Q: iPhone 4s Battery Life?

Yuri, what is the point of trying to preach that iPhones are the best ever in a forum where people are complaining about its battery life? Do you think you are helping?

dkalchev wrote:

 

1AppleADayNoWay,

 

Don't get me wrong, but from your writeups I understood that:

 

- you don't own an iPhone 4S, don't plan to buy such, don't like smartphones at all.

My questions: if you don't own an iPhone 4S how come you know it's battery lfie is awful? How come you are of the opinion it is worse than anything else out there? How could you make a fair judgement of something, you don't even use? (smartphones)

Because I've basically read the last 600 pages of posts in this thread, and therefore I could compare usage scenarios with Apple's spefications and ratings - and one thing for sure is that before 5.0.1 it was subpar. Then Apple's marketing clearly states "picking up where amazing left off" - yet the specs show that the 4S is rated for 200 standby hours whereas the 4 is rated at 300. Furthermore, with all the aggressive default settings, with a restore from a prior device and apps galore, iCloud and all, what happens is what I coined hundreds of pages ago the "compounded common denominator" effect where the device would last between 6 to 8 hours from disconnect under 5.0 - because so many things poll the network over 3G and the device is rated for 6hrs 3G internet use - that was solved in part with 5.0.1 and as people learned how to turn things off. I never said that the iPhone 4S's battery life is worse than anything else. I quoted the Anandtech in-depth review and based some of my comments on their numbers - I don't need to use the device, these guys are pros, beyond what you and me could be. As I explained the situation evolved over time but 100% of the actual devices deliver less than the prior handset (4) irrespective of iOS version when one looks at standby time. It is Apple's own specs. As I've stated before, the device yields the following numbers: 4-6hrs usage/22hrs standby or 1-2hrs usage per day/40hrs standby. A 30hrs day. Or 2 days with light use. Using the device under wifi all the time and controlling 3G data, disabling iCloud, Siri, and and such is not "normal intended" use for a 3G smartphone - it's about 3G internet and calls. Of course listening to music and playing Solitaire one may get good battery life extended over a good period of time IF someone has no standby drain - hence my questions about the iPod. So there were issues with the sim card readers and all. My judgment is fair because I'm not in love with Apple or their device. But, of course, nobody is without bias. So this is how.

dkalchev wrote:

 

- you insist, that Apple should not look at the Product first, but at the Customer.

My questions: Are you aware, that Apple is to sucessful, because they are actually obsessed with the Product, in the first place? This is because if Apple is like all other "caring" companies, they will have no Product, but will babysit "customers". The customer wants a good Product. Most customers want the best product they can afford. With 'digital life' becoming so widespread, customers now demand they have access to integrated electronic devices, that do a lot of things and do them well -- the iPhone is such a device. This is why it has such overwhelming success.

Although you're entitled to your opinion, I consider it's entirely bull. I don't think Android handsets manufacturers are the most caring with their customers - they often complain about delays in updates and recently there's been lots of backlash over decisions to upgrade or not devices to ICS. The product you refer to is simply a beautifully designed casing and great materials with Asian tech inside (Samsung, Qualcomm, LG) and lots of engineering put into the OS. It's all about iOS, the user experience, its integration, the best choices being made for the user to have a device that works out of the box. The success of the iPhone rests on building a customer base with the iPod and integrating iTunes into the normal computing world of a huge user base. Once people were trained to sync and buy music from iTunes, content could be updated to apps and movies and the device would hold it, then telephony would be integrated, then point and shoot cameras - cannibalizing standalone modern electronics in some attractive form factor. Building on the brand name and lifestyle status archetypes, while pushing the technology envelope, Apple reached its peaks, while there was no real competition, not so much unlike how IE was for the longest time the mainstream browser because it came bundled with Windows. Here it's bundled with hip lifestyle and status. Then Android evolved and Steve was very unhappy about it. What users demand is mobility,  and out of the box functionality with at least intelligent choices if they're not at liberty to fully control the experience - and business users want proper Exchange integration. I can't speak for prior devices but in this case Apple failed at least at launch. They removed the 3G toggle, they activated everything while using a similar battery and upping the rest of the hardware. When the device launched with 5.0, there were many issues, some of which are ongoing. And to achieve acceptable battery life people had to resort to "not restoring" from a previous model, turning off Siri, not using push mail and notifications, removing their iCloud accounts, parsing their data for corruption and going through many exchanges, sim cards, weekly resets and chasing beta updates and what not to get value for what they paid for. In many respects Apple created a nice device and made people believe it was the best and that users would become the best people if they bought it. And nobody wants to be a nobody lolll. So they did. It's my opinion mind you and I'm no historian on this. Plus it seems the iPhone did have a distinct advantage over the past Android device in terms of battery life - aka the famous old stories of Apple users who used to be Android users - "it lasts 3hrs". But with the 4S and the newer Android device, the advantage is no longer significant in many respects, as disclosed by a review like the Anandtech one I quoted in the last pages. If only the battery were serviceable. The only difference remains iOS and the App store and "love". It may not be sufficient for everyone. All devices have their own strenghts, but a segment of the user base was relying on better battery life than the Android handsets.

dkalchev wrote:

 

- Apple not admitting anything etc.

My comment: Actually, Apple is not denying that there is place for improvement to the iPhone 4S. This is why they are working on new software, that will better (and properly, as it relates to the power consumption) manage the hardware. This does not mean that Apple should respont to every user's post with something like "don't worry, we will handle this" --- this is a message that is actually presumed with Apple (and don't call me fanboy, please -- that is just what history has shown) With regards to the battery life, Apple has actually published a very helpful guide to advise you what is draining your battery. This article is worth reading by anyone who has 'battery problems': http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

 

I never said Apple should respond personally to users or even acknowledge anything. I believe Apple behaves like the elitist segment of its user base. I would hope for this to change - for instance a long time ago I suggested that if users had to post to this forum using a "form" where they had to enter some settings, location, os version, mail accounts type etc, then this thread would have been much more useful. You may not be aware, but sometime ago I put together this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3526981?start=0&tstart=0 - so I've known that link you refer to for a long long time and I reminded users quite often about the specs and best practices. But many of the issues faced by the users went way way beyond adjusting brightness or turning off bluetooth or the EQ. Obviously you've just recently joined it. What happened here will not be revisionned ex post facto. It cannot be sugar coated. Of course they solve it as time goes by. But some users have had less value than what they bargained for.

I could discuss this further but I feel like I'm repeating myself. But I'm not imagining any of this.

Finally, thank you for you comments on the iPod Touch! One thing I really enjoy with the iPhone/Touch is the sublime touchscreen interface. I don't care much for raw processor power but I consider there is subtantial value in the app store... so for 199$ there's some value there I think!

Good luck!

LOL

A laugh from you cheers me up really

Is this normal?

Please let me know.

Waiting for your reply guys.

[img]http://ravishpics.com/images/92851956155060650465.png[/img]

1AppleADayNoWay wrote:

dkalchev wrote:

 

 

- you don't own an iPhone 4S, don't plan to buy such, don't like smartphones at all.

Because I've basically read the last 600 pages of posts in this thread, and therefore I could compare usage scenarios with Apple's spefications and ratings - and one thing for sure is that before 5.0.1 it was subpar.

So you basically do not trust people like me (and others) who actually own the device use it and especially those people who did own iPhone 4 and replaced it with iPhone 4S?

Then Apple's marketing clearly states "picking up where amazing left off" - yet the specs show that the 4S is rated for 200 standby hours whereas the 4 is rated at 300.

So what? It is much better phone. I believe it's great sucess is also because Apple finaly made it 'world phone', thus freeing itself from the US carriers. With iPhone 4 it was harder and more expensive to get an unlocked phone -- now it is trivial. This is especially important for the poor US Verizon customers, who otherwise could not even use their iPhone overseas!

Furthermore, with all the aggressive default settings, with a restore from a prior device and apps galore, iCloud and all, what happens is what I coined hundreds of pages ago the "compounded common denominator" effect where the device would last between 6 to 8 hours from disconnect under 5.0 - because so many things poll the network over 3G and the device is rated for 6hrs 3G internet use - that was solved in part with 5.0.1 and as people learned how to turn things off. I never said that the iPhone 4S's battery life is worse than anything else. I quoted the Anandtech in-depth review and based some of my comments on their numbers - I don't need to use the device, these guys are pros, beyond what you and me could be.

While I agree, that the launch of the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 can be seen as too entuastic, they were way better than anything else on the market. In both performance and in how issues are resolved.

Also, mind you, I pretend to be professional in the area of computers and data communications -- although I spend my time doing other things than writing reviews. I don't accept Anand being beyond me -- of course, considering that my education is way lower than that of enx23.

As I explained the situation evolved over time but 100% of the actual devices deliver less than the prior handset (4) irrespective of iOS version when one looks at standby time. It is Apple's own specs. As I've stated before, the device yields the following numbers: 4-6hrs usage/22hrs standby or 1-2hrs usage per day/40hrs standby. A 30hrs day. Or 2 days with light use. Using the device under wifi all the time and controlling 3G data, disabling iCloud, Siri, and and such is not "normal intended" use for a 3G smartphone - it's about 3G internet and calls. Of course listening to music and playing Solitaire one may get good battery life extended over a good period of time IF someone has no standby drain - hence my questions about the iPod. So there were issues with the sim card readers and all. My judgment is fair because I'm not in love with Apple or their device. But, of course, nobody is without bias. So this is how.

Sorry, can't resist this. You explained how situation evolved? Without experiencing it? Perhaps this is why you compare yourself with Anand and other rewievers.. now I understand. Well, we others here are merely Apple iPhone users. We want to make best use of our phone and eventually help others achieve the same. Not because of Apple, but because we went already trough this.

The experiments I made with my phone, for at least two full charges were to use it minimally -- so that I can detect any battery drain, if there is such. Well, the good news is, that there is not much. Especially considering that my VoIP application in the background periodically wakes up to talk to it's server etc. I especially made sure no WiFi is available, so this happened over 3G only. The worst possible drain, right?

I find it also amusing that you compare iPhone 4 being better than iPhone 4S and that to get to it's level of performance one has to disable Siri... which by the way is not available on iPhone 4. Where is the logic here?

While I understand your confusion about Android, this forum is not about that particular flavor of Linux.

The success of the iPhone is indeed because of the iOS. These days, as I keep repeating, most hardware is software controled. If you have better software, you achieve better results. This includes better battery life. Trust me, with each new iOS version you will see better and better battery life out of the same iPohne 4S hardware. Without replacing the "defective Qualcomm chips" that is.

Apple has implemented some great technologies in their software, especially useful for mobile devices. Most people wouldn't know, because unlike other mobile OS, the settings etc are hidden and you don't have to fiddle with options, which you may get wrong (because you are not Anand, to speak your language). These technologies need tunning for better performance and better defaults and --- this is what Apple does. They have collected anough data from the usage statistics.

Hope you are not offended by my comments. You are correct, I joined these forums recently and I rarely have the time to participate.

403 permission denied

You have to qualify your usage as the device is rated for 6hrs 3G internet as well as 40hrs local music playback. If you've been using your phone for browsing and calls and those 6 hours are active hours then it's quite good. Use the following to make your own analysis:

Talk time: Up to 8 hours (12.5% per hour drain) on 3G, up to 14 hours (7.1% per hour drain) on 2G (GSM)

Standby time: Up to 200 hours (0.5% per hour drain)

Internet use: Up to 6 hours on 3G (16.6% per hour drain), up to 9 hours (11.1% per hour drain) on Wi-Fi

Video playback: Up to 10 hours (10% per hour drain)

Audio playback: Up to 40 hours (2.5% per hour drain)

So a scenario of normal usage could be for example: 4 heavy hours of 3G internet browsing (66.4%), with one hour of call on 3G (12.5%) and 22 hours of standby (11%) = 100%

Here is another picture...

Is this normal?

Please let me know.

Waiting for your reply guys.

[img]http://ravishpics.com/images/92851956155060650465.png[/img]

Thanks for the reply dude!

I'm not offended by your comments at all. At least you try to make a valid point, unlike our friend Yuri. It's just you don't. Unfortunately, you think too highly of your anecdotal experience  - your own test weighs nothing in the sea of results I've witnessed in this forum and you are right, I don't trust you - but it's nothing personal. I can't understand why you refuse to acknowledge the Anandtech numbers, out of ego I guess, plus I've never said I compare myself to Anandtech. But I trust them over you any day of the week.  I know very well Siri is limited to the 4S, although that wasn't always the case. I don't know where you're coming from with this. You're just stalling instead of refuting anything I've said. I don't need you stating the obvious that software will be improved over time. But this tuning should not require the users to be beta testers with an unreliable device when they've paid the retail price.  Wishful thinking or saying it's the best offering on the market doesn't change what happened here and why this thread has more than 10k posts and 1M hits. Maybe you should read other threads and see high level users discussing the specifics of those issues - they're iPhone users.

I rest my case on that. You see, I've discussed this a thousand times here. It's going to take much more than your little VoiP test and half-baked arguments to change my mind. Furthermore, I've helped much more people here than I expect you ever will if you can't even acknowledge the reality of those issues, no offense. For someone who has an issue now, it's irrelevant what's going to happen in months from now...

Anyways, good luck with all that.

What do you think?

[img]http://www.freeimagehosting.net/t/uo189.jpg[/img]

Firaskurdi, this is the 3rd time you've posted the same image. Please do it post it a fourth time. In any case, it is useless in helping us to give our opinion of your battery life. Clearly, it says you've plugged your phone in since it's last full charge. Therefore, we have no idea how the usage portrayed in the image relates to battery life. You need to charge your iPhone fully and then watch the usage stats without plugging it in again.

Please do not post that image again.

enx23 wrote:

 

@snif123

 

 

snif123 wrote:

 

Your 4S goes more than a day with light usage! So do other smartphones for half the price, as I said, the 4S has no edge over other competitor products on the market.

With your light usage, do you think you should be able to get atleast 2-3 days without charge? The 4S is supposed to be an improvement to the IP4 but in the battery category it's a big loss.

I use my phone lightly I believe, and it has never hit the 2 Days mark, many times it has died on me during the day when I have forgotten to charge overnight, I think this is not value for money. The 4S should be able to easily go 2.5~3 Days with my usage pattern, I KNOW this.

Every 2-3 times a month, I have to reset all settings/content when the phantom usage somehow creeps up again.

I have the static issue, this is my 2nd 4S.

Overall, the 4S battery is poor and the APPLE advertising/marketing is misleading and false, most consumers/owners don't realise this because they believe "it's a smartphone, smartphones use a lot of power, they must be charged atleast daily".

I agree with you! It is a shame that one can sell a phone at a premium while having the same battery life like other cheaper phones. iPhone 4s battery life is even worse than iPhone 4 without adding anything major.

I consider a dual-core processor, and 7 times faster GPU, and Siri, and one of the best 8MP cameras in ANY smartphone major.  You, on the other hand seem to think that battery life is the ONLY consideration.  Feel free to continue your campaign against the 4S if you wish, but don't you think everyone, including you, would be better served if you got rid of the 4S and got something you would like better?  Perhaps the Motorola RAZR Maxx, with its 3300mAh battery would make you happy.  I understand it lasts a couple of days.  Oh, wait, MY 4S lasts a couple of days.... And The Maxx has a 5MP camera, nothing comparable to Siri, and wouldn't fit in my pocket.

Bottom line, there are many factors in choosing a smartphone, and battery life, while important, is only ONE of those factors.  Unless one needs to be away from line power, or automobiles, for extended periods, over one day, then the 4S should serve the purpose just fine.

@dkalchev

The vast majority of iPhone 4s are affected by the battery life issue and/or static noise issue which are hardware issue. The battery life of iPhone 4s is miserable compared to iPhone 4 and it is not even close to its specification!

dkalchev wrote:

 

enx23 wrote:

 

One has to have realisting expectations.

This has nothing to do with realistic expectations or how one uses the iPhoen 4s. The point is that the battery life of iPhone 4s is horrible compared to iPhone 4 when used in the same conditions and same way. Also here one compares the battery life with iPhone 4 and also with what is written in its specification! I least I suggest that Apple should modify the specification of its iPhone 4s in such a way that it reflects the reality!

 

It is all written here: http://www.apple.com/iphone/battery.html

Obviously, the battery life of iPhone 4s is not as it is in specification. In my case it last ~18% of what is in specifications. In order to get close to ~50% of specification I ahve to turn off almost all settings and reduce my iPhone 4s to a super expensive iPOD!!!

 

I have a feeling that here is a confusion between 3G network and Cellular Data. Please, note that 3G network is used also for voice data and not only for data transfer!  Please, rephrase it!

 

 

Of course, I forgot that you have higher degree than me! Nevertheless, imagine I have some clue what 3G is. Might be even better than yours. Of course, your higher than mine education might be in the field of 3G technology.. who knows.

 

I asked you nicely to rephrase it because I did not understand your statement. Instead of answering you are again playing the game of whose d*ck is bigger! Be my guest!

 

As a coinscidence, this is the very first advice Apple gives to those interested in better battry life "Update to the latest software" -- here, read: http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

 

Obviously Apple also claimed that it fixed the battery life issue with iOS 5.0.1 and that was not true. Are you aware that Apple got slapped with 1.2 million euros fine in Italy for bad customer practices? Also as the size of is forum proves the iPhone 4s has a battery life issue which has not been addressed yet even that iPhone 4s was launched last year. How many years one still needs that the battery life issue of iPhone 4s will not be fixed by Apple?

 

Please stop spreading FUD.

Are you joking? If there is a post to which one does not agree it means that it is FUD. Right?

The battery life of iPhone 4s is miserable compared to iPhone 4. The battery life issue of iPhone 4s is a hardware issue! If one does not like this then he or she should not read this post or be on this forum!

You have absolutely no clue what you talk about!

I suggest here one to judge my posts and what I write here! It is idiotic to judge the person who wrote the post instead the post itself!