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New iPhone Dazzles, But Battery Fizzles

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 3, 2009 9:32 AM CDT

(Newser) – Lost amid the hoopla over the new iPhone 3GS is an annoying flaw: its battery rarely gets through the day without pooping out. Apple's website now advises users to temporarily shut down certain features, including the 3G network itself, to prolong battery life, reports the Los Angeles Times. Battery life depends largely on how many gizmos are running; Luddites who use their iPhones simply to talk can figure on about 7 hours.

"There's trouble in the battery field in that there's only so much energy you can squeeze in a certain space," said one tech analyst. "There's not really a solution in sight." It doesn't help that the battery is 15% smaller than the one in the original iPhone, a change necessitated by the sleeker design. Palm's Pre smartphone has similar problems but also an advantage, notes the Times: its battery can be swapped for a spare.

[Images (2)]

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The Apple iPhone 3GS. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

The Apple iPhone 3GS. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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The screen is actually the biggest battery suck in the device. The fact that people are using their 3G iPhones to do a lot more stuff means that the screen is on more." - Charles Golvin of Forrester Research Inc.

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

NotEvsie

Jul 4, 2009 5:08 AM CDT

the only way to manage an i-phone's battery is to, pretty much, kill the battery. When in the car, it's on a charger, when on my desk at work, it's on a charger, and when at home, it's (mostly) on a charger. It's the only way I can be sure that the phone will be working when I need it when not in one of those three places. Battery technology is coming along.... just not quite fast enough to keep pace with the technology we're reliant on them for.

2-bits

Jul 3, 2009 6:17 AM CDT

You get the same apps and games as the iPhone. When you're on a campus that is completely covered with wifi, the it works the same as the iPhone (without the phone) So what's you're problem?

Snarfeh

Jul 3, 2009 4:27 AM CDT

That is exactly why I will never, ever be part of the first wave of purchasers for new gadgets. However, I am glad there are so many people who do want to be first to get a new gadget because I get to find out all the flaws from them before making a purchase.

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cell phones • iPhone • Apple • battery • smartphones • iPhone 3GS

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