Galaxy S II horrible battery life


Recommended Posts

Do yourself a favor before you get all worried about battery...

I just recently picked up an SGS2 LTE from Rogers. And I'm running stock and I have fantastic battery.

First and foremost, you should drain the battery right until it turns off. Leave it off and charge it fully before turning it back on again.

After that your battery is calibrated and you'll find it may not drain as quickly. Set your display to 30% and then auto (This screen is incredibly nice and shouldn't have an issue seeing it at that setting).

I'm a very heavy user. My WiFi is always on because I have WiFi at home, at work and anywhere else I go for the most part. I text a ton, browse constantly and play games randomly throughout the day. Sometimes I have a conversation on Skype. Talk on the phone for 15-30 minutes through the day. As an example I wake up at 6pm take the phone off the charger. I finish work at 7am and I go home to sleep. My phone is sitting anywhere between 25-30% after a full days use!

So, I let it die completely, charged it till 100, and underclocked the CPU to 1.0ghz. Also set a completely black wallpaper. Phone has been on for almost 2 hours and it's still at 100%. lol. Still no service yet, unfortunately. Takes 5 minutes for me to activate a customer line and almost a month for them to activate an employee line. Man. Really liking the phone so far, though.

You tried Siyahkernel?

I haven't, but I'll keep it bookmarked for future reference. I'm using the default unnamed kernel, which is based off of Entropy's. Seems to be working OK for now. Actually, I don't think Siyakernel is compatible with the AT&T version. "Only european i9100 models are supported".

You joking right? Siyah with stock clocks and undervolt is one of the best for battery life - beat out by phenomenal extreme which could be unstable due to its one glove fits all UV'ing.. There were some figures on XDA but I cba looking for them as I'm running ICS atm

You joking right? Siyah with stock clocks and undervolt is one of the best for battery life - beat out by phenomenal extreme which could be unstable due to its one glove fits all UV'ing.. There were some figures on XDA but I cba looking for them as I'm running ICS atm

Nope I ain't joking. I've tried them all, believe me, and for myself, Siyah drained too much for my liking. Love SpeedMod, just wish it supported Voodoo Louder as that is its only fault IMO. Siyah does support Voodoo, so I guess it comes down to preference also.

I installed betterbatterystats to see if there were any wakelock issues, let the phone sleep for about 20 minutes, and it found a partial wakelock by google services which was at 8%. Is that something to worry about?

Is your phone going in to a deep sleep while idle/not in use? Download CPU Spy and it will tell you.

VillainRom 3.0 + SpeedMod kernel K2-19. I get easily 2 days out of it. 3 days when I'm not using it heavely.

And i'm using a LiveWallpaper by the way ...

And of course i'm testing Cyanogen 9 Experimental (Android 4.0.3) for some days, but always roll back to VillainRom for stability until we get the source code from Samsung.

I installed betterbatterystats to see if there were any wakelock issues, let the phone sleep for about 20 minutes, and it found a partial wakelock by google services which was at 8%. Is that something to worry about?

Go into Market settings and turn OFF 'google admob ads', might not be root cause, but this is one that is known.

Is your phone going in to a deep sleep while idle/not in use? Download CPU Spy and it will tell you.

Ah, thanks. Yep, Deep Sleep is working fine. I guess there's no need for worry.

VillainRom 3.0 + SpeedMod kernel K2-19. I get easily 2 days out of it. 3 days when I'm not using it heavely.

And i'm using a LiveWallpaper by the way ...

And of course i'm testing Cyanogen 9 Experimental (Android 4.0.3) for some days, but always roll back to VillainRom for stability until we get the source code from Samsung.

Interesting. By the way, I used the method of rooting without tripping the flash counter. If I want to test other kernels, how can I do that? Do I use mobile odin lite?

Thanks for all the helpful tips, everyone.

If I want to test other kernels, how can I do that? Do I use mobile odin lite?

Thanks for all the helpful tips, everyone.

Easiest way is to grab the CWM zip of kernel, put onto SDCard, and flash from Clockwork Mod Recovery, which you should have if your rooted anyway ;)

Not nessesary, but I like to run the 'kernel cleaning script' beforehand (up to version 1.72 I think), also run from recovery and nice to keep on SDCard if your flashing various kernels :)

Easiest way is to grab the CWM zip of kernel, put onto SDCard, and flash from Clockwork Mod Recovery, which you should have if your rooted anyway ;)

Not nessesary, but I like to run the 'kernel cleaning script' beforehand (up to version 1.72 I think), also run from recovery and nice to keep on SDCard if your flashing various kernels :)

Yeah, I have CWM. So basically I just put the kernel onto the SD card and install it from CWM, and then install the new rom? Seems easy enough.

Also, if you have WiFi, don't bother connecting phone to PC for all this file moving. Grab 'Airdroid' from market, its free, fast, and allows you to simply transfer kernels/roms/files etc to phone from your browser on PC, makes things a lot easier ;) Only time I need a cable to PC for SG II is when I need to use Odin for emergencies, and that's rare lol!

Oh and before you do anything....

BACK UP YOUR EFS!!!

I have ten backups of this, online and offline, and on various devices, overkill yeah, but I learned the hard way I'm afraid, with my phone going back to Sammy, so if you havent already done so, please do it :)

Also, if you have WiFi, don't bother connecting phone to PC for all this file moving. Grab 'Airdroid' from market, its free, fast, and allows you to simply transfer kernels/roms/files etc to phone from your browser on PC, makes things a lot easier ;) Only time I need a cable to PC for SG II is when I need to use Odin for emergencies, and that's rare lol!

Wow, how did I not know about this app. Thanks!!

Got the GS II with CM7 ...

battery goes like this (after about 6 or so months of usage)

Screen (100) = baterry dies within 3-4h (gaming and internet)

Screen (25% - lowest) = up to 8h or so (an entire day)

Light usage but some gaming for short periods of time (low screen) about a day

Deep sleep light usage (about 1% drain over 4-8h or so)

overall I have noticed that the screen just trashes the battery like it is going out of stile otherwise the phone is quite nice ...

mind you, to have the same intensity and usage as an iPhone, the S II falls short by 1/3 and that is with 2.3 OS, have not tried and 4.0

(the bluetooth is off as with the GPS, low CPU freq 200Mhz, high 1.2 (default), never put in airplane mode but always make sure it goes into deep sleep (if not find out why))

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • AMD 26.6.2 driver brings FSR 4.1 support to RDNA 3 RX 7000 series graphics cards by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe A new driver is rolling out to Radeon graphics hardware owners, and alongside support for new games, AMD has just made its FSR 4.1 upscaling tech available to an entire generation of its products. Last month, AMD announced it is answering community requests to bring FSR 4.1 to past generations of its Radeon graphics cards. This would be starting with RDNA 3 RX 7000 products. Right on schedule, this is what's rolling out now with the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.6.2 driver containing official support for over 300 games. Following this, AMD is planning to bring out RDNA 2 (RX 6000 series) support for FSR 4.1 sometime in early 2027. As for the games, this Adrenalin 26.6.2 driver is a recommended install for anyone jumping into Ubisoft's upcoming Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced remake or id Software's DOOM: The Dark Ages' Revelations expansion. The two fixed issues in this release are these: Intermittent application crash or driver timeout may be observed while playing RoadCraft on Radeon™ RX 7000 series products. Purple screen may be displayed when using an HP Reverb G2 headset with SteamVR on Radeon™ RX 6000 series graphics products. The known issues AMD is still working on are the following: Intermittent application crash or driver timeout may be observed while playing Battlefield 6 on AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. AMD is actively working on a resolution with the developer to be released as soon as possible. Texture flickering or corruption may appear while playing Battlefield 6 with AMD Record and Stream on some AMD graphics products. AMD FSR Upscaling and AMD FSR Frame Generation may show as inactive in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition while playing Battlefield 6 when enabled on Radeon™ RX 9000 series graphics products. Failure to install may be observed while installing AI Bundle components in some regions with limited access to HuggingFace and GitHub. Model flickering or rendering failure may be observed in Maxon Cinema 4D and Blender on Radeon RX 7000 series and above graphics products. Users experiencing this issue are recommended to install AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.3.1. Intermittent application crash may be observed on some models while running Blender on Radeon RX 7000 and above graphics products. Users experiencing this issue are recommended to install AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.3.1. The newly released AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.6.2 driver is now available for download from the AMD Software app. Find the official changelog here.
    • How to Do More with Less: Future-Proofing Yourself in an AI-driven Economy —was $28 now FREE by Steven Parker Claim your complimentary copy (worth $28) of "How to Do More with Less: Future-Proofing Yourself in an AI-driven Economy" for free, before the offer ends on June 30. Description In today’s workplace, headlines about artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming. With headlines swinging between promises of utopia and warnings of mass unemployment, for most knowledge workers, the truth feels unclear. In this book, Sharon Gai cuts through the noise. Drawing from real-world examples and global insights, she explains how AI is reshaping the way we work—without hype or fearmongering. Instead of choosing between blind optimism or outright pessimism, she offers a practical, balanced perspective that helps readers make sense of the rapidly evolving AI landscape. You’ll learn how to: Reskill and future-proof your career in the face of AI disruption Identify which parts of your role can be automated, and which require human creativity and judgment Use proven frameworks to evaluate AI’s impact on your work and your organization Apply actionable tips and tools to boost productivity, make smarter decisions, and do more with less Gain clarity as a parent, leader, or professional navigating what this means for the next generation Whether you’re an employee anxious about your future, a parent concerned about your children’s opportunities, or a leader managing a lean team with tight budgets, this book provides the strategies and mindset you need to adapt so you can stop worrying and start preparing. How to download for free Please ensure you read the terms and conditions to claim this offer. Complete and verifiable information is required in order to receive this free offer. If you have previously made use of these offers, you will not need to re-register. Was $28, but is now FREE | Below free offer link expires on June 30. How to Do More with Less: Future-Proofing Yourself in an AI-driven Economy The below offers are also available for free in exchange for your (work) email: The Vibe Coding Playbook: Building Your Tech Business with AI ($35 Value) FREE - Expires 6/23 The Persuasion Engine: How Any Business Can Use AI-Powered Neuromarketing to Understand and Win Customers ($28 Value) FREE - Expires 6/24 How to Do More with Less: Future-Proofing Yourself in an AI-driven Economy ($28 Value) FREE - Expires 6/30 Cloud Security Fundamentals: Building the Foundations for Secure Cloud Platforms ($131.95 Value) FREE - Expires 7/1 The Complete Free AI Learning: Master ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & More ($21 Value) FREE How to Build an AI Design Workflow with Gamma ($21 Value) FREE The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide – Featured Free content Python Notes for Professionals – Featured Free content Learn Linux in 5 Days – Featured Free content Quick Reference Guide for Cybersecurity – Featured Free content We post these because we earn commission on each lead so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. Other ways to support Neowin The above deal not doing it for you, but still want to help? Check out the links below. Check out our partner software in the Neowin Store Buy a T-shirt at Neowin's Threadsquad Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: An account at Neowin Deals is required to participate in any deals powered by our affiliate, StackCommerce. For a full description of StackCommerce's privacy guidelines, go here. Neowin benefits from shared revenue of each sale made through the branded deals site.
    • Microsoft admits one of the most crucial Outlook features is currently broken by Sayan Sen Microsoft is making some decent progress when it comes to Windows 11. Recently we have confirmed reports of some rather useful improvements landing in the next version of the OS, 26H2, wherein GPU driver TDR crashes may finally be fixed, plus the company is also allowing users to disable web content on the Search. On the Outlook front though things have not been so rosy. Last month in May we reported several problems affecting basic functionalities on the app. These included a problem where documents would open blank or corrupt themselves. Following that, Quick Steps, a very useful feature, would no longer work correctly, and finally, Microsoft acknowledged a problem wherein images would fail to load up properly inside the email. Microsoft had resolved those bugs later and almost exactly a month after we reported on them, the company has now admitted a new similarly basic issue, this time on Macs. Users recently started noticing that Outlook would no longer display email threads properly as the original message itself was not displayed. An affected user Tsoumpas, C (ngmb) nicely described the problem in a forum post they made on Microsoft's site. They wrote: "Description of the issue: After updating Outlook for Mac [Version 16.110 (26061317)] on 18/6/2026, replying to any email no longer includes the original message in the reply window. Prior to the update, replies correctly contained the original email text below my response. Expected behavior: The original message should be included in the reply, as in previous Outlook versions and according to the configured reply settings. Actual behavior: The reply window contains only a blank composition area (or only my response), with none of the original email text included." Obviously this must be a highly frustrating for users as noted by several in that thread. The post, at the time of writing, has also been upvoted by more than 40 users indicating that is a fairly widespread bug. Thankfully Microsoft seems to have acknowledged the problem right around that time as it opened a new issue on its official website. In the support article, the company recommends switching to Outlook for Mac from the legacy app, where the problem appears to be happening.
    • PotPlayer 260622 by Razvan Serea PotPlayer is an extremely light-weight multimedia player for Windows. It feels like the KMPlayer, but is in active development. Supports almost every available video formats out there. PotPlayer contains internal codecs and there is no need to install codecs manually. Other key features include WebCam/Analog/Digital TV devices support, gapless video playback, DXVA, live broadcasting. Distinctive features of the player is a high quality playback, support for all modern video and audio formats and a built DXVA video codecs. A wide range of subtitles are supported and you are also able to capture audio, video, and screenshots. A comprehensive video and audio player, that also supports TV channels, subtitles and skins. Its been described on the Internet as The KMPlayer redux, and it pretty much is. Daum PotPlayer 260622 (1.7.22963) changelog: Removed Kakao TV Added pause function when navigating via the navigation bar Significantly improved internal stability Fixed an issue where colors appeared strange during RGB24 processing Improved playback for some HTTP streams Improved sync processing for the built-in audio renderer Fixed an issue where certain MP4 files behaved abnormally during playback Download: Daum PotPlayer (64-bit) | 54.7 MB (Freeware) Download: Daum PotPlayer (32-bit) | 61.1 MB View: Daum PotPlayer Home Page | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      tuben earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Week One Done
      mnsgroup earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Conversation Starter
      sumytbe earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • One Year In
      B4dM1k3 earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Year In
      DarkWun earned a badge
      One Year In
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      523
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      199
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      94
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      82
    5. 5
      neufuse
      68
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!