Does VoiceOver drain battery?

Answered by Ricardo McCardle

Voice services over LTE networks do have a significant impact on smartphone battery life. A recent study conducted by Metrico Wireless Inc. revealed that these services can reduce device battery life by up to 50 percent. This means that if you regularly use voice services over LTE, you will notice a significant decrease in your phone’s battery life.

I can personally attest to this issue as well. In my own experience, I have noticed that making voice calls over LTE tends to drain my smartphone battery much faster compared to other activities such as browsing the internet or using apps. It is quite frustrating to see my battery percentage drop rapidly during a phone conversation.

The reason for this drain in battery life is the high power consumption required for voice services over LTE. When making a voice call, the smartphone’s LTE radio needs to continuously transmit and receive data packets to maintain the call connection. This constant data transfer consumes a considerable amount of energy, leading to the rapid depletion of the battery.

Moreover, voice calls also tend to keep the screen on for an extended period, contributing further to battery drain. This is because most smartphones automatically turn on the display when a call is in progress, allowing users to access features like the dial pad or speakerphone. The combination of the LTE radio and the screen being active simultaneously puts additional strain on the battery.

To mitigate this issue, some users resort to using alternative methods for voice calls, such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services like WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime. These services utilize the internet connection rather than the LTE network, resulting in lower battery consumption. However, it is worth noting that the quality and reliability of these services may vary depending on the internet connection strength.

Voice services over LTE networks can significantly drain smartphone batteries, reducing their overall battery life by up to 50 percent. This issue is a common concern for many smartphone users, including myself. Therefore, it is advisable to be mindful of your voice call usage if you want to preserve your phone’s battery life. Exploring alternative methods like VoIP services might be worth considering to minimize battery drain during voice calls.