[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] kobridge:
Kobridge - General Settings to extend the battery life

General Settings or Configuration to extend battery life

This is an initial edition. I'm going to update and add more information here.

Original post - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1625299

I've worked on this part so long time since I've started using ICS ROM. I also tried almost every battery saver apps but didn't get any better result using my own method because sometimes there are lots of overheads using it (I'm trying to avoid describing any individual app's pros and cons in here and just provide you the better way to configure your phone).

The information in here is based on FF18 rooted stock rom/modem/kernel. But it's not limited to any specific phone or build. You could probably use it in any phones or builds.

1. Wifi

Some of you understand that wifi is faster than 3G and use less battery than 3G. You also say that 4G is the biggest monster consuming lots of battery. But that would be true and false.

Sometimes, wifi uses lots of battery to get the faster speed and keep the connection.

There could be multiple scenarios in here and below is based on my test -

Original post can be found in here

WIFI - I always turned on at home (because wifi is available) with 'never' option. In this case, 3G will cover the data communication if 3g turned on during the deep sleep. If wifi signal is so strong, even you don't need to turn on 3G and use the wifi during the sleep mode by changing the wifi option.

If you don't need the data communication during sleep mode, then turn off 3G and make wifi sleep (never) during the sleep mode. With this option, your battery could last about 2 hours per 1% drop.

3G - you need to compare between 3G and wifi. Which one is better and use less battery based on the signal strength.

For me, I'm using both 3G and wifi turned on. Using these two options turned on, I make the data communication available always and these two are compromising each other.

OK, here are some screenshots from 3.4M (check the original post link above). From 100% to 65%, I turned on 3G, so it covers the wifi when wifi sleeps during the deep sleep. From 65% to 45%, I turned off 3G, so during the deep sleep, both wifi and 3G were not available. When screen turned on wifi only came back (if you are not a heavy user, this method will save lots of battery).

Based on what I said, I've tested couple of things-

1. Battery life when wifi turned on 24x7

2. Battery life when 3G turned on 24x7

1. When wifi turned on 24x7 (turned on even screen is off), my phone shows that there were about 2.5% drop in every hour (100% > 73% about in 9.5 hours)

2. Wehn 3G turned on 24x7 (no wifi, no 4G), the battery consumption was much slower than wifi. (73% > 62% about in 14 hours). A little more than 1 hour per 1% drop.

Based on my test with minimum wifi, 3G usage, it shows that 3G saves a lot more battery during the standby mode. This result could be different based on your area and signal strength.

Now I showed many things related to wifi, 3G and how it affects the battery life.

Only one thing that I did not test is 4G. It's really hard to make a test using 4G inside of my office because I don't have 4G signal at all. What I can try is, 4G random reboot issue. I'll try to turn on 4G and see if it happens....

2. 3G

Keeping 3G turned on is a good habit. Because it covers wifi and 4G whenever those are not available. 3G uses battery a lot less than wifi and 4G (it could be different based on your signal strength)

Howto keep it on: setting -> more -> mobile networks -> check 3G DATA

Like I said before, if you have a reasonably good 3G signal, then you may want to turn off wifi and 4G to save the battery.

3. 4G

Just like wifi, minimize turning on 4G network. This use a lot of battery if you are in the bad reception area. If the signal strength is really good, then it would be probably ok keeping 4G turned on. In some cases, 4G would be the only solution to watch the movies, streaming videos when the wifi is not available.

Based on my limited test, using 4G in good reception area is much better than using wifi with low/weak signal.

4. Call option

Mark checkbox for Turn on proximity sensor for your convenience even there would be a little battery drain. But if you are a heavy talker, then I recommend to uncheck this option and use the power button to go back to control mode.

5. Sound

Lower the sound/vibration level within the acceptable range for you. There would be some differences on battery behavior by turning off or on of sound/vibration. But I don't want to recommend anything in here because I don't want you to lose any incoming calls/messages/etc.

6. Display

Automatic brightness should be fine in most cases. It's really related to screen on time battery consumption. I don't want to deal with this option at this time.

Pulse notification light, display battery percentage - turn it on or off based on your preference. Battery consumption by turning on these options would be minimal. I saw that some people said that they recommend to turning off the 'pulse notification light'. But I don't agree with that. One blinking LED light almost does not use any battery!

display timeout - I set it with highest value provided. After using the phone, I manually press the power button to go to sleep mode. With short timeout value, I have to keep press the button or screen to keep the screen on. I don't like this method.

Turn on 'Auto adjust screen power'.

7. Power saving mode

I always keep this option off because I do not want to lose anything because of low battery. I would rather change the numbers in my tweak (battery profile 2 in scaling tweak).

8. Account and sync

Most of time, I keep this option turned off. This would be one of the battery eating monster. I would rather individually sync the apps whenever I need it or from the actual apps.

9. Battery

when you charge the battery and phone shows that 100% charged, unplug the cable few seconds and plug-in again to charger. Repeat this couple of times and your battery would be really fully charged. Many times, even phone shows 100% charged, it could be the minimum 100% range. Actually, there's some voltage allowed and considered as 100% charge. But by maximizing the voltage during the charge, your battery life could be extended.

10. Motion

Turn off this option if you don't need this.

11. email

If possible, turn off the option that pushing email immediately. Instead, put the retrieval interval as long as you can. Based on my test, it could extend your battery life as maximum as couple of hours. In my case, I put the 2 hours interval. By doing this, your phone is much easier to enter the 'deep sleep' mode.

12. Startups

For me, I don't allow the apps automatically start during the boot as much as possible. If it's the system app and critical app for the phone's normal operation, then you have to allow those startups but otherwise, you can disable the startup apps based on your test.

For this, I usually use Rom Toolbox and/or System Tuner Pro. These apps allow us to enable or disable the startup apps.

For any apps like I don't use frequently or at all, I disable the apps from the 'event' (rom toolbox) or startups (system tuner pro). Once you disable the startups, you may need some test to see what happens when you manually launch the apps. If your app does not start normally, then go back and enable the event again.

There's also one more battery eating moster - widgets (currently doing some experimental test on it)

Regardless of widgets are in foreground screen or just stays in widgets folder, almost same amount of battery could be used by widgets to make it upto dated and refresh the connections, etc.

So, if you don't need the widget or don't use, go to (from Rom Toolbox) Auto Start Manager -> Applications -> select app you want to check -> it will show that widget updating is enabled or not. If it's enabled and you don't want it, just disable it. Then the app is not going to use that specific widget and actually widget will disappear from widgets folder.