Day 236: The Paradox of Conserving Smartphone Power

Since 2011, I’ve owned three smartphones, and now I’ve owned my current phone for two years now, I felt I was due for an upgrade. Sure, all tech grows sluggish over time, and certain apps won’t work without a proper firmware upgrade, but we all know the main reason why we buy new phones: the battery life ain’t what it used to be.
What’s the point of having a well-charged phone if i can’t use it constantly? I love the way a fresh new phone can last for over a few days. Although the other film no longer has cellular privileges, it functions perfectly fine as a mini-computer on a wi-fi connection.
What if … there’s another way …
I tried doing a few things recently to see what kind of impact it would have on my overall battery life:
- Turning on Airplane Mode on my phone. Cellular data, wifi, and text messages, and calls all take up unnecessary energy. I don’t recommend this, especially when someone needs to contact me in a emergency.
- Uninstalling certainly “luxury apps.” I don’t need Facebook or LinkedIn on my phone, and I’ve stopped using Instagram and Snapchat for quite some time now. Twitter might be next. These apps are constantly active, whether or not you’re using your phone.
- Setting up my phone to restrict background data. If you play around with your settings a little, you can find an option to prevent your phone from doing excessive activity (especially machine learning-esque stuff) while you’re not using it. I strongly recommend that you do this.
The results…
A revitalized smartphone
In just a few days, I’ve seen an extra 24 hours of battery life regained on my phone, even with typical use. I find myself less likely to compulsively check my phone without the incessant notifications from the luxury apps. My phone seems to have less to do, and that’s not a terrible thing.
When I look into the actual size of certain apps (some have reached a gigabyte in overall size), I’m pretty amazed (and horrified) with the magnitude of their activities. Do I really need to take that extra selfie or post that hilarious comment on my friend’s stupid statement?
What kind of data are they collecting on me? All kinds.
I’m going to do myself a favor by saving a little energy and a lot of peace of mind. It’s up to you if you want to do the same.
— Lee
