Smartphones, like humans, are capable of incredible feats—but if they’re continually racing ahead at full speed, they’ll burn out rapidly. And there’s nothing worse than looking down at your phone and realizing the battery is about to die—or, even worse, that it’s already dead.
Check out these strategies for ensuring your phone battery never dies before you get to the point when you’re anxiously looking for an outlet or someone nearby who has a charger.
Basic Fixes
Reduce the brightness.
Turning down the screen brightness is one of the simplest ways to extend your battery life. I know this is a no-brainer, but decreasing the brightness has been proven to make a difference. So, if you haven’t already, make the switch immediately! It’s also a good idea to turn on “Auto-brightness” so that the screen dims automatically when you’re in a dark environment.
Keep an eye on your apps.
Many popular apps, especially those with a lot of graphics or audio, are notorious energy hogs. Video games are the worst offenders, especially free versions with commercials, so keep Angry Birds for when you’re near an outlet.
Also, rather than just minimizing your apps, remember to close them. Apps that run in the background invisibly can drain your battery. To do so, double-tap the home button to view what apps are currently running, then press and hold one of the icons until it begins to wiggle. To close an app icon, tap the “-” sign in the top left corner.
Obtain a Battery-Saving App.
If you’ve stopped playing games completely, but your battery is still draining, it’s possible that other apps are to blame. Use an app like BetterBatteryStats or Battery HD+ to track your phone’s performance over several days and determine which apps are the most draining on your battery.
Disconnect from the Internet using Wi-Fi.
When you turn on your Wi-Fi, your phone goes to work searching for a hotspot. While connecting to the nearest Wi-Fi connection can save you money on your data plan, it can also deplete your battery. Turn off the Wi-Fi and only use it when absolutely necessary.
Airplane Mode should be enabled.
Switching to airplane mode isn’t just for when you’re flying over friendly skies—also, it’s a wonderful method to save battery life when you’re in a hurry. You won’t be able to make or receive calls, text messages, or connect to the Internet, but it’s an excellent way to save battery power for when you really need it.
When you’re in a circumstance where you don’t have service (like underground on the metro), you can use airplane mode to keep your phone from depleting itself, attempting to get a signal.
Advanced Fixes
Location Services must be removed.
GPS technology is used to locate your exact location by location services. Allowing your smartphone to track your location is quite helpful when navigating in a new region (or checking in on Foursquare), but it can also be a power drain. Make sure the location service is turned off and only use it when absolutely necessary.
Get Your Personal Email Address
When your phone is continually scanning for new emails, it gradually loses steam. Give your phone a break by retrieving your own email or reducing the frequency with which it retrieves data.
Reduce the number of apps that receive push notifications.
Receiving an immediate notification when you receive a new Facebook message or a new Twitter mention might be a terrific way to keep connected while on the go. However, if you receive a large number of them, your battery will suffer. Turn off or limit your notifications to only the most important apps (i.e., not Words with Friends).
If you’re always on the road, a case that also serves as a phone charger is a good investment. There are a variety of cases available that can store a full charge and double the life of your battery, and you can turn them on for a burst of power anytime you need it.
