I was under the impression that iPhone battery life was actually better than most other 3G phones? A PC World study shows that the iPhone did better than all other phones other than the Blackberries, and those only beat the iPhone by 4 minutes to 1/2 hour. Hardly a major advantage. (http://tinyurl.com/iphone-battery-life).
I also haven't found problems with dropped calls with the 3G iPhone. Perhaps you had a defective model?
I returned my iphone in 2 days. I am a heavy e-mail and phone user. The battery died in mid day and the phone got warm so much that it was bothering my hands while writing e-mails. Some applications such as messengers are not running unless you are logged in.
Make it short i am back to my Blackberry and very very happy with it. Do not buy an iphone if you are heavy e-mailing…..
"The iPhone battery doesn’t last as long as the comparable 3G devices running on Symbian, Windows Mobile and other platforms. I didn’t notice much improvement when I kept Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off either."
—That's because those horrible devices (Windows Mobile and other platforms) don't do anything that requires energy such as browsing the Web like on a freaking real computer. Don't you get it yet, this phone ISN'T a phone bozo, it's a computer. It's absolutely amazing what it accomplishes using the battery it has. And actually if you turn Wi-Fi off the battery will last for days, obviously you just wrote a lie and didn't actually try it. Here you are, using a device that is akin to when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, and you have no clue what you just gave up after two weeks. Ugh..
If you turn off location services (GPS), you get very good battery life. Turn it on and it drains it like a Hummer consumes gasoline.
If you turn on the GPS (give an application permission to use your current location), you will have to remember to turn it off manually, otherwise it stays on.
I think that if you're a heavy e-mail user you should stick to your Blackberry. There's nothing wrong with the iPhone as an e-mail device but it takes some getting used to the virtual keyboard. If however, you need internet access, there's not comparison.
Thank heavens there is an objective source that has proven that the iPhone actually has some of the best battery life available for 3G phones. The reason people mistakenly believe the iPhone has such a short battery life is because they can't put the thing down! It's a phone, it's an iPod, it's an internet communicator, it's a game console and it runs my productivity applications. Of course my battery runs down. I never stop using the damn thing!
You know, it's really possible to write a comment without calling someone a bozo. For instance, I'm going to avoid doing just that and instead respond to the points you made. The iPhone is not the only mobile device that both makes voice calls and acts like a (slowish) computer. I use an HTC AT&T;Tilt that is 3G, does push email. browser web use (both through Windows Mobile and other browsers), Bluetooth, WiFi, location-based services, IM, etc. Granted, it's not as elegant as the white iPhone that just joined our household today but it has similar capabilities and the ability to swap out batteries. That last item makes the Tilt more practical even if the two have identical battery life. I took back an iPhone last summer because it wasn't reliable enough to be my primary phone/wireless/mobile device. Unlike me, the new iPhone owner in my house is not a heavy mobile user but we will try some tests along the way to compare the devices in real time with similar usage.
As for Matt's findings, just like mileage reports for cars, results will vary for different users. And, by the way, if he didn't have a clue what he was giving up, he wouldn't be planning an iTouch purchase.
I realize that the iPhone's battery is pulled on more heavily than any device in its class. Call me a bozo if you think that gets your point across any better, but this is also a phone. It is the iPhone after all. And as I explained, it doesn't pass the test for me in that regard. I need my phone to handle phone calls and email first and foremost. That's why I've decided to use the Apple platform for what it's best at — a personal mobile computer that offers the best mobile browser and gaming experience I've seen. And I can get all that out of an iPod Touch. No harm, no foul. I own many Apple products and I'm not new to mobile devices. I've used dozens — all different form factors and platforms — over the past 12 or 13 years. I owned the first iPhone and gave it up for many of the same reasons. I can only speak from and compare to my own experiences while taking into account all the functions and capabilities of each device. To each his or her own — live and let live. I'm glad to see the response this is generating.
YOU WERE FOOLED BY THE CALIBRATION ON THE BATTERY GRAPHIC
THIS RED (RUNNING OUT) GRAPHIC MAY SHOW UP TOO EARLY FOR SOME PHONES AND THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME ON EVERY PHONE – MINE TURNS RED PRETTY FAST ABOUT HALF WAY THOUGHT THE DAY BUT WILL STAY ON AND RED FOR QUITE A LONG TIME…. IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE THIS OUT DUE TO ME PLUGGING IT IN RIGHT WHEN IT WENT RED MOST OF THE TIME.
ALSO YOU REALLY CAN TURN OFF 3G FOR REGULAR PHONE USE AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS MAKE A HELL OF A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN SET RIGHT… YOU MAY NEED TO RE-TRY THE PHONE LET US KNOW IF AND WHEN!
GAVIN
I am uhmming and ahhing about this as I type. i still have my first gen iPhone – its on the NZ equivalent of eBay right now. And I like my new 16GB 3G iPhone … but not as much as my first gen. Maybe I'm just hanging out for the old days, when I was the only kid on the block with one. Maybe its the slight retro cool of the metal finish back that identifies me as an early adopter.
I dunno. I got a really, REALLY good retention deal and I didn't even have to sign up to one of the gruesome 24 month plans we have here in NZ. I'll probably stick with the new one in the hope that they'll release some better battery / location services management, and / or better use of the hardware difference between the 3G and the original iPhone. But still …. something just doesn't quite feel right.
The iPhone 3G is not for me. I
I was under the impression that iPhone battery life was actually better than most other 3G phones? A PC World study shows that the iPhone did better than all other phones other than the Blackberries, and those only beat the iPhone by 4 minutes to 1/2 hour. Hardly a major advantage. (http://tinyurl.com/iphone-battery-life).
I also haven't found problems with dropped calls with the 3G iPhone. Perhaps you had a defective model?
I returned my iphone in 2 days. I am a heavy e-mail and phone user. The battery died in mid day and the phone got warm so much that it was bothering my hands while writing e-mails. Some applications such as messengers are not running unless you are logged in.
Make it short i am back to my Blackberry and very very happy with it. Do not buy an iphone if you are heavy e-mailing…..
"The iPhone battery doesn’t last as long as the comparable 3G devices running on Symbian, Windows Mobile and other platforms. I didn’t notice much improvement when I kept Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off either."
—That's because those horrible devices (Windows Mobile and other platforms) don't do anything that requires energy such as browsing the Web like on a freaking real computer. Don't you get it yet, this phone ISN'T a phone bozo, it's a computer. It's absolutely amazing what it accomplishes using the battery it has. And actually if you turn Wi-Fi off the battery will last for days, obviously you just wrote a lie and didn't actually try it. Here you are, using a device that is akin to when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, and you have no clue what you just gave up after two weeks. Ugh..
If you turn off location services (GPS), you get very good battery life. Turn it on and it drains it like a Hummer consumes gasoline.
If you turn on the GPS (give an application permission to use your current location), you will have to remember to turn it off manually, otherwise it stays on.
I think that if you're a heavy e-mail user you should stick to your Blackberry. There's nothing wrong with the iPhone as an e-mail device but it takes some getting used to the virtual keyboard. If however, you need internet access, there's not comparison.
Thank heavens there is an objective source that has proven that the iPhone actually has some of the best battery life available for 3G phones. The reason people mistakenly believe the iPhone has such a short battery life is because they can't put the thing down! It's a phone, it's an iPod, it's an internet communicator, it's a game console and it runs my productivity applications. Of course my battery runs down. I never stop using the damn thing!
You know, it's really possible to write a comment without calling someone a bozo. For instance, I'm going to avoid doing just that and instead respond to the points you made. The iPhone is not the only mobile device that both makes voice calls and acts like a (slowish) computer. I use an HTC AT&T;Tilt that is 3G, does push email. browser web use (both through Windows Mobile and other browsers), Bluetooth, WiFi, location-based services, IM, etc. Granted, it's not as elegant as the white iPhone that just joined our household today but it has similar capabilities and the ability to swap out batteries. That last item makes the Tilt more practical even if the two have identical battery life. I took back an iPhone last summer because it wasn't reliable enough to be my primary phone/wireless/mobile device. Unlike me, the new iPhone owner in my house is not a heavy mobile user but we will try some tests along the way to compare the devices in real time with similar usage.
As for Matt's findings, just like mileage reports for cars, results will vary for different users. And, by the way, if he didn't have a clue what he was giving up, he wouldn't be planning an iTouch purchase.
I realize that the iPhone's battery is pulled on more heavily than any device in its class. Call me a bozo if you think that gets your point across any better, but this is also a phone. It is the iPhone after all. And as I explained, it doesn't pass the test for me in that regard. I need my phone to handle phone calls and email first and foremost. That's why I've decided to use the Apple platform for what it's best at — a personal mobile computer that offers the best mobile browser and gaming experience I've seen. And I can get all that out of an iPod Touch. No harm, no foul. I own many Apple products and I'm not new to mobile devices. I've used dozens — all different form factors and platforms — over the past 12 or 13 years. I owned the first iPhone and gave it up for many of the same reasons. I can only speak from and compare to my own experiences while taking into account all the functions and capabilities of each device. To each his or her own — live and let live. I'm glad to see the response this is generating.
YOU WERE FOOLED BY THE CALIBRATION ON THE BATTERY GRAPHIC
THIS RED (RUNNING OUT) GRAPHIC MAY SHOW UP TOO EARLY FOR SOME PHONES AND THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME ON EVERY PHONE – MINE TURNS RED PRETTY FAST ABOUT HALF WAY THOUGHT THE DAY BUT WILL STAY ON AND RED FOR QUITE A LONG TIME…. IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE THIS OUT DUE TO ME PLUGGING IT IN RIGHT WHEN IT WENT RED MOST OF THE TIME.
ALSO YOU REALLY CAN TURN OFF 3G FOR REGULAR PHONE USE AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS MAKE A HELL OF A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN SET RIGHT… YOU MAY NEED TO RE-TRY THE PHONE LET US KNOW IF AND WHEN!
GAVIN
I am uhmming and ahhing about this as I type. i still have my first gen iPhone – its on the NZ equivalent of eBay right now. And I like my new 16GB 3G iPhone … but not as much as my first gen. Maybe I'm just hanging out for the old days, when I was the only kid on the block with one. Maybe its the slight retro cool of the metal finish back that identifies me as an early adopter.
I dunno. I got a really, REALLY good retention deal and I didn't even have to sign up to one of the gruesome 24 month plans we have here in NZ. I'll probably stick with the new one in the hope that they'll release some better battery / location services management, and / or better use of the hardware difference between the 3G and the original iPhone. But still …. something just doesn't quite feel right.
To be frank the iPhone is a PoS.
The browser is cool, but since the majority of the market use a cell for voice, the iPhone fails.
Voice is 95% of all activities on a cell today still right?