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Xtal

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 23, 2008
52
0
Is there any point at all in turning on WiFi when the 3G speeds are so fast? Seems like it would just drain the battery constantly searching for hotspots etc. With a 5GB plan there is little risk of going over the data limit on 3G.
 
According to Apple, 3G kills the battery faster then WiFi does. WiFi use is 6 hours while 3G is 5 hours. Think you should swap that around. ;)
 
Is there any point at all in turning on WiFi when the 3G speeds are so fast? Seems like it would just drain the battery constantly searching for hotspots etc. With a 5GB plan there is little risk of going over the data limit on 3G.

I try to turn off WiFi whenever I know I won't be using it. But I usually end up forgetting, maybe with the lower battery life of the 3G I will remember more.

According to Apple, 3G kills the battery faster then WiFi does. WiFi use is 6 hours while 3G is 5 hours. Think you should swap that around. ;)

If you know that you won't have a WiFi signal it could be efficient to turn off WiFi. It is always scanning for a hotspot, so by turning it off you are stopping the constant scan, which will help battery life. But it wouldn't be efficient to turn it off in order to use 3G when a WiFi hotspot is available.
 
If you know that you won't have a WiFi signal it could be efficient to turn off WiFi. It is always scanning for a hotspot, so by turning it off you are stopping the constant scan, which will help battery life. But it wouldn't be efficient to turn it off in order to use 3G when a WiFi hotspot is available.

True, I was going off of the interpretation of he was in a hotspot, but since 3G is fast enough and people generally know WiFi is a power hog that just sacrifice the little speed difference for better battery life with 3G. Which actually isn't the case. 3G is more of a power hog then WiFi.
 
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