iPhone battery life: RIM, Palm, Microsoft would love to be so lucky
The one problem users say that vexes them most is not interface stupidity, crashing, incompatibilities, lack of software, crap build quality or any of the things that commonly get said about other smartphones; it’s battery life. That is, users can’t put the darned things down long enough to charge them.
Strategy Analytics (via MacNN) surveyed iPhone users and then saw fit to spawn a link bait headline, Apple iPhone Owners Most Dissatisfied with Battery Life. Of course, the most obvious way to read into that is iPhone owners are more dissatisfied with battery life than owners of other devices and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“IPhone owners use more features on a regular basis than non-iPhone owners, with two-thirds browsing the Web and sending personal emails daily — features which will considerably drain battery life,” according to Paul Brown, Senior User Experience Analyst, Strategy Analytics.
Their survey also found that iPhone users are typically aged 25 to 44 years old, have a household income of more than $50,000 and — this tidbit is new — 80 percent also own an iPod. Also from the stuff we already knew department comes the again confirmed facts that two-thirds of iPhone owners browse the Web and send email on their handheld wonders on a daily basis, which is orders of magnitude higher than any other mobile platform.
Oh, to be so lucky…
Honestly, at this point in time and technology is it possible to make a device with compelling games, apps, web browsing, email, GPS and phone functionality with enough to battery to do it all right now and all day long? Apple’s competitors honestly and truly wish their biggest problem was finding a way to get users to put their handhelds down long enough to let them charge properly.
Thereupon, maybe what we really need is a better way to charge the iPhone while it’s being used? Is there dock/charger for the automobile that’s just head and shoulders above the crowd?
Inquiring minds want to know…
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September 2nd, 2009
I just use the Belkin car charger. Works great.
However, what never gets talked about much is how fast the iPhone recharges when you plug it into the wall. Way faster than any phone I ever owned.
September 2nd, 2009
There are a lot of options to extend the iPhone battery life:
1. IPHONE CASE WITH BUILT-IN EXTERNAL BATTERY. This allows the user to double battery life (as well as experience how heavy the iPhone would be if the battery life was doubled).
2. EXTERNAL IPHONE BATTERY. This can be plugged in at any time to extend the battery life. It is better than having to remove and replace the internal battery all the time on other phones. One can have several of these external batteries to extend the battery life even more. Or one can get an external laptop battery and attach the iPhone to it to get several days worth of battery life (at the cost of having to lug around a 2 pound battery
).
3. RECHARGE WHENEVER ONE CAN TO TOP OFF THE BATTERY CHARGE. Keep a car charger in the car, keep a charger at home or plug it into the USB port of your computer, etc. I keep mine charged this way and it is no biggie.
Realize that there is no other phone with a longer battery life as the iPhone. The problem is that iPhone users ACTUALLY USE THERE PHONES FOR APPS AND WEB SURFING more than other smartphone users. iPhone users are actually pretty spoiled by these unique iPhone capabilities. But they do understandably drain battery life more than most other smartphone activities. But what can you say? I’d prefer that to having any other alternative phone.
September 2nd, 2009
Actually, I use the Mophie Juice Pack Air case with my 3G. It contains and integrated battery AND is a case that goes completely around the iPhone (unlike Mophie’s earlier offerings). It gives me a full day of heavy 3G use before I have to recharge at the end of the day.
September 2nd, 2009
I also use a 3rd party battery/case. It is 2400mAH and gives me almost 9 hours of non stop use for Geocaching, which you know uses GPS, 3G, Display, camera and Phone. (to call for reservations at a bar ) That is just the external battery, after that has drained, i still have 100% on my iPHone 3gs. dealextreme.com sells it.
April 1st, 2010
Excellent ideas here, have emailed my mum so expect a big reply!!