how low does your smartphone battery go, before it shuts itself down?

[VirtualLarry]

I went to turn on my relatively new Exhibit 4G, and pressing the power button didn't make the screen light up. I pressed it several times, no dice. So I plugged it into the charger, and the phone powered on and gave me the splash screen, then went to the lock screen, and it said "Charging (29%)".

Do smartphones power-off when they hit below 30% battery? My laptop threatens to hibernate once the battery level reaches something around 7%.

Are cell-phone batteries less accurate about their charging percentage? Or more prone to damage or shortened lifespan if they are allowed to discharge lower than 30%?

I also noticed that it will not charge higher than 97%, I assume again for battery longevity.

 

[bigrash]

My iphone 5 shuts off after 1%.

 

[Nothinman]

That's not normal at all. My Android phones have always shutdown at either 1% or 0%, obviously the latter being a fudging of the number by the OS to give itself some power to perform the shutdown.

And similarly, they've always charged up to 100% even if there's some leeway behind the scenes.

 

[MotionMan]

My iphone 5 shuts off after 1%.

That's not normal at all. My Android phones have always shutdown at either 1% or 0%, obviously the latter being a fudging of the number by the OS to give itself some power to perform the shutdown.

And similarly, they've always charged up to 100% even if there's some leeway behind the scenes.

My iPhone 5 (and 4 and 3G before that) charges to 100% and shuts off sometime after showing 1% (I assume 0%).

Your phone appears to be malfunctioning.

MotionMan

 

[A5]

Based on this thread and the other one, your phone is busted. Take it back to the store and swap it for another one.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hmm, I've been charging it, and for the first time, it actually beeped at me, and said that it was 100% charged, and to remove the charger.

Maybe it just needed to calibrate the battery?

I'll let it run down, and see how far it goes before power-off.

Is it possible that when the phone was in my pocket, it got powered-off? (Power button pushed, on-screen menu for power-down pushed? Although, that would have had to have happened while I was asleep, because I'm sure I would have heard it shutting down and noticed it.)

 

[cardiac]

You sleep with your phone in your pocket?

 

[shortylickens]

You sleep with your phone in your pocket?

I dont have any pockets when I sleep.

Wanna know why?
:awe:

 

[OBLAMA2009]

my droid shuts down at 0% (starts warning at about 15%) but it wont power on again until it has 5% charge. why would you get exhibit 4g when you could have gotten nexus 4

 

[shortylickens]

PSA:

Those percentages are bullshit.

 

[lothar]

my droid shuts down at 0% (starts warning at about 15%) but it wont power on again until it has 5% charge. why would you get exhibit 4g when you could have gotten nexus 4

WTF? Which "droid" phone is this?

 

[Chocu1a]

Seems like your phone is faulty. You made another thread about your phone randomly restarting, too. I really think your device is faulty. It happens. Hopefully you didn't buy it second hand.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

1% and it shuts off.

 

[SherylMathews]

I am using Sony Xperia P and it shuts down at 1% battery, never before that. I think there must be some problem with your handset then.

 

[Anubis]

WTF? Which "droid" phone is this?

most moto phones are like that, you have to plug them in at sub 5% to get them to reboot/turn on if they are off

 

[Dulanic]

1% and it starts shutdown. I warns me at 15% and 5% though.

 

[shortylickens]

I am using Sony Xperia P and it shuts down at 1% battery, never before that. I think there must be some problem with your handset then.

Welcome to Anandtech.
Protect your valuables.

 

[VirtualLarry]

my droid shuts down at 0% (starts warning at about 15%) but it wont power on again until it has 5% charge. why would you get exhibit 4g when you could have gotten nexus 4

Where could I have gotten a Nexus 4 for $130 new?

Edit: Oh, and my phone has wifi calling, which I use a lot.

 

[lothar]

most moto phones are like that, you have to plug them in at sub 5% to get them to reboot/turn on if they are off

That's lame.

 

[wirednuts]

0% on my sensation

but theyre just relative numbers the os makes up to give you an idea how much time you have left anyway. check the battery's voltage with a dmm if you want to really know where its at when the phone shuts off. which, in most cases is about 10% or more above the battery's actual lowest safe discharge point.

 

[Thegonagle]

Between this thread and your other one regarding spontaneous reboots, it's evident that your phone is broken or defective.

If you bought it new, and it's still under warranty, you're in luck. Call your carrier's customer service line to see about a replacement.

 

[Anonemous]

My Iphone5 shut off at 5% (using GPS) and a couple times I got it down to 2-3% without shutting off. I guess it depends on what programs you are using.