Modern Android smart phones can do everything but tip the waiter. But as every Droid owner knows, the phones do not have the best battery life. There are a myriad of reasons ranging from larger power hungry screens to screaming fast processors. It was not until recently that you could find an Android phone that could last through the day without running out of juice. Just when it seemed that Droid owners could upgrade to a new device without battery worries, the newest devices with 4G technology have arrived. Though these phones offer blazing fast speeds, they also come with much shorter battery life. It is not uncommon to see a HTC Thunderbolt or EVO 4G running low on juice just after lunch. If you have such problems, here are some tips for extending your Droid’s battery life.
Take care of your phone’s battery
Modern batteries, especially those used by Android phones tend to be very higher capacity then previous generations. For example, there is no such thing as a “memory effect” with modern day batteries. But there are a few things that you can do to help keep your battery in good condition. The most important thing is to not completely drain the battery if you can help it. This degrades the battery quicker than normal usage. Try not to let the phone discharge through high temperatures (e.g. leaving in a hot car). No matter what you do, all batteries lose their ability recharge over time. So it is a good idea to buy a new battery if your device no longer lasts half as long as it used to. In addition carrying a spare battery can be a life saver if you often run low on power.
Don’t use power when you don’t have to
The Native Android install is not the best at power conservation. There are a lot of services you can turn off to prevent the phone from draining your power. For example if you are only reading a book, switch on to airplane mode. This will not only extend your battery, but will let you read in peace. The cellular radio (especially 4G), GPS and WiFi are the biggest battery culprits. If you don’t want to constantly adjust your settings there are a number of applications that can help you shut down features of your device when you don’t need them. Juice Defender Plus will shut down unneeded components when your phone is off. Tasker will let you create and automatically enable profiles based on time, location or any number of conditions. So you can only set the phone to vibrate when you are at work, or turn off the cell radio at night. Each profile can contain specific features to turn on and off.
Have recharging stations
One of the easiest ways to make your battery last through the day is to make sure you have recharging stations at places you frequent. So it is a good idea to have a spare charging cable at your dock our school. If you spend a lot of time in the car, it is worth it to invest in a car charger. You can charge up your Droid as you drive and will be ready when at the end of the trip.
Get extra capacity
If all of the above do not work for you or if you are a road warrior that depends on your phone it may be a good idea to add some extra juice to your device. Indeed, the best way to extend your battery’s life is to add a battery to it. External batteries can be recharged like a phone and will provide power to your device before your Droid’s battery. Many people do not like carrying an external battery so companies like Powerskin have created a line of cases that have batteries built in. These cases add only slightly more bulk than a case, but carry a battery to extend the life of your device. In many cases they will more than double the capacity of any Droid phone and give you the security that you always have your device available.