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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

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12,787 replies

Jun 6, 2012 6:30 AM in response to Scarface.

Below are two logs of my battery. Please comment, compare, if you've done tests, etc.


BOLD CONTENT UNDER THE 2ND "OPTION" TITLE INDICATES CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS OPTION


1ST OPTION: SIMPLY HOW I EVER USED PHONE SINCE I GOT IT IN JANUARY, 2012.* iOS 5.0-5.1.1


iPhone 4s Battery Statistics:

(keep in mind: 1-2 bar(s) of cell signal in my area, where I was all day)


Settings:

3G always on when available

Wi-Fi always on

-"Ask to join" on

System services: everything off except "Cell Network Search"

Notifications: manual

Location services: on

-On for: GifBoom, Siri, Waze, Find my iPhone, & FaceBook when needed

Sounds: Silent, vibrate: on

-ringer, vibrate: off

Brightness: about 2/5 on the bar

-Auto-brightness: on

Siri: on

-Raise to speak: off

Cellular data: on

Bluetooth: off

Auto-lock: 1 minute

Restrictions: Ping, off

iCloud: everything off except Find my iPhone

Mail (5 accounts): all fetch manually

Fetch new data: off



No Airplane Mode

12:32AM: took off charger

12:32AM: slid to power off

12:33AM: turned back on

12:34AM-12:56AM:General usage (checked mail twice, sent 2 FB IM's, refreshed Twitter once, talked on The Spot most of this timeframe. No music, texts, calls, etc.)

12:57AM: Getting tired, so now will put headphones in and music on (Rdio app) until I fall asleep (which I never do, but for the sake of this test I am.) Still 100% as of 1:01AM. Been 28 minutes according to my Usage, which would normally have 8% drained by now 'cause usually I lose 10% per 30mins. So this is great!


1:03AM: music playing, head on pillow, shutting eyes now. (I'm hoping to fall asleep, then wake up around 9AM with music still playing to see drain results.)

*

6:12AM: 72% left. Music listened from 1:03AM-6:12AM (5 hours, 9mins.) Music now off.


So far:

-Usage: 5hrs, 41mins

-Standby: 5hrs, 41mins


6:15AM-6:25AM: General usage (refreshed Twitter & FB twice, as well as The Spot once. Checked mail. Checked MacForums to see if anyone replied to my reply in a post. Checked The Spot again. And again, but this time someone messaged me & I messaged back, so in conversation currently.

*

6:26AM: Not really sure if I'm getting more usage or not now. I think the 100%-99% decrease just lasted a lot longer than before.


Note: Current apps in background ("tasks open"): Rdio (not playing music), The Spot, FaceBook, Mail, Safari, Settings, Twitter, & Notes.

6:27AM: The Spot.

6:31AM: Added song to library on Rdio

6:33AM: Closed Settings

6:34AM-6:36AM: Checked 3 mailboxes

6:37AM: Checked Usage again. 6 hours, 4mins for usage & standby.

6:38AM: Closed Settings (deleted off task manager.)

6:40AM: On Rdio, going to listen to & find some music.

6:41AM: Music now on. Checked FB & Twitter until next log.

6:46AM: Checked App Store for any updates. *Exited.

6:51AM: Been 39mins and I've lost 10%. Usually is 30mins per 10%. Idk...I'll wait another 10% & see how long that takes.

6:52AM: The Spot.

6:56AM: Checked Usage. *6 hours, 23mins for usage & standby. Exited.

6:57AM: Checked FB & Twitter.

6:59AM: The Spot.

7:03AM: Pee break, lol, letting music still play in background, but everything else minimized (not exited.)

7:07AM: Got drink & said "bye" to sisters who are still in school

7:07AM: Music still playing.

7:11AM: Tweeted.

7:12AM: Uploaded 2 photos I already had onto FB.

7:16AM: Messaged on The Spot.

7:18AM: Checked E-Mail. Had an E-Mail.

7:21AM: Music been playing. Trying to wait another 2% drain to update you all on the stats.

7:24AM: Was in standby for 3mins w/ music playing.

7:27AM: Ok, 2% drained. Stats below:


51% @ 7:28AM

Usage: 6 hours, 54mins

Standby: 6 hours, 54mins


I kinda do the whole rapper thing, so I'll leave my iPhone on standby for a little while with music paused until I finish a song (writing verses, rapping, editing, mixing.) Then I wanna sit in sun, so I'll have music on a while after that, hopefully.


9:10AM: Used Safari about 10mins. 40% left. Back on standby now.

9:22AM: Got text, replied. Prolly gonna have a mini-conversation now.

10:46AM: Finished recording music. Now playing music (not my own) on iPhone.

10:47AM: 30% left. Usage: 8 hours, 2mins

Standby: 10 hours, 15mins

10:48AM: FaceBook, Twitter, & The Spot now.

11:11AM: Refreshed MacForums page on Safari.

11:15AM: 20% battery. Had 30% 23mins ago :/

Usage: 8 hours, 30mins

Standby: 10 hours, 43mins


Apps used:

FaceBook

The Spot (music-related app)

Twitter

Rdio (music streaming app)

Mail

Safari

Notes (what I'm typing this in)

App Store

Photos

Settings


If we were to assume 1hr lasts me that last 20%, then I can conclude I'd have used 9 hours, 35mins used, 11 hours, 20mins standby(?).



2ND OPTION: BACKUP, THEN "ERASE ALL CONTENT AND SETTINGS," & RESTORE FROM iCLOUD



(keep in mind: 2-3 bar(s) of cell signal in my area today, then some spots with 4-5 bars)


Settings:

3G always on when available

Wi-Fi always on

-"Ask to join" on

System services: everything off except "Cell Network Search"

Notifications: manual

Location services: on

-On for: Siri & Waze only

Sounds: Silent, vibrate: on

-ringer, vibrate: off

Brightness: about 2/5 on the bar

-Auto-brightness: on

Siri: on

-Raise to speak: off

Cellular data: on

Bluetooth: off

Auto-lock: 1 minute

Restrictions: Ping, off

iCloud: everything off except Mail, Contacts, Notes, Documents & Data, and Find my iPhone

Mail (5 accounts): all fetch manually

Fetch new data: off



Airplane Mode used for hours I was at home and on road with terrible signal (1 bar).

6:48AM: Turned iPhone on

6:49AM-6:59: Standby (10mins)

6:59AM: Airplane mode & wi-fi on

6:59AM-7:15: Standby (16mins)

7:18AM: music on now via Rdio app

(apps in background: FaceBook, Messages, Notes [what I'm typing this in], & Rdio)

7:18AM-7:55AM: standby with music in background playing (37mins)

7:56AM: closed FaceBook, Settings, & Messages apps. Turned Airplane Mode OFF.

7:58AM: Mannn, usage & standby not showing 'cause phone was off when I charged to 100% :/ I'll just go off of the times on my log.

8:10AM: Opened Messages, sent & received a text, opened The Spot & Twitter too.

8:28AM: went on MacForums & made a post, checked E-Mail, got 4 E-Mail's

8:39AM: on wi-fi now

8:41: On FaceBook on and off

-90% now. So 6:48AM-8:42AM I lost 10%.

8:44AM: Switching between The Spot & Messages & FaceBook on and off

(apps in background: Messages, The Spot, FaceBook, E-Mail, Safari, Twitter, & Rdio)

8:45AM: Updating a game app

8:50AM: took picture, then exited app

8:50AM: Having mini-text conversation

9:06AM: replied to post on Apple forums via Safari

Oh yeah, 3 bars of signal. No 3G available here. On wi-fi still.

9:11AM: uploaded photo to FB

9:15AM: 80% now. 8:41AM-9:15AM lost 10%.

Basically same battery life as first log way above in this post. Not sure if any point in keeping this 2nd log anymore since I lose 10% about every 30mins.

9:16AM: Assuming I lose 10% per 30mins, I'll have 1% in 4 hours, at 1:17PMish. I know I'll have my phone on standby a lot today since work, so I guess I'll continue with log.

9:20AM-9:25: Standby w/ music playing. (5mins)

9:26AM: Had to make 2-3min phone call, then 3G came on for about 40s.

9:26AM: back on wi-fi

9:32AM: ok, just noticed on 3G again 'cause I'm standing outside the building waiting for someone to arrive

10:00: 70% left

10:00-10:32AM: Standby (32mins)

10:05AM: music off

10:40AM: 30s Skype call

10:56AM: 60% left

10:56AM-12:56PM: Standby (2hrs)

12:56PM: Uploaded 2 new photos to FB

12:56PM: 50% left.

1:20PM: The Spot, FB, & Twitter

1:40PM: Ok, I just noticed music was randomly playing on Music app with volume all the way down, for about 10-15mins.

1:49PM: The Spot a lot.

2:07AM: 30% left.

2:14PM: Music on

2:35PMish: 20% left.

3:15PMish: 10% left

3:15PM: music off, on wi-fi now


Apps used total:

Messages

Settings

App Store (to update)

Notes (what I'm typing this with)

The Spot

FaceBook

Twitter

Rdio

E-Mail

Safari

Camera
Phone
Skype


So, from 6:48AM-3:34PM, I am left with 8% battery in all.* Now, as stated in the log, the Usage and Standby times weren't there since I charged phone while it was off.* But you can do the math, and so can I, sooo: 3 hours, 40mins Standby, then 6 hours and however many odd minutes.* I'm assuming Standby would be a lot more, though, since I was playing music on "standby" and when music is played on Standby mode, it counts as Standby and usage.* So those numbers are kind of rough, but the battery lasted about the same as the first log, before the restore.


So, please leave your feedback here of the post, how your battery compares, how you improved yours, if you've done tests, etc.*

Thank-you, all!

Jun 6, 2012 8:58 AM in response to Scarface.

So just because the thread has been active for a while means don't ask the question? Some of us haven't had the problem long enough to create 800+ responses, are we just unlucky and not allowed the privilege of asking advice due to not owning an iPhone until now? Would you trawl through that many responses to find the answer?


<Edited by Host>

Jun 6, 2012 8:55 AM in response to NikKay1

No the problem with people like you is that most of the questions newbs like you are asking have been answered many times over in this thread. You and other like you are too lazy to actually read through the thread to find the answer. Instead you ask hoping that someone will help you out so you can continue to be lazy.

Jun 6, 2012 9:10 AM in response to Scarface.

People like me? 1, that's a comment I wouldn't make in this day and age and 2, 'newb'? You obviously dont know me or my extensive background in computing to suggest such a thing (adding to the fact it makes you sound like a spotty teenager playing Xbox).


My advice? Disable your notifications, that way you won't be sat there looking like your deliberately waiting for a post so you can moan about it. Either that or go through the 800+ pages of responses yourself and tell me something I don't already know. Then get a job, lazy.

Jun 6, 2012 9:16 AM in response to NikKay1

Well seeing that you didn't reply to me I assume you are talking to scarface which already answers my question of you not knowing what you are doing since you cannot reply correctly. Also someone with your computing background would know how to do a simple keyword search and go to the post he/she needed instead of reading through every post. Again shows your lack of intelligence and show just how smart you really are. This will be my last post to you because all you are is attempting to start a flame war which I won't be part of. End of discussion with you.

Jun 6, 2012 9:26 AM in response to Scarface.

Did you get the reply? I think you did, therefore my response was successful, regardless of whether I clicked 'reply' on your post or 'reply to original post' below. Point dismissed.


You raised simple keyword searches? How I seek my information wasn't disclosed, so you only assume I wouldn't already know this technique. Again, point dismissed.


Finally, for the record, I'm not attempting to start a 'flame war' (?), I just object to your view that people shouldn't ask questions, something that is against our nature (even yours). People like you really do make the world the miserable place it is today.

Jun 6, 2012 1:05 PM in response to Scarface.

Good grief is this thread still going?


Not been on here for a few months, I see nothing's changed...


Sorry, nothing to contribute really; I still have the same issues with my 4s. I'm simply resigned to the fact that the 4s isn't compatible with my usage habbits in the way the 3Gs was. I've now gotten used to charging it often.


I fail to see Apple addressing this in any other way than launching the iP5.That's why this is my only Apple product.


Not very impressed but hey-ho, worse things happen at sea.


Good luck everyone...

iPhone 4s Battery Life?

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