Despite the tremendous progress that Android phones have witnessed in terms of processing power, advanced cameras, and even foldable screens, the battery is still a constant concern for many users, especially with its performance declining over time and the number of applications running continuously in the background.
It is true that modern chips have become more energy efficient, and this has been accompanied by a slight improvement in battery capacities, but the daily reality shows that charging the phone once is no longer enough for many people, which requires recharging more than once during the day.
If the battery condition is still good and has not dropped below 80%, the problem often lies not in the battery itself, but in some settings that can be easily changed, according to a report issued by the “SlashGear” website.
Here are five effective steps that will help extend your Android phone’s battery life, knowing that menu names may vary slightly from one company to another.
First: Disable the “Always-On Display” feature
Although this feature is useful for displaying the time and notifications without having to unlock the phone, it constantly consumes some power, even on AMOLED screens designed to reduce this consumption. If this feature is not essential to you, turning it off may give you additional hours of use. You can disable it in: Settings > Display > Always-On Display, or via the lock screen or “Ambient Display” settings on some devices. In addition, it is useful to reduce the screen refresh rate to 60 Hz instead of 90 or 120 Hz, as this contributes to saving power even at the expense of some smoothness.
Second: Activate dark mode
Dark mode is considered one of the most effective options in reducing battery consumption, especially on phones with AMOLED screens, as black pixels are actually turned off. In addition to saving energy, this mode provides greater eye comfort, especially in low-light conditions. To activate it: Settings > Display > Dark Mode, with the ability to set it to turn on automatically based on time or lighting. It is also recommended to pay attention to the screen brightness level, because increasing it excessively is one of the main causes of battery drain. You can activate adaptive brightness to have the phone adjust the lighting automatically.
Third: Control applications running in the background
Your phone is constantly running with a large number of applications that use the Internet, location, or send notifications in the background. Although this is important for some applications, many do not need to be running all the time. To reduce the strain on your battery, go to: Settings > Apps > Show all apps, then choose the desired app, go to Battery usage, and disable the Background usage option. In addition, it is a good idea to review location permissions and limit them to “while using the app” for non-essential apps, while not affecting navigation or delivery apps.
Fourth: Switching from 5G to 4G network
Despite the high speeds provided by fifth generation networks, they consume more energy, especially in areas where coverage is weak, as the phone is constantly moving between networks. In contrast, the 4G network provides excellent performance for browsing the Internet and watching videos in high definition with less power consumption. To switch: Settings > Network & Internet > SIM cards > Preferred network type > 4G/LTE.
Fifth: Avoid external battery saving applications
App stores are full of software that claims to improve battery life, but Android itself manages power consumption very efficiently without the need for additional apps. In fact, running these applications may lead to the opposite result because they are constantly running in the background. It is also best to reduce unnecessary account syncing via: Settings > Passwords & Accounts, and disable syncing for accounts that do not need instant notifications. Also, turning off Bluetooth, location and data when not needed can make a noticeable difference, especially while commuting or traveling.
In the end, you may not need to change your phone or sacrifice the user experience to get a longer lasting battery. Some simple adjustments in the settings can make a real difference. As for those who rely on the phone all day, a small power bank may be a practical solution that will ensure you stay connected without worry. (Arabic)
