Android 15 boosts standby battery life by up to three hours on select devices

Key Points:

  • Android 15’s doze mode enters a quiescent state 50% faster, enhancing standby battery life by up to three hours on some devices.
  • Wear OS 5 achieves a 20% reduction in power consumption for activities like marathon runs through various optimizations.
  • Enhanced background task management in Android 15 and Wear OS 5 defers non-essential activities to optimal times, such as when the device is charging.

In the constant quest for better battery performance, Android 15 marks a significant leap forward, particularly in enhancing standby battery life. Unveiled at Google I/O 2024, the second beta of Android 15 introduces several headline features like Private Space, App Pairs, and improved theft detection services. However, a less-publicized yet crucial improvement lies in its enhanced power management capabilities.

During Google I/O, Dave Burke, VP of Engineering for the Android Platform, and Sameet Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, elaborated on these advancements. Android 15 accelerates the transition to doze mode—where the device enters a low-power state—by 50%. This results in a notable extension of standby battery life, adding up to three hours on some devices. “We get into doze 50% faster,” Burke stated, highlighting the general improvements that will benefit all Android 15-compatible devices.

Meanwhile, Wear OS 5, based on Android 14, also boasts significant battery optimizations. According to Samat, power consumption for long-duration activities like marathon runs is reduced by up to 20%. This improvement is achieved through a combination of system optimizations, including faster transition times for the main applications processor to return to sleep after health data processing.

Additionally, Wear OS 5 intelligently schedules background tasks to run primarily when the device is charging, thereby conserving battery life during active use. This strategy, along with the overall enhancements in Android 15’s doze mode, underscores Google’s commitment to refining power management. Users can expect these improvements to roll out to all Android 15 and Wear OS 5 devices, promising a more efficient and longer-lasting user experience.