android battery – PSafe Blog

Sat, 03 Jun 2017 16:00:16 +0000

Ever notice that your phone battery gets depleted faster and faster over time to the point where it’s essentially useless? There are of course ways to prolong the shelf life of your phone battery, like with PSafe’s PowerPRO app, which identifies and removes tasks that consume too much battery with just one touch. Click here to open PowerPro:

According to Recon Analytics, the average lifespan of a smartphone is about 21 months. Gauging the battery life of each phone is tremendously difficult, as companies can very easily manipulate in-house battery testing to produce better results. According to each manufacturer’s website, however, of the phones with Android software, Lenovo smartphones are leading the charge with 78 hours of average talk time, followed by Sonim with 40 hours of talk time, then Google with 29 hours.

So what causes this battery deterioration process? Part of it is just wear and tear. Obviously, something like a broken circuit board makes operating an Android nearly impossible. But then there are less obvious methods of battery draining, like having apps running in the background that consume a lot of energy, even if you aren’t using them. The same goes for widgets and other functions that require GPS, as they take up a deceptively large amount of battery life. Continuing to charge a phone while it’s at 100% can also degrade long-term battery life.

So how can one prolong the shelf life of their phone? Keeping your phone updated with the latest software ensures your phone will run efficiently. If updates are important to you, then Google-made phones are your best bet, as they come with an assured period of 18 months of updates upon purchase. Another way to prolong the shelf life of your phone is keeping it clean. Believe it or not, dust and dirt can make its way inside your phone and impact how well the battery functions.

One of the most proactive ways you could help your battery is by installing the PowerPro app, which identifies apps and tasks with excessive energy consumption and suggests solutions to make your battery last longer. There are also smaller things you can do, like dim your phone screen or choose a stationary phone wallpaper without the bells and whistles that some phones offer. But snuffing out energy suckers on your phone through the PowerPro app is a surefire way to prolong your Android battery life.

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Thu, 11 May 2017 18:00:05 +0000

Limited battery life and a fast-draining battery are a few of the biggest issues with Android smartphones. But even more frustrating is when you don’t know why your battery drains so quickly. To identify the biggest battery sucks running on your phone, activate PSafe’s PowerPRO. PowerPRO lets you know which apps or features on your phone are taking up too much energy. Click on PowerPRO to be proactive about making your battery last longer:

But as you’re running PowerPRO, you might be surprised about some of the biggest energy sucks on your phone — and the reasons your battery life is getting shorter and shorter. Here are a few reasons your battery life is getting more and more limited.

A Limited Signal is Sucking Your Battery

If you’re ever in a place with a limited signal, your phone will continue to search for a signal until it finds one — even if it never does. This drains your battery life significantly, so, if this happens to you, turn your phone to airplane mode. Additionally, if you’re ever without your phone charger, turn your phone to airplane mode overnight to stop connections from draining your battery.

Location Tracking is Draining Your Phone

GPS really drains your battery — notice how Google Maps has ways to keep your phone powered when you’ve used it for a while? To turn off your GPS when not in use, navigate to “Settings” and then “Location Mode.” Select the “Battery saving” box there to turn off your GPS when it’s not being used.

You Aren’t Treating Your Phone Right

Many people always keep their phone 100% charged, but many experts suggest this isn’t the ideal charge for a long battery life. Instead, keep your phone charged from between 40 to 80%, using PowerPRO to limit your battery charge. Additionally, you sometimes want to let your phone’s battery die every three months or so to re-calibrate it. Finally, never let your phone overheat — a hot phone degrades your battery much more quickly.

These are common reasons that your phone’s battery life might be winding down. However, these may not be your phone’s issue. Instead, check PowerPRO to figure out the issues that are specifically affecting your device.

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Mon, 23 Jan 2017 17:00:17 +0000

Overcharging can cause serious damage to your phone, but with DFNDR’s Total Charge feature, you can protect and strengthen your battery. Here’s why: most of us leave our phones plugged in all night while we’re sleeping, which actually harms your battery. Total Charge, however, monitors your battery directly from your lock screen to prevent overcharging.

Total Charge is designed to alert you of when to unplug from your power source and how much time it will take to get there. This way, your battery won’t be damaged by overcharging and will actually last longer when you need it most. DFNDR users can activate this new feature from the app’s settings menu or simply by clicking here:

Keep your phone running at its best with Total Charge by DFNDR. Now that Total Charge is available for your Android, you’ll never worry about your phone’s battery again! Rest easy in the hands of DFNDR.

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Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:48:54 +0000

Last month, Samsung ordered an immediate recall of its Galaxy Note 7, S7, and S7 Edge lines of smartphones after a number of customers reported the phones overheating and catching fire while in use. These instances of exploding phones were due to faulty lithium ion batteries, and the incidents have not gone unnoticed. Airlines now warn passengers against taking these Samsung phones on planes, and the US federal government issued an official statement against buying the phones. Samsung’s problems aren’t unique to the company, however. They’re due to the nature of the lithium ion batteries that power practically all the world’s smartphones.

Lithium has a long history of causing the devices it powers to overheat. In fact, the same process that gives your cellphone its charge is the process that causes Samsung Galaxy Note 7s and “hoverboards” to catch on fire. The reason this happens is that lithium ion batteries contain a high amount of energy in a relatively small space. Lithium ion batteries have an energy density of 160 watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), which they produce with a positively charged cathode (made from a metal oxide), a negatively charged graphite anode, and a liquid electrolyte (which contains lithium salts) that enables the electrical flow between the nodes. If these nodes are closer than 10 microns in distance away from each other, things get heated, so a permeable polyethylene separator is used to keep the battery from overheating. Of course, when a battery is made more compact, there is far less margin for error.

If the anode and cathode aren’t sufficiently far enough from each other, it short circuits and triggers a process known as thermal runaway — chemicals inside the battery begin heating up and the separator becomes compromised by the heat. By the time temperatures inside the battery reach about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the electrolyte can ignite or, if exposed to oxygen in the air, literally explode.

Still, this doesn’t mean your phone is a ticking thermal bomb that should be disposed of immediately (unless it’s one of the Samsung models mentioned above). Despite these high profile instances of malfunction, lithium ion batteries are generally safe. Considering there are billions of laptops, cellphones, and computers powered with these batteries, incidents involving defective lithium ion batteries are relatively rare. Still, as our devices become more compact, so too do our batteries, which only compounds the issues of developing safer, less volatile systems for storing power. For now though, just be mindful when using your fire emoji when your phone’s charging.

For more battery solutions, check out PSafe’s PowerPRO battery-saving app — it reduces battery consumption, which means less risk of overheating your battery.

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Thu, 27 Oct 2016 11:52:18 +0000

Imagine: it’s Friday evening. You just got back from work and one of your friends texts you to join them on a night on the town in an hour. It’s exactly what you need after a busy day, and after about twenty minutes, you’re dressed, fresh, and ready to go. There’s just one problem: your phone is at 20% battery — there’s no way that’ll last the evening.

Millions of Americans experience this feeling of helplessness daily, realizing that they cannot continue through their day without their essential pocket-sized computer juiced and ready. While some may argue that we’re too dependent on our devices, that’s precisely why having a fully-charged phone is such a big deal — whether it’s for something minor like having music to listen to at the gym, or for more important things like calling your parents or your spouse, there are few times during your day when you don’t rely on your mobile device.

This is where mobile chargers come in handy. Having a fun-sized AC outlet in your purse or pocket means you can go longer without having to stay stationary and bound to a USB cord. Of course, most people don’t want to be bound by a USB plug at all, even when moving. Mobile chargers can get tangled by moving arms, get caught on objects and passersby, and aren’t exactly the most fashionable accessory to have on your person. If this is something that matters to you, we recommend a mobile charger that requires the least time possible to get you off the cord and on to whatever your day has in store.

Regardless of whether you’re Team Apple or Team Android, some chargers work great for both. The Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 is one such charger, which sports a 10,000 mAh battery and USB ports for two. The drawback? It can only charge one smartphone quickly at a time. Still, what makes this device worthwhile is it’s price tag — at only $30, it’s an effective, ergonomic solution for the amount of power it packs. If that’s not enough juice for you, there’s the iBattz Mojo Battstation Optimus Charger. This behemoth of a battery holds 20,400mAh of charge and can power two phones at once. Though it carries an $80 price tag and requires up to 16 hours to fully charge, there’s no battery on the market at that price point that lasts longer or charges smartphones faster.

The Fastest Android Chargers
For those of you relying solely on Google’s OS, there are quite a few charger models that are ideal if you’re under time constraints. The Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 can charge some devices up to 80% in approximately 35 minutes, but phones with a 9V/2A charger will experience the best results from this brand and model. Still, the Quick Charge is quite efficient with its charge consumption, and is all but guaranteed to remain cool while your phone is connected. Additionally, for those of you who are mindful of the environment, there’s the EasyAcc Solar Power Bank. While this is most effective for daytime use, the Solar Power Bank can charge two Androids at once, and can charge up to 350mA on sunny days. Though it’s (relatively) slower than the other models mentioned, it’s a device you don’t want to sleep on.

Though a good power pack goes a long way, so too does a great battery-conserving app. Fortunately, PSafe has an app that does exactly that; give the PowerPRO app a try, and never worry about a low-battery night out again.

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Mon, 24 Oct 2016 21:03:06 +0000

No matter who you are or what you do, you need an Android battery you can count on. Some days it seems like it drains so fast. Are you breaking the following battery don’ts? Here are 5 ways you could be reducing your battery’s lifespan.

Range of Temperatures
If you throw your smartphone on the passenger seat while using Bluetooth and a streaming music service, is your phone stuck in the sun the whole time? If so, you may cause your phone to overheat, not only shutting down your phone (and your direction app), but potentially damaging your phone’s battery in the process. A cold environment won’t help your battery last either. Your phone’s charge will decrease while you are in the cold. Yes, it is temporary, but frequent cold won’t do it any favors.

Bad or Poor Signals
When you are in an area with a spotty signal, your phone is probably working really hard to find you a better connection. Switch to airplane mode to prevent a drain on your battery. Just remember to turn it on again when you get back to civilization.

Notifications Galore
Do you allow every app you’ve ever downloaded to send you notifications? If so, you may want to rethink that decision. Every time an app has something to tell you, there’s a good chance you will want to check it out. Doing so won’t do your Android’s battery any favors. Sort through your list of app notifications and only allow the apps you actually need.

Android Battery Drain
Now that you know what not to do, you can keep your phone better charged and ready for anything. Just make sure to install PowerPRO by PSafe so you know where you stand when it comes to your cell’s battery life.

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Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:18:09 +0000

If you’re a habitual user of your cell phone, you may have to charge your phone multiple times a day. Having a dead cell phone in an unknown area can lead to dangerous situations. Luckily, there are battery packs that can keep your phone juiced up while you’re on the go. Here are a few that you should consider:

Flux Portable Charger
At only $30, this portable charger is extremely pocket friendly. It’s only 7.8mm thick, with 108 x 62.8mm dimensions. It only takes about 3 to 4 hours to fully charge this device. Additionally, the device contains enough power to recharge your phone once, and maybe even twice if you’re efficient. There is a button on the side that you can push to see the battery power of the portable charger. However, one of the glaring cons is that this device takes over 2 hours to completely charge the battery of the Samsung Galaxy S7.

RAVPower Portable External Battery Charger
While this charger contains more USBs than the Flux Charger, it is much bulkier. While it is certainly possible to take on the go, it could burden your pocket. Despite its bulky size, it offers a very efficient charge. This charger also contains three output ports, so you can charge multiple devices at the same time. Your laptop and tablet can also be charged by the powerful charger. At $60, it isn’t as economical as the Flux.

ZeroLemon ToughJuice Rugged Portable Charger
If you’re going on a hike in the middle of nowhere and you need a powerful device to charge all of your electronic devices, then look no further. With a 30,000 mAh capacity, this charger can keep your devices going for days. The Galaxy S6 can be charged up to seven times on this device. Although the ZeroLemon weighs 14.1oz, you can’t expect a device of such high power to be light. It can also take up to 24 hours to fully charge this product. At $75, this device should only be sought by those who absolutely need their electronics on the road when they’re off the grid.

Braven BRV-BANK Rugged Portable Battery
If you need a portable battery that can survive being mauled by a bear in the wilderness, then this charger is right up your alley. It is water resistant and successfully met the military drop test. This means it can withstand hard falls with ease. It costs $100, but it’s well worth the price considering its durability and 6,000 mAh battery.

To ensure that your phone runs for as long as possible before you break out your portable chargers, download PSafe’s PowerPro.

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Tue, 06 Sep 2016 20:36:00 +0000

It’s your worst nightmare, you have two hours left on your morning commute and your phone died. You’re stuck on a train or bus with no music, no apps, no message, and no phone calls. We’ve found the best android phone batteries to make sure this scenario never becomes a reality.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

The S7 Edge battery is an easy sell. The battery is fully charged in one and a half hours. That’s as three episodes on Netflix fast. Don’t have time for a binge? By charging your phone for just ten minutes, you can get four hours of cell phone use. If you use your phone at a normal usage during the day you should still have 25 to 35 percent battery life at the end of the day. It’s known for it’s exceptional battery saving during standby time so you rightfully don’t get penalized for not using your phone.

Xiaomi Mi 5

This battery is a bargain for your buck, and it’s clear why this phone is dominating the Chinese markets. This battery will last you all day, and has been able to last for 8 hours and 55 minutes straight. The phone will charge super fast for those times you only have fifteen minutes before making the next train.

OnePlus One

Are you one of those people who are addicted to your phone? Never fear, the OnePlus One is the phone for you. This amazing battery will last you thirteen hours of heavy use, constant internet, phone call and video viewing. For those of us who sadly have to be away from our android during parts of the day, this phone battery will easily last you a day and a half.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Some may say that the best parts of the Note 5 are the amazing camera, huge screen, and stylus features. But their missing one. The battery life. Again, those heavy phone users will have no fear. At the end of busy cell phone day, you’ll still have around thirty percent of your battery life left.

With these phones you’ll never have to worry about a dead battery again. Want even more battery life? Download PowerPro by PSafe to add on to the amazing battery saving powers of the normal Android Phones.

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