yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] arliss:
Thank you for your great post. I have did most of applicable tips on my Galaxy S6, 5.1.1, but I still got a medium battery life. Is there a specific guide for Lollipop/MS ?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
Almost the same steps are applicable for lollipop and marshmallow. I didn't update the guide for those two Operating Systems since it's really the same thing.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
Oh, another user mentioned this thread for directions on tweaking/tuning kernel setting to save battery life as well... It's fairly advanced and requires root and usually a custom kernel...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
that's a really cool thread!

to be honest I'm now running his configuration for the Nexus 5X, but on the G4 running CM (both SD808) and i already have a better battery life.

the thread is a lot more advanced than this one, and only includes a kernel tweak. But nevertheless it is awesome!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
Oh, it's all about tweaking the kernel for battery... The nice thing is that it's step by step directions on how to find the right settings for your rig. I wasn't suggesting it as a replacement, but thought it might deserve a note in the *really advanced* section here.. :P
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashishkr:
Using Xperia Z2 having 1500 mA output charger for 3200 mah battery (though it's a normal charger from the box unlike quick charger which claims to charge it 60% in 30mins)

I have an old Xperia phone with 850mA output charger and also my brother got Xperia C4 with 850mA charger (for 2600mah)

Which charger should I use to charge Z2? Should I go for slow charger for better battery life or its ok to use that provided charger?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
Use both.

The slow one when you have time (overnight charging) and the faster one during the day when you need the quicker boost.. The 1500 should take about 2.5 hrs to charge your phone, and the 850 should take about 4hrs.

Since both are below the 1 C rating of that battery, neither is much of a risk...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashishkr:
Thanks for the suggestion.

BTW 1500 mAh takes min 3 hrs to full charge the phone.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
When your phone is on, yes. Because of the parasitic load... You shouldn't charge your phone to 100% while on.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashishkr:
Yes, Generally I don't charge from 1% to 100%, if I am not wrong the best to charge li-Ion battery is from 20-80 and even 10-90 is good (Especially when compared to 0-100).
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] criz.89:
I work some years in the area research an development liion batterys and i can confirm, you are right. The best for battery lifetime and the chemistry is, to do not a full cycle. But if you do that every time, the gas gauge (that means shwon percentage of capacity) doesn't work right.

Regards
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
So, what voltage is the lowest you'd recommend draining to?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] criz.89:
All big cell manufacturers like samsung, Sony, LG, recommend a SOC (state of charge) 30% for storage. This is the SOC in which the cell least aging. So the best for the cell is every time SOC 30% but you and i know that isnt possible.

I recommend charge up to 80% and discharge to 20%. But do min. 1 time per week a full cycle, to be sure that gas gauge work well. That means charge to 100% and discharge till the phone turn off.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
And yet, you didn't answer the question I asked...

I didn't ask what percentage *manufacturers* recommend for storage.

I asked what *voltage* you recommended as the lowest drain.

Given your years of research into lithium based batteries, you should have a solid opinion on the topic.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BatDroid:
U said,

no hibernation.

but without greenify, I can't pass a day.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] criz.89:
OK, i dont know if you check anytime your voltage, so i thought percantage ranges are better for you.

But yes i have a opinion 3.6V and the optimum range should be 3.0-4.1 V
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
Lovely piece of info for you... Most modern phones turn off at 3.5V (at least, every single one I've tested, LG, Samsung, OnePlus, Sony, etc) which is well above the 3.0-3.2V danger range.

So, factoring that information into the charging range, the 20% "gas gauge level" on your phone is still closer to 45% of the batteries natural capacity (3.0V vs 3.5V "empty")

Remember, the voltage rating in our phone batteries is 3.8V (implying the worked range is 4.2V to 3.4V), not the usual 3.6V (4.2V to 3.0V) rating for lithium cells, despite being the same cell.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] criz.89:
Thank you for information. We produce liion batteries for more then 1000 different products and we have more then 400 different cells from all big cell manufacturers.

What is the reason for different cellvoltages? The cell chemistry. And yes there are some special batteries with other voltages like Lithium iron Phosphate cells. But 90% of all liIon batterys has a nominal voltage 3.6v ; min voltage depents bewtween 2.5 and 3.0 V and max. voltage between 4-4.2v.

If you do a deep discharge <2.5v for 1 time nothing happens, if you do this a few times, in the cell grown some dentrites which damage the seperator and then you get a thermal ruanaway.

So please remember i work since 4 years in this company and devlop batteries for big medical customers like Philips, Braun, and so on.

In not sure where you get these information but we have all of the cell specifications from the manufacturers....and we have also Laboratory which do nothing as lifecycle test.

But you can have your own opinion :)

cheers
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
That's what I said. The rating of 3.8V has nothing to do with the cell itself, but rather the usable range for the device it's plugged into. Alkaline cells are 1.5V, NiMH are 1.2, lithium are 3.6.. These voltages are based on the components (anode, cathode, electrolyte) of the cell itself. Lithium batteries can be damaged by discharging too low, as you yourself just said.

The point I am trying to make is that when you say don't frequently discharge below 20%. Are you referring to 20% of the total voltage range of the lithium cell (approximately 3.3V), or simply 20% of the "gas gauge (approximately 3.65V)? If you mean 20% of the usable voltage, our phones turn off well above that threshold of a lithium cell (as I've stated, my testing indicates the vast majority of phones turn off around 3.5V, I've seen some reach 3.4V).
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] robbyx:
Hello,

I have Innos D6000, it's a phone with two batteries. It has a built-in one (2480mAh) and an removable one (3520mAh ). First the removable battery goes to 2%, then the internal battery starts to be used. That means the second battery stays one or two days over 97% until starts to be used, and the first battery stays another one or two days at 2%, until the second battery it's discharged. At 3% GSam Battery Monitor reports that the first battery still has around 4V.

Later edit: Now, after ROM update, the removable battery goes to 85%, then the internal battery starts to be used until 85% too. After this, the removable battery goes to 2%, then the internal battery starts to be used until complete discharge.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] criz.89:
Hi all, how can i minimize battery drain from Google play service? Thats realy irritating...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BatDroid:
damn!

U saved my day..
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] matrixex:
Hi

There is one more thing

The big concept of physics

Suppose I am charging a battery and the same time I am drawing current from it , so what do you think will happen , the temperature of battery will rise because of the disturbance in potential(ENERGY) IT INCREASES GRADUALLY AND DECREASES and like you know there is resistance which will led to heating effect, so I am just giving a tip PLEASE WHILE CHARGING YOUR MOBILE , DON'T USE IT , IT WILL LEAD TO OVERHEATING WHICH WILL DEGRADE BATTERY LIFE AND MAY CAUSE MOBILE TO BECOME A HAND GRENADE(SPECIAL CASES THOUGH NOT POSSIBLR IN ANDROID YET BUT WHO KNOWS)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] harshal2234:
Is there any other app to undervolt
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
depending on what it does: if it kills apps when screen turns off, then yes, it's a task killer... but if it helps the phone go to deep sleep in some way, then it's fine to keep :)

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] pham818:
what i mean by sleeping is by pressing the power button to make the phone go to sleep and then putting it in my pocket.

should i clear the apps when i do that?

i don't mean like 8 hours straight of sleeping, i mean for the next time i use it. (whether it be 5 mins or 20mins from now)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
oops, sorry then...

if that's the case then you're right, don't clear apps, keep them open.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] usf1996:
Great post man, and since battery life is a huge deal for android devices this post and the website will be a great way to guide all types of users from noobs to advanced users. I already use most of the methods listed in your mega-guide and can agree a 100% that they work beautifully.

Keep up the good work, can't wait for the 3000th post.

Take care.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BleuZ:
Not on my Samsung GALAXY Note II it's not ;) but yeah, on most phones it is.

On a good day, I might even get 8h of screen on-time.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
dem battery life :P

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BleuZ:
Yeah, I'm really amazed by how they got it to be this good.

With my old Samsung GALAXY Note (the very first one), I considered myself lucky if I got 2h of screen on-time, whereas I really didn't think that 2500 mAh battery/dual-core CPU/5.3-inch display (original Note) vs 3100 mAh battery/quad-core CPU/5.5-inch display (Note II) would make that much of a difference.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
my friend still uses the note, and he has terrible battery life... good guy samsung, focusing on battery too... i'm impressed though seeing how much this has been improved.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] RohanM:
Instead of doing all these things better not to use ur so called Smart Phone... what's the use if u turn off most things that actually makes ur phone a Smart Phone !!!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
you just said the exact opposite of this thread's point: it's preserving battery juice while keeping most parts of the smartphone on.

you don't have to apply ALL of them, but you can apply most and still get a smartphone.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] RohanM:
hmmm, I use a custom kernel [hells core] on my N4 with greenify.. getting 5 hours of SOT.. Location always off because I really don't use it that much... :cowboy:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BleuZ:
Yeah, battery life on the original Note is just awful (with 4.1.2, anyways, I didn't use 2.3.6 or 4.0 that long). I'm glad they were able to resolve it with the Note II and 3 (although the S4 has pretty mediocre battery life as well).
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
trickle charge vs fast charge is a long proven issue... for all battery types, lead acid, nicad, lion, lipo, etc....

trickle charge is best for the battery (extends charge cycles, less heat generation, battery lasts longer on the charge)

fast charge for a "quick top up" only, need the power now and don't have time to wait...

(examples, duracell and energizer 15 minute chargers + batteries... even recommend using a standard 8hr charger in the documention and only using the 15 minute rapid charger in emergencies.. 8 hr charge gets me 400 pictures using my canon superzoom, 15 minute quick charge gets me 250ish... same camera, same batteries, same settings, only difference is chargers... even though the battery indicator on the camera reads full on loading)

So, as the OP say, always use the slowest charger that you have time to wait for...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Se7enair:
Stability Test says i need a governor with ondemand or userspace for the scaling test. But my kernel doesnt support these governors. I got only interactive and performance. I use franco r32 on a Nexus 5.

Is there any other way to test my undervolt/clock settings?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
i personally say that undervolting is just not worth it, it gives you an extra 2% a day tops, which can be achieved (and more) by only lowering the brightness of the screen. and the stability risks are just not worth it.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Se7enair:
In the first post you said "Undervolting twice is better." Why have you changed your opinion?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jfriend33:
So should I use a 400mah charger on my droid maxx instead of 2.1A?

I only charge to 100 and discharge completely once a month. Also charge from 40 to 90 every other day.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
I've put it there because it gives you an improvement, no matter how small it is.

if you really want to UV and test, i suggest flashing another kernel which supports ondemand governor...

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Se7enair:
I already did everything so save battery.

Now i want to test undervolting and underclocking. Even if its brings only 2%, its more like playing. Another kernel i do not want to flash. But thanks anyway for the quick response.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
overnight, sure, and use the 2.1 to top up during the day if you need it...

battery might last longer as well, beyond just the charge lasting longer as well.. :P

Wish I could get two days out of my phone... (Nexus 5)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jfriend33:
Thank you. I'm going to experiment with that.

I know I won't have this phone longer than a year or two but yeah. When replacing a battery isn't as simple as popping one out you gotta be careful.

I really like better battery stats. I can immediately identify problematic apps. Lately Google keep has been causing me issues.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
just realize that using a .4Ah charger will take a LOT longer to charge to the same level that the 2.1Ah charger will...

That's probably the biggest reason why faster chargers are becoming the norm... so that phones charge to full in a couple hours rather than needing 8 hours or longer....
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jfriend33:
Wouldn't the slower charger be better anyway because the battery's temperature wouldn't increase as much
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
that is one of the benefits to slow charging... as the OP and I both stated earlier...

the trade off is time... what may take 1hr with a 2.1Ah charger may take 4 or 5 hrs with a 400mAh charger....

guessing since I haven't actually measured it... the time difference may not be as much since there is much less energy lost as heat...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] YoHoJo:
If I turn off auto-sync, will my apps still sync when I open then (just not automatically every X minutes?)

If I don't auto sync, let's say my gmail, then will I still get gmail notifications as soon as I get an email, or no?

Also about the chargers, I hear arguments and mixed opinions everywhere!

Is it REALLY true that if you charge with a higher voltage charger, that it will reduce battery life, is it even significant/enough to worry about though?

Edit: ^ Read a few posts back, got more info, thanks.

LOVE your site and tips! Keep them coming! I'll even submit a few of my own later!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jelucas30:
You said that you don't use battery saving apps. Is there a problem using them? I've been using Green Power battery saver and wonder if it's really saving me anything half of the time. Plus, doesn't toggling data and wifi on and off use up battery to.?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
most battery saver apps work by killing tasks... which means the device has to work harder when you launch it by pulling the app from storage and putting it into ram rather than just loading the ram pages. it may not seem like much, but it does add up.

also, toggling radios on and off depends entirely on how often you're turning them on and off. wifi is a nasty drain when you're not actively connected to a network, because it's constantly looking for a network it knows to join... (most of the devices I've looked at, the default scan is 15 seconds... so every 15 seconds the device looks for a network to join) so, if you have wifi at home, but never use it outside of the house. then turn it off when you leave... turn it back on when you get home... if you're gone for even one hour, then that's 240 wifi scans you've avoided...

as long as you're currently connected to a wifi network, the device doesn't scan for a new one...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dr.wtf:
i've got a big big problem with that one.

some apps don't actually go to sleep when you go to home screen but suck on battery due to bad programming. so you might want to kick an app out of the ram. that way it might get set back into some kind of "default state" where it doesn't run in the background (i mean wake locking all over the place).

also android ram management is weird. it's bad on older android devices so that 2.6 and some 3.0 kernels do lag if the ram gets full despite androids intelligent lmk. ram management is far from perfect.

if you close the app android might not restart it again if there is an app which is more prioritized and the ram is already too full. so if you want an app not to run in background you increase the chances if you kick it out of the ram.

greenify was mentioned already so thats really a thing to consider

also you could write a scripts to deactivate google services when not needed. they always cause wakelocks even if you have all the sync stuff turned off.

i've never seen a kernel without ondemand. it's the stock governor in almost all stock kernels
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
franco's kernel runs a heavily tuned interactive...

and that's what greenify is for, to tame the apps that behave badly wrt battery life.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dr.wtf:
its not a stock kernel and i'm sure you can change the governor or is it the only governor thats in the kernel?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tzfardaya:
interactive and performance are the only two franco includes, why would he need more, we have the franco kernel updater app to tune it to our needs/likes....

although iirc the stability test app that was mentioned earlier does allow you to use performance, which locks the cpu freq to that specified...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ykumar00:
You forgot Greenify!! O_o
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gadgetsnpepsi:
I agree. I can testify to Greenify's incredible ability to save battery.

I've also gotten into the habit of setting the phone into Flight Mode every night before I go to sleep. I turn it back on when I leave the house for work. It helps, in my case, since the signal is almost non-existent inside the house and enabling Flight Mode saves the phone from trying too hard to get a signal when there aren't any and I don't really need it. I suppose for some this is a complete no-no.

For Sony Xperia owners, we also have Stamina Mode, and that one helps A LOT too. (thank you Sony)

Great guide, btw.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Enddo:
I would like to add that if your device uses an LCD screen instead of an AMOLED, then I suggest using 'light' based themes. I know that light/dark doesn't matter for power usage of the screen, but if you use a 'light' based theme then you can lower the minimum brightness even further and still see the screen and it's contents well. since we all know brightness is the real battery saver, this helps out a lot.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ram911:
I noticed turning off Google location Services seems to disable the ability to locate the device using Android Device Manager. Does anyone have any further information concerning this?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
these are exceptions, but i think we can agree that most of the time the apps won't interfere when they're in the background.

i usually kill big games too like asphalt 8 because it interferes with the sound of the system sometimes.... but that's not battery related so...

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
check out OP: NO task manager/hibernators.

greenify os a hibernator, and i'm against it because i see many many people greenify apps that they use a lot... greenify is made to hibernate the apps that you barely use.

good point! thanks! I'll add that as soon as i get to a PC

well yes, because google location services is off, ADM won't work anymore... if you need ADM then turn google location services back on :)

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ykumar00:
Normal task killers etc use more ram/battery than they save, but greenery actually works, that's why I mentioned it. Btw, you can use Tasker/Llama to automate actions, eg automatically turn in flight mode at night, or turn on/off wifi based on cell location, which uses very less battery, so you can do this instead of having wifi always on/ always toggling.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] samerc:
Great post. Thanks :)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
samerc? ex-AUST student? plays ingress?

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tarroyo:
Does picking the right charger have any real effect on battery life? I'm thinking about switching chargers if it can be charged faster when needed.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
slow chargers are great for battery life, it helps making the battery hold the charge for a longer time.

Fast chargers are good to get an instant jump, if you don't want to wait.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] peter-k:
If I keep a rarely used app in memory, it might compete with another app that I use more often, and more memory management activity is needed. You did explain that Android learns that. Ok. But that is also management activity. I close the app (back) if I know it's an app I rarely use. Those which I use more frequently are kept in memory. Actually I don't really do that, but what I did is setting all apps rarely used to shut down completely and remove themselves from memory (with the help of Android Tuner).

I am aware I am talking here abt the more esoteric issues on this world.

Thank You so much for the great guide. There were a few points I did not know, Screen animation for example.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Recognized Noob:
Good guide. Helped more or less.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rirozizo:
5 new posts in the Easy section, check them at the end of OP

Thank you all who gave me ideas on how to achieve better battery life.