Newsroom Update

Apple and Google deliver support for unwanted tracking alerts in iOS and Android. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

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

korum

Level 1

0 points

Jun 30, 2009 2:00 PM in response to ahawkinson

hi guys I have posted on this issue before but i honestly get over 24 hours between charges with moderate use and about 15 hours with normal use. Best battery life on any phone/laptop i have ever had. My advice is to restore as new phone and also run several drain cycles consecutively and then watch the difference.AMAZING.

Just so you all know my phone was a pre-order that came to on the release date and initially i had some serious battery issues but now the phone runs like a dream.

Jun 30, 2009 2:06 PM in response to SolarPower

SolarPower wrote:
I don't have an issue but I'm curious about the System Activity Monitor. How do you run it? I can't find it under Setting.

Its an app you buy at the iTunes store. Worth getting IMO

Jun 30, 2009 2:29 PM in response to ahawkinson

This might help:

http://orangecountycomputer.com/2009/06/how-to-resolve-apples-iphone3gs-overheat ing-and-battery-life-issues/

Loki

Level 1

97 points

Jun 30, 2009 2:34 PM in response to plumbstar

Perhaps I'm missing something, but this article speaks only to the heat issue. Now, if it's assumed that the two are linked, I can see how an hot battery would drain more quickly.

Jun 30, 2009 2:43 PM in response to Loki

The System Activity Monitor app (iTunes store) shows the CPU usage. So if anyones is having this problem it should be evident.

My CPU is always between .5 and 1.9% when I have looked. Usually with Safari, Phone, iPod and Mail shown as running.

Jul 1, 2009 4:37 AM in response to ahawkinson

My problem is solved.
I removed the app. HeyWay and now the battery works fine.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=320207938&mt=8

Zunitttt

Level 1

0 points

Jul 1, 2009 8:00 AM in response to ahawkinson

I think that backing the phone up from a 2g to the 3gs is causing the problem. I did a restore without the backup and my battery life has been much better. It was draining like crazy before.

Jul 1, 2009 8:14 AM in response to ahawkinson

I found my battery life not that great initially, but now that my battery is seasoned I am very happy with it. Heck I had over 6 hours of pretty heavy use with 18 hours of standby and my battery still had 56% left. I probably could have gone another day, but of course I went ahead and charged her back up to full.

I am wondering if some of the battery issues that are being reported aren't related to apps that are being loaded. I don't have but about 10 apps loaded and most of them appear to be well behaved.

wisdaj

Level 1

0 points

Jul 1, 2009 8:17 AM in response to ahawkinson

I am also having poor battery life. My iPhone 3Gs depletes 80% of its battery life overnight while it is turned off!

Jul 1, 2009 9:56 AM in response to TechOkie

TechOkie wrote:
I pulled down the "System Activity Monitor", and my iPhone is constantly running the processor at 5% or better.

TechOkie, are you talking about the System Activity Monitor app from the app store?

Jul 1, 2009 10:33 AM in response to ahawkinson

Just adding to the thread.

- No ipod use
- 60 mins daily phone use
- Maybe 30-60 min game usage ( I play UNO)
- 3g on, Location Services On, Push for Exchange and MobileMe on,

At least 2x to 3x a day I need to charge the battery.

I can literally see the battery meter depleting over the course of a simple hour, even with no interaction with it.

This is by far, the least effective battery life of any gen of the iPhone ( I have had 2g & 3g ).

I hope it's a software issue and 3.1 might help.

I'm a iPhone developer and will be upgrading to 3.1 as it was seeded recently, I'll post back if I see any improvements there.

Jul 1, 2009 10:38 AM in response to Shah Ahmed

Shah Ahmed wrote:
I'm a iPhone developer and will be upgrading to 3.1 as it was seeded recently, I'll post back if I see any improvements there.

Awesome! Please let us know as soon as you've had a chance to run 3.1

Jul 1, 2009 11:04 AM in response to ahawkinson

I think you probably have a defective device. My iPhone 3GS runs longer than my original iPhone.

Jul 1, 2009 11:16 AM in response to ahawkinson

Purchased the 3GS on Monday to replace my First Gen iPhone, after surrendering to the fact that the phone had sustained enough cycles to basically kill the quality of the length of charge. Ironically, that old phone is lasting longer than the new 3GS.

Performed a fresh restore and even set up as a new phone. Drained the battery yesterday until the phone shut itself off. Recharge overnight. Woke up today to 100%. Sent two e-mails and battery level was already down to 96%.

Jul 1, 2009 12:10 PM in response to ahawkinson

I too have now had all 3 generations of the iPhone and for the first week, my battery with the 3G[s] seemed to be weaker than the prior two generations as well... but over the past 3 days, something changed and it's giving me much longer battery life. I put my iPhone on the charger around 9PM every night and then take it off the charger around 730AM when I leave for work in the morning.. and it's been at 100% every morning the past few days. I downloaded a new app called Slugger, which is a graphic intense baseball game that you connect via data or wifi to match up against other iPhone users, it drained my battery dead in less than 1.5 hours the first day I got it (Friday). I didn't use it at all Sat/Sun and then on Monday I used it for 2 hours in the morning and then pulled my iPhone charger out and played the game off and on for about 6 hours during the day that day on the charger. I then left the phone on the charger all night. I went to work yesterday at 8AM and got home around 6PM and my battery was at 89% (10 hours off charger) I played Slugger lastnight for 4 hours and my battery was at 24% when I finally stopped. Using the iPhone heavily while on the charger on Monday, and then leaving it on the charger all that night seemed to help because now the battery seems to last much longer. Also note, I keep my screen brightness set very dim. Not sure what changed my battery, but it's definitely working very well now and my phone doesn't get hot.

3GS - incredibly poor battery life