Leaving GPS On?

[Barats]

Does this drain the battery if you leave it on at all times? Or is the Android system smart enough to only have it in use when it knows you are actually using it like Navigation and other things?

 

[GuitarG20]

Does this drain the battery if you leave it on at all times? Or is the Android system smart enough to only have it in use when it knows you are actually using it like Navigation and other things?

In my experience, it only shows as being used when you have an app open that uses the GPS. However, I also forgot to manually turn it off once, and I recalled getting a lot worse battery life and high power usage for maps, even though I never opened the app. That could just be a fluke for my device though, since I'm rooted and running a custom ROM.

However, the way it is SUPPOSED to work is that GPS is completely shut off when the icon isn't showing on the screen. I would default to this behavior for it.

 

[sleedeane]

It probably constantly searches for satellites therefore using excess battery.

 

[Barats]

It probably constantly searches for satellites therefore using excess battery.

This is what I suspected, which is why I only manually turn it on when I need it.

Thanks.

 

[Wiley_11]

Didn't seem to bother my Evo 3D and it bothers my Note II even less (3100mah). I've left GPS on all the time over the last 2 1/2 years. If the GPS icon doesn't disappear when you close the GPS app then you will have battery drain. My battery life is great.

 

[Rxpert83]

GPS does NOT consume battery unless actively in use.

 

[opalfrog]

I leave my GPS on all the time and I still have a great battery life. If I forget to charge it for a day or 2 I'm still fine. My phone isn't rooted if that makes a difference.

 

[sleedeane]

How come the first words of advice, everything I read, about battery consumption, says to turn off bluetooth, wifi, and gps when not using (and screen dimming)?
I'm just wondering why this advice is so common if it isn't true.

(several sources in "ask.com" say to turn it off to save battery).

 

[twister6]

As we just talked about it in http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-2/702395-wifi-gps-always.html , you would actually prefer to use wifi over 4G when you are at home or in a place where you have access to wifi because wifi uses less battery than 4G. Makes sense since you are syncing with local router rather than searching for 4G cell tower. With BT, leave it on, unless if you paired it up with other devices and don't want to use them at the current moment. GPS is tricky. Some apps that use maps or need your location will use GPS. In theory, its a brief use which shouldn't drain battery much. And also some of the apps, like weather widgets, will let you configure if you want to use GPS or fixed location. But when you are inside of the house or some building, you not always have a clear GPS antenna reception and if you don't - GPS will continue searching and it will drain your battery at a high rate. I used to have everything on, and couldn't understand why at work by lunch time my battery was down 10%-15%. I had my phone optimized where no apps were even using GPS, and still something was trying to access it which is OK, but if it can't find GSP due to industrial structure of the building I'm in - battery was draining fast.