6 ways to extend smartphone battery life during disasters

MANILA, Philippines – Smartphones are a huge help when sharing real-time information during calamities.

As Typhoon Ruby is forecast to make landfall in Samar this weekend, telecommunication companies in the country are bracing to make sure network disruptions are lessened.

That’s a relief, but your smartphone can only do as much while its power lasts.

Thus, Globe Telecom shared 6 tips on how smartphone users can conserve their battery and make good use of their device in times of disasters.

1. Turn off apps in the background.

With apps running in the background, your smartphone will hog more energy from your battery. “Log off or turn off unnecessary mobile apps or at least disable push notifications for non-essential apps,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s senior vice-president for corporate communications.

2. Turn on bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi – only when needed.

These radios are there for a certain function, but in many cases, you must be fine without them. Placing calls and text would only need a phone that has a signal and power. Activating Global Positioning System (GPS) and WiFi, of course, are needed when you want to post geotagged tweets or photos to alert of your whereabouts should you need to be rescued.

3. Turn off vibrator mode.

Turning on your smartphone’s vibration mode also consumes battery life faster. It’s better to pay attention to incoming calls when your smartphone is heard ringing loud and clear.

4. Don’t auto sync your smartphone.

Activating auto-syncing gives your smartphone permission to consume more power even when it is inside your pocket. In times of calamities, auto-syncing your smartphone with your other devices should be the least of your concerns.

5. No to bright LCD display and long timeout.

To prolong the life of your smartphone until the next charge, reduce the brightness of its display, and shorten its screen timeout.

6. Give your smartphone a break.

The latest report from Nielsen’s Evolving Digital Consumer report reveals that 3 of 4 Filipinos access the Internet through their smartphones, averaging 3 hours a day, but we hope the numbers aren’t true during disasters.

Your main concern in times of calamities is not to check how many people have liked your Facebook posts. Your smartphone should come in handy, but be sure all of its short-lived power would never go to waste. Keep safe. – Rappler.com

Smartphone usage concept image via Shutterstock