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Battery life is great for me on 7.0.4.
iPhone 4S that's two years old.
That's double what I get, 4S 18 months old lucky to get 4.5 hours. Phone has started to do the random shut down at 40% and needs to be put on charge at which point it switches back on with 40% battery. Wether it's a iOS or hardware problem I could't tell but it's an Apple product and I pretty disappointed with this.
 
That's double what I get, 4S 18 months old lucky to get 4.5 hours. Phone has started to do the random shut down at 40% and needs to be put on charge at which point it switches back on with 40% battery. Wether it's a iOS or hardware problem I could't tell but it's an Apple product and I pretty disappointed with this.

I would be disappointed if mine started doing that

Have you tried a restore to see if that fixes the issue? If yes then I would take a trip to the Apple Store.
 
That's double what I get, 4S 18 months old lucky to get 4.5 hours. Phone has started to do the random shut down at 40% and needs to be put on charge at which point it switches back on with 40% battery. Wether it's a iOS or hardware problem I could't tell but it's an Apple product and I pretty disappointed with this.

That sounds like a bad battery to me. I would have Apple run diagnostics on it to determine for sure. Apple will replace it for like $79 I believe. If you want you can always use one of those 3rd party battery repair sites as well for less.
 
@bbfc and @sbailey - Thanks, I will try the restore and Apple store visit - I also feel its a hardware issue, seems to happen when phone is cold and it's damp outside (not uncommon in UK at this time of year). Having to replace a battery potentially at my cost on a phone still under contract (original was 24 months, 7 to go) doesn't sit well with me though.
 
That's double what I get, 4S 18 months old lucky to get 4.5 hours. Phone has started to do the random shut down at 40% and needs to be put on charge at which point it switches back on with 40% battery. Wether it's a iOS or hardware problem I could't tell but it's an Apple product and I pretty disappointed with this.

1. HW problem. Get it exchanged.

2. Apple don't necessarily use quality component. Actually, in cases, just the opposite:

- the battery in the first batches (Sep...Nov 2012) of iPhone 5
- the battery in MANY 3G S'es: see for example my own photo gallery of two (!) company 3G S'es I've serviced this Summer and have taken photos of their ridiculously swollen batteries:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33448355@N07/sets/72157633931601917/

Also, google for "swollen iPhone 3GS battery" (without the quotes) for more examples.
 
I'm calling BS on this.

There's no way it can last that long with the screen on every time. No way.


Nah, it just depends on what you are doing. I've gotten more then that streaming netflix at an airport once on their wifi. Screen was obviously on.
 
(Registered Apple Developer 5 years) iOS 7.1 beta 2 has amazing battery life on an iPhone 5 here 9hours usage with 3G 12hours standby @ 3%. Got nowhere near that on 7.0.4 or 7.1 beta 1.
 
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