As a VZW customer who switched from a Galaxy Nexus to the Galaxy S3 nearly 9 days ago, I wanted to give a specific report on battery life. One of my primary complaints about the GNex is battery life, despite using the extended battery from day one. For those that are interested, here are my comments regarding battery life on the VZW variant of the GS3, specifically compared to the GNex.
For 5 days per week, I have a regular routine of phone usage which includes 100% charge when I leave for work, 8 hours of work, and then heading home. At work, I am deep inside a building for about 7 of those 8 hours with very poor signal. The other hour consists of 2 breaks that are closer to the exit with better signal. Throughout the 7 hours inside the building, the phone is mainly in my pocket and I listen to a variety of audio, such as streaming music and/or podcasts via Doggcatcher using Bluetooth headphones. I don't listen constantly the whole time, but perhaps about 50% of the time. On my breaks, I normally use the phone a bit or set it up as a hotspot for my tablet to use.
Since December of last year, the GNex has been my main device. As I noted previously, I used the extended battery on my GNex, but even with the extra juice, I would typically get very low on battery by the time I left for work. If I didn't use the WIFI Hotspot feature, then I would typically have no more than 20-30% battery left when leaving work. Sometimes I used the WIFI Hotpost during one of my breaks (1/2 hour) and then my battery would be nearly empty when leaving for work. I found this frustrating because there were times when I purposefully had to refrain from using my phone (especially streaming audio) in order to have enough battery to last my entire shift. I'm convinced that the main reason for battery drain was due to poor signal strength inside the building. It would always drop to 3G and sometimes it would lose data altogether (depending on where I was located).
In conclusion, my Galaxy Nexus would typically drain about 10% per hour at work. At home on WIFI, the GNex obviously fared much better. Honestly, I was not expecting the GS3 to be much better, especially after hearing early reports of similar reception issues, etc.
I am HAPPY to report that there is a SIGNIFICANT increase in battery life under the same conditions with the GS3. I have had over a week of testing now under the same conditions, and when I leave for work now, I am usually between 50-60% of battery, and that is even with using the Hotspot for about 30 minutes. Here are some specific observations I have made:
- The GS3 is getting better reception inside the building that my GNex was getting. It's still on 3G, but the signal strength (db) is better on the GS3 (not significantly so, maybe 5-10 db). More importantly, I have not lost data even once, AND the phone does not get noticeable warm (the GNex would get warm in very low signal areas).
- The WIFI Hotspot on the GS3 is MUCH more efficient than the GNex. However, I'm not sure the comparison is fair. On the Gnex, I would just use the stock WIFI Hotspot feature (since I was unlocked and rooted). On the GS3, I am not rooted and have been using Foxfi (which works GREAT by the way). Even after using Foxfi for about 1/2 hour, the phone is not warm and the battery only dropped about 5% (the Gnex would drop over 10% per half hour when using the hotspot).
- When playing podcasts via Doggcather with the Presto feature (which enables the ability to play at faster speeds), my GNex would drop faster when playing the audio at a faster rate. On the GS3, I am not noticeable as much of a drop when playing audio at faster speeds. I'm thinking it's because the processor is faster and more efficient.
- When streaming audio, I am not getting buffering like I was on the GNex. In some areas of the building, my GNex would either just barely have a signal or would sometimes would lose data altogether. Has not happened on the GS3.
SUMMARY: The GS3 gets better reception, more consistent connection, more efficient power handling, less draining WIFI Hotspot, and does not need an extended battery. I'm even willing to live with a locked bootloader since battery life and reception are more important to me. Don't get me wrong, I love my Nexus and will not be getting rid of it (even if only to keep up with the latest Jellybean updates to play around with), but the hardware on the GS3 is so much better! I WISH the GS3 was the Nexus. Unfortunately, even if there is another Nexus this year, I doubt at this point Verizon will get it.
For 5 days per week, I have a regular routine of phone usage which includes 100% charge when I leave for work, 8 hours of work, and then heading home. At work, I am deep inside a building for about 7 of those 8 hours with very poor signal. The other hour consists of 2 breaks that are closer to the exit with better signal. Throughout the 7 hours inside the building, the phone is mainly in my pocket and I listen to a variety of audio, such as streaming music and/or podcasts via Doggcatcher using Bluetooth headphones. I don't listen constantly the whole time, but perhaps about 50% of the time. On my breaks, I normally use the phone a bit or set it up as a hotspot for my tablet to use.
Since December of last year, the GNex has been my main device. As I noted previously, I used the extended battery on my GNex, but even with the extra juice, I would typically get very low on battery by the time I left for work. If I didn't use the WIFI Hotspot feature, then I would typically have no more than 20-30% battery left when leaving work. Sometimes I used the WIFI Hotpost during one of my breaks (1/2 hour) and then my battery would be nearly empty when leaving for work. I found this frustrating because there were times when I purposefully had to refrain from using my phone (especially streaming audio) in order to have enough battery to last my entire shift. I'm convinced that the main reason for battery drain was due to poor signal strength inside the building. It would always drop to 3G and sometimes it would lose data altogether (depending on where I was located).
In conclusion, my Galaxy Nexus would typically drain about 10% per hour at work. At home on WIFI, the GNex obviously fared much better. Honestly, I was not expecting the GS3 to be much better, especially after hearing early reports of similar reception issues, etc.
I am HAPPY to report that there is a SIGNIFICANT increase in battery life under the same conditions with the GS3. I have had over a week of testing now under the same conditions, and when I leave for work now, I am usually between 50-60% of battery, and that is even with using the Hotspot for about 30 minutes. Here are some specific observations I have made:
- The GS3 is getting better reception inside the building that my GNex was getting. It's still on 3G, but the signal strength (db) is better on the GS3 (not significantly so, maybe 5-10 db). More importantly, I have not lost data even once, AND the phone does not get noticeable warm (the GNex would get warm in very low signal areas).
- The WIFI Hotspot on the GS3 is MUCH more efficient than the GNex. However, I'm not sure the comparison is fair. On the Gnex, I would just use the stock WIFI Hotspot feature (since I was unlocked and rooted). On the GS3, I am not rooted and have been using Foxfi (which works GREAT by the way). Even after using Foxfi for about 1/2 hour, the phone is not warm and the battery only dropped about 5% (the Gnex would drop over 10% per half hour when using the hotspot).
- When playing podcasts via Doggcather with the Presto feature (which enables the ability to play at faster speeds), my GNex would drop faster when playing the audio at a faster rate. On the GS3, I am not noticeable as much of a drop when playing audio at faster speeds. I'm thinking it's because the processor is faster and more efficient.
- When streaming audio, I am not getting buffering like I was on the GNex. In some areas of the building, my GNex would either just barely have a signal or would sometimes would lose data altogether. Has not happened on the GS3.
SUMMARY: The GS3 gets better reception, more consistent connection, more efficient power handling, less draining WIFI Hotspot, and does not need an extended battery. I'm even willing to live with a locked bootloader since battery life and reception are more important to me. Don't get me wrong, I love my Nexus and will not be getting rid of it (even if only to keep up with the latest Jellybean updates to play around with), but the hardware on the GS3 is so much better! I WISH the GS3 was the Nexus. Unfortunately, even if there is another Nexus this year, I doubt at this point Verizon will get it.
