Help Battery Consumption

[pentel]

Two questions on battery consumption:

1. My phone used up 5% of my battery in 15 minutes. Is this considered normal usage or excessive usage generally? I am concerned because based on that statistic, the phone will use 20% in 1 hour and I can have a maximum of 5 hours of battery life without charging. That is not helpful if I'm outdoors. I'm asking in general, I know it's subjective, for that 5% usage in 15 minutes which I've observed, I was reading a ebook through MoonReader, have data, wifi, bluetooth, location, background data, etc all turned off, no other user app running and phone is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

2. If the 5% usage in 15 minutes is excessive, does the UHD display contribute to its excessive battery usage? If yes, should I switch from a UHD to 1080p HD phone to reduce battery usage?

 

[electricpete]

Short experiments can be inaccurate... Watch it over a longer period of time for a better estimate.

But for what your reported, I wouldn't say that's excessive with screen on for some phones. I'd probably use about that much juice with my nexus 6 under those conditions at 50% brightness. I don't know abouit S5's.

Some things to improve your usage: Brightness adjustment makes a difference. Also for amoled, dark colors (ideally black background) uses far less juice. If your reader app doesn't offer a dark theme, try inverting colors and see if you can tolerate it.

New phone needed?...up to you. Depends on your preferences and situation. You might look into portable power pack...cheap and handy.

Yes, a lower resolution phone uses less juice IF all other things are equal....but of course all other things rarely are equal. I do think flagships tend not to outperform mid range phones on battery life. The mid range have a potential battery life advantage with lower resolution screens and lower speed cpus. Specs are sexier than battery life I guess. Having finished my generalizations, I'll warn not to make generalizations. If battery life is a key feature fore you, research it. There are sites that publish comparisons of battery life among phones based on semi-scientific testing.

 

[svim]

I'm asking in general, I know it's subjective, for that 5% usage in 15 minutes which I've observed, I was reading a ebook through MoonReader, have data, wifi, bluetooth, location, background data, etc all turned off, no other user app running and phone is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

If your phone was just in its idle, sleep mode than 5% in 15 minutes would have a real red flag but that fact that the screen was on and you were actively using an app I see it as a complete non-issue. If anything, buy an external battery so you've always got some extra power on hand when you're outside away from a power outlet.
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-usb-battery-packs/

 

[mikedt]

You can use GO Bost to clean up garbage, see which applications are consuming battery and turnoff or remove application not useful

Have advertising and spyware consuming your battery instead. "GO" anything is NOT recommended.

 

[pentel]

Short experiments can be inaccurate... Watch it over a longer period of time for a better estimate.

But for what your reported, I wouldn't say that's excessive with screen on for some phones. I'd probably use about that much juice with my nexus 6 under those conditions at 50% brightness. I don't know abouit S5's.

Some things to improve your usage: Brightness adjustment makes a difference. Also for amoled, dark colors (ideally black background) uses far less juice. If your reader app doesn't offer a dark theme, try inverting colors and see if you can tolerate it.

New phone needed?...up to you. Depends on your preferences and situation. You might look into portable power pack...cheap and handy.

Yes, a lower resolution phone uses less juice IF all other things are equal....but of course all other things rarely are equal. I do think flagships tend not to outperform mid range phones on battery life. The mid range have a potential battery life advantage with lower resolution screens and lower speed cpus. Specs are sexier than battery life I guess. Having finished my generalizations, I'll warn not to make generalizations. If battery life is a key feature fore you, research it. There are sites that publish comparisons of battery life among phones based on semi-scientific testing.

It is likely not a brightness issue. I have the exact same "config/apps" in my previous 1080p phone, reading the same ebook, the 1080p phone consumes maybe 2% in 15 minutes. Now I'm using the Samsung S7 Edge which has a 4K UHD display, it is consuming 5% in 15 minutes.

I'm suspecting it is the UHD display that consumes additional juice. If others with a UHD display phone do not have this issue, then it is my phone that has a defect and I should return the phone to Samsung.

 

[pentel]

If your phone was just in its idle, sleep mode than 5% in 15 minutes would have a real red flag but that fact that the screen was on and you were actively using an app I see it as a complete non-issue. If anything, buy an external battery so you've always got some extra power on hand when you're outside away from a power outlet.
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-usb-battery-packs/

When in sleep/idle mode, the battery is really good. Overnight, uses 3% in 5 hours. The battery pack is definitely useful, but first I need to determine if the excessive battery consumption is with my phone, if it is, then I need to return the phone to Samsung. Or if the excessive battery consumption is not a problem but just that the 4K UHD display takes up more juice, in which case, the course of action on my part is to get a battery pack.

 

[pentel]

You can use GO Bost to clean up garbage, see which applications are consuming battery and turnoff or remove application not useful

I don't generally install such "small time" 3rd party apps, games, etc.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has apps power saving feature which puts apps in power saving mode if not used in 3 days.

 

[pentel]

Have advertising and spyware consuming your battery instead. "GO" anything is NOT recommended.

That is the main reason why I don't install such apps.

 

[chanchan05]

Depends on what exactly were you doing, 5% in 15 min could be reasonable. Were you playing a game? Currently I've used up 4% in 30min continuous use with a couple of CoC and Clash Royale sessions in there.

 

[pentel]

Depends on what exactly were you doing, 5% in 15 min could be reasonable. Were you playing a game? Currently I've used up 4% in 30min continuous use with a couple of CoC and Clash Royale sessions in there.

I mentioned that in the first post, I was reading an ebook through MoonReader, have data, wifi, bluetooth, location, background data, etc all turned off, no other user app running and phone is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. That uses 5% of my battery in 15 minutes.

I flagged this 5% in 15 minutes as a concern because on my previous phone with the "exact" config/apps, it does not used up to 5% in 15 minutes. Previous phone is not 4K UHD but a 1080p HD.

Your 4% in 30 minutes is 2 times better than mine - that is 2% in 15 minutes. You did not say if you are using the Samsung S7 device or a device with 4K UHD display.

 

[chanchan05]

I'm using an S7 Edge.

What is the previous phone? Remember that you have an AMOLED screen. Brightness levels and how much whites the screen has on will affect battery life. Unlike LCDs with a pretty standard screen consumption, AMOLEDs consume more battery with more whites, and less with more blacks. I wouldn't know the exact amount if it would amount to your usage. I could see and try though, but my ebook reader of choice is Bookari. Will set that to white and see how much it uses. Currently have it set to white text on black background to save battery more.

EDIT:
Just finished testing. 45% brightness on auto, connected to wifi, location and sync turned on for the apps. Using Bookari, reading an offline ebook but with reading progress sync turned on (so progress syncs to my tablet), I got about 3% over 18min.

Could also be MoonReader is a bit of a battery hog, won't know. Havent used that since 3 years ago after I decided to buy the premium version of Bookari (then Mantano) over MoonPro.

 

[mikedt]

I mentioned that in the first post, I was reading an ebook through MoonReader, have data, wifi, bluetooth, location, background data, etc all turned off, no other user app running and phone is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. That uses 5% of my battery in 15 minutes.

I flagged this 5% in 15 minutes as a concern because on my previous phone with the "exact" config/apps, it does not used up to 5% in 15 minutes. Previous phone is not 4K UHD but a 1080p HD.

Your 4% in 30 minutes is 2 times better than mine - that is 2% in 15 minutes. You did not say if you are using the Samsung S7 device or a device with 4K UHD display.

Have you got the reader set to white background with black text or black background with white text?

My phone also has an AMOLED screen, and found it's much better for battery consumption if I use Tapatalk in dark background with light text, like so..

 

[chanchan05]

On my test I reverted to white background. But normal usage for me is black, so it's going to be less than 3% per 15min on my phone for normal usage.

 

[pentel]

I'm using an S7 Edge.

What is the previous phone? Remember that you have an AMOLED screen. Brightness levels and how much whites the screen has on will affect battery life. Unlike LCDs with a pretty standard screen consumption, AMOLEDs consume more battery with more whites, and less with more blacks. I wouldn't know the exact amount if it would amount to your usage. I could see and try though, but my ebook reader of choice is Bookari. Will set that to white and see how much it uses. Currently have it set to white text on black background to save battery more.

EDIT:
Just finished testing. 45% brightness on auto, connected to wifi, location and sync turned on for the apps. Using Bookari, reading an offline ebook but with reading progress sync turned on (so progress syncs to my tablet), I got about 3% over 18min.

Could also be MoonReader is a bit of a battery hog, won't know. Havent used that since 3 years ago after I decided to buy the premium version of Bookari (then Mantano) over MoonPro.

My previous phone is the S5. Your 3% over 18minutes is appealing to me.

My brightness is also 45% on auto. I have my MoonPro set to white background because it is easier to read outdoors in that white background. That used 5% in 15 minutes.

I will test today - set the MoonPro to black background and see how is the results. Will report back later.

 

[pentel]

Have you got the reader set to white background with black text or black background with white text?

My phone also has an AMOLED screen, and found it's much better for battery consumption if I use Tapatalk in dark background with light text, like so..

I have my MoonPro set to white background. I will test today on the black background and report back.

 

[pentel]

On my test I reverted to white background. But normal usage for me is black, so it's going to be less than 3% per 15min on my phone for normal usage.

That 3% over 15 minutes with a black background on MoonPro will be my goal. After all, I have no other apps running and have wifi, data, background data, location, sync, etc all turned off, and you have these turned on.

 

[Xavier Black]

The whiter more juicy used..all I know the s7 is supposed to have a very good battery..I think you can experiment and try to see if you can buy an extended battery (I am not talking about a power bank battery)..that solved my same issue I used to have..3 hours in the street and my phone was dead and couldn't see what time to return home to connect my unreliable useless phone..now with good usage I get about 10 hours, don't buy just any brand..try Zlaza, let me know..

 

[chanchan05]

The whiter more juicy used..all I know the s7 is supposed to have a very good battery..I think you can experiment and try to see if you can buy an extended battery (I am not talking about a power bank battery)..that solved my same issue I used to have..3 hours in the street and my phone was dead and couldn't see what time to return home to connect my unreliable useless phone..now with good usage I get about 10 hours, don't buy just any brand..try Zlaza, let me know..

The S7 has a non removable battery. You can't use extended batteries on it.

 

[chanchan05]

That 3% over 15 minutes with a black background on MoonPro will be my goal. After all, I have no other apps running and have wifi, data, background data, location, sync, etc all turned off, and you have these turned on.

I suggest you try another app. If MoonPro is the culprit, that means it's using twice as much battery as Bookari. That 3% in 15min I got was using a white background. Try that or Aldiko too.

 

[Xavier Black]

Ohhhh man!, sorry..didn't know..jijijiji

 

[pentel]

I suggest you try another app. If MoonPro is the culprit, that means it's using twice as much battery as Bookari. That 3% in 15min I got was using a white background. Try that or Aldiko too.

The excessive battery issue is happening with other apps as well, not just MoonPro. I get the same high 5% in 15 mins when using apps like Reuters, Voice of America, and Firefox. So I do not think MoonPro is the culprit.

I tested reading on black background, results is 4% in 15 mins. I like your usage of 3% in 15 mins on a white background.

This S7 Edge device is disappointing, considering I spent a bundle of money on it. I'm not sure if it is the UHD display that is causing the excessive battery usage, if it is, I will sell this S7 Edge and buy a 1080p device instead.

 

[chanchan05]

The excessive battery issue is happening with other apps as well, not just MoonPro. I get the same high 5% in 15 mins when using apps like Reuters, Voice of America, and Firefox. So I do not think MoonPro is the culprit.

I tested reading on black background, results is 4% in 15 mins. I like your usage of 3% in 15 mins on a white background.

This S7 Edge device is disappointing, considering I spent a bundle of money on it. I'm not sure if it is the UHD display that is causing the excessive battery usage, if it is, I will sell this S7 Edge and buy a 1080p device instead.

Not likely that the screen os the culprit. Remember that while the Edge does indeed come with higher resolution, it also comes with a bigger battery. So at the very least it should have similar battery performance. Have you checked Your battery stats as to what appears to be the major battery drains? There appears to be a major difference in how much my S7 Edge drains battery as compared to yours. What CPU does your phone have? SnapDragon or Exynos?

 

[pentel]

Not likely that the screen os the culprit. Remember that while the Edge does indeed come with higher resolution, it also comes with a bigger battery. So at the very least it should have similar battery performance. Have you checked Your battery stats as to what appears to be the major battery drains? There appears to be a major difference in how much my S7 Edge drains battery as compared to yours. What CPU does your phone have? SnapDragon or Exynos?

How do you check the which app is draining the battery? That would be from Settings > Battery > ???.

The "Battery Usage" button from the "Battery" screen doesn't show me that.

My S7 Edge has the Exynos CPU. What about yours?

 

[chanchan05]

How do you check the which app is draining the battery? That would be from Settings > Battery > ???.

The "Battery Usage" button from the "Battery" screen doesn't show me that.

My S7 Edge has the Exynos CPU. What about yours?

Try GSAM Battery monitor from Play Store. And yes I have Exynos.

 

[pentel]

From this test, it appears that the UHD display is causing the excessive battery usage - using up 5% in 15 minutes.

The test:
Phone is Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Fully charged the phone to 100%
Have data, wifi, bluetooth, location, background data, always-on, etc all turned off
Screen brightness is 45% on auto
No other user app running
Read an ebook for 15 minutes

Results:
Used up 5% in 15 minutes
UHD display usage is 91%
App usage is 9%
Device is extremely warm after reading. "Switched off"/ put device to sleep after reading. Feels like a hot water bottle in the pocket. (does not feel warm while reading)
With that, the phone can only be used for 4.5 hours (per screenshot) without recharging, that is not acceptable.


Is there a problem with the UHD screen?
Does your UHD screen consume as much battery as mine?
The device being extremely warm when put to sleep after use, is that normal?