iPhone 4s Battery Life?

My iPhone 4s battery seems terrible! Almost equivalent to my 3GS and it's terrible battery life. When I got my iPhone yesterday and restored from backup I noticed nothing really changed with minimal usage and standby! Is this normal or should I consider setting it up as a new phone because maybe something is running in the background that's causing it to drop a percentage every few minutes under light usage? Input would be great!

Posted on Oct 15, 2011 7:14 AM

Reply
12,787 replies

Jan 14, 2012 7:07 AM in response to sbailey4

AliAr - i'm already doing that and guess what?

Without SIM card i already have 3days and 14hours with 50% left.

With SIM, the phone lasted 1day and 6 hours with very light usage (10minutes of calls, 4 text messages, 5minutes surfing the web - only time the cellular data was on- with all other settings turned OFF the whole time). Also a DN...


My question is: if i send my iPhone to repair, how will the techs know what the problem is?

The phone is going without the SIM Card...once in their hands, without my SIM Card, the phone will behave like it's doing now: Excellent!

If i'm lucky (usually i'm not!!), the phone will not present the same behaviour when they put their SIM Card to run some tests, and start behaving like it does with my SIM Card...but what if it doesn't???

What if the problem is caused by the Carrier? I already called my service provider in Portugal (TMN) that said to me, after checking network configuration, that there is nothing wrong with the SIM that could generate the draining problem...

Can you see my dilema??


I'm waiting for the 5.1 before sending it, but i'm pretty sure that it's not going to solve the issue...i'm kind of like the fool in the middle of the bridge: "Which side will i go, left or right??? Or should i stay put???" 😢

Jan 14, 2012 7:14 AM in response to EdiMC

I'm definetely sure I have a hardware defect. I don't like my iPhone anymore with cellular data not being on all the time and have to go to settings, etc. to open it. My BB used to have much better performance than this. When iPhone 5 releases, I'll definitely wait before I buy it and know the battery performance of it by looking at discussions.

Jan 14, 2012 7:49 AM in response to Scarface.

Alright, so my first iPhone 4S WITH C3 serial number had battery issues. Not so much with phantom usage, but with the battery draining too fast when in use. Called Apple and got a replacement phone which happened to be another C3 serial numbered iPhone 4S.


Now this new 4S has been giving me EXCELLENT battery life. It was having drain issues on iOS 5.0, but when I upgraded to iOS 5.0.1 (A405), battery issues were gone. I am a heavy iPhone user and do a lot of calls, texts and internet browsing. My last iPhone 4 could NOT last my entire work shift of 9 hours. I would use it for about 4 hours and would have to put it on charge. This new iPhone 4S not only lasted me the ENTIRE shift, but still had 38% battery life while leaving my shift. So I must say, I'm VERY impressed. I will be updating it to Built A406 in a bit. To my belief, this is a combined problem of hardware and software issues. But I'm leaning more towards HARDWARE issues.


My Stats:


7 hours & 15 min of Usage

15 hours of Standby

Location ON when needed

No iCloud

Siri ON with Raise to Speak OFF

Set Date and Time ON

Wifi on ALL THE TIME

Notifications ALL ON


I can confirm this is a hardware issues because I signed up for a new plan with Sprint two weeks ago and got a 4S for me and my fiancee. I had a black 4S and she had a white 4S. Used it for few days, hated the slow data speeds, and the battery life was just HORRIBLE. Staying on 5.0 did not have good battery life, 5.0.1 did not make a difference (Neither builts), and being on iOS 5.1 beta 2 or 3 didn't make a difference either. I took both phones to Sprint and the performed a deep diagnosis of the devices. After the diagnosis, they said both of the phones had FAULTY BATTERIES.


So I believe this a lot of the phones have bad/faulty battery issues.

Jan 14, 2012 9:44 AM in response to Scarface.

After searching at website. It works for me about battery issue. IT WORKS .


1. Go to Settiings / General / Siri / turn off Raise to speak and then reboot.

(A sensor upper the earphone is continuing on even if you turn it off, YOU MUST REBOOT YOUR IPHONE.)

I think that it is the major problem about battery drain.


2. Go to Settings / Location Services / System Services / Turn off Setting Time Zone


3. Go to Settings / Notifications / Turn off Calendar or move to Not in Notification Center

(this may be not need but I don't use this function, so I turn it off.)


After a fully charge, Usage 1 hour and Standby 3 Hours, 14 Minutes, Battery less 8% only. Now is 92%


My idea, try to reset all settings first, I like a clean reset all settings and then do 1,2,3.

Jan 14, 2012 11:43 AM in response to Androgen

Androgen wrote:


Alright, so my first iPhone 4S WITH C3 serial number had battery issues. Not so much with phantom usage, but with the battery draining too fast when in use. Called Apple and got a replacement phone which happened to be another C3 serial numbered iPhone 4S.


Now this new 4S has been giving me EXCELLENT battery life. It was having drain issues on iOS 5.0, but when I upgraded to iOS 5.0.1 (A405), battery issues were gone. I am a heavy iPhone user and do a lot of calls, texts and internet browsing. My last iPhone 4 could NOT last my entire work shift of 9 hours. I would use it for about 4 hours and would have to put it on charge. This new iPhone 4S not only lasted me the ENTIRE shift, but still had 38% battery life while leaving my shift. So I must say, I'm VERY impressed. I will be updating it to Built A406 in a bit. To my belief, this is a combined problem of hardware and software issues. But I'm leaning more towards HARDWARE issues.


My Stats:


7 hours & 15 min of Usage

15 hours of Standby

Location ON when needed

No iCloud

Siri ON with Raise to Speak OFF

Set Date and Time ON

Wifi on ALL THE TIME

Notifications ALL ON


I can confirm this is a hardware issues because I signed up for a new plan with Sprint two weeks ago and got a 4S for me and my fiancee. I had a black 4S and she had a white 4S. Used it for few days, hated the slow data speeds, and the battery life was just HORRIBLE. Staying on 5.0 did not have good battery life, 5.0.1 did not make a difference (Neither builts), and being on iOS 5.1 beta 2 or 3 didn't make a difference either. I took both phones to Sprint and the performed a deep diagnosis of the devices. After the diagnosis, they said both of the phones had FAULTY BATTERIES.


So I believe this a lot of the phones have bad/faulty battery issues.

All it takes for that to happen is a bad batch of batteries from the manufacturer. Too bad Apple just WON'T go for replaceable batteries. It would save them a bundle of money in this situation.

Jan 14, 2012 11:47 AM in response to Vomgottsland

Vomgottsland wrote:


I still have a problem having to turn anything off. I purchased this phone to use as it was advertised. No where in the instructions and advertisement for an I Phone do they state to use this phone you must turn off everything to save the battery life. Do not know of another phone you have to turn off every function of them to use it and save the battery.

Oh? Every phone I have seen with Bluetooth says 'turn Bluetooth off when not in use to conserve battery power'. Also, every phone I have seen with GPS warns that heavy use of GPS will shorten battery life. Do you drive your call with all the accessories on all the time? Do you keep all the lights, TV, heat, fans, toaters, oven, etc. on all the time in your house? Do you leave the sprinkler running outside, and the showers running in the bath all the time? Silly ideas? Not according to you. If you use it, turn it on. If you don't use it, turn it off. Basic conservation.

Jan 14, 2012 11:53 AM in response to sbailey4

From what I can see, usage is usually more than what you would time from how long you talk or do other things on the phone because some things, such as email checking, location checking, etc., also count as 'usage'. For example. If I tell Siri to 'remind me to take my pills when I get home', it must check every minute to see if the GPS reports that I am where I have designated as 'home'. I suspect that there are a lot of things, such as checking to see if it is time to sound the alarm you have set, or if an iMessage is coming in, or if the WiFi server is still out there.

BTW, those who are turning WiFi off. If it isn't used for a few minutes, it turns off anyway until you do something that needs internet access. I can see this action in the program that checks my router to see who is connected, and my wife's and my, iPhones disconnect when the wifi isn't used for a time.

Jan 14, 2012 1:11 PM in response to Androgen

That was sorta like mine. I have C3 serial #. Purchased 11/11 and had 5.0 and minor battery drainage. Usually by 6:00pm I was needing to put on charger (starting at 8:00am). Did iOS 5.0.1 when it was released and of course turned off some crap I don't need and I am great now. No problems since except one time not long ago I deleted my Yahoo acct then decided to put it back. Battery started draining bad so I did the "Reset all settings" process and no problems since. I firmly believe most folks have software issues verses hardware. Have seen too many that removed offending apps or reset and now are A OK. Plus Apple has confirmed battery issue bugs in iOS 5. Could be a bad batch of batteries from a certain mfg that made it into some devices though cause there have also been several that a replacement device solved their issue.

Androgen wrote:


Alright, so my first iPhone 4S WITH C3 serial number had battery issues. Not so much with phantom usage, but with the battery draining too fast when in use. Called Apple and got a replacement phone which happened to be another C3 serial numbered iPhone 4S.


Now this new 4S has been giving me EXCELLENT battery life. It was having drain issues on iOS 5.0, but when I upgraded to iOS 5.0.1 (A405), battery issues were gone. I am a heavy iPhone user and do a lot of calls, texts and internet browsing. My last iPhone 4 could NOT last my entire work shift of 9 hours. I would use it for about 4 hours and would have to put it on charge. This new iPhone 4S not only lasted me the ENTIRE shift, but still had 38% battery life while leaving my shift. So I must say, I'm VERY impressed. I will be updating it to Built A406 in a bit. To my belief, this is a combined problem of hardware and software issues. But I'm leaning more towards HARDWARE issues.


My Stats:


7 hours & 15 min of Usage

15 hours of Standby

Location ON when needed

No iCloud

Siri ON with Raise to Speak OFF

Set Date and Time ON

Wifi on ALL THE TIME

Notifications ALL ON


I can confirm this is a hardware issues because I signed up for a new plan with Sprint two weeks ago and got a 4S for me and my fiancee. I had a black 4S and she had a white 4S. Used it for few days, hated the slow data speeds, and the battery life was just HORRIBLE. Staying on 5.0 did not have good battery life, 5.0.1 did not make a difference (Neither builts), and being on iOS 5.1 beta 2 or 3 didn't make a difference either. I took both phones to Sprint and the performed a deep diagnosis of the devices. After the diagnosis, they said both of the phones had FAULTY BATTERIES.


So I believe this a lot of the phones have bad/faulty battery issues.

Jan 14, 2012 1:17 PM in response to Vomgottsland

Well no one is saying turn off EVERYTHING, just stuff you may not need. Do you travel across countryinto different time zones daily? If not then why would you NEED the time zone setting constantly checking to see where you are? Just an example. Again you CAN leave everything on and use the phone wide open, just doing so will require power thus cause shorter time between charges. Plain and simple. iPhone, Droid, whatever you purchase same principle. Features on = less time between charges. Oh and here ya go for the info you indicate you cannot find from Apple. Hope this helps. http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html



Vomgottsland wrote:


I still have a problem having to turn anything off. I purchased this phone to use as it was advertised. No where in the instructions and advertisement for an I Phone do they state to use this phone you must turn off everything to save the battery life. Do not know of another phone you have to turn off every function of them to use it and save the battery.

Jan 14, 2012 1:22 PM in response to sbailey4

Still cant not believe how you people are taking up for Apple when its evident they have many issues with this phone. If I buy a car and turn it on i can run every darn thing on it I want with out running the battery down, If I turn on an I phone I just paid good money for I should be able to use it as it was designed to be use.....Must be a bunch of Apple trolls on line singing the praises of faulty phones just turn off all the functions that you paid for and we advertise ands it will all be fine is pure BS.

Jan 14, 2012 1:27 PM in response to rphunte42

I agree. However as stated I did use the phone for a lot more than was being reported. In my case it showed only 30 minutes of usage and like 15hrs std by something like that. And I actually made 60 minutes worth of phone calls alone not counting the other items I mentioned. So I had way more actual usage than 30 min is what I am sayin. Point being the usage meter is not totally accurate and I suspect its not both ways, reporting more than was used at times and reporting less than was really used at times.


I loot at it just for heck of it but as far as Im concerned if i do what I want and make it through the day until bedtime when I plug in in for backup and battery top off I am happy! Some days I do let it go 2 days just because at bedtime is more than 50% avail so figure I have another day of exact same use and really just want to see what it will do. Typically tho I like a 100% batt at the start of day then no worries.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPhone 4s Battery Life?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.