Does 4g affect battery consumption? Android battery drains quickly

Verizon says its 4G LTE network will initially cover 100 million subscribers in 38 states by the end of this year. The first metropolitan areas where the network will be deployed will be Boston, New York, Washington, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Below is a map of Verizon's 4G LTE coverage:

Current and potential iPhone owners who look askance at AT&T are enthusiastic about rumors of a possible agreement between Apple and Verizon to sell iPhones on the latter's networks.

5. 4G is more expensive. Sprint currently charges its subscribers an extra $10 a month for 4G, whether it's available in their area or not. Due to the increasing consumption of mobile traffic and Verizon's entry into the market, both operators are rumored to be planning to replace unlimited tariffs with completely limited ones, which provide payment for each megabyte. 4G devices are also more expensive, at least for now.

6. The 4G module is very power hungry and drains the battery. HTC EVO 4G can only work for a few hours without charging. And while this problem can be solved by turning off 4G, it will be the last thing a user will want to do after buying an expensive phone with the expectation of high data speeds. Additional batteries that will help owners of such devices cost about $100.

7. A 4G hotspot can speed up 3G phones, oddly enough. The Sprint website has a video demonstrating how iPhone owners can “catch” a 4G network and thereby increase reception speed. Take that, AT&T! Sprint says a single 4G hotspot can support up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at once. It is also said that the access point from Sierra Wireless is the first device with simultaneous support for two standards.

8. Sprint and Verizon are leaders in 4G adoption, but where are the competitors? And they don't sleep. CNET's Kent Herman reports that AT&T is set to join the duo as early as next year. AT&T Chief Operating Officer John Stankey says the company will launch an LTE network in mid-2011. He did not specify the list of cities, but, according to him, it is planned to cover 70 million subscribers (75 by the end of 2011).

Meanwhile, T-Mobile is touting its move to HPSA+. According to the company, this transition will increase network speed by 3-5 times compared to 3G. T-Mobile describes HPSA+ as "a super-fast mobile network that will be available in the northeastern US and other major cities across the country."

9. So, if you are one of those people who desperately need high network speed on their mobile phone for multimedia and business needs, you should definitely go for 4G. Just be aware of the rather meager coverage and be prepared for more expensive rates. Well, don’t forget to charge your phone more often.

For everyone else, there is no need to change anything. Whenever your contract expires, it's worth considering upgrading to a faster network. By then, you see, 4G will be available in a larger area and with a larger number of operators. Plus, prices should fall, maybe the battery and other technical details will be improved.

For now, the only thing you should be concerned about is when the fifth generation 5G network will become relevant.

If you are the proud owner of a device running Android OS, then you probably know firsthand how difficult it is to get a smartphone or tablet to work on a single charge for at least 24 hours. The battery of a modern device runs out not just quickly, but at an incredible speed - the percentage of charge disappears right before your eyes, especially if you use all the delights of the latest advances.

3G/4G, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2/4/8 core processors - everything requires energy, and if the performance of smartphones is growing by leaps and bounds year after year, then in terms of autonomy things are much worse.

Modern devices have even worse battery life than they did 10 years ago. Manufacturers are trying to somehow save the situation by developing energy-efficient components, introducing energy-saving technologies into their devices, but, in fact, the maximum that a modern smartphone can do is a day with active use or 3-4 days in a gentle mode, if you use it only for calls.

Let's try to figure out if there is any way to extend the operating time of our device or all we should rely on is a spare battery or a portable charger.

And so, if your phone’s battery runs out quickly, read:

Use regular static pictures instead of animated “” ones as your desktop background. Animation is certainly beautiful, but in this case, our goal is to extend the operating time of the smartphone.

Turn on the Internet only when you need it. 3G/4G modes are among the most voracious consumers of energy. And vice versa, setting the “GSM Only” mode in the settings will extend the battery life to 30% or more.

Turn off automatic updates and synchronization. Instead, decide for yourself when and what to update and sync.

Each of these methods will have a positive effect, but the maximum increase in autonomy is possible only when using a set of measures. Therefore, while science has not come up with anything radically new, we take the smartphone into our own hands and optimize it to the maximum.

What is better Wi-Fi or 3G/4G? No matter how different and incommensurable these wireless Internet connection standards are, no matter how many advantages and disadvantages each technology has, users nevertheless have to compare them and make a choice.

After all, the price of purchasing a mobile or portable device with and without a built-in 3G modem can vary greatly. Let’s take, for example, one with 32GB memory: its assembly with only a Wi-Fi module will cost about $260, and its assembly with both a Wi-Fi module and a built-in 3G modem will cost approximately $360. As you can see, for a 3G modem you will have to pay about $100 extra – that is, more than a third of the cost of the tablet itself.

In the case of Apple products, the picture is even brighter: for example, with 16 GB of memory only with Wi-Fi it will cost about $580-600, while assembling a gadget with the same amount of memory, but also with Wi-Fi and a modem 3G, you will have to pay about $750.

Does it make sense to initially pay a high price for a built-in 3G modem when purchasing a device? Or can a smartphone, tablet, netbook or laptop be fully used without it, using only Wi-Fi? Which of these Internet access technologies - Wi-Fi or 3G - is better? Let's look into this in more detail.

What is Wi-Fi technology: advantages and disadvantages

The Wi-Fi range can be 30-500 meters from the signal source, i.e., from the location of the router. Specific range indicators will depend on the power characteristics of the router. For example, a standard home Wi-Fi router can provide a range of 45 m indoors and 90 m outdoors.

At the moment, Wi-Fi is the easiest way to have fast wireless Internet. The only wired Internet connection in the house can be turned into the ability for all family members to access the Internet wirelessly from their devices. In big cities today, almost all public institutions - universities, cafes, entertainment venues, hotels, gas stations, shopping and office centers - have free Wi-Fi access points. So, having ordered a cup of tea in a cafe, you can drink it for at least an hour and communicate on social networks.

The built-in Wi-Fi module has been a standard feature of laptops and netbooks for several years now, and models of smartphones and tablets without it probably cannot be found on the market at all. You can additionally equip your PC assembly with a Wi-Fi module so that, for example, you don’t have to bother with wires when you frequently move the system unit and monitor around the house.

What is 3G/4G technology: advantages and disadvantages

To connect to the mobile 3G/4G Internet, a device (laptop, netbook, tablet, smartphone) must have a 3G/4G modem - built-in or external, connected via USB. The latter is similar to a flash drive and is often offered by mobile operators - 3G/4G Internet providers - at a competitive price, or even for a nominal fee when signing a service contract.

3G/4G Internet can be used without being tied to any point, as is the case with wired or Wi-Fi Internet. But 3G/4G is not yet complete freedom of movement with access to the World Wide Web; everything will depend on the coverage area of ​​the 3G/4G networks of the mobile operator. But in any case, you should not count on communication in places remote from operator towers - in remote villages, forests, mountains, deserts, etc.

What is better Wi-Fi or 3G/4G: comparison based on individual criteria

As you can see, it is not possible to objectively choose the best Internet communication standard; both have significant drawbacks.

In terms of speed, Wi-Fi is many times faster than 3G/4G. Thus, Wi-Fi technology can provide a maximum Internet speed of 600 Mbps. Again, this is the maximum speed. The disadvantage of Wi-Fi Internet is that its speed depends on the number of active devices connected to the access point. The more users from different devices connect to the access point, the slower the Internet access speed will be, because the speed will be evenly distributed among all connected devices - be it a laptop, be it a smartphone, be it a tablet. Typically, in normal home conditions, Wi-Fi Internet speed per user averages 20-25 Mbit/s.

But the maximum speed in 3G networks is about 3.5 Mbit/s, but often this figure barely exceeds 2 Mbit/s. And if 3G/4G Internet is used on a mobile device in a moving vehicle, the speed may even drop to 128 kbit. The speed of 3G/4G Internet is also affected by weather conditions, distance from the mobile operator tower, and the number of active subscribers.

The successor to 3G - the 4G mobile Internet standard - can provide much higher data transfer speeds - up to 10 Mbit/s. But this is an expensive Internet connection, and its coverage area does not yet allow 4G to be considered as a serious alternative to Wi-Fi or 3G.

Wi-Fi is capable of providing greater bandwidth than 3G. Therefore, Wi-Fi has a more stable Internet speed, while 3G speed constantly fluctuates due to lower bandwidth.

Bottom line: in terms of Internet speed, Wi-Fi beats 3G by a huge margin.

The cost of 3G/4G Internet depends on the tariff plan of the mobile operator. But no matter what tariff plan you choose - with per-megabyte payment or unlimited, you will still have to pay, and pay only for one device. It is unlikely that a mobile operator’s tariff plan will be significantly cheaper than wired connection tariffs, when when connecting to a Wi-Fi router, all family members, and even neighbors from time to time, can use unlimited Internet. In hotels, cafes, gas stations and other public establishments, Wi-Fi is a free service.

Therefore, evaluating 3G and Wi-Fi comprehensively, in terms of cost, Wi-Fi will again win.

The issue of energy consumption by hardware Internet connection modules cannot but worry mobile users. And, unfortunately, 3G/4G, being a mobile standard, is seriously inferior to Wi-Fi in this matter. Thus, 3G/4G modems consume 4-5 times more battery power when surfing the web than Wi-Fi modules do. And since Wi-Fi Internet is used mostly indoors, users, in addition to saving energy by the module, also have the opportunity to recharge the battery.

Overall: in terms of energy consumption, Wi-Fi wins again.

Wi-Fi or 3G/4G: summing up

Almost all users of mobile gadgets face the problem of the battery draining too quickly. The problem occurs gradually and goes unnoticed for some time, but one day the owner notices that the battery life of the smartphone or tablet has been reduced by almost half. If you do nothing, it will decrease further - until it becomes impossible to use the device. And one day the device won’t turn on at all.

Let's talk about why the battery on Android devices drains quickly and how to extend its life.

Reasons for rapid battery discharge

• The actual battery capacity of a smartphone or tablet is lower than indicated in the specifications.
• Battery capacity has decreased due to normal wear and tear.
• Ambient temperature is below +5 ⁰C or above +30 ⁰C.
• The screen brightness level is too high.
• Resource-intensive features included: GPS, NFC, Bluetooth, etc.
• Long distance to the mobile operator's base station.
• Apps and widgets running in the background consume energy.
• Frequent turning on and off of the device.
• Infection with mobile viruses.
• A malfunction of the operating system or hardware, as a result of which certain resource-intensive functions or the device itself are not turned off.

Battery capacity is lower than in the passport

The discrepancy between the actual battery capacity and the indicator indicated in the passport of a smartphone or tablet is more common than you think. It’s just that very few users decide to double-check it. Most believe documents, as well as program indicators, which also do not always display reliable data.

The reason for the discrepancy between actual information and nominal information does not always lie in deception on the part of the manufacturer or seller (although this also occurs); lithium power supplies simply lose their capacity during long-term storage. If you bought a device that was released a year ago, even if stored correctly, its battery capacity has become 2-6% less capacious, and if stored incorrectly (i.e., when charged to 100%) - by as much as 15-30%.

To calculate the actual capacity of the battery, use charger-discharge devices, like iMAX, or homemade dischargers complete with a multimeter or USB tester. The exact indicators are determined during the discharge of a fully charged battery.

If your phone's battery capacity is less than stated, it means it will drain in a shorter time than expected. And, alas, it is impossible to influence this.

Capacity has decreased over time

Battery wear becomes noticeable after 1.5-2 years of using a smartphone or tablet. But it may happen earlier if:

• use the device often and for a long time at low and very high air temperatures (the most favorable temperature for operating lithium batteries is room temperature);
• allow discharge close to 0%.
• charge the device near heat sources;
• store an unused battery at 100% charge at high ambient temperatures (for storage, the optimal charge level is 40-50% and refrigerator temperature);
• charge the battery with a higher voltage and current than the manufacturer provided (the required level of current and voltage is indicated on the charger that was sold with the gadget).

Frequent short-term recharging, contrary to popular belief, does not harm the battery. The current with which it is charged has a much greater influence. It is preferable to charge lithium batteries with low currents, although this takes longer.

If the battery capacity of your device has decreased due to wear and tear, the only solution is to replace the battery with a new one.

Using the gadget in cold or hot weather

When using a mobile device in unfavorable temperature conditions (up to +5 ⁰C and above +30 ⁰C), the battery discharges noticeably faster, but at temperatures close to room temperature, its capacity is immediately restored to its original level.

If you don't do this too often, the battery won't wear out quickly, but for calls in the cold it's still better to use a headset and keep the phone in a warm pocket.

High screen brightness level

The screen of an Android mobile device is the main consumer of energy. The brighter it is illuminated, the faster the battery drains.

The use of adaptive backlight, which changes depending on the ambient light (available only on devices equipped with a light sensor), helps reduce battery consumption. To enable it, select the “Auto” checkbox in the screen brightness settings. To prevent the screen from remaining on when you are not using the gadget, set it to go into sleep mode after 30-60 seconds of inactivity.

Resource-intensive features

After the screen, the next active consumers of energy are:

• geolocation;
• live (animated) wallpaper;
• NFC and Bluetooth;
• mobile Internet (3G, 4G).
• Wi-Fi.

If they are all used at the same time, even the most capacious battery will drain very quickly, so if possible, turn off what you are not using.

Unstable cellular connection

You may have noticed that when you spend a long time in places where the phone has poor reception of the operator's base station signal, for example, outside the city, the battery discharges faster than usual. This happens because more energy is spent maintaining an unstable, intermittent connection.

The battery will drain faster even if the problem occurs with only one of the two SIM cards. To save charge, it is better to disable such a SIM card for a while.

Apps and widgets running in the background

Many Android applications and widgets, after installation, register themselves in autorun and work in the background the entire time the device is turned on. When there are a lot of such applications, the device not only discharges very quickly, but also noticeably slows down, so startup should be kept under control and allowed only to those programs that need it (antivirus, optimization tool, utility utilities, instant messengers, etc.).

Unfortunately, there is no function for controlling the autorun of user and system applications in Android. But it becomes available after obtaining root (superuser) rights and installing special utilities on the device, such as:

• BootManager and some others

There are utilities that allow you to manage startup without root rights, but they do not work on every gadget and do not always work correctly.

Applications that the user himself launched, but after they were no longer needed, he forgot to close, can also consume battery resources. The accumulation of such programs not only loads, but also heats up the processor, which in turn heats up the battery. And when heated, as we know, the phone battery drains very quickly.

Control over processes that actively consume energy is also best entrusted to special utilities. For example, the following:

• Power Battery, etc.

By the way, the capabilities of most of them include cleaning the system from unnecessary files, cooling the processor, optimizing charging and a number of other tasks. To keep your device in order, it is advisable to use one of these utilities constantly.

Frequent reboots and turning the device on and off

Wanting to save charge, some users regularly turn off their mobile gadget. Sometimes even several times during the day. This is another reason why the battery drains too quickly, since when the device starts up and the operating system loads, the energy consumption is close to the maximum.

While you are not using your Android smartphone or tablet, you should not turn it off completely - just turn off the screen, complete resource-intensive tasks, disable communication functions (Wi-Fi, GPRS, 3G-4G Internet, GPS, NFC and Bluetooth), background data transfer, sensors and vibration motor. To do this, most mobile gadgets have an energy saving mode, the activation button for which can be located in different sections of the settings (parameters) menu.

Mobile virus infection

Malware that attacks Android devices does not always operate openly. They often carry out activities that are invisible to the user, and the only signs of their presence are empty accounts and very rapid battery drain, including in standby mode.

Hidden virus infection should be excluded in case of any non-standard behavior of the gadget, for example:

• The phone or tablet wakes up from standby mode without any active action on your part.
• The device is in sleep mode and becomes warm.
• Wi-Fi, geolocation, mobile Internet and other modules are enabled on the device without your participation. Or they cannot be turned off.
• Unknown numbers appeared in the list of outgoing calls and SMS, and views of sites that you have not visited appeared in your browser history.
• An application has assigned itself as a device administrator without your knowledge.
• For unknown reasons, Google Play antivirus and other security applications stopped running.
• Any system functions have stopped working.
• The volume of network traffic on the device has increased for no reason.

Read about how to find and remove a mobile virus on our website. The instructions are relevant for Android phones and tablets of various brands: Samsung, LG, Xiaomi, Philips, Lenovo and others.

System or hardware failure

Some users of PCs and laptops have encountered such a problem as incomplete shutdown of the computer, when the screen goes blank when the operating system is shut down, but some devices remain active - the cooler continues to rotate, indicators light up, etc. The exact same problem occurs on mobile devices, it’s just not so easy to notice, because smartphones and tablets do not have a cooler, and the indicator only shows the charging stage. In the event of such malfunctions, the device essentially remains on constantly and, accordingly, even in a “sort of turned off” state actively consumes battery energy.

The causes of such problems may be faulty applications, viruses, operating system errors and malfunctions in the device’s hardware (including connected devices - memory cards, SIM cards, etc.).

The only symptom that allows one to suspect that the device has not been completely turned off is too much battery consumption at a time when it should be minimal. And to make sure whether this is really your case, just remove the cover of the phone (tablet) and check the processor temperature with your fingers. If the device continues to work after being turned off, its processor will remain warm. Sometimes in this condition the body of the device heats up slightly, but sometimes not - it depends on its design.

In such cases, what can the user do without contacting the specialists:

• Remove applications installed before the problem appeared (if you were able to record the time it started).
• Conduct an anti-virus scan.
• Disconnect all connected devices.
• Reset the system to factory settings.
• Remove the battery (if it is removable), hold down the power button for 20-30 seconds and replace the battery.
• Reflash the device with known working firmware.

After each manipulation, check the gadget by turning it off. If the problem is not solved, you will have to take it to a service center for repairs, since the problem itself will not go away, and the battery will exhaust its life much faster than during normal operation.