[Mr N]

Hi guys,

I've been thinking of going for the HTC one x (over the Galaxy s3) and was wondering what the battery is like? Everyone seems to be saying it's quite bad. Can you get through a full day with heavy use?

[scorpionatthepc]

I've heard its really bad too unless they have improved since release?

[daclick]

Pick the galaxy s3 seriously, battery is amazing

[c4rv]

there must be somebody on here who actually owns one that has got real world experience ?

[JulesandSand]

Yes I own a One X and really like it. If used heavily it needs to be charged every day - I used mine to read on holiday and had to charge it every night.

In normal use at home, with the WiFi switched off I charge it every 3 days.

The power indicator says that the biggest consumer of battery power is the screen - unsurprising really given how large and brilliant it is.

[MojoMaster]

The biggest consumer of power is always the screen on a large phone.

The S3 battery is far better than that of the OneX. I easily get a day and half out of the S3 on "normal" use, and easily a full day when I batter it.

[JulesandSand]

I didn't get mine at launch, but I believe a firmware update on the One X improved battery life. I can't comment as the first thing mine did when connected to the internet was download and install the FW.

[jabbamk1]

Even with the update it is abysmal. I struggle to get more than 3 hours on screen time with it. The S3 is a much better choice, especially now that its even cheaper on some networks than the One X.

@Jules, it may last 3 days but its the on screen time that really matters. I've had mine last 5 days with about 1 hour and half on screen time which is not good at all.

There might be another software update to fix the battery life but i doubt it'll be as good as the S3. Plus the S3 has many more advantages over the One X such as the removable battery and micro sd card slot.

[JulesandSand]

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

Even with the update it is abysmal. I struggle to get more than 3 hours on screen time with it. The S3 is a much better choice, especially now that its even cheaper on some networks than the One X.

@Jules, it may last 3 days but its the on screen time that really matters. I've had mine last 5 days with about 1 hour and half on screen time which is not good at all.

There might be another software update to fix the battery life but i doubt it'll be as good as the S3. Plus the S3 has many more advantages over the One X such as the removable battery and micro sd card slot.

I read for far more than 3 hours at a time more like 7 or 8. I suppose video would be much more demanding though.

[jabbamk1]

Originally Posted by JulesandSand

I read for far more than 3 hours at a time more like 7 or 8. I suppose video would be much more demanding though.

Do you read on the browser or is it all offline with 3G/Wi-Fi/autosync turned off. Because i might just understand that.

But even when i tried to get the max out of my phone, even with brightness at 0% and 3G off i still only got 3 hours 40 minutes battery life.

[JulesandSand]

I read with the Kindle app, with WiFi off, 3G on, but data off (I was in the US)

I'm in no way an 'intensive' user so battery life is OK for me. I can understand it's a big issue for others.

I got mine because I was used to, and liked, HTC. I might have got the Galaxy Note but the size put me off a bit.

[far2cool]

I've got a One X and depending on what you're doing it's ok as long as you charge it every night

[len112]

My battery has definitely improved since first getting the phone . It now gets through a day with around 80% left as opposed to around 40% when I first got the phone

[Rush]

I would also say it improves with time. When I first got the phone it wouldn't last till 3pm. Now it can last till 7.. With quite heavy use. But I have to have the screen brightness on low, location services off and I have to close apps after use and keep 3G use to a minimum.

So if your looking for a phone with good battery, this isn't it. Such a shame as it really is a great phone.

[jabbamk1]

Originally Posted by Rush

I would also say it improves with time. When I first got the phone it wouldn't last till 3pm. Now it can last till 7.. With quite heavy use. But I have to have the screen brightness on low, location services off and I have to close apps after use and keep 3G use to a minimum.

So if your looking for a phone with good battery, this isn't it. Such a shame as it really is a great phone.

Agreed, I can get through a full day easy without use. But as soon as i use it for browsing, online videos or gps it'll drain at 1% per minute.

I've tried a few custom roms and the one with the best battery life have been ones without Sense Launcher. e.g InsertCoin has given me much better battery life than before. (still not great)

[nafanny29]

My S3 still is 30-50% after a full day with medium/high usage. Very impressed as I was used to charging up my HTC desire at 3pm every day LOL

[n1guy]

Originally Posted by Rush

I would also say it improves with time. When I first got the phone it wouldn't last till 3pm. Now it can last till 7.. With quite heavy use. But I have to have the screen brightness on low, location services off and I have to close apps after use and keep 3G use to a minimum.

So if your looking for a phone with good battery, this isn't it. Such a shame as it really is a great phone.

So basically don't use the phone or turn everything off and you'll be fine, all seems a bit useless. but I had the same issue with a Sensation XE and an Incredible S, how is it my 4S with heavy use can last all day and still have 20% left at bed time? And with light use as you describe 50%, I really want to go back to android but I think Samsung is the way to go HTC don't seem to be able to sort battery issues, even with a bigger battery like the One X it makes no difference.

[fletchem]

Check THIS out

[JulesandSand]

Originally Posted by fletchem

Check THIS out

If that's true it probably shows how internet Chinese whispers work - one person says a phone has poor battery life, someone else repeats it and before you know it, it's a 'well-known fact'.

[fletchem]

Originally Posted by JulesandSand

If that's true it probably shows how internet Chinese whispers work - one person says a phone has poor battery life, someone else repeats it and before you know it, it's a 'well-known fact'.

I think that is very true. Although I must admit, I have a One X and I was surprised at how high it came. Having said that I am comfortable with the battery life I get out of it, much of which is down to common sense - ie not updating/syncing everything every half hour. I quite often go to bed with 40% left in the battery.

[alanwarwic]

I'm not sure if the term "Chinese whispers " is racism but it is the norm with regards to technology.

It uses Tegra 3 and should really be better at managing power than older chipsets.
A bigger traditional screen dominates power usage. Simply make sure the setting is not too bright.

[JulesandSand]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

I'm not sure if the term "Chinese whispers " is racism but it is the norm with regards to technology.

It uses Tegra 3 and should really be better at managing power than older chipsets.
A bigger traditional screen dominates power usage. Simply make sure the setting is not too bright.

I'm sure - it isn't.

[jabbamk1]

You guys know that test is call time right, with the screen off.

Like others have said, as soon as the screen is on, that is when you're in trouble. So you literally have to be doing something with the screen off like calls or listening to music for the battery not to be affected. The standby on this phone is awesome. I can go to bed with 46% battery and wake up with 45% battery. But as soon as i use the phone thats it....

Like Alan said, the Tegra 3 should be much better at power management. The reason you guys see me complain a lot is because of the hassle i've been through (and know other people have been through) such as having to get 3 replacements for hardware faults and still having many problems on this one. It's put me off HTC in the future, i loved my old HTC Sensation though, no where near as bad as this with an extended battery.

[fletchem]

Apparently a huge update is on its way, whether it affects battery performance remains to be seen.

There is a thread on the XDA forum, which has some people trialling it and they are quoting vastly improved battery life.

Bad luck re: the three replacements. Touch wood mine has been OK, but I think I am going to do a factory reset after the next update as the memory calculations are taking an age.

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

...The reason you guys see me complain a lot is because of the hassle i've been through (and know other people have been through) such as having to get 3 replacements for hardware faults and still having many problems on this one. It's put me off HTC in the future, i loved my old HTC Sensation though, no where near as bad as this with an extended battery.

Seems to me like you are diverging and apart from battery you seem to generalise.
fletchem comments ring true considering it ties in with official battery life stats.

Turn the brightness down. If it is a 7 watt hour battery and at a guess the screen uses 2.5 watts on full power it won't make 3 hours.