4g settings I would love!

[swagner53]

Given the fact that 4G is such a battery hog many of us turn it off through a hidden setting accessed using "phone info" or other such apps or by dialing a data code into the dialer. Sure- we all want to see that toggle widget, but even even more than that- here's what I want.

I want a setting that will turn on 4G when my screen is on. I don't really need 4g in the background to download email and weather/news/facebook/twitter updates. 3G is fine for that. I want 4G when I am browsing or streaming or downloading. A toggle would be ok, but just automatically turning it on when my screen comes on might be a smoother and more satisfying experience.

Your thoughts?

 

[AustinTech]

I would like a toggle that toggles on and off my toggles. I'd toggle that thing like a....

I get your idea, but I'd rather just keep my phone charged. Too many toggles.

 

[dguy]

Just so you all know, turning off 4G to save significant battery life on the Thunderbolt is an urban legend.

This myth is perpetuated because of the Evo 4G and the fact that having 4G on it destroyed battery life. People incorrectly think this happens with the Thunderbolt. The Evo 4G was a standard layout smartphone but it happened to have a completely separate Wimax chip installed on the motherboard. This is very draining because it's another engine that needs power so to speak.

The Thunderbolt has no such thing. It has an all in one radio chip that supports all of the data connections it may be exposed to including LTE. Disabling LTE doesn't disable any battery draining chip on the Thunderbolt at all like it does on the Evo. All disabling LTE does is tell the chip to just stick with 3G. It doesn't actually power down anything. Disabling LTE can save you a completely miniscule amount of power at most on the Thunderbolt.

 

[drewcam888]

Disabling LTE can save you a completely miniscule amount of power at most on the Thunderbolt.

Or it could save you a ton of power if your phone is constantly switching from 3g to 4g because of your coverage area.

 

[EgoDogg]

Just so you all know, turning off 4G to save significant battery life on the Thunderbolt is an urban legend.

This myth is perpetuated because of the Evo 4G and the fact that having 4G on it destroyed battery life. People incorrectly think this happens with the Thunderbolt. The Evo 4G was a standard layout smartphone but it happened to have a completely separate Wimax chip installed on the motherboard. This is very draining because it's another engine that needs power so to speak.

The Thunderbolt has no such thing. It has an all in one radio chip that supports all of the data connections it may be exposed to including LTE. Disabling LTE doesn't disable any battery draining chip on the Thunderbolt at all like it does on the Evo. All disabling LTE does is tell the chip to just stick with 3G. It doesn't actually power down anything. Disabling LTE can save you a completely miniscule amount of power at most on the Thunderbolt.

Not saying you're wrong as I can't test it out for myself, but I live in a non-4g area, and I get approximately 7 hours of 'awake' time on a single charge on the stock battery. Drew points out an excellent possibility, though.

 

[odnerd]

Just so you all know, turning off 4G to save significant battery life on the Thunderbolt is an urban legend.

This myth is perpetuated because of the Evo 4G and the fact that having 4G on it destroyed battery life. People incorrectly think this happens with the Thunderbolt. The Evo 4G was a standard layout smartphone but it happened to have a completely separate Wimax chip installed on the motherboard. This is very draining because it's another engine that needs power so to speak.

The Thunderbolt has no such thing. It has an all in one radio chip that supports all of the data connections it may be exposed to including LTE. Disabling LTE doesn't disable any battery draining chip on the Thunderbolt at all like it does on the Evo. All disabling LTE does is tell the chip to just stick with 3G. It doesn't actually power down anything. Disabling LTE can save you a completely miniscule amount of power at most on the Thunderbolt.

Yeah except your wrong that it can't save battery life. My house is on the border of 3g and 4g. With 4g on and not using wifi my battery would drain within 6-8 hours of almost no use because it kept bouncing back and forth. With 4g disabled I've had it off the charger for 6 hours so far and am at 92% battery still...

 

[swagner53]

Sorry but this is simply incorrect. My Tbolt goes. 4-5 hours with 4g on.. over 16 with it off. Real result.. not theory or estimated. Even if the radios are on the same chip they are different radios.. 4g uses significantly more power.

 

[dguy]

Not saying you're wrong as I can't test it out for myself, but I live in a non-4g area, and I get approximately 7 hours of 'awake' time on a single charge on the stock battery. Drew points out an excellent possibility, though.

I've spent an entire day in 3G coverage ares and an entire day in 4G coverage ares and there was no noticeable difference in battery life.

As mentioned earlier if there's some connection problem that's causing the device to work harder than it is supposed to there could be issues, but that's hardly a phone issue and disabling LTE in that situation is a very specific solution for a specific problem and should not be regarded as a common solution to battery life.

Repeating this for the billionth time on this forum: People with battery problems unknowingly have tons of things draining battery life combined with really battery draining settings. Poor battery life isn't an attribute of the phone hardware(it's quite average), it's a result of a stock configuration that is poor on battery life combined with users who aren't very knowledgeable. Getting good battery life out of the Thunderbolt merely requires knowing how Android and your apps work. It's also been explained a million times on this forum what people need to know to achieve this.

Sorry but this is simply incorrect. My Tbolt goes. 4-5 hours with 4g on.. over 16 with it off. Real result.. not theory or estimated. Even if the radios are on the same chip they are different radios.. 4g uses significantly more power.

I'm sure that if disabling LTE increased battery life by 300%, it would be rather big news.

 

[nkd]

Just so you all know, turning off 4G to save significant battery life on the Thunderbolt is an urban legend.

This myth is perpetuated because of the Evo 4G and the fact that having 4G on it destroyed battery life. People incorrectly think this happens with the Thunderbolt. The Evo 4G was a standard layout smartphone but it happened to have a completely separate Wimax chip installed on the motherboard. This is very draining because it's another engine that needs power so to speak.

The Thunderbolt has no such thing. It has an all in one radio chip that supports all of the data connections it may be exposed to including LTE. Disabling LTE doesn't disable any battery draining chip on the Thunderbolt at all like it does on the Evo. All disabling LTE does is tell the chip to just stick with 3G. It doesn't actually power down anything. Disabling LTE can save you a completely miniscule amount of power at most on the Thunderbolt.

Yea you are right about the chip part, on everything else you cant be more wrong. I have personally tested it in the last few days, 3g battery life blows the doors of 4g battery life. It is not a myth. It is a fact, atleast with my thunderbolt that is.