[Merged] iPad Battery Life Impressions Thread

[leesweet]

How long is it taking people to recharge iPad? Mine will not increase the battery charge while it is plugged in if i am using it. Is this normal? Battery isn't going down, just staying stable if plugged in and in use.

Remember that some USB ports won't do more than keep it stable when the backlight is on. If you want to use it while charging, use the 'charger'/wall wart/whatever you want to call it.

But everyone needs to remember that iPads will take a *lot* more juice in use than an iPhone, so charging while using is going to be an issue. I don't know if someone will come up with a way to 'super charge' it so we can recharge quickly as we use it at the same time, but right now, USB ports may not do the trick.

 

[zub3qin]

Remember that some USB ports won't do more than keep it stable when the backlight is on. If you want to use it while charging, use the 'charger'/wall wart/whatever you want to call it.

But everyone needs to remember that iPads will take a *lot* more juice in use than an iPhone, so charging while using is going to be an issue. I don't know if someone will come up with a way to 'super charge' it so we can recharge quickly as we use it at the same time, but right now, USB ports may not do the trick.

I am using the wall charger. I am using the supplied iPad charger and have Bluetooth off and backlight at half bright. I am using wifi for safari. While using the iPad the charge percentage is not changing. Could someone confirm that this either should or should not be happening with their iPad and charger?

Something tells me either my iPad or the supplied charger is defective.

 

[HXGuy]

While using the iPad last night, plugged into a wall charger, and using Safari to surf the web, I can confirm that it was charged slowly...the percentage was going up little by little.

 

[zub3qin]

While using the iPad last night, plugged into a wall charger, and using Safari to surf the web, I can confirm that it was charged slowly...the percentage was going up little by little.

Yeah same here. Very slow to charge with the power brick. So will take days to charge from a USB port. Basically means you need to recharge iPad overnight.

 

[rydenfan]

I've been using it for about 7 hours doing everything and I still have 43% left. I want to drain it completely before charging it back up again.

I have not seen anywhere tat the battery should be fully drained before charging it. I ran mine down to about 40% yesterday and then charged it all night. I have read on it for about 2 hours and have been on the web about an hour and am at 95%. I do not believe running the battery down makes any difference.

 

[Mitchrapp]

The number one power draw is the backlight, if you are running near full on, you aren't likely to get much more than 6 hours.

I watched one of the big online reviews/hands on. He tested with full backlight and doing everything he could and he got about 6 hours, then he tried half brightness and got >10 hours.

Not true. I was on full bright and got near 12 hours.

 

[zub3qin]

Not true. I was on full bright and got near 12 hours.

Doing what? I bet books use no power, movies a bit more, wifi and games a lot.

 

[theBigD23]

I left my iPad on standby for 12 hours and went from 25% to 16%. is this normal? Seems like it should drain slower than that.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Doing what? I bet books use no power, movies a big more, wifi and games a lot.

Granted it wasn't constant wifi. Some surfing, some books or papers and apps that didn't use wifi. Nonetheless with what I do, I'm thrilled with the battery life.

 

[rydenfan]

Anyone know if we need to let the battery drain and then charge? Or is it fine to charge whenever? Thanks!

 

[undrpsi]

Strange

I got mine and it was 100% from the box. Synced it (but had an errand so it was hooked to my laptop for a good hour). Used it from basically 4pm till 11:30pm for a little bit of everything but mostly web. It still had 50% or so left (I did have it off and on during that time so it wasn't continuous). Took it off wall charger at 7:30 am and have been using it ever since (again, off and on) and it it's at 63% now. The battery life is pretty dang good if this is any indication.

Ifixit.com showed two batts in this thing and said it took up most of the room inside

Posted from my iPad

 

[ijen0311]

Mine is much better today than it was yesterday.

 

[wingnut8]

Ive read a lot of people are getting great battery life (both on here and in online reviews).

My iPad said 100% charge when I turned it on around 11am, it's now down to 3%. I didn't even use it the whole time, had a 3 hour break in between, so I got about 6 hours out of it.

The brightness is set to about 90% (I like my screens bright), but all Ive done on it all day is surf the web and mess with some picture apps.

Im letting it drain all the way and then plugging it in until it's fully charged, hoping the next full drain will last 9-10 hours. If not, it may be defective?

I can't see any reason to have the brightness above 50%. Mine is set at about 40% and it looks perfectly fine in a room with the lights on even.

 

[Photography]

Anyone know if we need to let the battery drain and then charge? Or is it fine to charge whenever? Thanks!

I'm wondering about this as well.

 

[RQPS]

How many charges do you think the iPad will take before the battery declines? It's not like a laptop where it's left plugged in most if the time but it's always ruinning on battery.

 

[ImperialX]

The battery is Lithium Polymer. I can see its battery life improving after a few cycles.

 

[HiRez]

I'm definitely getting close to a full 10 hours of use, if not more, with my screen at about 60%-65% brightness. Really, really impressive engineering, especially considering the great screen they're using (IPS displays are supposed to be power hogs, which is why no one else is using them in mobile devices). The amazing power efficiency is going to be a huge advantage for Apple vs. competitors, I don't see how they're going to match it using off the shelf chips.

 

[bluehaze013]

The screen brightness makes a big difference. I keep mine around 75% brightness now and after charging it twice it seems to be pretty close to 10%of battery an hour regardless of what i'm doing be it surfing, playing games or watching videos. Overall i'm pretty happy with it. I kind of wish it lasted longer but I guess that is asking too much lol 10 hours is certainly respectable.

 

[aohus]

OMG battery drain already...

Been using the iPad continuously since early afternoon yesterday. Drain already pls so I can do a full charge. It has too much battery life... Sigh

 

[epi117]

Been using the iPad continuously since early afternoon yesterday. Drain already pls so I can do a full charge. It has too much battery life... Sigh

Same i am at 36%, this is great!

 

[treehorn]

I've been using it pretty heavily since I got it yesterday (at 1:30pm) - while there has been no heavy video use there has been lots of WiFi, internet and gaming. And it's down to 29% (at 8pm the next day)

To say I'm impressed is an understatement

 

[Gregintosh]

The unofficial battery life thread

I was wondering what kind of battery life are people getting out of their ipads. I haven't done a full continuous test but based on how quickly the battery has been draining I don't think I would get more than 8 hours or so, a far cry from the 11+ hours some are claiming.

I am mostly using safari, mail, iWork, and occasional YouTube.

I have location services turned off, mail synching set for once per hour, and brightneqss at about 30%. My airport extreme is on wireless N, and I notice the reception jumping from all bars to one bar at times. Occasionally, it loses connection altogether and I am just a room away from the router.

So how long are you guys getting? And are there any tweaks to the settings that can help increase the battery life?

Also, I wonder if switching to wireless G would also help conserve battery.

 

[drjsway]

If you're getting 8 hours, you have a bad battery. Here's how it should break down:

Heavy use (3D gaming, etc.)

100% brightness: 6-7 hours
50% brightness: 9-10 hours

Moderate use (includes HD movie watching)

100% brightness: 9-10 hours
50% brightness: 12-13 hours

Light usage (light web browsing, iBooks)

100% brightness: 11-12 hours
50% brightness: 14-15 hours

*I'm using wireless n and have never turned off wifi or location services.

 

[spectre51]

I have brightness at 50%, wireless N. Started using it this morning on a full charge around 10am. Used it pretty much all day save for an hour when I walked the dogs ANC short runs to the bathroom. Got down to 2% battery before I started charging again around 8-8:30ish.

Usage consisted of lots of safari, MobileMe email set to push, downloading of magazines from zinio, some video playing in the interactive magazines, some game playing (we rule, magic piano, and turf wars).used a few other various apps that all used the wifi connection.

Location services are turned on and utilized in weather bug/ weather channel apps (messed with those for a short while). Turf wars also uses the location services. Downloaded 5-10 books from the iBook store.

The battery life for me seemed great. My iPhone would have been dead by noonish with how much I was using the iPad.

 

[ClaireL]

I'm getting at least 11 hrs with Wifi. Battery life is insanely good