo ive used and im a flashoholic. give it a try you cant do anything but hopefully be pleased. This is with stock battery also. Im getting ar least 8 1/2 hrs a charge with moderate to heavy use and at least 2 1/2 hrs screen on time.

 

[Theeulogy]

I think there is something going on if yours is not lemon. You should get a lot longer than that on WiFi. How does your typical battery stats/history screens look like?

Any chance I could exchange for a new on at a Verizon store, I am just about to go back to my DroidX. With the DroidX I was able to get 24 hours on battery with 3-4 hrs display time on standard battery.