How to Extend Your Phone Battery Life
There’s nothing worse than glancing at your phone at lunchtime and realising you’re already down to 30% battery. With so much of our daily life happening on our smartphones — messaging, payments, maps, streaming, work — having a battery that lasts all day is more important than ever.
So why do phone batteries drain so quickly, and what can you do to keep them going for longer? Here’s a clear breakdown of how batteries work and the best ways to make the most out of each charge.
Why Don’t Phone Batteries Last Longer?
Most modern smartphones use Lithium-Ion batteries. They’re lightweight, reliable and safer than older battery types, which makes them ideal for slim, portable devices. Over time, however, they naturally lose capacity as they go through hundreds of charging cycles.
Every time your battery goes from 0% to 100%, that’s counted as one cycle — and the more cycles it experiences, the less power it can hold. This is normal and expected with all smartphones.
Is It OK to Leave Power Saving Mode On?
Yes. In fact, many users leave power saving mode on all day. Power saving tools reduce or disable:
- screen brightness
- refresh rates
- background apps
- animations and visual effects
By turning off anything non-essential, your phone uses far less energy. You may notice a slight drop in performance, but for most people it’s barely noticeable — especially when battery life is the priority.
Does Lowering Brightness Save Battery?
Absolutely. Your phone’s display is one of the biggest battery drains. Lowering your brightness or switching to adaptive brightness can make a huge difference throughout the day.
If you’re not reading or watching something in detail, drop the brightness to conserve power.
Does Silent Mode Use Less Battery?
Yes — but only slightly. Every vibration, ping or sound requires power. Putting your phone on silent and turning off unnecessary notifications reduces background activity and helps your battery last longer.
Does Airplane Mode Help Battery Life?
Yes, massively — especially in low-signal areas.
If your phone struggles to get signal, it works overtime trying to connect to the nearest tower. That constant searching drains battery quickly. Switching to aeroplane mode stops this process and preserves power until you can charge.
Does Closing Background Apps Save Battery?
It depends on the app. Some apps continue working behind the scenes — refreshing data, fetching updates or tracking your location. These can drain your battery without you knowing.
In your phone’s settings, disable background activity for apps you don’t need running constantly:
- iPhone: Settings → General → Background App Refresh
- Android: Settings → Apps → select an app → Battery → Restrict
Other Ways to Extend Battery Life
- Use Dark Mode — especially useful on OLED displays
- Turn off Bluetooth when not using accessories
- Enable Battery Saver Mode at 20–30%
- Disable Location Services for non-essential apps
- Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data when possible
- Keep your phone updated — updates can improve battery efficiency
For more detailed battery care tips, take a look at our guide on iPhone Battery Health & Signs It’s Time for an Upgrade.
If your battery still won’t last a full day no matter what you try, your phone may simply be reaching the end of its lifespan. Upgrading to a newer model with stronger battery performance could make all the difference, and you can explore plenty of great-value options in our refurbished smartphone collection.
