6 ms·

We can build phones that last us a few days on a charge already. We have all the technology we need. The problem is we (both customers and OEMs): 1) don't real

We can build phones that last us a few days on a charge already. We have all the technology we need. The problem is we (both customers and OEMs): 1) don't really want a slower/more efficient processor (like Cortex A7/A53) 2) don't really want a smaller ~4.5" screen 3) don't really want a 960x540 or 800x480 resolution If we could build a "premium" phone with those specs (for instance the same resolution, but a much newer and more efficient display technology) we could make them last even more than these low-end phones where we typically find these specs.

mwcampbell 11y ago
How do we (and the OEMs) know that there isn't a large enough subset of customers that want these things? I'm guessing many customers would accept a weaker processor and lower-resolution screen in exchange for more battery life if the phone's marketing emphasized the battery life over the processor and screen specs. And while we're at it, why not go all the way to a Cortex A5?
- johansch 11y ago
  I bet there's a Chinese or Indian OEM that has this niche covered. Edit: http://www.dailytech.com/Eton+Thundergod+Packs+5000+mAh+Battery+in+93+mm+Thick+Android+Phone/article34680.htm http://www.dailytech.com/Eton+Thundergod+Packs+5000+mAh+Batt... "The Eton Thundergod packs a bigger battery that allows it to nearly match Lenovo's promises in talk time, while delivering a thinner, more powerful device The Thundergod's battery weighs in at 5,000 mAh -- good enough for 21 hours of 3G/4G talk time or a whopping 46 days (1,100 hours) of standby time. Literally, you can go days without charging this monster."
  - zimpenfish 11y ago
    But does that phone actually exist? I can't find anything other than regurgitated press releases from early 2014.
    - johansch 11y ago
      Maybe not. But, googling "5000 mah android" I found: http://www.androidauthority.com/review-of-thl-5000-410058/ http://www.androidauthority.com/review-of-thl-5000-410058/ http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/gionee-marathon-m3-with-5000mah-battery-launched-at-rs-12999-616915 http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/gionee-marathon-m3-with...
- alistairSH 11y ago
  I'd like to know as well. I remember seeing some data about iPhone battery life over the generations. Apple has basically held it steady - as the processors and screens have improved, the power efficiency has improved just enough to hold battery life constant. The exception to this was the 6+ which due to it's larger size, had a fair bit more battery life. Personally, I'd love a phone with 6+ battery life or better in the 5S form-factor. I don't need or want a large screen - that's why I have tablets and laptops.
  - zimpenfish 11y ago
    http://sixcolors.com/post/2015/01/battery-life-apples-solving-for-x/ http://sixcolors.com/post/2015/01/battery-life-apples-solvin...
    - alistairSH 11y ago
      That's the one, thanks. I'd love to see some of the research that determined 'x'.
buster 11y ago
I really really want a 3,7" display and 960x540 is more then enough for me, really. I am carrying around a HTC One and it's nice, but i couldn't care less if the phone had no FullHD screen. The problem is that almost all high end smartphones (in terms of build quality, etc.) also have huge screens and are too big. And the cheaper phones have a terrible quality. Not sure about the Moto E, though.
- nl 11y ago
  Sony Z3C. I get 48 hours, and the size is perfect if you don't want a bigger phone. I've had lots bad Sony experiences in the past, but this is a good product.
  - yitchelle 11y ago
    What is your usage model to get the 48hrs? I will be lucky to get 6 hours our of my Samsung S4. If it is really that good, this might be my next phone.
    - nl 11y ago
      Not heavy use, but I'm not shutting anything off. Here's a link for the Z3C benchmark, which reflects my experience[1]. It benchmarks 2 hours longer than the Samsung S5 in continual use, or roughly doubles the Nexus 5 life. Here's a screenshot of my batter usage after a day at work[2] [1] http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sony-Xperia-Z3-Compact-battery-life-test-results-the-new-champ-welcomes-us-to-the-era-of-two-day-battery-life_id60955 http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sony-Xperia-Z3-Compact-batter... [2] https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/156715/Screenshot_2015-05-21-23-13-05.png https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/156715/Screenshot_2015-0...
jacquesm 11y ago
And the biggest factor of all: we don't want to give up on our easy to use development environments using countless layers of abstraction making software that is horribly inefficient even though the target is a battery operated device. The screen is something you can't get around but the CPUs are insanely powerful for the kind of work a typical phone is doing.
- darklajid 11y ago
  Agreed. It's hard to look at this S6 and NOT shake your head. 8 cores. 3GB of memory. And it does a fraction (in terms of use cases covered) of a laptop with a full blown desktop OS. What.. for? What use case on a phone requires so much silicone? I am fine with ~beefy~ handsets to - I don't know - support multi tasking between a couple of applications. But this? I feel I miss the entire target market (again). It seems I don't understand how you're expected to use your phone to actually require all these resources.
msh 11y ago
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini that fits 2 out of the three requirements, and battery life absolutely sucks. Especially the standby battery life. New flagships have much better battery with big screens and faster SoC's.

mwcampbell 11y ago

How do we (and the OEMs) know that there isn't a large enough subset of customers that want these things? I'm guessing many customers would accept a weaker processor and lower-resolution screen in exchange for more battery life if the phone's marketing emphasized the battery life over the processor and screen specs. And while we're at it, why not go all the way to a Cortex A5?

johansch 11y ago
I bet there's a Chinese or Indian OEM that has this niche covered. Edit: http://www.dailytech.com/Eton+Thundergod+Packs+5000+mAh+Battery+in+93+mm+Thick+Android+Phone/article34680.htm http://www.dailytech.com/Eton+Thundergod+Packs+5000+mAh+Batt... "The Eton Thundergod packs a bigger battery that allows it to nearly match Lenovo's promises in talk time, while delivering a thinner, more powerful device The Thundergod's battery weighs in at 5,000 mAh -- good enough for 21 hours of 3G/4G talk time or a whopping 46 days (1,100 hours) of standby time. Literally, you can go days without charging this monster."
- zimpenfish 11y ago
  But does that phone actually exist? I can't find anything other than regurgitated press releases from early 2014.
  - johansch 11y ago
    Maybe not. But, googling "5000 mah android" I found: http://www.androidauthority.com/review-of-thl-5000-410058/ http://www.androidauthority.com/review-of-thl-5000-410058/ http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/gionee-marathon-m3-with-5000mah-battery-launched-at-rs-12999-616915 http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/gionee-marathon-m3-with...
alistairSH 11y ago
I'd like to know as well. I remember seeing some data about iPhone battery life over the generations. Apple has basically held it steady - as the processors and screens have improved, the power efficiency has improved just enough to hold battery life constant. The exception to this was the 6+ which due to it's larger size, had a fair bit more battery life. Personally, I'd love a phone with 6+ battery life or better in the 5S form-factor. I don't need or want a large screen - that's why I have tablets and laptops.
- zimpenfish 11y ago
  http://sixcolors.com/post/2015/01/battery-life-apples-solving-for-x/ http://sixcolors.com/post/2015/01/battery-life-apples-solvin...
  - alistairSH 11y ago
    That's the one, thanks. I'd love to see some of the research that determined 'x'.

buster 11y ago

I really really want a 3,7" display and 960x540 is more then enough for me, really. I am carrying around a HTC One and it's nice, but i couldn't care less if the phone had no FullHD screen. The problem is that almost all high end smartphones (in terms of build quality, etc.) also have huge screens and are too big. And the cheaper phones have a terrible quality. Not sure about the Moto E, though.

nl 11y ago
Sony Z3C. I get 48 hours, and the size is perfect if you don't want a bigger phone. I've had lots bad Sony experiences in the past, but this is a good product.
- yitchelle 11y ago
  What is your usage model to get the 48hrs? I will be lucky to get 6 hours our of my Samsung S4. If it is really that good, this might be my next phone.
  - nl 11y ago
    Not heavy use, but I'm not shutting anything off. Here's a link for the Z3C benchmark, which reflects my experience[1]. It benchmarks 2 hours longer than the Samsung S5 in continual use, or roughly doubles the Nexus 5 life. Here's a screenshot of my batter usage after a day at work[2] [1] http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sony-Xperia-Z3-Compact-battery-life-test-results-the-new-champ-welcomes-us-to-the-era-of-two-day-battery-life_id60955 http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sony-Xperia-Z3-Compact-batter... [2] https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/156715/Screenshot_2015-05-21-23-13-05.png https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/156715/Screenshot_2015-0...

jacquesm 11y ago

And the biggest factor of all: we don't want to give up on our easy to use development environments using countless layers of abstraction making software that is horribly inefficient even though the target is a battery operated device. The screen is something you can't get around but the CPUs are insanely powerful for the kind of work a typical phone is doing.

darklajid 11y ago
Agreed. It's hard to look at this S6 and NOT shake your head. 8 cores. 3GB of memory. And it does a fraction (in terms of use cases covered) of a laptop with a full blown desktop OS. What.. for? What use case on a phone requires so much silicone? I am fine with ~beefy~ handsets to - I don't know - support multi tasking between a couple of applications. But this? I feel I miss the entire target market (again). It seems I don't understand how you're expected to use your phone to actually require all these resources.

msh 11y ago

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini that fits 2 out of the three requirements, and battery life absolutely sucks. Especially the standby battery life. New flagships have much better battery with big screens and faster SoC's.