A method for monitoring a battery in a portable electronic device, comprising: while monitoring a state of charge of the battery while the battery is powering the portable electronic device: if the state of charge is found to be above a predetermined reserve capacity, continuing to monitor the state of charge; if the state of charge is found to be equal to or less than the predetermined reserve capacity, monitoring a voltage of the battery; and while monitoring the voltage while the battery is powering the portable electronic device: if the monitored voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined termination voltage: if the monitored voltage meets a first criteria, performing at least one action that reduces a power drawn by the portable electronic device from the battery while keeping the portable electronic device running, the first criteria based on a frequency of transient voltage dips that are equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage; if the monitored voltage meets a second criteria, putting the portable electronic device into one of a shutdown state and a hibernate state, the second criteria based on a steady-state voltage measurement of the monitored voltage being equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage. wherein the termination voltage is above the portable electronic device's brownout voltage. while monitoring a state of charge of the battery while the battery is powering the portable electronic device: if the state of charge is found to be above a predetermined reserve capacity, continuing to monitor the state of charge; if the state of charge is found to be equal to or less than the predetermined reserve capacity, monitoring a voltage of the battery; and while monitoring the voltage while the battery is powering the portable electronic device: if the monitored voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined termination voltage: if the monitored voltage meets a first criteria, performing at least one action that reduces a power drawn by the portable electronic device from the battery while keeping the portable electronic device running, the first criteria based on a frequency of transient voltage dips that are equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage; if the monitored voltage meets a second criteria, putting the portable electronic device into one of a shutdown state and a hibernate state, the second criteria based on a steady-state voltage measurement of the monitored voltage being equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage. if the state of charge is found to be above a predetermined reserve capacity, continuing to monitor the state of charge; if the state of charge is found to be equal to or less than the predetermined reserve capacity, monitoring a voltage of the battery; and while monitoring the voltage while the battery is powering the portable electronic device: if the monitored voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined termination voltage: if the monitored voltage meets a first criteria, performing at least one action that reduces a power drawn by the portable electronic device from the battery while keeping the portable electronic device running, the first criteria based on a frequency of transient voltage dips that are equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage; if the monitored voltage meets a second criteria, putting the portable electronic device into one of a shutdown state and a hibernate state, the second criteria based on a steady-state voltage measurement of the monitored voltage being equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage. if the monitored voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined termination voltage: if the monitored voltage meets a first criteria, performing at least one action that reduces a power drawn by the portable electronic device from the battery while keeping the portable electronic device running, the first criteria based on a frequency of transient voltage dips that are equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage; if the monitored voltage meets a second criteria, putting the portable electronic device into one of a shutdown state and a hibernate state, the second criteria based on a steady-state voltage if the monitored voltage meets a first criteria, performing at least one action that reduces a power drawn by the portable electronic device from the battery while keeping the portable electronic device running, the first criteria based on a frequency of transient voltage dips that are equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage; if the monitored voltage meets a second criteria, putting the portable electronic device into one of a shutdown state and a hibernate state, the second criteria based on a steady-state voltage measurement of the monitored voltage being equal to or below the predetermined termination voltage. wherein the termination voltage is above the portable electronic device's brownout voltage.