Power Saving mode on your phone does more than extend battery

Power Saving mode is usually seen as an emergency button for a dying battery. Tom Bedford of Android Police says he keeps it on all the time, and that the extra battery life is only part of the payoff. On his Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, it adds about 50% more battery. He also reports a cooler phone, less location sharing and fewer interruptions.

What the mode does

Power Saving works by limiting some background activity. The phone slows how much it uses the network, cuts back on how often apps check your location, and stops syncing apps you have closed. Many phones also have a stricter version called Maximum. It closes all apps by force unless you open them yourself, which stretches the battery even further.

A cooler phone

Bedford says his phone has not overheated once since he began using the mode full time. Before, it would warm up after a few minutes of a light game or a few photos. His explanation is that phones get warm when they work hard, and Power Saving holds back much of that background work. The one thing that still warms the phone is wireless charging.

Less location sharing

Many apps keep track of where you are. The reasons are usually harmless, such as local information, tagged photos and smart home apps that know when you are home. Still, it means many companies know where you spend your time. Bedford says Power Saving stops the phone from repeatedly reporting your whereabouts to apps, which he sees as a privacy gain.

For people who do not want Power Saving mode, he notes you can switch off background location access on its own. That also helps battery life, though by a moderate amount.

A quieter phone

Maximum mode also works like a mix of Power Saving and Do Not Disturb. Social apps that send messages, reminders and emails are shut down until you open them. On his Galaxy, he can bring back chosen apps. He lets Outlook run if he expects an important email. During a WhatsApp video call, he restores only WhatsApp so the battery lasts.

What to keep in mind

These results come from one writer using one phone. The 50% figure applies to his Galaxy, and other phones may differ. The cooler running is his own observation and his best guess at the cause, not a test. Menu names and options can also vary by brand.

• Power Saving limits background activity and location checks.
• Maximum mode closes apps until you open them.
• On his Galaxy, you can bring back only the apps you need.