G1 Battery Life Solution!
October 30th, 2008 | by Jessica.G |
The tmobile G1 just like the the iPhone, both have a battery life that you couldn’t depend on even if the world was coming to an end. I don’t own a tmobile G1 but i would probably be way too frustrated with my phone’s battery life to even talk about it. To my friend, it’s not that big of a problem, she has decided to extend the life of her battery by investing in a car charger.
We were thinking up ways to make her battery last longer and I was telling her about my experience of a sudden battery life drop I encountered with my phone. When I took my phone in to get it checked out by a tech, he said that if my sync was active all the time that it would drain the battery so his solution was to not have that many e-mails sync to my phone. Same thing with my friend’s tmobile G1, she said all you have to do is turn everything off. So then whats the point of having a killer phone, if all the killer things about it have to be turned off? Well while she has found a quick simple solution, others are still dealing with this battery dilemma. Ideas anyone?
6 Responses to “G1 Battery Life Solution!”
By Rowan on Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
I have had my phone ten days, and have been teetering on the brink of taking it back since day one. I have it on contract in the UK, and am not sure whether there is a seven-day cut-off for returning an upgrade. I thought my ancient decrepit MDA Vario, which I loved deeply, was poor on battery-life, but my G1 makes it look like a marathon runner. Siiigh.
Unlike your friend, I don’t have a car, so her solution wouldn’t work for me. Hovever….Marks and Spencer’s sell a batter-powered portable usb charger thingy, which holds two AA batteries, and makes a reasonably decent job of topping up the charge. It might look a bit funny, walking around talking with the thing sticking out, nevertheless, but it could sit fairly inconspicuously on a table. I got mine from their order catalogue, as they’d taken them off the shelves after Christmas. Cost about three quid. Wish your friend good luck, and please post any other ideas she has re G1 battery improvements! Thanks.
By Mario on Nov 13, 2008 | Reply
When I turned off the 3G the battery life lasted longer (my internet speed didnt seem affected much).I was told though when the RC30 update comes out, that it should increase battery life but I won’t know officially until I actually try it.
Hope this helps.
By Grim Myriad on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
I have a simple solution, there is a power management program in the store, all users should have the store apps for free for the first 2 months, not sure from the release date or from when you get the phone. But with it, it does all the screen navigating for you. You can simply select what you want on atm, depending on your usage, turn everything off when its in your pocket not being used, or make your own custom settings depending on how low the battery is! I left my phone on all last night and it only dropped 3% with this!
By Horace Smith on Dec 12, 2008 | Reply
Subsequent to earlier comments on December 1, 2008, below is my review of the battery.
These conclusions are based on my daily usage of the G1 with the extended battery. This involves 1 hour of downloading and listening to podcast, 40 minutes of web browsing, checking the market twice a day for new applications and possible downloading, receiving and sending g mail and text messages, checking the weather twice a day and phone calls.
I have not considered external factors such as the sometimes on and off 3G network coverage in NYC or my train and subway ride to and from work. Both of these will cause any battery to drain as the G1 tries to maintain always on data connection. With that said, below are my conclusions:
1) This is the battery the G1 should have been shipped with at launch. It will get most non power users through a normal day without turning off 3G, GPS and keeping the screen brightness at the default settings. After of 15 hours of usage as described above, the battery is around 49% or 50% remaining.
2) The battery life at first is almost like the stocker. However after 3 complete discharging and recharging, it becomes far better than the stock battery.
3) I can now leave the extra stock battery at home without worrying that the G1 will run out of power at the end of the day.
4) My G1 did not explode and its performance was not affected in any negative way by this extended battery.
5) I would recommend the battery.
By Richard Wills on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
hi,
i have had the phone for 3 days now and am very disappointed with the battery life. it will be dead after about 5-6 hours. everyone is saying turn off the apps and GPS, 3g and all that but you should’t need to. you buy the phone for all this so why buy a phone you cant use.
With the extended battery, does it make the phone much heavier and Bigger. I have seen pictures and it looks terrible with that big bulky back on it.
any solutions or new battery’s please email richardpwills@googlemail.com
By Chris Speight on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
You shouldn’t have to turn off the Apps and 3G, and most apps wont take a significant amount of power unless you’re running several in the background. GPS should be off though, there is really no reason to have it on unless you need it. And no point of having the Wi-Fi on either unless you’re using it. I realize it seems odd to turn off features, but this is the way it will be until battery technology improves or new chipsets are designed that consume less energy. People want a lot of features, and most take a fair bit of energy; it’s cause and effect.
The power manager app is great if you want a way to quickly and/or automatically manage the settings on various things.
And yes, the larger batteries will make the phone bulkier and larger.