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iPad mini battery life very poor

I just got an ipad mini a few days ago, and I was expecting the 10+ hours battery life that Apple and reviews of the mini cite.


I just did a test of my battery life and found that in 10 minutes my battery went from 100% to 95%. In a second test, it went from 93% to 90%. At those rates, it would deplete in somewhere between 3 and 5.5 hours.


Actual use has also indicated that my battery life is very poor. After using the iPad for web-browsing and updating my iCal calendar for about 2 hours yesterday (Connected to WiFi; I do not have 4G), my battery had dropped by about 40%.


Additionally, the battery life has been dropping several percentage points if the ipad is left asleep for an hour or more. Is this usual?


Very frustrated with this, especially since it seems like most people are having no problems with battery life.


My software is up to date (6.0.2).

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 10:59 AM

Reply
11 replies

Jan 3, 2013 11:03 AM in response to loveland123

Try referring to the two articles below. The first one, shows you how to set your battery to ensure longer battery life. If you follow the steps, and still have an issue, take your iPad to your local apple store. They can test the battery to ensure it is working as expected.


About the iPad Battery - http://www.apple.com/batteries/ipad.html.


Charging the iPad battery - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4060.

Jan 3, 2013 3:37 PM in response to loveland123

The quickest way (and really the only way) to charge your iPad is with the included 10W or 12W (5W on Mini) USB Power Adapter. iPad will also charge, although more slowly, when attached to a computer with a high-power USB port (many recent Mac computers) or with an iPhone Power Adapter (5W). When attached to a computer via a standard USB port (2.5W, most PCs or older Mac computers) iPad will charge very slowly (but iPad indicates not charging). Make sure your computer is on while charging iPad via USB. If iPad is connected to a computer that’s turned off or is in sleep or standby mode, the iPad battery will continue to drain.


Apple recommends that once a month you let the iPad fully discharge & then recharge to 100%.

How to Calibrate Your Mac, iPhone, or iPad Battery

http://www.macblend.com/how-to-calibrate-your-mac-iphone-or-ipad-battery/


At this link http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/galaxy-tab-android-tablet,3014-11.html , tests show that the iPad 2 battery (25 watt-hours) will charge to 90% in 3 hours 1 minute. It will charge to 100% in 4 hours 2 minutes. The new iPad has a larger capacity battery (42 watt-hours), so using the 10W charger will obviously take longer. If you are using your iPad while charging, it will take even longer. It's best to turn your new iPad OFF and charge over night. Also look at The iPad's charging challenge explained http://www.macworld.com/article/1150356/ipadcharging.html


Also, if you have a 3rd generation iPad, look at

Apple: iPad Battery Nothing to Get Charged Up About

http://allthingsd.com/20120327/apple-ipad-battery-nothing-to-get-charged-up-abou t/

Apple Explains New iPad's Continued Charging Beyond 100% Battery Level

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/27/apple-explains-new-ipads-continued-charging- beyond-100-battery-level/

New iPad Takes Much Longer to Charge Than iPad 2

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2012/03/new-ipad-takes-much-longer-to-charge-than-ipa d-2.html


Apple Batteries - iPad http://www.apple.com/batteries/ipad.html


Extend iPad Battery Life (Look at pjl123 comment)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3921324?tstart=30


New iPad Slow to Recharge, Barely Charges During Use

http://www.pcworld.com/article/252326/new_ipad_slow_to_recharge_barely_charges_d uring_use.html


Tips About Charging for New iPad 3

http://goodscool-electronics.blogspot.com/2012/04/tips-about-charging-for-new-ip ad-3.html


How to Save and Prolong the battery life of your new ipad

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4480944?tstart=0


Prolong battery lifespan for iPad / iPad 2 / iPad 3: charging tips

http://thehowto.wikidot.com/prolong-battery-lifespan-for-ipad


iPhone, iPod, Using the iPad Charger

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4327


Install and use Battery Doctor HD

http://itunes.apple.com/tw/app/battery-doctor-hd/id459702901?mt=8


To Extend a Device’s Battery Life, Get to Know It Better

http://tinyurl.com/b67c7xz


iPad Battery Replacement

http://www.apple.com/batteries/replacements.html


In rare instances when using the Camera Connection Kit, you may notice that iPad does not charge after using the Camera Connection Kit. Disconnecting and reconnecting the iPad from the charger will resolve this issue.


 Cheers, Tom 😉

Feb 5, 2013 8:46 PM in response to loveland123

I have previously had an iPad 2, and I now have an iPad Mini. I have also noticed this, but I expect that it is because of the smaller ipad, it must have a smaller battery. Apple has marketed all the iPads as getting ten hours of battery life, but I constantly got 12-15 with my ipad 2. I have got anywhere from 5-11 hours with my ipad mini, depending on what I am doing, but I would say on average that it lasts about 7 hours for me. I also have about the same battery percentage decrease rate as you.

Mar 27, 2013 2:46 AM in response to loveland123

Hi there loveland,


I purchased a new IPad Mini 64g/cellular/Wifi March 2013. I have had same issue. 1.5 days after fully charged and not using at all, then nearly drops down to zero battery life. I will take on board some of the fixets that Karen has suggested. But Im thinking that this IPad Mini has wasted so much of my time trying to get things sorted out. I wouldn't suggest anyone to purchase without any sort of computer/IT knowledge and total patience is highly recommended. Lets see if Karens info is correct, because the way I see it , the battery life should be on an average persons usage and Im below that. Maybe they (Apple) should have a set up as to the type of user you are. Anyway at the end of the day, advertising 10 hours of battery life, (so long as you don't use it), or actually, if you want to use it you have to shut down features to save battery life.But you have to work out how to do that without stuffing the IPad up.


At over $700.00 Why buy one????????

Apr 17, 2013 8:14 PM in response to loveland123

I also just bought an ipad mini last week. I am really ticked off that the battery life is so poor. I have reset everything according to directions I found on the apple site. It helped a little, but I still watch the battery life drop out as I use the ipad. I guess I will have to call apple and take it in (long drive). I spoke with some other ipad mini users and they told me they have battery life for up to 2 weeks. Well I must have a lemon and sounds like you guys do too. It is alot of money to have the life of an ipod touch, which has such poor battery life it as to stay plugged in to really use it much at all.

Apr 19, 2013 5:49 AM in response to loveland123

Im having the same problem too.On wifi,Bit of gaming and youtube,tweet,facebook,surf, Im only managed to screw around 6-7hours only.and thts from 95-100% of charge.

On LTE it even worst!..recently and frequently on LTE i only managed to get abit over 5 hours,6 if im lucky tht day.

A few weeks now,I always need to bring my powerbank around to ensure my mini stay alive.On my 4th gen ipad i would easily get 12-16 hours of the same routine.

Jul 1, 2014 3:35 AM in response to loveland123

Well apple claims that they will replace your iPad if it's lasting half as much as the normal battery life(i.e 10hours), so you can check up with an apple store or service provider, because my iPad Air easily gives a backup of over 11.5hours......

I would also advice you to take your battery level down such that your iPad just shuts down and then charge it all the way upto 100%, in a single stretch... After you do that, just let it keep charging for around 15extra minutes, this method really works, trust me, I charge my iPad like that all the time!!

and controlling the brightness level is also a very smart way...

May 25, 2015 7:25 PM in response to loveland123

The way you judge battery life is not from minute to minute, but overall how long you can go before you have to charge it. Most people don't use it 7 hours straight.


Battery life is dependent on many different things. Do you have bluetooth turned on? Do you have Wifi turned on? These will eat up battery! What about Airdrop? Airplay? If you turn all these features on, you will get much shorter battery life.


Are you using Facebook? The Facebook app is known to be one huge battery killer. It's constantly updating itself in the background, using your location and whatnot. Do you know how to kill the Facebook app when you are not using it?


Do you have the screen brightness turned up all the way? You have to ask yourself these questions honestly before you can go off and say "My battery life is terrible!"

May 29, 2015 4:30 PM in response to loveland123

OK I just bought first generation iPad Mini and I'm actually using it to type this. I have Bluetooth turned off. I noticed that when I was using Bluetooth with portable speaker, the battery dropped fairly quickly. Overnight, the battery loses very little power, almost nothing with Bluetooth turned off. I only have wifi turned on. I also have it set so apps only use Location settings while they are being used.


My iPad Mini is used so it's not new at all. It's a 32gb model which you can't even get anymore from the Apple website. I am impressed with the battery life so far. It is not as bad as people say it is. It is unfortunate, many people do not know how to use their devices. When I first set up my iPad with a new account, it had all settings turned on, including Airdrop. Having these features turned on will quickly deplete any device, even the new iPad MinI Retina (I have one of those too).

So if you want better battery life, learn how to turn off Bluetooth, location services, Airdrop, and any other services that are not necessary. And kill apps like Facebook when you are not using them. They refresh themselves in the background and suck up energy.

iPad mini battery life very poor

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