You have gotten your new Samsung smartphone.
But one question remains on your mind, “how long will my battery last before needing replacement?”
This article will go into details of how long Samsung phone batteries last and also teach tips on maintaining your Samsung battery.
Here is the short answer to how long Samsung phone batteries last:
The longevity of Samsung phone batteries varies according to the model. On average, you can expect your Samsung battery to last between 2 to 3 years, depending on how you use it. The estimated battery life for any Samsung model is usually available in the owner’s manual.
Why Is My Samsung Smartphone Battery Draining Fast?
While Samsung batteries have increased in capacity and offer more battery life, they may drain quickly sometimes.
This is usually the result of one or more issues.
Here are things that could drain your Samsung battery:
1. Display
High display brightness or extended screen time-out time will put a strain on your battery and cause it to drain rapidly.
2. Bad Network Connectivity
Using your phone in a low-signal area can cause the battery to drain rapidly.
When you’re in an area with poor reception, your phone uses up more power to communicate with network towers to get you connected.
This can increase battery consumption.
3. GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth
While your Samsung’s GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are useful, they can drain your battery if you leave them to idle.
They occasionally check for a signal, which uses some battery power.
4. Applications
Running power-hungry apps like Netflix or YouTube for long will kill the battery faster than you can imagine.
Games are another set of power-hungry applications that can ruin battery life.
Playing the occasional game to relax won’t necessarily kill your battery.
Running popular games with high-definition graphics? That’s a surefire way to get your battery to drain rapidly.
Social media apps like Twitter and Facebook can drain your battery even when you’re not actively using them.
This is because apps are always operating in the background to keep you updated.
5. Extreme Temperature
Exposure to extreme temperatures can affect your Samsung smartphone’s battery life negatively.
The recommended temperature for optimum battery life is 68°F to 80°F.
If you expose your phone to a higher or lower temperature, it will likely drain quickly.
Samsung owners who like leaving their phones on dashboards during sunny days may experience reduced battery life.
The same is true for those who leave their phones exposed in extreme cold.
6. App Location Tracking
Certain apps can access your GPS and track your location. Running your GPS constantly will increase the load on the battery and empty it of power.
7. Home Screen Widgets
Those widgets on your home screen might be useful, but they can also drain your battery.
Widgets often have to sync repeatedly to provide you with updates. Not to mention that they also play animations that consume battery power in large doses.
8. Complete Battery Discharges
Allowing your battery to discharge completely before recharging will reduce its lifespan.
With time, the battery will start draining at a rapid pace even with minimal use.
9. Using the Wrong Charger
Usually, every Samsung model comes with its own charger. Replacing this with a charger from another manufacturer will cause problems for your battery.
The battery in your Samsung phone will degrade and deplete faster when you use a third-party charger.
Read Next: How Long Do Batteries Last in Huawei Smartphones?
When Should I Replace My Samsung Battery?
Battery replacement times for Samsung batteries vary. Still, the battery’s condition will signal if it needs replacement.
You should replace your Samsung battery if it deteriorates. We will discuss signs of a deteriorating battery in a later portion of the article.
That said, the average lithium-ion battery will start degrading after 500 charging cycles and may become unusable after 2500 charge cycles.
For clarity, a “charging cycle” is the period during which your battery goes from 100 percent to zero percent, and back to 100%.
Give or take, the 500th charge cycle will occur within the first year of use.
The 2500 charge-cycle period may likely occur within three to four years, so consider replacing your battery around that time.
How Can I Tell Which App Is Draining My Battery?
If you discover that your Samsung battery is always depleting fast after you charge it, some apps might be draining your battery.
You can know what apps are depleting battery power by checking Battery Usage stats.
To access the Battery Usage stats on your Samsung, tap Settings, tap the Device button, select the Battery option, and click the Battery Usage icon.
This will bring up a list of apps, system services, and hardware components that consume your battery’s power.
It is advisable to run these checks frequently to know what apps might be causing your batteries to die quickly.
If it’s an app running in the background, you can easily restrict it for improved battery performance.
How Can I Tell If My Samsung Phone Needs a New Battery?
Your Samsung battery won’t go rogue and start performing erratically in one day.
The process is usually gradual, with signs showing up, until the battery becomes unusable.
Here are some signs that your Samsung battery is on its last legs and needs replacement:
1. Battery Depletes Quickly
The first, and most obvious, sign that your battery needs replacement is that it may drain faster than normal.
In such situations, the battery has likely degraded and cannot hold its charge any longer.
Depending on various factors, this period of rapid battery drain occurs in the first 2-3 years of owning the battery.
If you notice this issue, it would be best if you considered an immediate replacement.
2. Battery Overheats
On any other day, your phone’s temperature will increase when you charge it.
But if you perceive that the temperature is abnormal (say, too hot), then the battery may have suffered enormous degradation.
Consider replacing the battery as soon as possible; having your phone’s temperature remain at high levels is never good for its health.
3. Battery Displays a Visible Bulge
Once a battery starts degrading, the internal cells may rupture, sparking off chemical reactions which may cause the battery to bulge.
You can conduct a ‘ Spin Test’ to know if your battery is bulging; if the battery spins rapidly, then it has a bulge and needs replacement.
4. Random Shutdowns/Restarts
If your phone shuts down prematurely or keeps restarting on its own, it likely has a bad battery problem.
This is based on reports from users who complain of batteries shutting off, often during important moments.
Yes, random restarts/shutdowns can result from other factors, like software issues. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to check your battery if such issues crop up.
Read Next: How Long Do Xiaomi Phone Batteries Last?
How Can I Improve My Samsung Phone Battery Life?
We all want our batteries to last longer so we can do the things we love—texting, streaming, and so on.
Here is a short guide to making sure your Samsung has a great battery life:
- Close GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth when you’re not using them.
- Turn on Airplane mode when you’re in an area with poor signal. That way, your phone won’t drain the battery while trying to connect to network towers. Alternatively, you can switch to a carrier with better signal or invest in a signal booster or network extender—two features that can boost connectivity.
- Restrict apps from running in the background to stop them from draining your battery.
- Keep your phone only in warm areas.
- Remove GPS/location tracking permissions for applications.
- Reduce your screen brightness and adjust the screen time-out time.
- Eliminate useless widgets from your home screen.
- Get only Samsung-approved chargers or at least an original charger that promises fast charging.
- Turn on the Battery Saver mode.
- Ensure the battery never discharges completely before you recharge.
Why Does My Samsung Phone Drain Even When Not in Use?
Your phone is lying unused, yet its battery empties faster than water from a pool drain.
If this is your case, then you’re likely suffering a case of battery drain resulting from background running apps.
Apps running in the background will always drain your battery, whether you like it or not; notifications, too.
Leaving things like Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi on will also drain your battery when not in use.
The advice is to restrict apps from running in the background and turn off unnecessary notifications.
You should also switch off Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi during non-use periods.
How To Check the Health of Your Samsung Battery
You can check the health of your Samsung battery by dialing *#*#4636#*#*.
Doing this will open a hidden test menu where you can view basic battery information, like charging status, power source, charge level, voltage, and temperature.
You can use the phone’s battery analyzer, but this hardly gives you useful information; it only shows what apps drained the battery.
Instead, you can a download a third-party app such as AccuBattery that promises comprehensive battery health data.
Samsung Phone Battery Charging Tips
Here are Samsung battery charging tips:
- Avoid charging your Samsung battery overnight.
- Don’t use the phone while it’s charging.
- Keep the battery level between 30 percent and 80 percent. This is better than letting it discharge completely and then recharging into the max.
- Use only original, fast-charging chargers.
- Keep the phone away from hot spaces while charging.
Samsung Phones with the Best Battery Life
Here is a list of Samsung phones with excellent battery life:
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (5,000mAh)
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus (4,500mAh)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (4,500mAh)
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (4,500mAh)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (4,300mAh)
- Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus (4,100mAh)
