4 Smartphone Settings Tips to Extend Battery Life for Both iOS and Android

Revealing 4 smartphone setting techniques that help extend battery life, including background app refresh and location permissions. These tips work for both iOS and Android.

Fast Company magazine published an article recommending 4 smartphone settings to extend battery life throughout the day without needing power-saving mode. It noted that rapid battery drain in the afternoon often isn’t due to battery wear but rather numerous background services constantly running, including apps using GPS, poor mobile signal pulling data, and high-resolution screen displays with high refresh rates.

The first tip is to limit background app refresh. Fast Company states that most apps don’t need this feature, especially social media, shopping apps, and common games, which use this permission to silently download ads and content while the device is idle.

• On iOS, go to Settings, then General, followed by Background App Refresh. Change the setting from Wi-Fi & Cellular to Wi-Fi Only, or disable it entirely except for essential apps like email and messaging.
• On Android, open Settings, select Apps, then choose each unnecessary app one by one. Go to Battery settings and set background activity to Restricted.

The second tip is to check location permissions because GPS is one of the most power-consuming components. When apps frequently check detailed location in the background, the hardware activates and rapidly drains power. The solution is to access privacy settings related to location.

• On iPhone, go to Privacy and Security, then Location Services.
• On Android, go to Settings, select Location, then App permissions.

Then change unnecessary apps from Always Allow to While Using the App or disable location access entirely. Also, turn off Precise Location for apps like weather or news that only need to know the user's province.

The third tip is to reduce the screen's power load, as it is the most energy-consuming hardware, using three sub-methods.

The first method is to enable Dark Mode, effective only on OLED screens, since OLED displays light pixels individually, and black pixels use almost no power.

• On iOS, go to Settings, select Display and Brightness, then tap Dark.
• On Android, open Settings, select Display, then enable Dark theme or Dark mode on Samsung devices.

The second method is to turn off Always-on Display.

• On iOS, go to Settings, select Display and Brightness, then Always On Display.
• On Android, open Settings, select Display, then Lock screen.

The third method is to limit the screen refresh rate to 60Hz on devices that support 120Hz.

• On iOS, go to Settings, select Accessibility, then Motion, and enable Limit Frame Rate.
• On Android, open Settings, select Display, then Motion Smoothness or Smooth Display, and switch from High or Adaptive to Standard.

The final tip is to choose the network wisely. Fast Company notes that 5G modems consume significantly more power than 4G or LTE modems, especially in areas with unstable 5G signals, such as airports or trains.

• On iPhone, go to Settings, select Cellular, then Cellular Data Options and Voice and Data. Choose 5G Auto to let the system switch to LTE when 5G doesn't provide noticeably better speeds, or select LTE outright when in weak signal areas.
• On Android, go to Settings, select Network and internet or Connections on Samsung devices, then SIMs or Mobile networks. Tap Preferred network type or Network mode and switch to LTE mode.

Additionally, Fast Company recommends that the biggest battery drain during travel is often not a specific app but weak mobile signals. When in low-signal areas or metal-structured conference rooms, the device increases power to maintain connection. If you see only one signal bar while working in a weak signal zone, it’s advisable to manually activate Airplane Mode and reconnect via Wi-Fi. This stops continuous signal searching and saves significant power, though calls and SMS won’t be received during this time.

Source:FastCompany