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Growing Power Gap Could Force Smartphone Tradeoffs

Posted by kdawson on from the more-power-to-him dept.

alphadogg writes "Mobile users face a fast-growing gap between their smartphones' increasing power needs and battery capacity. That gap could force users to make tradeoffs in how, and for what, they use their phones, even as vendors at all levels work even harder to reduce power demand in mobile devices, according to Chris Schreck, a research analyst with IMS Research. Schreck estimates that a 1500 mAh battery, the industry's current 'high water mark,' yields for many smartphone users a battery life of about 6 hours — highly dependent on what applications and on-device technologies, including Wi-Fi, users are running. The latest and greatest tech advances, including faster CPUs, higher data throughput, and improved displays all crank up the demand for power. The combination of user behavior and technology is boosting power demand faster than battery capacity can keep up. Schreck estimates power requirements can grow 15% a year."

6 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Nobel-peas prize (green) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The android challenge should add a green-attribute somehow. Perhaps a special award to that category. Its not sexy to make the battery last longer. It takes a lot of effort and without reward, it won't happen. That is because the app appears outside the phone framework. e.g. somehow not responsible for power loss, when it is.

    -jp
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  2. Dual-battery config? by jddj · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Wish they'd do one battery for the radio components and one for the CPU/etc. That way your CPU (MP3, gaming, PDA) requirements wouldn't be a slave to your talk time on the phone - and vice-versa.

    Ever have to get some data off your mobile but couldn't turn it on because you've been talking all day and run it down?

    1. Re:Dual-battery config? by oldspewey · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Rather than 2 batteries, I'd much rather have the firmware begin powering down radio functions once the main battery reaches some preset level of discharge. Or instead of a preset level of discharge, a user selectable one.

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
  3. Good news everybody! by chill · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Necessity is the mother of invention. Nothing will drive battery research like a heavy demand for better batteries.

    Until that time, carry a spare battery. I've always done this, just in case I drain the first one. This is one of the biggest reasons I refuse to buy an iPhone -- you can't remove the battery.

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  4. Thin is In by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A trend I've noticed for both smartphones and laptops is the constant drive to reduce size and make devices thinner. Smaller and thinner is trendier. Frankly, I wish they're just make an iPhone or laptop twice as thick, thus quadrupling the battery life. I'm not a weakling. I can carry a bit more weight especially if the device is functional enough to take over the function of some other devices I would otherwise carry.

  5. Re:Isn't the battery somewhat outdated? by JSBiff · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, if we are proposing new power technologies, how about something *slightly* more practical, like small scale fuel cells? Or, if you want to go really pie-in-the-sky, how about small scale atomic batteries or radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Change your batteries every 15-20 years.