Windows phone: best battery life

Mark_In_Hampshire

I have an Apple iPhone 3GS. It has a dated look, a small poor quality screen, a dated browser and poor wireless range.

On the other hand the stability is perfect and the battery will - even though it's ancient - still last for (nearly) two full days on a single charge.

It needs replacing as it's basically knackered. The buttons barely work, it's so old.

What I want is a phone that will last for at least two days on a single charge and is perfectly stable.

So it has to be Windows or Apple. Won't touch Android. I'm no Apple fanboy. But they do just work. Have had a variety of Android devices and I tend to bear "grudges" especially after the Samsung Galaxy S2 experience.

The 3GS is no longer on sale new. The 4S is about £340. That fits the bill perfectly. It's also really expensive.

I don't do contracts or network locked phones.

I would have a Windows one, but whenever I read reviews people complain of poor battery life. Partner's one needs plugging in by about 10pm every night. Useless to me.

Before I fork out £340: is there a Windows phone alternative that can go for two full days with normal (for me, relatively light) usage on a single charge?

Or, if I live with the 3GS for a few months longer, is the much-touted launch of the "cheap" plastic iPhone likely to see the price of the 4S plummet, so I should wait?

Thanks,
Mark

katejo

Why are you so opposed to Android? Just out of interest as i am about to get one

pepdavies

My android phone is older than your 3GS and works perfectly. I wouldn't waste your money on another iPhone if its worn out already. The Nokia Lumias seem pretty good

Earthworm

To be honest there isn't really a smartphone that lasts 2 days unless you use it only as a phone for calls and texts. When you get a new smartphone, Windows Phone 8, Android or iOS you will no doubt find yourself using the data connection which is really what kills the battery. Turning off data, wifi, bluetooth and locations can all help improve this but they leave your phone a door stopper.

Given what you want I would suggest the Nokia Lumia 820. You can take the battery out meaning you can purchase a spare to put in when your phone dies and it supports wireless charging. The only reason I didnt recommend an iPhone or a Lumia 920 is because the battery cannot be removed.

Mark_In_Hampshire

katejo wrote: »

Why are you so opposed to Android? Just out of interest as i am about to get one

I've had 3 Andoid devices before and they were impossible to live with, hopelessly unstable and bug-ridden and one misbehaving app can bring down the entire operating system so they needed regular reboots and factory resets. That said, the most recent version of Android with which I have experience was 'Ice Cream Sandwich' and I assume things have improved since then.

Earthworm wrote: »

To be honest there isn't really a smartphone that lasts 2 days unless you use it only as a phone for calls and texts. When you get a new smartphone, Windows Phone 8, Android or iOS you will no doubt find yourself using the data connection which is really what kills the battery. Turning off data, wifi, bluetooth and locations can all help improve this but they leave your phone a door stopper.

Given what you want I would suggest the Nokia Lumia 820. You can take the battery out meaning you can purchase a spare to put in when your phone dies and it supports wireless charging. The only reason I didnt recommend an iPhone or a Lumia 920 is because the battery cannot be removed.

What I did notice about the Samsung Galaxy S2 was that it seemed to be permanently connected to WiFi. Wheras the iPhone seems to only connect when it needs to (e.g. when idle on standy it will drop that and only connect for email then disconnect again) whereas the Samsung did not, and so just drained the battery very rapidly.

I had basically reached the conclusion that only an iPhone 3GS/4S (not the version 5) is capable of two days of use on one charge (probably because of the smaller screens) and was hoping that there was a Windows one capable of that which cost less than £340.

Earthworm

I may be in the minority here but I do not know anyone who gets 2 days out of an iPhone 4/4S.

DUTR

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

I have an Apple iPhone 3GS. It has a dated look, a small poor quality screen, a dated browser and poor wireless range.

On the other hand the stability is perfect and the battery will - even though it's ancient - still last for (nearly) two full days on a single charge.

It needs replacing as it's basically knackered. The buttons barely work, it's so old.

What I want is a phone that will last for at least two days on a single charge and is perfectly stable.

So it has to be Windows or Apple. Won't touch Android. I'm no Apple fanboy. But they do just work. Have had a variety of Android devices and I tend to bear "grudges" especially after the Samsung Galaxy S2 experience.

The 3GS is no longer on sale new. The 4S is about £340. That fits the bill perfectly. It's also really expensive.

I don't do contracts or network locked phones.

I would have a Windows one, but whenever I read reviews people complain of poor battery life. Partner's one needs plugging in by about 10pm every night. Useless to me.

Before I fork out £340: is there a Windows phone alternative that can go for two full days with normal (for me, relatively light) usage on a single charge?

Or, if I live with the 3GS for a few months longer, is the much-touted launch of the "cheap" plastic iPhone likely to see the price of the 4S plummet, so I should wait?

Thanks,
Mark

You maybe just as well stumping up the £340 and sticking with the Apple, I won't get dragged into the Apple vs whatever debate, not that the 4/4S looks much less dated than the 3 series IMO, but it's not my money or choice, you get the last call :cool:

d123

I have an iPhone 4S and a Nokia Lumia 620, and use them to a similar amount, with the iPhone getting slightly more use on most days.

With my usage the iPhone will easily last 2 days on a charge, the Lumia has to be charged every night. I find the iPhone to be on around 60-70% at the end of day 1 and down to 20-30% by the end of day 2.

The Lumia is on around 40% by the end of day 1 and flat before midday on day 2 if I have forgotten to charge it the previous night.

d123

I didn't charge the Lumia last night, I went to use it and just discovered its turned itself off with 0% battery sometime this morning.

My iPhone which came off the charger at the same time yesterday morning (7am) is still on 58% (and has quite a bit more use last night than the Lumia, which hasn't been used at all since 5pm yesterday).

Girlinstatic

It's a shame you're not willing to try the new Android OS. So much improved from past versions.

The main reason I say this is because you could get the Note 2 which outlasts most other smartphones battery life wise. I have often seen screen grabs of over 2 days of life, with a decent amount of usage! That phone is well known for it's staying power, has great specs, a big beautiful screen and not to mention the s-pen!

eta: review here which mentions 2 days with heavy use.. http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/10/samsung-galaxy-note-2-review-back-bigger-and-better-than-before/

jenniewb

Have you tried the Huawei W1? Its a Windows phone and the stats aren't that bad in comparison to the iphone 4:
http://www.!!!!!!!!!/phones/compare/huawei_ascend-w1%2Bhuawei_ascend-w1%2Bapple_iphone-4-8gb

I'd just add to that that the W1 has Gorilla glass and does not have an FM radio, I have an ipod (not iphone) and rate the Huawei for being a little speedier and just as featured. Not as fun or as simple to use but just different, not a bad phone and way cheaper than an Apple device!