Maxis10: Samsung Galaxy S Battery Life Tests

Friday 16 July 2010 @ 1:54 am

A few friends, blog readers and twitter followers asked me about the battery life of Samsung Galaxy S in the past few days. Me too was interested to know what is the battery performance under extreme usage. Besides, I’m sure potential customers would like to see some statistics so that they can stop wondering about the battery performance of Samsung Galaxy S.

Therefore, I performed 4 battery tests 5 battery tests in the past 30+ hours 40+ hours and finally we have some answers to the battery related questions. Below are the objectives of all 4 battery tests I did :-

  • Test 1: Find out how long will the battery last (from 100% battery level to 0%) when connecting to an active Wifi Connection
  • Test 2: Find out how long will the battery last (from 100% battery level to 0%) when connecting to an active 3G Data Connection
  • Test 3: Find out how long will the battery last under continuous movie playing
  • Test 4: Find out how long we need to fully charge the battery after it’s completely flat (0% battery level)

* Just added 1 more Music Playing (Test 5).

Samsung Galaxy S Battery Test
Final Battery Test Results (now with Music Playing result)

General settings for all 4 tests

  • Lowest brightness level
  • Medium speaker volumn
  • The screen is always lit throughout the tests
  • Not running any screen saver

Test 1: Active Wifi Connection

  • 1. Connect to an online radio via Wifi connection
  • 2. Let it run until the phone switches off when the battery is depleted

Result: The phone was running for 9 hours 57 minutes before switching off itself.

Test 2: Active 3G Data Connection

  • 1. Connect to an online radio via 3G Data connection
  • 2. Let it run until the phone switches off when the battery is depleted

Result: The phone was running for 4 hours 47 minutes before switching off itself.

Test 3: Continuous Movie Playing

  • 1. Continuously play some movies using the default movie player
  • 2. Let it run until the battery level reaches 10%

Result: The phone was running for 6 hours 29 minutes before the battery level reached 10%. Movie player will stop running when the battery level falls to 10%. 6 hours 29 minutes of continuous playing time is more than enough to play 3 sets of movies at normal length.

Test 4: Charging Time

  • 1. Fully charge the phone using original Samsung Travel Charger after the battery was completely depleted

Result: The phone needs 3 hours 47 minutes to get fully charged after the battery was completely depleted.

Below is the video documenting all the 4 battery tests :-

Test 5: Continuous Music Playing

  • 1. Continuously play some songs via earphone using the default music player

Result: The phone was running for 13 hours 9 minutes and we still have 39% battery level. That’s about playing 263 songs of 3 minutes long each!

Below is the video documenting the Music Playing test :-

I hope the results of the above battery tests are useful and help to clear doubts regarding Samsung Galaxy S battery performance. Now at least we have an idea how will the battery perform under extreme usage. As for normal usage, the phone should be able to last for the whole day under occasional Internet surfing, email checking, photo & video shooting, viewing video and listening to songs.


Samsung Galaxy S Review Series


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34 Responses to 'Maxis10: Samsung Galaxy S Battery Life Tests'

  1. KeeMan - July 15th, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    Nice one bro! Almost consistent with what i’m experiencing as well.

  2. KeeMan - July 16th, 2010 at 2:57 am

    Nice one bro! Almost consistent with what i’m experiencing as well.

  3. SapiensBryan - July 16th, 2010 at 12:34 am

    Thanks for the compliment, bro.
    Really hope the 30+ hours I spent was worth it. :)

    In fact, songs playing test is going on right now and I’ll add that into the post later. I wish to do more tests but due to time constraint I only focused on those draining the battery fast.

  4. SapiensBryan - July 16th, 2010 at 8:34 am

    Thanks for the compliment, bro.
    Really hope the 30+ hours I spent was worth it. :)

    In fact, songs playing test is going on right now and I’ll add that into the post later. I wish to do more tests but due to time constraint I only focused on those draining the battery fast.

  5. n305er - July 16th, 2010 at 12:56 am

    Except for active 3G data connection, the battery life quite impressive.

  6. n305er - July 16th, 2010 at 8:56 am

    Except for active 3G data connection, the battery life quite impressive.

  7. SapiensBryan - July 16th, 2010 at 1:35 am

    Yea, I think the results are not bad at all for a 4-inch touchscreen smartphone. As for the 3G data connection, I think all phones will suffer the same fate.

    I’ve just finished running the music playing test for more than 13 hours, the battery level still left 39%. Details coming up in this post real soon.

    Stay tuned. :)

  8. SapiensBryan - July 16th, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Yea, I think the results are not bad at all for a 4-inch touchscreen smartphone. As for the 3G data connection, I think all phones will suffer the same fate.

    I’ve just finished running the music playing test for more than 13 hours, the battery level still left 39%. Details coming up in this post real soon.

    Stay tuned. :)

  9. n305er - July 16th, 2010 at 1:53 am

    Eh, Music is stereo speakers or just 1 speaker?

  10. n305er - July 16th, 2010 at 9:53 am

    Eh, Music is stereo speakers or just 1 speaker?

  11. SapiensBryan - July 16th, 2010 at 1:54 am

    Music on earphone as I want to simulate how most users will use the phone.

  12. SapiensBryan - July 16th, 2010 at 9:54 am

    Music on earphone as I want to simulate how most users will use the phone.

  13. Jayelle - July 17th, 2010 at 4:59 am

    That’s so impressive, Bryan!! How do I turn off the 3g network?

  14. Jayelle - July 17th, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    That’s so impressive, Bryan!! How do I turn off the 3g network?

  15. SapiensBryan - July 17th, 2010 at 5:07 am

    Thanks, Jayelle! I use Juice Defender to control 3G & Wifi connections. It’s available in Market Place, they have Free and Premium version.

  16. SapiensBryan - July 17th, 2010 at 1:07 pm

    Thanks, Jayelle! I use Juice Defender to control 3G & Wifi connections. It’s available in Market Place, they have Free and Premium version.

  17. JoDa85 - July 17th, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    Thanks for this! I’m buying the Captivate on the 18th.

  18. JoDa85 - July 18th, 2010 at 4:15 am

    Thanks for this! I’m buying the Captivate on the 18th.

  19. SapiensBryan - July 18th, 2010 at 5:49 am

    JoDa85 : Woohoo~ You’ll love this sexy phone! :)

  20. SapiensBryan - July 18th, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    JoDa85 : Woohoo~ You’ll love this sexy phone! :)

  21. Skyfire - July 28th, 2010 at 12:01 am

    One additional way to conserve battery life, for those of you who consume a lot of video, is to download Skyfire for your video browsing. Due to our ability to transcode video into Html5, and do the heavy lifting/compression on our end, this can dramatically conserve battery when compared video consumption with other browsers and optimized mobile video.

  22. Skyfire - July 28th, 2010 at 8:01 am

    One additional way to conserve battery life, for those of you who consume a lot of video, is to download Skyfire for your video browsing. Due to our ability to transcode video into Html5, and do the heavy lifting/compression on our end, this can dramatically conserve battery when compared video consumption with other browsers and optimized mobile video.

  23. Adam Downing - August 5th, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    If you are having problems with this phone due to battery life, you should check out JuiceDefender. Basically, it sets its self up, and then it has been giving me a x2.41 battery life with the things that it does. For example, 3G and HSPDA networks only kick in once you open your browser, marketplace, facebook or an application that uses the internet. It will always try and connect with WiFi first, if there is an open or saved network because it uses less battery life. I couldn’t go a day on battery without it and found myself recharging half way through the day, now I am on 36% battery life and its near the end of the day, and I charged overnight. Yeah’, you still have to charge overnight, but I have been using the phone for lots of things, GPS, Internet, FaceBook and even watched a movie on it, with still 36% towards the end of the night.

  24. Adam Downing - August 6th, 2010 at 5:53 am

    If you are having problems with this phone due to battery life, you should check out JuiceDefender. Basically, it sets its self up, and then it has been giving me a x2.41 battery life with the things that it does. For example, 3G and HSPDA networks only kick in once you open your browser, marketplace, facebook or an application that uses the internet. It will always try and connect with WiFi first, if there is an open or saved network because it uses less battery life. I couldn’t go a day on battery without it and found myself recharging half way through the day, now I am on 36% battery life and its near the end of the day, and I charged overnight. Yeah’, you still have to charge overnight, but I have been using the phone for lots of things, GPS, Internet, FaceBook and even watched a movie on it, with still 36% towards the end of the night.

  25. Kams - August 10th, 2010 at 1:25 am

    How are the numbers compared to EVO? As I am in a mode where I have to decide between EVO and EPIC. Will be going for one of the two by end of this month? I am considering EPIC with the hope that the battery life is better. Please do let me know if you have any numbers to compare. Thanks.

  26. Kams - August 10th, 2010 at 9:25 am

    How are the numbers compared to EVO? As I am in a mode where I have to decide between EVO and EPIC. Will be going for one of the two by end of this month? I am considering EPIC with the hope that the battery life is better. Please do let me know if you have any numbers to compare. Thanks.

  27. SapiensBryan - August 10th, 2010 at 1:35 am

    Hi Kams, Samsung Galaxy S is more superior than EVO in term of graphic processing. Check this out http://bit.ly/9qoPfd

    Not sure about the battery life for EVO though as I don’t have one on hand to test. Anyway, Samsung Galaxy S can definitely last you a day if you toggle between 3G data, WiFi, 3G & 2G network whenever necessary.

  28. SapiensBryan - August 10th, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Hi Kams, Samsung Galaxy S is more superior than EVO in term of graphic processing. Check this out http://bit.ly/9qoPfd

    Not sure about the battery life for EVO though as I don’t have one on hand to test. Anyway, Samsung Galaxy S can definitely last you a day if you toggle between 3G data, WiFi, 3G & 2G network whenever necessary.

  29. Katie - August 11th, 2010 at 12:10 am

    I was wondering how much does the GPS affect the battery life? Just out of curiosity. Say you’re traveling for 4 hours on the road?

    Another point completely unrelated, does anyone else notice the humongous difference between the iphone version of google maps and the android version? I can’t search for stores or restaurants nearby. If it is possible, can someone tell me how? Does anyone know why google created a completely separate app for places, navigation and maps?

    Awesome test on battery life, b/c the manager at the tmobile store told me that the phone dies faster when you listen to music as compared to watching video, I was a bit skeptical. Thanks for proving her wrong!

    Thanks!!!

  30. Katie - August 11th, 2010 at 8:10 am

    I was wondering how much does the GPS affect the battery life? Just out of curiosity. Say you’re traveling for 4 hours on the road?

    Another point completely unrelated, does anyone else notice the humongous difference between the iphone version of google maps and the android version? I can’t search for stores or restaurants nearby. If it is possible, can someone tell me how? Does anyone know why google created a completely separate app for places, navigation and maps?

    Awesome test on battery life, b/c the manager at the tmobile store told me that the phone dies faster when you listen to music as compared to watching video, I was a bit skeptical. Thanks for proving her wrong!

    Thanks!!!

  31. Xian Yong - September 30th, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    lithium ion batteries are made in a way that there is no memory effect, so as long as your first charge makes the indicator hit 100% you can take it out already. does not matter. only nickel batteries need a initiating first charge.

  32. Dana - January 24th, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    I have 5 Galaxy S phones, 3 for the kids and two adult use phones. Battery like is pretty bad on 3 of them. We have the app killers, but for example, my wife’s phone will last about 5 hours with no calls or internet. Not sure what to do exept try to get a replacement.

  33. Karthik Narayanan - March 2nd, 2011 at 11:11 pm

    Is it using andtroid 2.2 (froyo) version ?

  34. alok kr - July 27th, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    I faced a serious battery drain after 2.3.3 Update and every morning my mobile was off due to battery drain but yesterday i downloaded new firmware ” baseband version I9000DDJV5   and Build number GINGERBREAD.DDJV9  ”  ITS in INDIA. TODAY i saw my phone battery status was 1 day and battery used only 14% . whole day i didnt charge and calculations comes to 7 days of battery without charge. i am not using 3g or song or video. but it was astonishing so i shared here..

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