How to save battery on Android phones – Xiaomi, Samsung, OPPO

Google’s operating system brings with it different tools that allow users to save battery life on our mobile devices. In addition, it is one of the most important points for most people, therefore, we show you what all its options and functions are that we find within an Android 10, Android 11 or 12 phone, for example.

Depending on the options that we configure, we can make the difference between reaching the end of the day or having to resort to the charger. Therefore, we will explain all the methods that will allow us to extend the battery on Android mobiles , in addition to the steps that you must follow to configure it. In stock Android the steps will be the same, although in other customization layers they could vary in place, position and style.

How to save battery on Android phones

 

Why should you save battery and what consumes more?

Saving energy on Android phones will always reduce certain features of our mobiles. Therefore, once we activate the classic saving mode, we will have to give up a series of features or functionalities of smartphones while this tool is enabled.

Batería móvil Android

However, each brand of terminal applies it in a different way, but the operation of this mode is usually similar in all of them. In general, in all cases, the performance of the phone is limited, restricting the operation of applications, reducing the brightness of the screen, eliminating different notifications… Although we also find that the synchronization of the apps stops.

And not only this, the applications in the background will close automatically once we activate this energy saving mode in Android 11. Even the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS of our phone can be disconnected. In addition, the power that the smartphone processor will offer us will be less, since it is reduced so that it does not consume as much energy when using the mobile device.

There are certain elements that consume more energy than others, and it is convenient to know this in order to improve the performance of the battery, avoiding unnecessary use of them. In this case, it will not only depend on the apps and hardware of the phone , although it is clear that it will influence, but the use that we give to the mobile will be essential. Using it intensively throughout the day will not be the same as using it for just a few minutes throughout the day. It is something obvious, however, some of its elements or applications may consume more than necessary without us realizing it.

Many times, the autonomy of the smartphone will be affected if we are not careful, especially with the apps that we install on the smartphone or the phone’s own settings for components such as the screen, since this is one of the main culprits that causes a higher power consumption. It is clear that it is the main tool of any terminal, without it it would be impossible to use it. However, if we don’t configure it properly, it will be our downfall.

Although it is not the only element with which we must be careful. For this reason, we will tell you how to see what consumes the most battery on any Android mobile . In this way, you can take action on the matter and act to turn off the tap so that your phone stops spending so much energy, or at least increases its autonomy somewhat for our day-to-day lives.

To find out which component or software is to blame for ‘drinking’ our phone’s energy is easy, we just have to go into the smartphone’s own settings to find out on our own:

  1. Go into settings.
  2. Click on the Battery section.
  3. Tap the Usage Details button.

Within this section we will see the use that has been made of the smartphone, that is, the expense by the apps. Instead, if we tap on the three vertical dots that appear in the upper right corner and click on Show full device usage, we will see the components that have consumed the most battery . In our case, and as you can see in the following image, the culprits have been the screen, the mobile network, voice calls, inactive phone and Wi-Fi.

uso de la batería

 

The screen

It does not matter what you do, because the panel is what consumes the most energy and, therefore, the one that will take most of the milliamps from our mobile. The explanation is simple, whatever we do we will always need the screen. However, there are some exceptions, such as listening to music with the display off, however, its consumption will not reach the levels of this element.

In these cases, it will be better to use the brightness in manual mode and to the minimum whenever you can. Try features like Always On Display and play around with power saving modes. Try to watch lower resolution content on platforms like YouTube.

 

Mobile networks and connections

Being connected 24 hours a day is what you have: mobile networks and their different antennas work tirelessly so that we have Wi-Fi, data, coverage… This means that together with the screen, they are one of the elements that requires the most energy, because it is also constant. Unlike the panel, which stops consuming battery when it is turned off, the operational networks.

The best way to avoid this is to disable all wireless networks, connections, and features when you don’t need them (NFC, Bluetooth). If you’re going to watch offline content and don’t want interruptions, put Airplane Mode to disable networks and save battery life.

 

Games and other apps

Games or other applications are an excellent combination for all elements to work at the same time . The screen, the processor and the GPU, the speakers, as well as the network connection, in case of playing online, will start consuming energy as if there were no tomorrow.

In the case of games, try to do it in lower resolutions and lower the brightness of the display without harming the experience, we can use the same in other apps. If it is an online game, it is preferable to play under a Wi-Fi network, or in 4G if it is not necessary to connect to 5G. The same thing happens if we are using Skype or other apps that consume the Internet.

 

video playback

Something very similar happens to games and other applications. If we are watching video on a streaming platform, we will make the networks consume a lot of energy, in addition to the considerable use of the screen. The optimization here also depends on the video apps, since their consumption can vary a lot from one to another.

It is best to download the contents whenever possible to consume them offline and try to use lower resolutions and brightness.

 

idle phone

Oddly enough, the concept of ‘idle phone’ appears as one of the elements that consume the most battery in many devices. This means that many processes continue to consume energy, although we believe that, with the panel off, consumption is minimal.

The ultimate solution for idle mobile to kill all background processes before turning off the screen. We can also deactivate the connections that we don’t need and activate the Do Not Disturb mode at night, which is when the terminal is idle for the longest time. It is also convenient to check the permissions of the applications to start them at startup or run in the background, as well as check the installed apps for possible malicious software.

 

Tricks to increase autonomy

Not only will we have the classic Android energy saving mode within our reach, but we can also gain more autonomy if we take into account a series of aspects. Although, for this, we will be the ones who will take action with the aim of making the mobile battery last as long as possible with just one charge.

 

Activate saving mode

A classic in the Android scene is energy saving, an option that allows us to control the consumption of our mobile phone, in addition to limiting its processes as we have mentioned before. This is done automatically and we only have to activate it for it to start working, it can even be programmed so that it is enabled at some point according to our routine or according to the percentage of energy. In the section where we will find it, we will also see information about the approximate duration, as well as the use of the screen since the last load.

ahorro bateria Android 11

To activate it on any Android mobile, we will have to do it by going to Settings> Battery and choosing the Battery saving option where a new tab will be displayed with the possibility of activating it now or defining a schedule. To program this battery saving mode, it will give us two options:

  • Battery saver according to routine : Based on artificial intelligence and knowledge of our daily consumption, Android can automatically activate the saver to prevent the phone from turning off before charging it.
  • According to the percentage: we can establish a percentage so that at that point the saving is automatically activated.

With these changes, the dark mode is established, but we will also be able to configure the complete dark mode, always depending on the version of Android that we have on our phone.

However, before activating the saving mode or programming it, the Google operating system gives us a series of tips to save battery , such as using the dark mode or deactivating the ‘Ok Google’ function.

This occurs automatically when activating the mobile battery saver. In addition, we will be able to do it in a faster and easier way from the direct accesses by simply sliding our finger from the upper bar. Even within this section, we find an automatic analysis that will tell us if there is any application making an unusual consumption, that is, more excessive than the rest of the apps.

bateria android 11

In our case we get the message that you touch the applications work correctly. In case any appears, we can solve it with the following option to limit the energy consumption with your settings.

 

smart battery

One of the novelties in energy saving that we saw debut in Android 10, and which has continued to be present in the following versions of the Google operating system, is found in Settings> Battery. Once there, we just have to look at the option called we will find the smart battery button.

The compromise of this function is based on making it last longer by limiting background processes that we do not need continuously. However, depending on the customization layer of your terminal manufacturer, this functionality could be called something else, such as Adaptive Battery or something else.

 

Optimize the apps

The different applications of our mobile phones do not get rid of energy savings, and it is that beyond the options that we have known, if we go to the Settings> Applications section and select one of them we can adjust it. By default, Google’s software already takes care of optimizing each of the applications .

optimizar aplicaciones android 11

Even within the battery section, we will find an option called restrict. Basically, what this function does is limit processes prominently, which can prevent us from receiving notifications at the cost of reducing energy consumption on a mobile with the Google operating system. However, it is only recommended in games or applications where notifications are not important, it is an abrupt way to close your processes and force them not to open.

 

Remove features you don’t use

The classic saving mode may not be enough for us to be able to gain more autonomy in our day to day, so we will have to act on our own. For example, if what we are looking for is to consume as little as possible and last as long as possible, we will have to deactivate a series of key functions, such as the case of GPS or the different connections that we are not using at that moment. In this way, consumption will be significantly reduced.

 

auto brightness

One of the points that spend the most energy on Android phones is their touch screen. Not only because it is the main source with which we constantly interact every time we use the smartphone, but also because of the brightness it has. Therefore, it is best to enable automatic brightness on our mobile. To do this, we must go to Settings> Display> Automatic brightness and activate it by clicking on the switch. From now on, the brightness of the panel will adjust automatically according to the environment and the activities that we are carrying out with the terminal.

brillo automatico samsung

 

Goodbye to vibration and sounds

There are many users who think that the sounds of their phones are the ones that consume the most battery. However, they leave vibration aside. Well, the latter could spend even more energy than the sounds of mobile phones. For this reason, if you have a low percentage and you need the phone for any question, we recommend that you deactivate both the sounds and the vibration.

To achieve this, you can opt for Do not disturb mode: Settings> Sound> Advanced> Do not disturb. Although, you also have the option of deactivating all the vibration of the smartphone, as well as its audio, from the Sound section.

 

Enable Dark Mode

Another of the great allies today to be able to gain some extra autonomy on our Android mobile devices will be thanks to the Dark Mode function. More than anything, this is one of those little tricks that many recommend. This is because, by constantly having a black background, both in the apps and in the terminal settings, the smartphone does not spend as much energy as it normally would if we have a white background, which is brighter.

modo oscuro

 

Do not use the Always on Display

This function is not available to everyone, since only those users who have an Android with an AMOLED screen will be able to enjoy this software tool. However, the Always on Display (AOD) can also backfire.

Basically, because the function will consume more energy in the mobile phones of users who typically do not turn on the screen too many times a day for the classic time queries or pending notifications. If that’s the case for you, this feature will take precious milliamps that wouldn’t go away with the screen completely off. So, it will depend on the type of user we are. Also, as an extra recommendation, having an AMOLED screen, it will be better to set a black background at all times to increase the autonomy of the smartphone.

 

Limit notifications and updates

If we are constantly receiving notifications on the terminal, it is likely that we have configured that the touch screen of the mobile device always lights up. If so, it is time to change this setting, because what we are doing is that it consumes more percentage than it would be necessary. For this, we will have two options. The first will be to use Android’s Do Not Disturb Mode again and, secondly, deactivate the option to show them on the lock screen to ensure that the screen does not turn on with each notification.

To deactivate this option, we will have to go to Settings> Display> Lock screen and uncheck Activate screen if there are notifications. Although, this setting will vary depending on the manufacturer’s customization layer.

encender pantalla notificaciones android

Another important point will be not having the automatic updates of the applications activated. In this way, we will ensure that the phone does not consume extra energy to update the terminal software. We will have to enter Google Play> click on our profile> Settings> Network preferences> Update applications automatically> choose the option Do not update applications automatically .

 

screen time

We have already told you that the panel is one of the elements that spends the most on a smartphone, if not the most. Therefore, the longer it is on, the less the autonomy of the smartphone will last. Therefore, it is best to reduce the time that the screen can be on without us using the mobile. To achieve this, we must enter the settings, access the Screen> Advanced> Screen timeout section. There, we must choose a reduced waiting time. Although, if possible, it is always best to turn it off manually to further reduce consumption.

 

Switch off the mobile phone

Although it may seem like one of the most obvious actions, the truth is that not all users take it into account. It is clear that we will not always resort to the classic method of turning off the mobile , but we will only use it at specific times. For example, we are going on a trip and we have to drive, because perhaps that moment will be the ideal time to turn off the phone and turn it on only when we are going to use it. And it will not be the only occasion, since we will come across more. Therefore, it will never hurt to keep this simple action in mind so that you gain autonomy on the phone.

 

Forget the ‘magic’ apps

There is a type of applications, which have been circulating in the Google Play Store for a long time, that promise us a series of things, such as the fact of applying a more effective saving mode than the one that comes by default in Android. Thanks to these promises, there are not a few users who have thought of using this type of app to ensure that their mobile phone can last as long on a single charge as if the smartphone had just been released.

The main problem is that they assure us that we won’t have to do anything, managing to save a large percentage , a factor that is also key for users, since many end up being tempted to install these applications thanks to that advantage.

Ajuste del optimizador de apps en TouchWiz

These apps usually promise less battery consumption , automatic adjustments for better savings, closing applications, etc. But this is not usually the case, since most of the applications dedicated to saving battery on Android have a series of abusive permissions, even being able to install malware if we fall into the trap of installing some type of software that may be suspicious. Although that is not all, since they could also worsen the useful life of this important component of our mobile.

And not only this, because there are also fast charging applications that, supposedly, will make the terminal load faster. These apps take advantage of the fact that people are unaware that the fast charging of our mobile only depends on the technology that it has to charge it. Therefore, we recommend you stay away from these two types of apps, so the farther away, the better for us and our smartphone.

 

Save battery on Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi

Xiaomi has already alleged on occasion that this version of MIUI has optimization problems, which in different models results in greater battery use . These autonomy problems are much more evident in some mobiles than in others, but almost none are spared. Although, with the passing of the following versions of the customization layer, the Chinese brand has been taking different solutions to correct this problem that worries us as users.

Generally, the biggest drawback that we do not find is in the high resource consumption of the operating system. Something that has been tried to solve with different patches, but if you are still suffering from headaches caused by the battery of your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, you better take a look at these tricks to save battery in MIUI .

 

Update MIUI

As we have said, Xiaomi is fully aware of the problems that have been generated in the latest versions of its software in many of its mobiles. For this reason, it has been constantly launching patches to alleviate this headache.

actualizar Xiaomi

It is for this very reason that, most likely, the Chinese manufacturer has already released an official solution before you come across this article, although in any case, you may find an end to your problems here.

Also, if you want to receive the following operating system updates before anyone else, you’d better activate the following option on your Chinese smartphone: go to Mobile Settings > tap on the About phone section > tap on MIUI > click on the three dots top > choose the Update settings option > go down and activate the button Receive updates before .

 

Install the latest ROM

However, if you are tired of waiting, you may find the next update for your smartphone on this Xiaomi official page . When you are inside, you just have to follow these steps:

Descargar versión MIUI página Xiaomi

  1. Choose the model of your Chinese mobile. And look carefully if the version that is available is more recent than the one you have on your smartphone.
  2. Click on the ‘ Download Full Rom ‘ button.
  3. Once the download is complete, you should go to Settings > About phone > MIUI version .
  4. Then, tap on the three vertical dots at the top right and tap on Select update package .
  5. Now you just have to find the file with the new version that you just downloaded on your Chinese phone. Finally, select it so that the mobile starts charging it.

 

Don’t use your Mi account

It might be eye-catching, but many users have realized that MIUI 12 battery drain issue is related to Mi account. So, if you are using your Chinese brand profile on your upgraded phone, stop using it as it is a process running in the background all the time and hogging mobile resources and power.

Although, if you have updated to one of the latest versions of your layer, you will see how this bug is solved. What’s more, you can do the test yourself and check how consumption has reduced, even if you are using your account.

 

MIUI saving mode

Like any smartphone, it is logical that we find Xiaomi’s battery saving mode , since it is included in all mobiles that have the Chinese firm’s operating system, since it is a direct function of Android. However, not only will we run into the classic, which will buy us some time before the phone turns off, but MIUI adds the extreme function.

To activate this tool, we must go to Settings> Battery and performance> click on Extreme battery saving . Although you must have at least MIUI 12, since it was from that version when Xiaomi added this function to its smartphones.

modo ahorro extremo MIUI 12

 

the magic setup

Browsing through different forums where users share their complaints, there are several that have detected a series of configurations that seem to double the autonomy of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phones, with the Chinese customization layer.

  1. The first step is to charge the battery to 100%.
  2. Then, go to privacy settings > special permissions > battery optimization > select everything that appears on the screen in the ‘optimize’ state.
  3. Access the system cleaner and clean all the files.
  4. Lastly, restart the phone. We do not mean to reset it, just restart it from the reset button.

optimizar bateria

 

Turn off ambient display

If your smartphone has an AMOLED screen, among the functions of the Chinese customization layer you will find the ambient display setting that allows you to display the time and other information on the lock screen.

Initially, the consumption of this tool should not be too high, but you can try to disable it to improve the autonomy of the mobile. To do this, access the Settings app, select Screen always active and uncheck the Ambient screen function.

 

Reduce system animations

One of the great novelties that came from MIUI 12 could be found in its section for system animations, more elegant and attractive, but at the same time, they require more energy. Having them activated causes the battery to drain faster so it is advisable to disable them.

animaciones miui 12

To do this, access the native app to configure the phone, go to Additional settings, select the Accessibility options and locate the Remove animations option. In this way, get more battery in a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO mobile.

 

background apps

This advice applies to all versions of MIUI, not like the previous case, so it will also help you save battery on Xiaomi phones .

Many apps that you use on a daily basis don’t close when you exit them, but instead stay working while you don’t realize it. To prevent this, you must adjust the savings from the security application of your mobile.

Here inside locate the Battery and performance menu > enter the Application Saver options. Then, you will have to select one by one the ones you want to stop working in the background by checking the option ‘ Restrict background activity ‘.

 

Locate what you spend the most

Also within the section that we have just seen of MIU I Battery . It will be important that we see what consumes more energy in our smartphones. In this way, we can quickly discover if an app spends more than necessary, even when we do not use it.

Although, with the previous trick, we will have already prevented it from continuing to consume energy in the background. In any case, for you to see it and decide if you want to keep that app or delete it, you must go to Settings> Battery and performance> Usage statistics .

 

Beautiful but demanding superwallpapers

One of the great novelties that MIUI 12 brought with it were those dynamic SuperWallpapers compatible with certain Xiaomi mobiles. Like all animated wallpapers that are installed on any mobile, they consume much more battery than a static wallpaper, so we encourage you to continue your life without them.

If you don’t know how to change this setting on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone, it will be as easy as going to System Settings app > Wallpaper.

fondo pantalla

 

Take advantage of dark mode

Xiaomi’s dark mode is not exclusive to MIUI, but it is true that the Chinese firm’s customization layer has improved its performance. Using it will allow you to save a few hours of battery each day and you can program it to activate when you want, not just at night.

You can configure it from the mobile screen options, within the settings app. Inside here, if you tap on Brightness Level, you will find Daytime Mode .

Therefore, this tool is in charge of regulating the intensity, even when we have the automatic brightness deactivated.

 

Set the refresh rate

Depending on our terminal, we may find that we can choose to change, depending on what we are doing with the phone, the refresh rate . However, if you didn’t know, we have the option to choose a standard one to improve the autonomy of the smartphone.

To do this, we must go to Settings> Screen> refresh rate. Here, we can choose a lower one to save battery on Xiaomi.

 

The effects of notifications

No matter how beautiful or attractive, the MIUI notification effects will spend much more energy than we think. Basically, because this effect will turn on the telephone panel every time an alert or message arrives on the smartphone. So we recommend that you do the test and deactivate this setting for a while: Settings> Lock screen> deactivate the Notification effect function .

 

Change the subject

To do this, we are only going to have to enter the themes app of our Xiaomi mobile and look for the name of the themes that you are going to make known. By downloading and installing them we will begin to benefit from their advantages and we will be able to verify that, with the same or similar use, we get a little more autonomy.

  • Minimal Flat and Black

The beauty of the themes that we find is one of the best icons that we are going to see in the entire repertoire. A theme that adapts the home screen and lock screen to black to achieve the best battery optimization. Along with this change, the quick access panel does not undergo too many changes beyond the color, but where we have the big difference is in the icons.

minimal tema xiaomi

The developer has managed to adapt them to an endless number of apps with a result worthy of admiration and that we use it to benefit from battery savings in a prominent way. Even the folders are adapted to the theme to achieve our end, not waste battery.

  • Black Smart 5

Another topic that focuses on achieving better smartphone battery optimization is Black Smart 5, which is inspired by the design of Xiaomi’s mobile gamers. A theme that gives great importance to black and green, with many icons that adapt to the theme and some that do not, but above all giving priority to pure black that does not go with halftones. We are only going to find variations in the quick access bar, available for both the renewed control center and the classic one.

black smart 5 tema xiaomi

  • Soft Night

For those looking for a differentiating theme that at the same time offers us the advantage of hardly consuming any battery, Soft Night is the option. It is one of the best rated themes in the entire app and allows us to enjoy a completely new mobile just by installing it. From the lock screen to the home screen of our mobile they will change.

tema xiaomi miui 12

Another of the details that it modifies and that few themes carry out is the adaptation of notifications, allowing us to see a style that is nothing like what MIUI shows us by default. The only but is that we are going to have to watch an ad to get it for free. This theme is identified as premium, although Xiaomi allows us to obtain it after watching an ad for a few seconds, which is worth it to always have it stored in our available themes.

  • black red bump

For those who like a much more groundbreaking style, this theme where the color red gains prominence is ideal and which also adapts to curved mobile screens. In addition to red, the black color shows us that desired black that allows us to extend the battery of our mobile . A theme that has managed to develop practically all the icons that we are going to need so that the visual aspect is very homogeneous.

tema miui black red

  • city view

Last but not least, we came across a theme where black is mixed with gray tones which also require less power to display. In this case, the design changes especially in the icons, with shapes inspired by other Xiaomi designs and those icons that have not been redesigned can be adapted without problem. Both the application drawer and the taskbar or the lock screen offer us a similar style.

temas xiaomi negro ahorro bateria

 

Save battery on Samsung

Saving battery and being away from the charger for as long as possible is everyone’s goal. Mobile phones have managed to debug autonomy a lot, being possible, depending on the mobile, to spend up to two or three days without having to go near the plug. Samsung has put a lot of its development into improving the autonomy of its mobile batteries.

 

Activate adaptive battery

The best thing in the first instance is to let the system do the work for us. Thanks to AI, our mobile can learn from our usage routines and act accordingly to save energy. This means that both CPU usage and background apps will be controlled if Adaptive Power Saving is turned on. To do this we will have to go to Settings / Battery / Performance Mode. We will only have to click on the button at the bottom to activate this mode.

bateria adaptable samsung

 

Performance Mode

It is one of the best options to manage the battery . In this way, we can choose what to prioritize based on our needs, since it is not the same to use the mobile to play most of the time, to surf the net or for a moderate combination of both. Within the battery options, we can choose between three performance options.

  • Optimized – Offers a balance between battery and performance
  • Medium power saving : extends life by limiting some system functions
  • Maximum Power Saving – Saves as much power as possible.

modo rendimiento samsung

 

Optimize battery

Before, you had to install a third-party app to perform a quick battery optimizer. Samsung already includes this option in its mobiles. It is a quick setting that closes applications in the background, and that can be done automatically once a day without us having to enter to activate it. Within the same battery settings section, we will see the “Optimize” option. Once the phone is pressed, it will perform an analysis to try to remedy that excessive use of energy that we could be having.

Samsung optimizador bateria

 

Quick savings setting

It is a quick access menu to save battery, which we can access from the notification bar. From this access we can restrict data in the background, so that applications cannot use Wi-Fi and other connections, disable Always On Display, limit the CPU speed to 70% of its performance or modify the brightness. When we change these settings, we will be shown an estimate with the new remaining battery time.

ahorro energia samsung

 

Cut some notifications

Not all the apps installed on our mobile are equally important. However, they all fight to send us continuous notifications, which are often irrelevant. We will be able to nip the battery that these applications consume, that illuminate our screen and make the mobile vibrate and ring constantly with the consequent energy consumption that this entails.

We can do it from Settings / Notifications. Once inside we can choose to uncheck those apps from which we do not need to receive information in the form of notifications, with which we will be able to save energy.

 

Disable advanced features

The advanced functions of our Samsung mobile are intended to increase comfort and perform some actions automatically. But there is no doubt that they consume more energy , so if our goal is maximum savings, the same is to proceed to deactivate them. To do this we will have to go to the Settings menu and go to “Advanced Functions”.

funciones avanzadas Samsung

Once inside we will have to deactivate all the options that make the screen turn on continuously or make the terminal vibrate after picking it up. That is, we will uncheck: Raise to activate, Smart Stay and Smart Alert.

 

Disable background data

In the same way that we have disabled some applications from sending notifications, an excellent trick to save battery will be to prevent some from using the data network in the background, which greatly increases energy consumption. Within the “Data usage” settings we can see those that are taking the most expense and deactivate them. In the same way we can deactivate the apps that we use the least to save energy.

datos en segundo plano samsung

We will simply have to select the applications and deactivate the option “allow data use in the background” It is recommended that it be done only with non-essential apps, that is, we may not be interested in doing it with WhatsApp, but with that game or application that it does not have to be spending data in the background and consuming energy.

 

Activate Dark Mode

The popular Dark Mode is turning the menus of millions of users around the world black. Samsung activated it in its first version of One UI, so it is available for a huge number of models, including the mid-range and entry-level models. Activating it is extremely simple, since the option is found within the settings/screen menu. Once inside, we will only have to activate the button located on the right so that the Dark Mode is seen throughout the system.

modo oscuro en samsung

 

invert the colors

It is an alternative trick to Dark Mode, which makes sense on older phones that do not yet have it as an option. Invert colors is an option that is within the Accessibility settings, and that is initially intended for people with vision problems, but that helps save battery. To activate the mode of inverting colors on our Samsung mobile, we will have to go into settings and slide until we find the section called Accessibility. Once inside we touch on “Improve accessibility” and finally we choose the “Inversion of colors” option.

Invertir colores Samsung

 

Auto brightness off

Although its goal is to provide the right amount of light on the screen for each environmental situation, “automatic brightness” is one of the options that consumes the most battery , since it is usually optimized at a fairly high and unnecessary brightness level. Increase the brightness when you have to read long texts, show photos or in low light conditions. To deactivate it we have to go to Settings / Display and deactivate the option. We can also do it from the quick options menu on the taskbar.

 

Turn on grayscale

We agree that it is a rather extreme method, since our entire mobile will turn to black and white tones . This means that photos, including those on social media, will lose all color. However, it can be a method that saves us from turning off our Samsung mobile until we can reach a charger. To activate it we will have to go back to the Accessibility options and tap on “Activate gray scale”.

escala de grises samsung

 

Control the life cycle

Controlling the life cycle of our battery will make it last longer over time, since a bad charge will reduce its useful life at lightning speed. Samsung itself recommends it as a method to save battery and always have good performance. The trick is not to wait for the mobile battery to completely discharge . Every time a terminal runs out of battery 0%, it completes a “life cycle” (batteries have a limited number of life cycles) so we must prevent it from being completely discharged. The ideal is to charge it when it is between 15% and 30% battery.

 

Turn off automatic sync

Automatic synchronization is a very useful function so that all our accounts are always up to date and with the same information on the mobile as on any other device. However, it is not something relevant for many users, so it can be disabled to save energy. Turning it off will reduce data usage, potentially saving battery life considerably. We can deactivate the function from “Settings” by entering “Cloud and Accounts” and tapping on “Accounts”. Then we will only have to click on the options icon at the top right of the screen and click on “Disable automatic synchronization”.

sincronización automática

 

Connections you don’t need

It is something that we must do manually, since our mobile does not know when we will need them or not. However, having connections such as GPS, Bluetooth or NFC activated when they are not necessary, consumes considerable energy. It is somewhat tedious to be aware of when they are activated without being necessary, but if we get used to controlling it, we will undoubtedly save a lot of battery.

samsung conexiones

 

Keep your phone up to date

It is a mistake to leave updates pending. If our goal is to achieve the best battery performance , many of the continuous updates that Samsung launches are focused on improving battery performance, that is, the energy management that the device does. Therefore, we will have to carry out the update whenever the terminal notifies us of it. We can also check if we have any pending patch from Settings / System Updates.

 

Save battery on OPPO

The most positive part is that within the customization layer of the Chinese firm’s phones, ColorOS , we have different tools that will help us give a little extra to the battery life of the mobile device. So that, in the end, we do not have to suffer from spending all day checking whether or not we will have the necessary battery to make a call, listen to music while we return home or something similar.

 

Play with your drum panel

Within the ColorOS battery panel itself, we find a series of advantages or settings that we can modify to our liking. In this way, we will be able to adapt it to our needs, with the aim that the energy consumed by the smartphone is always the most appropriate. But, if you do not know where it is, you must follow the following steps:

  1. Access your settings.
  2. Click on the Battery section.

Panel de la batería OPPO

Once we reach this point, we must go on to see each of the configurations or settings that we will have at our disposal. We will start with the classic Saving Mode, in it we will be able to reduce energy consumption. Although, it will not be the most striking, since the important and characteristic point that we find in this layer is the Super Saving Mode .

If we enable this mode, we will get the system to limit the use of up to six applications that will be displayed on the home screen, as well as communications. In short, with this function, and according to OPPO reports, we can make it last up to 90 more minutes if we have 5% energy. In addition, we can get to have a personalized energy saving if we click on the option that we can see in the previous image.

And, if you want to save energy, we do not recommend having High Performance Mode enabled, as it will provide the maximum available processing capacity of the phone and, therefore, increase consumption.

 

Turn off the sidebar

It is clear that the inclusion of the famous ColorOS smart sidebar is good for all users. Especially since it is a personalized access that allows us to carry out endless actions, since it is not only based on a direct access for our favorite applications.

However, every tool has its cost, and this makes the consumption of the smartphone rise. The smart sidebar will always be a plus whatever you can do with it. From the classic shortcuts, to predefined actions and the possibility of using floating applications.

Although, if you need to save power, you should rethink whether to really use this ColorOS software tool that much or not. In case you want to disable this functionality and check if the battery consumption is benefited, you can always do it by following this series of steps from your OPPO mobile :

Barra lateral inteligente OPPO

  1. Go into the settings.
  2. Access the Practical Tools section.
  3. Click on Smart Sidebar and deactivate the switch that will appear within this menu.

 

Configure your Visual Comfort

Not only do we find tools to save battery on OPPO mobiles , or the simple fact of deactivating those features that consume so much energy that includes the layer of the Chinese firm, but there are also other features that we could be unaware of within our phone.

One of these cases is the characteristic of Chinese mobiles that is responsible for helping to protect our eyesight. Specifically, in ColorOS we find this function as Visual Comfort . With it, what we will achieve in a certain way will be to adjust the colors and brightness of the touch panel of the smartphone, since it is one of the elements that consume the most energy of any mobile. And, with this, we will achieve the goal of gaining more autonomy in an OPPO mobile.

If you want to reduce the light and temperature of your phone’s touch screen, you will have to follow these steps:

  1. Access the settings.
  2. Click on the Screen and brightness section.
  3. Activate the Visual comfort option (eye care).

Also, when enabled, it compensates for the strain of using the device in low-light environments and low screen brightness. Therefore, this can make the consumption of the screen less during use.

 

Use your manager

Another of the strong points to save battery in OPPO mobiles is the phone manager, also known as Phone Manager . With it, we will have different actions to improve the fluidity of our phone, as well as the possibility of knowing if there is a virus in the phone that is affecting a massive consumption of the energy of our smartphone.

Phone Manager OPPO

In addition, we also have an analysis and optimization option for the smartphone to check not only to improve performance, but also to increase the autonomy of the terminal. If we click on optimize we will find these options: Improve, Storage, Security protection and System optimization. The ones that will interest us will be both storage and improving and optimizing the system.

After that, we’ll jump right into the ColorOS virus scanning functionality . To find out if there is malware behind the high energy consumption, we just have to click on the Search for virus option to start a scan and detect possible threats. And so take action on the matter.

 

Beware of HyperBoost

In ColorOS we also have a tool developed by the Chinese smartphone firm with the aim of getting the most out of the smartphone’s GPU when we play. However, as much as HyperBoost is a system-level technology that programs optimized solutions developed by OPPO, it takes care of throttling performance when needed.

This means that, as much as it allows good two-way communication in real time between applications and system resources, it will make the phone work more smoothly and, therefore, the energy consumption of our mobile battery will increase . . Of course, it is a powerful OPPO tool available in its Game Space. Once inside this game management app, to deactivate this option we must not click on the ‘High performance’ mode.

 

Save battery on Google Pixel

One of the aspects in which we always take a look continuously, whether we like it or not, is the percentage of the battery that we have left in our mobile device. As much as we try to stop using the phone so much, the energy will end up decreasing yes or yes. But, lucky for you, if you have a Google Pixel mobile in your hands, it’s time for you to pay attention to this series of adjustments with which you can gain more autonomy for your day to day life.

 

Use extreme savings

From models after the Google Pixel 3 we can save even more energy with the Extreme Battery Saving mode. This feature allows even more functionality to be turned off than the standard power saving mode, causing most applications to pause.

And not only this, but it will also slow down the processor of the mobile device so that we can last longer using the phone without putting it on charge. Therefore, once activated, we must select when to use this mode, as well as the apps that will continue to be activated even with this function enabled. But, the first thing will be to activate this mode and then configure it:

  1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
  2. Tap on the Battery section > Battery saver.
  3. Turn on the Extreme Battery Saver option.

Ahorro batería extremo Google Pixel

Then, it will be time to move on to the When it should be activated section, where we will have the following options:

  • Always ask: when normal mode is activated, it will ask us if we want to activate Extreme battery saving.
  • Always use: When the standard saving mode Battery saver is activated, the Extreme battery saver will also be activated.
  • Never use: will never activate.

In addition, in the Essential Applications option within this same section, we will have the possibility to select all those apps that we do not want to be affected by activating this mode to increase the autonomy of our Google Pixel.

 

Goodbye to Active Edge

Although it was very useful for many users, this functionality is no longer integrated into all Google smartphones. So we will only find it in the following models: Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, 3a XL, Pixel 4 and 4a. This tool allows us to execute different actions just by pressing the sides of our Android phone . But, the bad thing about this feature is that it consumes a good amount of energy, so it will be necessary to deactivate it at some point by following these steps:

Active Edge Google Pixel

  1. Open your smartphone settings from the app drawer or home screen.
  2. Scroll down to the bottom to find the System section and enter it.
  3. Click on the Gestures option.
  4. Then, click on the Active Edge section and deactivate all the options that will appear in this menu.

 

Accident detection

Although there are very useful tools, such as accident detection, it will be useless to have it enabled if we never drive or drive. Although, the models that have this function are the following: Pixel 3, 4, 4a, 4a (5G) and 5 . Therefore, if you have any of these phones, another way to gain an extra percentage of energy in the battery of our Google Pixel will be by deactivating this software function of the Android device. To do this, we must follow the following steps:

Detector de accidentes de coche en los Google Pixel

  1. Go into the app drawer.
  2. Click on the Emergency app.
  3. Turn off the option called Car Crash Detection .

 

Motion Sense

If you have a Pixel 4 or 4 XL, your phone can recognize when you’re nearby using Motion Sense. However, for different reasons, Google decided to include the necessary hardware so that we could use our smartphone without touching it with our hands. So, if you want to disable it, you must follow these steps:

  1. Access the smartphone settings.
  2. Tap on the System > Motion Sense option.
  3. Turn off the Motion Sense switch.

Google Pixel Motion Sense

 

The fluid panel

We will find this setting in all those Pixel 4 and later models. This means you won’t have it on an older Google phone. With this option activated, what we will achieve is that we have a better displacement, in addition to a higher speed in the animations of the mobile device. However, the negative side is that we will see how the power of the phone is greatly reduced, so we recommend disabling this option on your phone if you need to save power on a Pixel :

  1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
  2. Tap Display > Advanced settings > Fluid display .
  3. Turn off the Fluid Screen feature.

 

Turn on Adaptive Connectivity

One of the last settings that we must take into account in our Google phone will be adaptive connectivity. Of course, we have to know that this option is only available for Pixels from model 4a, so if you have a previous one you will not have this tool within the configuration of your Android smartphone.

In case you didn’t know that this tool is specifically responsible for activating 5G only when an application needs more speed, such as when you download or watch them in streaming. Therefore, if it is not necessary, it will use 4G to consume a lower percentage of energy on the mobile. To enable it, we will have to follow these steps:

  1. Open your phone settings.
  2. Tap on the Network and Internet > Advanced > Adaptive connectivity section.
  3. Activate the Adaptive Connectivity functionality.

 

Prevent Google services from draining the battery

However, what perhaps we have not taken into account, that we have not been to blame for this reason, but that the fault lies behind Google’s own services . And it is that, throughout a day they are able to consume completely and, to a large extent, the energy of the battery of our smartphone. Luckily, there are different ways to prevent energy expenditure from being so high.

 

Google Maps

In most cases, it is the Google services that cause the energy percentage of our mobile device to decrease more than necessary. And it is that, until we pay attention to the smallest detail, we may not realize it is that simple. For this reason, we will have to pay attention.

The first app to blame for our smartphone’s battery falling heavily will be the maps that the Mountain View company offers us with its services. However, it is not that the problem is this software, but that we have the location history enabled in our terminal.

Basically, with this, the American company knows the sites that we visit frequently, in case we do a search, and all in order to know what interests us most to define our tastes well. And not only this, but this function of the US manufacturer is one of the ones that offers us the most help, although at the same time it is a problem.

quitar historial ubicaciones google

On the one hand, the location history will help us discover where our smartphone is in case we lose it, since we will be able to know the last place where it was connected. But, instead, it forces us to activate the GPS every few minutes and, with it, affects the battery to end up causing it not to last as long as we would like.

For this reason, this type of service is always in the background behind the operation of this app, consuming more energy than expected. So we will have to know how to deactivate this option and thus save a higher percentage of energy. Best of all, the steps to disable this option are simple. Therefore, we will have to do the following:

  • Access the Google Maps app .
  • Enter your profile by tapping on its icon and choose the Manage your account option.
  • After this, click on the Data and personalization tab.
  • Turn off location history .

The GPS does not suppose the same consumption for all smartphones and it is difficult to make the same use of the mobile with it activated and deactivated. However, according to the tests carried out, it could be up to 5% battery in Android 11, approximately. This would be the percentage that we would gain if we deactivated it. Therefore, if we see that the consumption is too high at certain times, this trick will help us gain autonomy on the Android device.

 

the google assistant

Another of the features that we find within the services offered by this manufacturer, and that is integrated into a large part of Android smartphones by default, is its voice assistant. And it is that, in addition, the Ok Google function that we use to invoke it can be useful for some moments, but the truth is that behind it it may be the cause of such high battery consumption .

More than anything, because for us to be able to invoke it we will always need it to be enabled so that it can respond to us at any time. And although it is very useful, the truth is that it will be a key factor when it comes to saving energy. For this reason, we need to know how to remove that option to prevent the services from consuming so much energy from our smartphone. In addition, we can also learn to configure it so that we can only use it from the lock screen and thus consume less energy, or that this detection is not always active. Therefore, to disable detection follow these steps:

  • With your phone nearby say ‘ Hey Google, open Assistant settings ‘.
  • Tap on General within its settings.
  • Here we will find the option to disable the voice assistant completely .

In case you want this option to be always enabled, so that it does not respond to our voice at all times when we have the screen activated and deactivated, we will have to enter its settings following the previous steps and click on Voice > Ok Google detection and disable the Always On option.

Nivel de batería de un móvil Android con el Asistente de Google

 

Final solution

Excessive consumption may be the trigger that makes us realize that, behind the Play Services of our Android mobile device, there is something that is not working as it should. So we will have to take action, not only to check if it is true that there is a problem that we are unaware of, but also to be able to find the solution that definitely works for us.

Therefore, the first thing we will have to do is restart our mobile device. And it is that some of its internal processes may have affected the battery consumption to be greater than usual. So this simple action will be the easiest to perform so that all processes start from scratch. In the event that over time we see that they continue to consume too much energy, we will have to move on to another more restrictive adjustment for the services of the American company. If you don’t want to wait, you can check the consumption made by the different software on your smartphone. To do this, you will have to follow this series of steps from the smartphone configuration:

  • First of all, we will have to access the settings of your phone.
  • Next, go to the Battery tab.
  • Then, tap on the option that says Battery usage .

consumo bateria android If the services are in the first place for no reason, it means that the error has not been fixed. Therefore, we will have to enter the configuration of the Android smartphone again and make a small change so that the services of the phone do not end up with the entire battery of the device. To achieve this, we must do the following:

  • Go to the smartphone settings .
  • Enter the Applications section within the smartphone settings.
  • Afterward, you will have to search for Google Play Services .
  • Once inside these, we will have to force stop them.

In case you continue to use it first, we will have to access your storage and delete all your data and, after this, force your stop. If the problem persists, we will have to proceed to uninstall its updates, since the error could have started to appear from a last update. This way we will get it to return to its original version, and in this way, we would get it to stop consuming so much energy on our mobile device.

 

Uninstall an update

As well as because of not having Google Play services updated, we can see how there are different problems, among them, that the energy consumption is high. An update can also cause this same error to happen. For this reason, many Androids offer us the option to uninstall updates. Although, this function is not available in all, since it will depend on the customization layer of each manufacturer. In any case, these will be the steps that we must follow:

  • Enter the mobile settings .
  • Click on the Applications tab.
  • Search for Google Play services .
  • Tap on the three vertical dots.
  • Tap on Uninstall update .

Desinstalar actualizaciones Google Play Services

Although, if they continue with the same problems with the smartphone battery. We can always choose to install another version from an APK . To do this, we will go to some of the most famous websites that exist, specifically, we will go to APKMirror, where we will find another version of Google Play services. Therefore, follow this series of steps:

  • Enter the APK Mirror page and go to the most updated version.
  • Download the APK file and click on the Install option.
  • Once the Google Play Services are updated, we must restart the smartphone.

 

Take care of the battery

It is clear that this component of our mobiles has improved a lot in recent years, not only in terms of capacity, but also in charging speed . However, they are still extremely sensitive elements if we do not know how to take care of them. In addition, except for a manufacturing fault, and based on the premise that they all have a limited useful life, it is true that we can get them to accompany us in good condition for a few years. Although, to achieve this, we will have to be somewhat meticulous with some usage patterns.

 

Use original chargers

One of the first aspects that experts and mobile manufacturers themselves recommend is the use of original chargers. Our mobile devices have been tested so that they directly use both the original charger and the original cable. This is why the fact of using those of another brand or third-party manufacturers (at least those of dubious reliability) can pose a problem for the useful life of this internal component of the smartphone.

cargador original samsung

In addition, if the charging power is not adequate or the charger does not have the minimum necessary safety elements, the phone’s battery may be at risk . What we would even achieve with this would be to accelerate its degradation. Therefore, if for some reason we need to replace the charging cable or the charger itself, we will have to try to get hold of the original replacement for the smartphone. If for any reason, it is not possible, at least we must worry that the third-party charger has been tested on our phone.

 

smart charging

This is one of the latest developments to be added to many Android mobiles . Basically, it is about automating what many users already did manually. This smart feature keeps a check on charging to keep the phone sufficiently powered, tailored to the user’s needs, but without needlessly sacrificing charge cycles.

In addition, activating it is very simple, since it will be from the phone settings, specifically, from the Battery section. If our mobile does not have this option, we must opt for the traditional manual method, that is, do not let the battery drop below 20% of its autonomy and stop charging when it reaches 80% so as not to lose cycles unnecessarily.

 

Calibrate the battery

It is one of the most mythical solutions and one that continues to offer the best results. However, not all brands usually specify how this process should be carried out, so we will explain a general method for all mobiles with the Google operating system.

Calibrar batería móvil

To carry out this remedy manually, the first thing we must do is fill the terminal’s energy completely. So you will have to plug it in and wait until it is 100% complete. Once done, we will have to leave it connected for a few more minutes. Afterwards, it is the turn to discharge the energy of the mobile completely. When it turns off by itself, we must leave it for at least four hours before connecting it to the power again. After this, it will be necessary to let its percentage fill up to 100% of its capacity.

This method improves battery performance and extends battery life. What is not recommended is downloading applications to perform the calibration, as they may contain malware, perform a false calibration and even hamper its performance.

 

Be careful with the temperature

Another important factor that we must take into account is the fact of avoiding, as far as possible, extreme changes in temperature so that it does not affect this internal component of the smartphone. This means that neither extreme cold nor heat come well to its lifespan. The optimal temperature of those made with lithium for smartphones is a maximum of 20 degrees and a minimum of 10 degrees. And it is that, it has been proven that sudden changes in temperature are one of the worst enemies to maintain a long battery life.

 

phone life

After becoming clearer that this element of smartphones is one of the most important, as well as one of the most sensitive components of phones, the truth is that no matter how well we manage to take care of it, precisely that useful life already reveals that its duration and performance are not forever. In addition, it will be this element that begins to give unequivocal signs of the end of its life.

Batería móviles Android

Generally, and under normal circumstances, these symptoms should not appear before 18 months of use. However, they may appear sooner or later, even very soon, in case we are facing a factory problem. For example, one of the first warnings will be that it runs out before time. Noticing that it is discharged faster than normal, we will almost certainly be facing the end of its useful life. If before we arrived, for example, in the middle of the day with 60%, and now the same thing happens with 30% charge, it is a sign that it is exhausting its life cycle. It may also be the case that the percentage goes to a much lower figure in a single moment, even if we were not using the mobile.

And not only this, we can also notice it when it is not fully charged. That is, in this case it will not matter how long we leave the phone plugged into the power, since it will never reach 100%. This may be a symptom of degradation, as it does not contain enough electrical energy for our mobile sensors to register a full charge. So be on the lookout for typical battery problems , as these could be signs that it’s time to replace it.