Study Reveals Apps Draining Smartphone Batteries Significantly

Smartphone users are facing a significant decline in battery longevity, with device batteries now requiring daily charging due to increased power consumption by applications. A recent study conducted by telecommunications and network company Elevate found that smartphone batteries have decreased in lifespan by 23% since 2019, when devices could go an average of 1.5 days without needing a charge.

The study analyzed user habits to pinpoint which applications contribute most to battery drain. By examining factors such as average screen time, data usage, and background activity, Elevate calculated the average monthly battery usage for various apps. The results reveal a striking picture of smartphone energy consumption.

Top Energy-Draining Applications

The analysis identified the top ten applications that exert the heaviest strain on smartphone batteries. Leading the list is Netflix, which consumes a staggering 1500% of a full battery charge over 30 days. Users typically spend an average of 60 hours per month streaming movies and shows, while the app’s background processes add an additional 13 hours of battery usage.

Following closely is TikTok, ranking second with a monthly battery drain of 825%. Users engage with the app for about 33 hours per month, while background activities contribute 9.9 hours to energy consumption. The app consumes 25% of battery power for each hour of use, similar to Netflix.

In third place is YouTube, which consumes 540% of battery charge monthly. Although it is less energy-intensive than Netflix and TikTok, it still pulls 20% of battery power per hour and sees significant usage of 27 hours monthly.

Following YouTube, Threads occupies fourth place with a monthly battery usage of 460%. It mirrors YouTube in terms of battery consumption per hour and has an average user engagement of 23 hours monthly, with battery usage from background processes reaching 6.9 hours.

Snapchat ranks fifth, draining 320% of battery charge each month. Users spend approximately 16 hours on the app, with background activities contributing significantly to battery drain.

In sixth place is CapCut, with 300% of battery usage. Although it has an average screen time of just 10 hours, it consumes a hefty 30% of battery charge for every hour of use.

Instagram is next, also consuming 300% of the battery. With an average engagement of 15 hours monthly, the app runs background processes for an additional 4.5 hours, making it a notable contributor to battery drain.

Following Instagram is Facebook, which drains 270% of battery charge. Users spend more time on Facebook—around 18 hours—and the app’s background activity further exacerbates battery loss.

Spotify is in ninth place with a monthly usage of 225%. While it consumes only 5% of battery power per hour, its background activity is extensive, lasting 13.5 hours.

Finally, ChatGPT rounds out the list in tenth place, draining 200% of battery charge each month. It uses less power than TikTok but still impacts battery life significantly.

Managing Background Usage for Better Battery Life

While users may be aware of the energy drain during active usage—such as streaming or video editing—applications like Spotify continue to consume considerable battery even when not in active use. This highlights the importance of managing background app refresh settings to optimize battery performance.

The findings from Elevate serve as a critical reminder for users to be mindful of their app usage habits and the potential impact on device longevity. As smartphone technology evolves, battery performance remains an area that requires attention and improvement.