Battery Life is blowing my mind

[Mr. Incredible]

My DNA barely sips power in standby. It's dropping between 1.5% and 2% per hour in standby.

I thought watching movies off of a USB stick would suck the battery dry very quickly, but the difference is negligible using a Kingston data traveler.

 

[211275]

2nd day, and this time, after 12 hours, I still have 47% left.

Thats because you are barely using your phone lol. Look at the "screen on" line, its hardly anything. Look at the pic in the link below, pay attention to the screen on line. This is what it should look like under regular use and you will get nowhere near 12 hours actually using the phone as I found out.

http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-dna/657537-my-dna-battery-lasts-just-5-hours-but.html

 

[Don S]

Thats because you are barely using your phone lol. Look at the "screen on" line, its hardly anything. Look at the pic in the link below, pay attention to the screen on line. This is what it should look like under regular use and you will get nowhere near 12 hours actually using the phone as I found out.

http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-dna/657537-my-dna-battery-lasts-just-5-hours-but.html

While the post you responded to was light usage, the example you reference is not at all "regular use" for me. That is someone in a weak 3G area with heavy screen time, downloading data, streaming movies over a weak 3G area, etc.

What that link is, is the other side of the coin IMO. That is the worst case scenario and I still think that battery life is pretty good...

 

[Bearcats]

If you are going to use the phone like that all the time (on all the time) you are going to have to realize one of two things; either you need to leave it plugged in or you are not going to have a long life battery.

The Note II is not the same class. Period. If you go to the Note II, that's great but the Note II is a phablet. Different market segment. When it was released, HTC made a very specific point (for whatever reason) to separate the two. And yes as part of its feature set, the Note II has a larger battery which is removable.

If I used my Dinc on all the time, I would not get five hours. I barely get three. When my son plays with my phone the screen is on all the time and it goes into red with 15% warnings after about three hours give or take a couple minutes. And I turn off all the radios when he uses it to prevent random web browsing.

Screen lit 80%+ is extreme usage. Its an outlier data point in my opinion. If your use demands a gazillion MaH, then you need to get a phone that supports that. To purchase a phone that might be on the edge of use versus battery life (such as the DNA is) is a foolish move.

I see it the same way for me (personally) to purchase a Samsung phone and expecting it to have good signal in the basement under the wet end. Just to add that on my last trip I had my clunky old Dinc and my cohort has a SG3. Guess who could call out and receive data (albeit slowly) and guess who didn't have a signal? Needless to say I had to keep charging my phone because we had two people using it, not just one.

In the end each persons use reflects differently on how the phone lasts. That use does not necessarily mean the phone is faulty.

 

[nelamvr6]

Thats because you are barely using your phone lol. Look at the "screen on" line, its hardly anything. Look at the pic in the link below, pay attention to the screen on line. This is what it should look like under regular use and you will get nowhere near 12 hours actually using the phone as I found out.

http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-dna/657537-my-dna-battery-lasts-just-5-hours-but.html

I saw your post, and I think that in fact your use is irregular, not mine. You have almost two hours of screen on time. You're watching videos, full length videos.

Believe it or not, most people don't have time to watch full length TV episodes on their phones while they're at work.

My usage consisted of receiving texts, responding to texts, receiving e-mails and then responding, I think I checked the headlines and/or the weather once or twice. I browsed Flipboard a bit while on break.

In other words, I was working and I occasionally had to use my phone. Normal life.

 

[211275]

I saw your post, and I think that in fact your use is irregular, not mine. You have almost two hours of screen on time. You're watching videos, full length videos.

Believe it or not, most people don't have time to watch full length TV episodes on their phones while they're at work.

My usage consisted of receiving texts, responding to texts, receiving e-mails and then responding, I think I checked the headlines and/or the weather once or twice. I browsed Flipboard a bit while on break.

In other words, I was working and I occasionally had to use my phone. Normal life.

That wasnt my post with the battery but my battery life wasnt much better. If I was just doing texts and emails like you do, I would just have any random phone. Why would I need a 5 inch 1080p display phone to text and email? This phone is clearly mean to be used for media. So yes, the average person looking to buy it IS thinking about full HD movies, netflix, gaming...not text and emails. Normal life to you is being at a job not touching your phone. Normal life to me is dealing with hundreds of emails, texts and calls from clients. Also do a lot of media consumption as i work in the entertaiment industry. Different strokes. Anyways, I already returned mine and got a Note 2. Screen isn't as good but at least I can get thru a day and actually use my phone without worring about it dying. Hope HTC reads these forums. The DNA would have been perfect with a real battery.

 

[AntimonyER]

I dunno, I think just looking at this beautiful screen for texting and emails is fine too. I think we need to look at this thread as, the battery life with a 2020 mAh battery is blowing my mind. Yes its not going to compete with a 3100, but throw it up against any other phone with similar battery size, and I like my chances.

 

[NightAngel79]

So I returned my DNA and got the Note 2 instead. I really wanted to keep it but the terrible battery life was too much to overlook. I unplugged it this morning at 10am and started to use it rather than letting it sit and only pick it up when I needed to make a call or return a text. I actually sat there and watch it drop from 99% down to 94% in the five minutes or so I was on Phonedog.com reading an article. Thats completely unacceptable IMO. I didnt even do anything intensive either. I browsed the web, watched a couple short Youtube videos, downloaded a few new apps, sent a few texts and a few emails. 5 hours off the charger with about 1hr 45min of actual use and I was down to 42% battery If I would have thrown some gaming and watching movies in there, forget it, would have been dead in 6 hours. Yesterday, I got about 14 hours before I hit 10% battery, but I wasnt using the phone that much at all.

Fair points but lets keep it on perspective. A traditional Laptop only gets 4 to 6 hours out of a charge with use

Thats because you are barely using your phone lol. Look at the "screen on" line, its hardly anything. Look at the pic in the link below, pay attention to the screen on line. This is what it should look like under regular use and you will get nowhere near 12 hours actually using the phone as I found out.

http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-dna/657537-my-dna-battery-lasts-just-5-hours-but.html

Yea, Not regular use...

Lets keep it real, there is NO 'regular' use... honestly

Its all gonna be different.

Your phone should be draining that fast while not in use but you have to facotr in signal strength (for voice and data), wifi, screen on time, awake time (which can be different from screen on time due to things like pandora which can run without screen on)

I would have urged you to DL GSM Battery Monitor (thats the name right?) and it will tell you if an app is wake-locking your phone. Would also tell you exactly how much screen on time you were getting, which I'm willing to bet is extremely similar to what everyone else is getting

While the post you responded to was light usage, the example you reference is not at all "regular use" for me. That is someone in a weak 3G area with heavy screen time, downloading data, streaming movies over a weak 3G area, etc.

What that link is, is the other side of the coin IMO. That is the worst case scenario and I still think that battery life is pretty good...

Agreed

That wasnt my post with the battery but my battery life wasnt much better. If I was just doing texts and emails like you do, I would just have any random phone. Why would I need a 5 inch 1080p display phone to text and email? This phone is clearly mean to be used for media. So yes, the average person looking to buy it IS thinking about full HD movies, netflix, gaming...not text and emails. Normal life to you is being at a job not touching your phone. Normal life to me is dealing with hundreds of emails, texts and calls from clients. Also do a lot of media consumption as i work in the entertaiment industry. Different strokes. Anyways, I already returned mine and got a Note 2. Screen isn't as good but at least I can get thru a day and actually use my phone without worring about it dying. Hope HTC reads these forums. The DNA would have been perfect with a real battery.

Lets be honest with ourselves... there is no perfect phone. If we didn't have the battery life to complain about it would be the storage, or placement of power button (which are all legitimate complaints)

This phone (or any of them) will simply not appeal to every one, no matter what.

Obviously this phone didn't have the necessary 'junk under the trunk' lol

And that's cool. Hope the Note works for you, it really did look like a Boss! I personally don't like Sammy's UI but to each there own

I dunno, I think just looking at this beautiful screen for texting and emails is fine too. I think we need to look at this thread as, the battery life with a 2020 mAh battery is blowing my mind. Yes its not going to compete with a 3100, but throw it up against any other phone with similar battery size, and I like my chances.

Amen bro

 

[pushpulley]

Why would I need a 5 inch 1080p display phone to text and email?

The 5 inch 1080p screen is AWESOME for reading IMHO. No pixels, great for kindle books, websites, whatever. That was the killer feature for me. And I'm not reading 8 hours a day, but sometimes for a couple, and I haven't feared for my battery life.

Also...I keep seeing these variances in battery life numbers, and I wonder if maybe some people are using full brightness at all times and others aren't? Usually mine is at 1/3 brightness unless I'm outdoors.

 

[211275]

Good points by you guys and yes I am sure battery lige is varying based on several things. Actual usage, signal strength, apps running in the background, WIFI, GPS or bluetooth being on etc...and to Night Angel. Why woukd you let TouchWiz keep you from getting a Samsung phone when you can just root and ROM?

 

[tmus]

I have been traveling all day in areas with weak signal, using my phone for calls, txt, email, weather, yelp, internet, flipboard, and after 14 hours I have 37%. I would have not gotten anywhere near this with my galaxy nexus or SIII because of radio drain alone. Most likely I would not have been able to use them because of horrible reception! This phone does a very good job with power management and the best reception of any Verizon 4G phone I have had including Razr Maxx!

 

[NightAngel79]

Good points by you guys and yes I am sure battery lige is varying based on several things. Actual usage, signal strength, apps running in the background, WIFI, GPS or bluetooth being on etc...and to Night Angel. Why woukd you let TouchWiz keep you from getting a Samsung phone when you can just root and ROM?

Not basing a phone decision on rooting and buggy ROMs (they are all buggy)

I want something that just works, for me that is htc

 

[Wolfedude88]

Not basing a phone decision on rooting and buggy ROMs (they are all buggy)

I want something that just works, for me that is htc

I use to love sense, but now it is my least favorite, but I don't really care for touchwiz either. I think Motorola has the best custom skin out there now, just because it is close to stock.

I agree completely about not buying a phone just to root and rom, never know how long it will take and if good roms will come out, and you're right they all have bugs.

I too returned the DNA and picked up the Note 2 on Monday.

First impressions are that the battery last a lot longer than the DNA and it is nice to have expandable memory. Screen is huge which is good and bad.

I think the DNA is a better size for me personally, the screen looks a lot better on the DNA, both phones are plenty fast, the DNA looks and feels a lot better. The only thing that got me to switch was the battery.

While I agree the battery in the DNA is actually pretty good, but unfortunately I work afternoons right now and my phone is unplugged from 11:00 am to at least midnight, so I was wanting something with a little heftier battery.

I can charge my phone at work sometimes, sometimes I am too far away because of where I am on the assembly line, also someone accidentally broke my phone at work once while charging so I prefer to not have to charge.

In the week that I owned the DNA I never had to charge it at work, but I always felt like I was afraid I might have to. I would definitely buy a DNA Maxx for a higher price if it ever came out.

I am okay with my choice to switch, but I do believe I like the DNA better in almost all aspects. But both phones are great and cannot go wrong with either.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

I use to love sense, but now it is my least favorite, but I don't really care for touchwiz either. I think Motorola has the best custom skin out there now, just because it is close to stock.

I agree completely about not buying a phone just to root and rom, never know how long it will take and if good roms will come out, and you're right they all have bugs.

I too returned the DNA and picked up the Note 2 on Monday.

First impressions are that the battery last a lot longer than the DNA and it is nice to have expandable memory. Screen is huge which is good and bad.

I think the DNA is a better size for me personally, the screen looks a lot better on the DNA, both phones are plenty fast, the DNA looks and feels a lot better. The only thing that got me to switch was the battery.

While I agree the battery in the DNA is actually pretty good, but unfortunately I work afternoons right now and my phone is unplugged from 11:00 am to at least midnight, so I was wanting something with a little heftier battery.

I can charge my phone at work sometimes, sometimes I am too far away because of where I am on the assembly line, also someone accidentally broke my phone at work once while charging so I prefer to not have to charge.

In the week that I owned the DNA I never had to charge it at work, but I always felt like I was afraid I might have to. I would definitely buy a DNA Maxx for a higher price if it ever came out.

I am okay with my choice to switch, but I do believe I like the DNA better in almost all aspects. But both phones are great and cannot go wrong with either.

Did you consider a pocket charger? Less than the extra $$ for the Note2, about the same extra weight. Charge anywhere. You can keep it stashed somewhere until you need it.

 

[climberman]

Did you consider a pocket charger? Less than the extra $$ for the Note2, about the same extra weight. Charge anywhere. You can keep it stashed somewhere until you need it.

External chargers are THE way to go..... imho......I rock a New Trent I-pulse ranked at 10,000 mAh.......not big at all and charges my lovely DNA 4 to 5 times ( from depleted battery to full charge ). This charger is big enough to keep you going for days of use at the office with heavy phone use or a long long long flight ...... really a beast of a charger for any phone or pad......

 

[05evors]

12 hrs for me moderate- heavy browsing/youtube.

screen dims at 30 sec

Auto sync always off....I pull mail when i want.

AWESOME battery for 4-8gb month user.

People need to stop taking the cnet/zdnet/techno buff reviews as gospel....those reviewers never discuss better launchers/keyboards, how to turn email sync off, they ALL seem to hit on stock sense or blurr/stock lame keypads then complain about fingerprints and bad battery life playing games

This phone kicks major ass thats alllll that matters