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3G vs WiFi when at home - which uses less power?

nstallion

nstallion

Android Expert
There was a similar thread on this but it got no real answer. I'm just wondering which uses less power when not really doing anything, idling I guess you could call it. The only data being transferred would be incoming email and whatever other background data traffic might be going on.
 
brettlewis, is this true?

I purposely did not charge my phone last night. When I went to bed it had 40% battery left. I had wifi on, and when I woke up today the battery had 15% remaining. This was only about 8 hours of idle time. I don't think the battery should be used up that quickly while doing nothing (no syncing, all apps closed).

I had guessed this was because I left wifi on. I'm going to try this again tonight and turn off wifi to see how the battery is used overnight.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
 
I've observed wi-fi is much more efficient on the battery. Went most of the day at home on wifi last weekend with very little discharge.

e
 
Yes, wifi is much more efficient. You may Of had other processes on. Was you screen left on? Maybe try to turn down your brightness.
 
Verizon's 3G network is fast enough for web browsing that i have no need to switch to WiFi. I stay on 3G constantly.
 
If you have wifi on it might but it is not good to keep it on when no wifi networks are available. But wifi does use way less battery then 3G so if you have it, use it.
 
famac! said:
Verizon's 3G network is fast enough for web browsing that i have no need to switch to WiFi. I stay on 3G constantly.
Click to expand...

my wireless network at home is about 8x faster than 3G(2000 kbps(Verizon) vs. 17000 kbps(me)). that's the main reason I use wifi at home over 3G.
 
When you turn on WiFi, do you have to do anything to tell the phone to not use 3G while WiFi is on? Pardon me if this is posted elsewhere, but the answer might be handy in this thread.

Thanks -

Matt
 
mswhite60 said:
When you turn on WiFi, do you have to do anything to tell the phone to not use 3G while WiFi is on? Pardon me if this is posted elsewhere, but the answer might be handy in this thread.

Thanks -

Matt
Click to expand...

from my observations, no. When I turn on wifi, the icon seems to take the place of the 3G icon. So maybe the phone only allows one on at a time?
 
Thanks for this thread, I'm shocked to know that. I would have thought that the Wi-Fi used MORE power, and so I always turn it off at night.

I, too, have the 30Mbps/5Mbps FIOS at home, so I'd much rather be using that anyway.
 
I bet 3G uses more power because it's got to transmit further, WiFi will only go a few hundred feet but 3G goes all the way to a cell tower. So it's little transmitter needs more power to transmit.
 
If you have wifi use it. It iis not dwitched to save verizon money, its switched to save you money. 3g takes out of your data and the overages are killer. Point is, wifi is fast, will save you power, and will save you money
 
brettlewis said:
If you have wifi use it. It iis not dwitched to save verizon money, its switched to save you money. 3g takes out of your data and the overages are killer. Point is, wifi is fast, will save you power, and will save you money
Click to expand...

for those with the unlimited data plan(which I am sure most people got), does it really save us money?
 
brettlewis said:
If you have wifi use it. It iis not dwitched to save verizon money, its switched to save you money. 3g takes out of your data and the overages are killer. Point is, wifi is fast, will save you power, and will save you money
Click to expand...


If all you are doing is web browsing and the occasional download, you will never come close to the 5GB cap of Verizon's "unlimited" plan. Personally for me, there is no need for WiFi. Browsing is super fast on 3G so i just have WiFi turned off permanently.
 
The do have limited data plans. I have one. :( It was an employer decision, but when I blasted through the limit on day one we saw how silly it is.

Changing that today.
 
brettlewis said:
If you have wifi use it. It iis not dwitched to save verizon money, its switched to save you money. 3g takes out of your data and the overages are killer. Point is, wifi is fast, will save you power, and will save you money
Click to expand...

Again, you're wrong.

The unlimited phone plan is just that, unlimited. The 5G "limit" you heard about is specifically for TETHERING ONLY.
 
If someone wants to do a test, turn on WiFi and 3G and leave the phone sitting around doing nothing for a long time. Then go and check the Battery Use and see what uses more (Wifi or Cell Standby). That should be a good indication of what uses more power.

I'd do it, but I don't think I can leave my Droid alone for a long time without using it. :rolleyes:
 
From my experience and this is true with most phones as well as the Droid WiFi is much more battery hungry than 3G. Reason being that a WiFi connection is active at all times even when you aren't streaming anything a 3G connection is less battery intensive when it is actively streaming content.
 
In my experience WiFi Is a power leech,

On my HTC Magic I can stay on 3G all day and the battery lasts , If I'm on WiFi the battery drains real quick and according to the Power manager it drains alot....
 
my wifi is faster, i am gonna test mall wifi tomorrow! and my wifes mom has wifi too, i will try it later.
 
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