Level 1

0 points

3GS - incredibly poor battery life

I've had each generation of iPhone since they were launched in 2007, and upgraded from my 3G to the new 3GS a week ago on the day of its release. My experience with the battery life has been really, really poor. So bad that I sought out this forum yesterday and decided to run the battery down to zero just to see how poor its life was.

Here's what happened:

Yesterday I kept it plugged in and charged at 100% until 6 PM. I used it for ~2 hours of reading using the Kindle app and quick view of 1-2 web pages. This morning I woke up and read the news using a news reader app for ~1 hour before it turned itself off when it reached 1%.

Stats were 3 HOURS and 7 MINUTES of usage to drain the battery to ZERO. That was without calls, without video, without iPod use.

When I'm using it I can literally watch the power meter (which I've turned on the numeric percentage readout for) drain about 1% when I actually take any action on the device. I feel offended and mislead by Apple because the 3GS was supposed to have improved battery life. My netbook has better battery life (6 hours with extended battery while running its built in 3g mobile broadband service the whole time), and that's a full computer.

If you've had similar issues I'd like to hear about them and would certainly welcome any solutions that don't involve tweaking so many settings that the device doesn't work in it's default mode.

I'm recharging from the zero mark now. If the same cycle happens after another charge I feel like I'll have to return it to Apple after wasting a lot of time and simply move back to my 3G.

Given the amount of traffic on the forums about this issue, I think Apple had better speak up or they are going to experience a lot of damage to their brand.

iPhone 3GS, iPhone OS 3.0

Posted on Jun 27, 2009 6:49 AM

380 replies

Jul 23, 2009 6:00 PM in response to Graphics Bong

After trying all the things recommended here, resetting the phone, restoring it as a new one and recalibrating battery 3 times, none of which made a bit of difference I exchanged my phone for a new one. I let it charge for a full day and after a full days use I can say it is now providing me with the battery life I expected from the 3 GS. The difference is simply night and day. I think there simply must have been a bad batch of batteries in the first phones.

Jul 23, 2009 6:34 PM in response to Graphics Bong

I think the 14% figure is fairly reasonable, and consistent with other people's results; I've seen 8-9%/hour reading ebooks on less than half brightness, so the figure feels about right.

I think the battery reading tends to "stick" at 100%, at least on mine (as if the battery were overcharged). That might explain why folks are getting apparently higher power drain on 2nd hour brightness tests. Or the battery drain might just be non-linear in some more complex way.

At any rate, my tests seem to match Apple's specs pretty well, so I don't think there's anything physically wrong with my iPhone. I just seem to have somewhat higher standby power drain than spec (I'd estimate the life at 200 hours, not 300).

Jul 24, 2009 8:59 AM in response to ahawkinson

A new summary of test results. If I missed you let me know.

*iPod Test:*
Tekksas: 79%
ThisIsANewID: 79%
mac girl122: 75%
sward.dsl: 73% (Didn't do the exact same test, left WiFi on)
Graphics Bong: 83% (Airplane Mode)
allen099: 80%

*Brightness Test:*
Graphics Bong: 1hr = 90% -- 2hr = 78%
ThisIsANewID: 2hr = 75%, 2hr(test 2) = 76%
sidssp: 1hr = 90%
allen009: 1hr = 90%
glassrabbit: 1hr = 75%
mac girl122: 1hr = 89%
Tekksas: 1hr = 89% -- 2hr = 76%
noney82: 1hr = 84%
lookn4wifi: 1hr = 91% -- 2hr = 77%
mikkec: 1hr = 89% -- 2hr = 77%
SpurtSpanker: 1hr = 90% (he did the test twice with same result)

allen099

Level 1

30 points

Jul 24, 2009 11:47 AM in response to Graphics Bong

I just completed my second test, except this time it was 2 hours. The iPhone 3GS again hit 90% at the 1 hour mark, and then 77% at the 2 hour mark.

I had a simultaneous test running for my 2G iPhone, and it was interesting. I jailbroke it to install the battery meter. It stayed on 100% until 55 minutes, and within that minute alone, I watched as the meter literally dripped to 95%. Once it hit 1 hour, the meter then dripped to 90% (only within that 60 minute mark). For the 2nd hour, the 2G iPhone ended up at 83% battery remaining.

DrPerf

Level 1

0 points

Jul 24, 2009 2:12 PM in response to ahawkinson

Brightness test of 1 hour resulted in 91% battery life remaining. Will repeat the test, including a second hour, later this weekend.

Doc

Jul 25, 2009 7:39 AM in response to ahawkinson

Hi all, I had my iPhone exchanged a few days ago, and while that is a debacle in itself ( I was given a refurbished and not at all happy about that since my phone was only 2 weeks old) , I just wanted to let you know the difference is off the charts. I wanted to do the tests provided here, but I am astonished to say, Its been 3 days and my battery is at 60%! thats with my normal use, and everything on except push and 3G all my applications are on and I use them. on the original phone I removed everything and still couldnt go a full 12 hours. this is a temporary phone, so I hope the real one is as good. I will attempt the tests as soon as the battery depletes.. but WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! as a footnote, the APPLE online support is FANTASTIC.. the store in Allentown PA, No so nice.

pascou13

Level 1

0 points

Jul 25, 2009 7:48 AM in response to ahawkinson

I have every generation of the iPhone also since their launch in 2007, and updated my 3G to the new 3GS a month ago.
I encounter the same problem of autonomy for the battery and in my iphone 3G S overheating.
APPLE I was offered an exchange.
UPS come pick up my mobile Tuesday.
Fortunately I kept my old iPhone V1.
LOL

Pascou13

Jul 25, 2009 9:06 AM in response to glassrabbit

glassrabbit wrote:
Hi all, I had my iPhone exchanged a few days ago, and while that is a debacle in itself ( I was given a refurbished and not at all happy about that since my phone was only 2 weeks old) , I just wanted to let you know the difference is off the charts. I wanted to do the tests provided here, but I am astonished to say, Its been 3 days and my battery is at 60%! thats with my normal use, and everything on except push and 3G all my applications are on and I use them. on the original phone I removed everything and still couldnt go a full 12 hours. this is a temporary phone, so I hope the real one is as good. I will attempt the tests as soon as the battery depletes.. but WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! as a footnote, the APPLE online support is FANTASTIC.. the store in Allentown PA, No so nice.

Wow, congrats rabbit, sounds like you hit the jackpot. Post some test results as soon as you can - if your battery ever dies : )

javaTN

Level 1

0 points

Jul 25, 2009 9:07 AM in response to ahawkinson

Hi all! Just got a 3GS a few weeks ago and felt like my battery life was drastically less than that of my iPhone 2G.
So... I decided to perform the brightness test!
Scenario: Airplane mode, all push disabled, full brightness, ringer at 50%. iPhone was never touched or moved a hair during the test. (Did I miss anything?)

iPhone 3GS Log...
100% at 60 minutes
99% at 46 minutes 35 seconds
98% at 41 minutes 40 seconds
97% at 37 minutes 11 seconds
96% at 32 minutes 48 seconds
95% at 28 minutes 06 seconds
94% at 23 minutes 23 seconds
93% at 19 minutes 01 seconds
92% at 13 minutes 54 seconds
91% at 09 minutes 18 seconds
90% at 04 minutes 56 seconds
89% at 00 minutes 35 seconds
89% at 00 minutes 00 seconds

I have created a public Google Document for all to input their Brightness test results. I choose to log my test as detailed as possible. You can choose either.

Here is the link for editing: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Av5eNah_2F8QdE40U2NMMXMyZm1wQWNCWFJ2dmZ nYWc&hl=en

-Tom

Jul 25, 2009 10:08 AM in response to javaTN

Nice work javaTN, remember to turn of Auto Brightness. The ringer won't matter since Airplane Mode is on.

It would be interesting to see a third hour, or as many as anyone is willing to do. So far results are pretty close on average in the upper range of battery charge, but what happens when it depletes more?

javaTN

Level 1

0 points

Jul 25, 2009 10:56 AM in response to ahawkinson

From the looks of the averages I pulled.. the battery only has a significant last of ~13 minutes from 100% to 99%.

After that, it averages 4-5 minutes for each percent.

*Keep in mind, this is while performing the brightness test! Not standby! If that was the case... eak! Haha

tntrieu

Level 1

0 points

Jul 25, 2009 11:33 AM in response to ahawkinson

I got about 91.5%. It was 100% until the 40 min. mark then decreased 1% per 5 min. Also I got about 70% left with 3 hours of talk time with the earphone on a full charge.

allen099

Level 1

30 points

Jul 25, 2009 2:31 PM in response to glassrabbit

glassrabbit wrote:
Hi all, I had my iPhone exchanged a few days ago, and while that is a debacle in itself ( I was given a refurbished and not at all happy about that since my phone was only 2 weeks old) , I just wanted to let you know the difference is off the charts. I wanted to do the tests provided here, but I am astonished to say, Its been 3 days and my battery is at 60%! thats with my normal use, and everything on except push and 3G all my applications are on and I use them. on the original phone I removed everything and still couldnt go a full 12 hours. this is a temporary phone, so I hope the real one is as good. I will attempt the tests as soon as the battery depletes.. but WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! as a footnote, the APPLE online support is FANTASTIC.. the store in Allentown PA, No so nice.

That sounds great! My friend had the same experience. His first iPhone was getting maybe 3 hours a day of usage, but opted for the service part swap (white box), and now his battery life is incredibly improved. I'm curious to hear what you're getting as well, glassrabbit. Congrats!

javaTN

Level 1

0 points

Jul 25, 2009 9:29 PM in response to allen099

allen099 wrote:
That sounds great! My friend had the same experience. His first iPhone was getting maybe 3 hours a day of usage, but opted for the service part swap (white box), and now his battery life is incredibly improved. I'm curious to hear what you're getting as well, glassrabbit. Congrats!

Its the stories like that, that really make me consider going back to the apple store and saying something to them about my battery life!

I shouldn't have to charge a top of the line, mobile device... phone, none the less... EVERY day- to play it safe.

Why cant everybody's phone be as outstanding as this?

Theoretically speaking, if anyone's phone lasts significantly longer than all of our test results, they must be getting like 95% on the brightness.. or something!

allen099

Level 1

30 points

Jul 25, 2009 11:19 PM in response to javaTN

javaTN wrote:
I shouldn't have to charge a top of the line, mobile device... phone, none the less... EVERY day- to play it safe.

Theoretically speaking, if anyone's phone lasts significantly longer than all of our test results, they must be getting like 95% on the brightness.. or something!

I'm not sure I agree with #1. I am also a fan of long battery life, but I think until the newer and better battery technology becomes released, we'll have to settle for a day. Anything less in my opinion isn't good. I do understand though that the processor and power in this iPhone is what I had in my desktop computer 10 years ago. 600+mhz? I mean, that's incredible!

I don't know enough about batteries to say that this can be true, about the brightness. It may be possible that everyone's phone runs down to 90% in the same amount of time, but then afterwards is when the fast leak may or may not show. My friend is now actually getting similar times to me with the phone; about 5.5 hrs with push email on, and about 6.5-7 hrs with fetch 30mins on.

What are you getting with your battery? And what do you do roughly?

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3GS - incredibly poor battery life