Long live the N900 – a word on battery life
While browsing the web I’ve seen some discussions on what the N900 actually is. Some say it’s ‘obviously’ a smartphone, pretty advanced, based on Linux, but still smartphone. On the other hand it may be considered very small computer with phone application and hardware. All of this opinions have one mutual concept: Nokia N900 is mobile device. If it is, battery life is one of the most significant characteristics that people pay attention to.
Doing nothing with mobile device is the best way to let the battery live longer but I don’t think any of us bought N900 to let it be in stand-by all the time. Some of applications or widgets drain battery more when working in the background, for example:
- instant messengers – most of them remain constantly connected to the internet, sending and receiving data and using CPU, so having many accounts connected al the time will drain battery faster
- frequently updated widgets - similary to messengers if you have lots of widgets using your internet connection
- bright screen backlight – more light is more battery drained
- applications running in the background – some of those applications may use your processor and subsequently baterry
- frequent e-mail accounts synchronization – especially the exchange account may cause battery drain if synchronized to often because it causes significant CPU load
So how to make your battery last longer? Let’s try few simple things:
- lower screen brightness and backlight time, turn on energy saving and turn off screen vibrations (Settings, Screen)
- swich IM status to offline when you don’t need to use it
- change synchronization interval of your mail accounts to longer
- prevent using frequently updated widgets, if you have the possibility change update interval to bigger or to update on demand or homescreen switch (like in Personal Dataplan Monitor widget)
- turn off Bluetooth if you don’t use it (I find it also safer to remain hidden)
- close application if you don’t need to use it for some time
If you need to check what is the best for you, try some of options and use battery-eye or BatteryGraph application to compare energy usage on your N900. As for me it works quite well, sometimes I hit over 2 days with such precautions, try yourself.
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Please visit Nokia N900 Forum
The stuff you are saying certainly will help a lot of people, but I still find it very upsetting that a phone advertised with the slogan “
OfflineOnline as it happens” is not able to get through a single day whilst beeing ONLINE…. but that is a story for another day…i’d been getting awful battery life (sometimes as little as six hours, without really doing much) until i installed the wifi-switcher app for unloading the kernel modules. that’s made a big difference and i’m getting a full day out of a single charge. YMMV but it’s well worth a go. i’m going to do some tests with the GSM/3G connection on and see if i can get a full day out of it, connected.
your recommendations are all good points, too!
Wow … always-on IM is one of the reasons I bought my N900 in the first place, so telling me to switch it off to be able to go through the day isn’t a real solution.
It is sad that NOKIA did not choose a better battery model for N900. I use my piece very sparingly and I am almost always within Wifi area: but, I don’t get more than 12 hours of battery life!
If it were in the auto industry, a clear case for recall!
[...] I was writing about Nokia N900 battery saving methods, but there are situations when you need even more than that. Imagine you need stay [...]
you forgot to mention THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: DOWNLOAD WIFI SWITCHER. 100% must for battery life since the wifi is not really closing. i can have up to 4 days with one charge with wifi switcher.
Everyone is whining about the battery. i can easily get 24 hours of use!
And to babu i wanna say. wich other device can you name that can run for 12 hours using wifi? wich are as small as the n900? with all these functions. Exactly! none!
a laptop barely reaches 4 hours of use.
Hi
i dont agree with any of the above techniques recommended. The situation is like u r meant to buy house in high rise apartments on top floor and then they say before reaching your home the elevators will stop cause not enough power available so to reach on top floors u shud do following -
1. all neighbors wake up at same time
2. get ready to go to school, shopping, office all together
3. blah blah blah
so that u can save power for elevators to take u down and up….
one simple thing which i still feel Nokia can work on to come out with high powered battery so as to allow users to exploit the device for its full functionality…not sure whether its possible or not and if possible then also whether Nokia will do it or not…we have recently read how Toyota was made victim of politics by US media and government….and nokia being toyota of mobile world….we all users will be made to remain offline(as it happens) for lack of battery power…..my battery does not run for more than 6 hours…. heavy user of talk, chat, 3G connection for mail connectivity….i chnged my mobile after 5 years thinking things wud have improved but its the same….
Mehul Shah
One important thing is left out of the list:
- Set WLAN Search interval to “Never”. The applications which require a connection will automatically make it connect, so no need to connect itself. (Unless you have something that you’d like to update quite frequently, of course.)
I can’t think of any other device that can last more than 1 day in heavy use mode. So those who want more, you should know that kind of device doesn’t exist. In conclusion, you want the imposible.
I’m more then pleased with my n900 battery life (it goes from 24 h up to 60 h). Today i have installed the wi-fi switcher and i am looking forward to see the diference.
Think before speek.
guys, wifi is STILL scanning even if not connected. trust me. i was switching it off by the default shortcut and my battery lasted 2 days. now with wifi switcher application i have 4 days with one single charge. at least make the experiment and you ll see huge difference.
@Popa, check it out and let us know
True true. My N900 battery life is not as bad as those people who complained it. I assume we all know how a computer works and we know what are the things that makes the phone battery drain. People can non-stop surfing with WIFI, desktop full of widget with constant update and yet they get 4 to 6 hours of heavy usage and yet they complained.
ok how do you get 24 hours of battery life… the only thing i use is msn and facebook messenger and an my hotmail account.. no widgets… no apps the need constant update other than the previous mentioned… i dont get… if im on wifi.. yeah i can barely make the day.. with some light surfing like if i really need to… but if im on tmobile 3g connection… damm ill kill half of the battery in about 25 min of browsing.. so if any of you guys that claim long battery life have a similar usage please share… wifi switcher i tried.. but trut is.. my battery last way long on wifi rather than tmobile 3g…. please help
@mike a:
). It’s like with every other battery, the more you use it the more is drained.
If you already have every energy saving option turned on (including lowering screen lighting) and only the services you need it’s probably the matter of frequently on screen backlight and network usage, since you use i.e. msn (I assume you use it for chatting, not only being online wherever you are
You can try additional power source, like portable or solar charger (available at our store), then you can be mobile and prolong time of usage.
NOKIA N900..power pc mobile but…very weak battery….doesnt last for a day also…if i stop using its features also then whats the point of makin them…..really nokia needs to take out another strong power battery for nokia n900 if it want to see it PERFECT!!!
Here are three things to boost batter to 4 DAYS.. yes 4 full days without recharge
1) lower display light to lowest
2) download 3g/2g switcher app and keep it at 2g especially when commuting as some areas don’t have adequate 3g network and phone tries to access 3g draining battery faster
3) download wifi switcher to completely turn off wifi as maemo wifi tools is not able to disconnect wifi properly and phone still keeps searching for newer wifi network all the time draining battery.
once done, enjoy 4 days without a charge
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