UD Asks: The Ultimate Guide to Extending Your Smartphone’s Battery Life

You use your phone for everything, and by the end of the day, you’re constantly looking for an outlet. We’ve all been there. It seems like the battery life on a brand-new phone is incredible, but after a few months, it starts to feel a little… less. So, what’s the secret to making your smartphone’s battery last longer, not just through the day, but for months and even years to come?

Here at Unbox Diaries, we’ve put together the ultimate guide, breaking down everything from the biggest battery drainers to the best charging habits you should start today.

Part 1: Taming the Top Battery Drainers

The first step to extending your battery life is understanding what’s killing it. These are the biggest culprits:

1. The Screen: Your Biggest Power Guzzler

Your screen is the single most power-hungry component on your phone. The brighter it is, the more power it consumes.

• Tip #1: Adjust Brightness. Manually lower your screen brightness to the lowest comfortable level. Better yet, use Adaptive Brightness (or Auto-Brightness) to let your phone adjust it for you based on ambient light, which is more efficient.

• Tip #2: Go Dark. If your phone has an OLED or AMOLED screen, enabling Dark Mode is a game-changer. Dark pixels on these screens are actually turned off, saving a significant amount of power, especially in apps that are mostly white.

• Tip #3: Set a Shorter Screen Timeout. Your screen doesn’t need to stay on for five minutes after you’ve stopped looking at it. Set your Screen Timeout to 30 seconds or less to make sure it goes to sleep quickly.

2. The Apps You Aren’t Even Using

Just because you’ve closed an app doesn’t mean it’s stopped working. Many apps continue to refresh content, check for notifications, and use location services in the background.

• Tip #4: Limit Background Activity. In your phone’s settings, you can see which apps are draining the most battery. For apps you don’t need running constantly (like social media or games), go into the app’s settings and restrict its Background App Refresh or Background Data Usage.

• Tip #5: Turn Off Push Notifications. Every time an app sends a notification, your screen lights up, your phone vibrates, and it uses power. Limit notifications to only the most essential apps.

3. Connectivity: Always on, Always Draining

Leaving Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS on all the time is a subtle but constant drain, even if you’re not using them.

• Tip #6: Be Mindful of Connectivity. Get in the habit of turning off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you’re not using them. When you’re not navigating, turn off your Location Services (GPS) or set apps to only access your location “while using the app.”

• Tip #7: Use Wi-Fi over Mobile Data. When you have access to a good, secure Wi-Fi signal, use it. Your phone generally uses less power to maintain a Wi-Fi connection than it does to connect to a mobile network, especially in areas with a weak signal.

Part 2: Charging Habits That Extend Battery Lifespan

Making your battery last through the day is one thing, but making it last for years is another. This is all about charging habits.

• The Golden Rule: Avoid the Extremes. The biggest myth is that you should always charge your phone from 0% to 100%. Modern lithium-ion batteries are stressed by these extreme charge cycles. For optimal long-term health, try to keep your battery level between 20% and 80%. Charging in short bursts throughout the day is much better for your battery than a single full charge.

• Use the Right Charger. Always use the original charger that came with your phone, or a certified one from a reputable brand. Cheap, uncertified chargers can be less efficient and, in some cases, even harm your battery over time.

• Avoid Overheating. Heat is the number one enemy of a phone battery. Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or under your pillow while charging. Remove your phone case when charging if it gets noticeably hot.

• Update Your Phone. Software updates often include crucial battery optimizations from the manufacturer. Always keep your phone’s operating system and all your apps up-to-date to ensure the most efficient performance.

UD’s Take: Small Changes, Big Results

You don’t need to be a tech expert to get more out of your phone’s battery. By being more mindful of the biggest power consumers—your screen and background apps—and adopting a few smart charging habits, you can significantly extend your phone’s daily runtime and its overall lifespan.

What do you think? Have you tried any of these tips?

If you liked this article, check out our other works on Battery.