Help Please tell new I'm doing something wrong with this battery!

[markahsf]

Hey guys. New android user here after 5 years with they iPhone. I love this phone but so far the battery life has been a disappointment.

I have my brightness turned all the way down, I'm using battery saver mode, in task manager, I always keep my phone clear of active applications, and still, I can't get through the day without charging it around 5pm. This is with very light usage. I work construction so I rarely ever have my phone out.

I've searched these forums for an answer but all the threads say to do what I have already done as described above. Is there a known issue with this battery?

An hour and a half and all I've done us write this thread and I'm at 79%.

As much as I love this phone, I can't continue to use it if the battery life is this poor.

Thanks.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2.

 

[kurtyyyyyy]

Hey guys. New android user here after 5 years with they iPhone. I love this phone but so far the battery life has been a disappointment.

I have my brightness turned all the way down, I'm using battery saver mode, in task manager, I always keep my phone clear of active applications, and still, I can't get through the day without charging it around 5pm. This is with very light usage. I work construction so I rarely ever have my phone out.

I've searched these forums for an answer but all the threads say to do what I have already done as described above. Is there a known issue with this battery?

An hour and a half and all I've done us write this thread and I'm at 79%.

As much as I love this phone, I can't continue to use it if the battery life is this poor.

Thanks.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2.

When not using your phone, turn off wifi and mobile data. This saves me literally hours

 

[Stormlight]

That's definitely not normal. With light use, brightness all the way up and Bluetooth/Wifi turned on constantly I get 2 days out of it. I would ask them to replace the battery.

 

[jerofld]

I always keep my phone clear of active applications

This is likely your issue. I recommend that you forget that you even have applications running in the background.

What is probably happening is that you keep shutting down system applications. The system then calls the app back up. You then shut them down again, which causes the system to bring the app back up. This repeats often. Especially if you're using an automated task killer. Task killers can be useful, but only if you know how to use them properly (and even then, the S3 has it's own task killer). On light usage, I get roughly 1.5-2 days of usage and I do not micromanage my app list.

The only apps I recommend you kill would be Facebook, Twitter, and G+, or set their polling times to an hour (at the minimum). These apps like to constantly check for updates. I think the Facebook default timer is every 5 minutes, which will kill your battery as your phone is never allowed to sleep.

 

[tammc]

theres definately something not right. yesterday i had fully charged my bat and left for work at 10.30 in the morning when my shift finished at 22.00 my bat was at 49% and that was with just general light use throughout the day

 

[Roll-Tide]

Do you have a good signal where you're at when the battery is doing this? Signal strength makes a huge difference too

 

[markahsf]

This is likely your issue. I recommend that you forget that you even have applications running in the background.

What is probably happening is that you keep shutting down system applications. The system then calls the app back up. You then shut them down again, which causes the system to bring the app back up. This repeats often. Especially if you're using an automated task killer. Task killers can be useful, but only if you know how to use them properly (and even then, the S3 has it's own task killer). On light usage, I get roughly 1.5-2 days of usage and I do not micromanage my app list.

The only apps I recommend you kill would be Facebook, Twitter, and G+, or set their polling times to an hour (at the minimum). These apps like to constantly check for updates. I think the Facebook default timer is every 5 minutes, which will kill your battery as your phone is never allowed to sleep.

So maybe I should stop killing everything? You guys are right. Something is wrong here. I had WiFi off, Bluetooth off, gps off, and pretty much everything else. Even mobile data. The only thing I had on was power saving mode and in half an hour, I lost 6%. How is that even possible?

That means that from a full charge to dead would only take 10 hours with no mobile data and absolutely no phone usage.

Do I contact Samsung or at&t for the new battery? Something must be wrong with mine.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

 

[Roll-Tide]

Yeah something ain't right... I had a screen shot but I deleted it, but yesterday I went for 15hours until mine died... And that was a very heavy day for me. Normally by that time I've still got about 40% left. And I use wifi, lte, gps, text, email, Internet, Facebook, twitter, etc

 

[scrabbley]

So maybe I should stop killing everything? You guys are right. Something is wrong here. I had WiFi off, Bluetooth off, gps off, and pretty much everything else. Even mobile data. The only thing I had on was power saving mode and in half an hour, I lost 6%. How is that even possible?

That means that from a full charge to dead would only take 10 hours with no mobile data and absolutely no phone usage.

Do I contact Samsung or at&t for the new battery? Something must be wrong with mine.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

I had this issue too, I turned off mobile data, wifi, sync, so my phone wasn't doing anything. Left it overnight so no usage or screen on and it dropped by about 40% in battery in 6 hours! I installed better battery stats to see what was going on and looking through the forums for how to interpret the results I came across some info about Google Chrome. Have you got Chrome installed? You need to go into Settings/Developer Options and uncheck tilt-to-zoom. I did that and the next night under the same conditions my phone only dropped 3% in battery.

Now, battery drain with mobile data or wifi on was another issue so Better Battery Stats has really helped with sorting out that now I know there's nothing in the background killing the battery.

 

[markahsf]

Yeah something ain't right... I had a screen shot but I deleted it, but yesterday I went for 15hours until mine died... And that was a very heavy day for me. Normally by that time I've still got about 40% left. And I use wifi, lte, gps, text, email, Internet, Facebook, twitter, etc

Here is mine.

Someone tell me that isn't just ridiculous.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

 

[jerofld]

Here is mine.

Someone tell me that isn't just ridiculous.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

Could you click on the graph above the readouts, it'll give you a different screen that shows awake time, screen time, and signal strength - then take a screen shot of that? Thanks!

 

[markahsf]

Could you click on the graph above the readouts, it'll give you a different screen that shows awake time, screen time, and signal strength - then take a screen shot of that? Thanks!

Here you go!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

 

[Hogan773]

Your screen sure is on a lot while you're supposedly doing nothing.

 

[markahsf]

Your screen sure is on a lot while you're supposedly doing nothing.

What does it matter? My battery still shouldn't be depleting as fast as it is.

There was all this talk how the battery was superior of an iPhones battery. Seriously? This battery lasts only a third of the time on less usage. Pathetic. I don't recall having to turn off my data just to get through the day with an iPhone.

The so called battery saving mode is a big FAIL.

This phone just isn't worth keeping if the battery blows this much. I'll give it 2 more days and I'll see if there's anything else I could do. If nothing changes. I'm going back to my 4s.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

 

[cmybliss]

What does it matter? My battery still shouldn't be depleting as fast as it is.

There was all this talk how the battery was superior of an iPhones battery. Seriously? This battery lasts only a third of the time on less usage. Pathetic. I don't recall having to turn off my data just to get through the day with an iPhone.

The so called battery saving mode is a big FAIL.

This phone just isn't worth keeping if the battery blows this much. I'll give it 2 more days and I'll see if there's anything else I could do. If nothing changes. I'm going back to my 4s.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

I think there's definitely something wrong with your battery, perhaps even your handset itself . I can make it all day, 12 hrs, with moderate usage, ie: about 5 hours screen time, light calling & texting, and still have 50% or so left. Battery saver is off and I always leave wi-fi and data on.

I'd check into getting a new battery, and if the problem persists, a new device. Good luck!

 

[matttye]

I'd suggest downloading "Better Battery Stats" and see what it comes up with. Wakelocks can cripple battery life.

 

[Krunk83]

Here is mine.

Someone tell me that isn't just ridiculous.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

A couple of things. Chrome is a battery hog and has a bug. Get rid of it ASAP and use dolphin hd browser. Great browser. Ditch the stock browser as well. I use Lux for brightness and it adjusts for the light in the room and can go into the negative sub area of brightness. Inside I'm usually around -22 brightness. Outside it automatically goes to 100% which is great for the sunlight. Check your account and sync settings. If you have twitter and Facebook it is always syncing in the background. Disable that since you don't need it to sync. It will update when you open it. Also, shut off anything google is syncing that you aren't using. I only sync contacts, mail, and calendars with google. Lastly, when in a wifi area like your home or work or somewhere you have data, turn off your data usage. It's easy, it's in the notification bar.

Here is my battery usage with data off all day and using wifi in my house on Saturday. Granted, I was at the zoo for about 4 hours but I still had data off during that time. I was still able to get texts and phone calls. I just turned it on when I needed data.

 

[Hogan773]

What does it matter? My battery still shouldn't be depleting as fast as it is.

There was all this talk how the battery was superior of an iPhones battery. Seriously? This battery lasts only a third of the time on less usage. Pathetic. I don't recall having to turn off my data just to get through the day with an iPhone.

The so called battery saving mode is a big FAIL.

This phone just isn't worth keeping if the battery blows this much. I'll give it 2 more days and I'll see if there's anything else I could do. If nothing changes. I'm going back to my 4s.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

Why do people come on here ranting about the FACTS as they see them (this battery is pathetic etc) and when a bunch of people tell them that it is NOT NORMAL they still just say "fuggit I am gonna go back to the iPhone this is BS".

Listen to us....there are a lot of people telling you that this is NOT NORMAL so either something is hanging in your setup or you have a bum battery or something, but in any case you should go to your carrier and get a replacement rather than just assume that all GS3s suck (which is presumably why you came here to post.....so listen to the people that are posting in response!)

 

[Krunk83]

Yeah, the android battery is always a result of the user. Also, is he taking into consideration that the screen is twice the size of the iphone? And that it's running on LTE instead of hspa+? Or 3g? Probably not because most iphone users just give up. Being an android user is about tweaking. That includes battery. So enjoy your iphone buddy.

 

[Roll-Tide]

Just for reference... Here's mine, and I've done a little more with my phone today than normal.

 

[r9ball]

agree with possible battery issue. I always let mine run completely down the first few times before charge and no issues. I get at over 2 days with background data off most of time and light-mid usage.
I did buy an extra 4200mah hyperion battery and cover. That battery lasted 6 days before recharge with same usage.
If you know someone with an s3, you could swap batteries and see what happens.
Good luck,,, once you get it straightened out, you will be really happy with the s3.

 

[Metfanant]

Ok, OP needs to take a step back and relax...as others have said your experience is NOT normal...and it certainly can be remedied...

IMO 2 things could be happening here...

1. Got a bad battery...it happens...

today i took my phone off the charger...checked the time and accidentally fell back to sleep for almost 3 more hours (love having summers off lol)...picked the phone back up and was at 99% battey...

this is with Wifi on, GPS on, background data on, power saver off...

so when the phone is on standby there is NO reason for the battery to drain like that...

2. Some sort of rouge app waking the phone up...but based on the graph it doesn't seem that the phone isn't sleeping right...

now...the next things to look at are this...

what is the screen on time look like (click on screen in the batter screen)...with my normal usage im usually around 2hrs 15mins at about 50% battery....(i never turn stuff like wifi or gps off) and i ALWAYS have my screen on full brightness...the screen is ALWAYS going to be the biggest batter hog...your iPhone has a 3.4" nonHD screen...while this thing has a 4.8" SAMOLED HD screen...there is NOTHING you can do to stop it from using more juice than your iPhone...

my first suggested course of action would be a factory reset...then (as hard as this may be) try running the phone without installing any 3rd party apps for a day...if the battery still acts this way then i would be on the phone getting a new one (or at least a new battery)

 

[Rolo42]

Is your mobile network signal dropping out or being turned off? Do you consistently have a good signal? If not, that's likely the cause.


Mine, full bright, wakelocked:

 

[markahsf]

Yeah, the android battery is always a result of the user. Also, is he taking into consideration that the screen is twice the size of the iphone? And that it's running on LTE instead of hspa+? Or 3g? Probably not because most iphone users just give up. Being an android user is about tweaking. That includes battery. So enjoy your iphone buddy.

Always a result of the user? Not in my case dude. This is all on Samsung. Not me. I shouldn't have to charge my phone at 2pm. If this is battery problem is because of my light usage, then this battery just sucks.

I think its kind of dumb to have to tweak a battery just so it could give you a good days charge. I didn't pay hundreds of dollars to have to "tweak" something just so it could work the way it's supposed to.

If I do go back to my iPhone, I will enjoy it. Just like I have the past 4 years hahaha



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.

 

[markahsf]

Ok, OP needs to take a step back and relax...as others have said your experience is NOT normal...and it certainly can be remedied...

IMO 2 things could be happening here...

1. Got a bad battery...it happens...

today i took my phone off the charger...checked the time and accidentally fell back to sleep for almost 3 more hours (love having summers off lol)...picked the phone back up and was at 99% battey...

this is with Wifi on, GPS on, background data on, power saver off...

so when the phone is on standby there is NO reason for the battery to drain like that...

2. Some sort of rouge app waking the phone up...but based on the graph it doesn't seem that the phone isn't sleeping right...

now...the next things to look at are this...

what is the screen on time look like (click on screen in the batter screen)...with my normal usage im usually around 2hrs 15mins at about 50% battery....(i never turn stuff like wifi or gps off) and i ALWAYS have my screen on full brightness...the screen is ALWAYS going to be the biggest batter hog...your iPhone has a 3.4" nonHD screen...while this thing has a 4.8" SAMOLED HD screen...there is NOTHING you can do to stop it from using more juice than your iPhone...

my first suggested course of action would be a factory reset...then (as hard as this may be) try running the phone without installing any 3rd party apps for a day...if the battery still acts this way then i would be on the phone getting a new one (or at least a new battery)

I appreciate your input. I'll look into getting a new battery. For now, ill let this one drain out. I just realized that I probably made a huge mistake not letting the battery drain out when I first got it. I sure hope it isn't too late.


Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2.