Whether you are in serious need of a battery boost on your iPhone because your device refuses to hold a charge or you’re just in the mood to do a little spring cleaning because your phone is bursting with apps, it’s a good idea to take stock of your apps every now and again. Some of the apps on your phone could be contributing to a weaker battery that doesn’t operate as well as it should. Instead of replacing your battery or assuming your phone is just old and you need to spend money on a new device, opting to delete some of these apps is a fast, cheap way to gain back valuable battery power and efficiency. It might be painful to part ways with some of these apps, but if you’re looking to make a big change without spending money, Tech Expert Austin Farrington, vice president of Reloft.com, says these three common apps drain your battery on Apple devices.
This reality may be painful to face if you love social media, but Instagram is one of the most battery-draining apps on the iPhone due to its constant data syncing, push notifications, and background refresh, according to Farrington. “These features keep the app active in the background, consuming a lot of power,” he says. If you’re not on board with deleting your Instagram account, we get it. Luckily, there are other ways you can minimize the app’s effect on your battery. “You can mitigate its battery impact by disabling push notifications, reducing the frequency of background app refresh, and limiting your usage time,” Farrington says.
Google Maps
“Google Maps is another app that can be a significant battery drainer due to its use of GPS, data connectivity, and high-quality maps,” Farrington says. “The GPS usage alone can drain your battery quickly, and the app frequently sends and receives data, further contributing to battery drain. To reduce the impact of Google Maps on your battery life, you can use offline maps, reduce the screen brightness, and turn off location services when not needed.”
Snapchat
It’s probably no shock that another social media made this list, considering how many resources they take up. “Snapchat is a social media app that uses a lot of power due to its real-time image processing (aka filters) and constant camera usage,” Farrington says. “It also requires internet connectivity and frequent data syncing, which can contribute to battery drain. To reduce its impact on your battery life, you can limit your usage time, disable features like location services, and turn off the Snap Map feature.”
Consider deleting these apps — or modifying how you use them if you can’t bear the thought of losing them altogether. It may be worth it to gain back more battery power and a more efficient phone.
