These 5 Popular Smartphone Apps Are the Biggest Battery Drainers
Modern smartphones continue to advance with faster processors and better cameras, yet battery life remains a common complaint. If you feel like you are constantly reaching for your charger, certain applications might be the hidden cause. A recent study by the UK firm Elevate highlights that background activity from popular apps significantly impacts daily battery performance.
YouTube is a staple for entertainment, but it comes with a heavy energy cost. Research indicates that watching content here can consume roughly 20% of your battery every hour. Even when you aren’t actively watching, the app runs background processes that contribute significantly to your monthly power drain.
Known for its disappearing messages, Snapchat is surprisingly demanding on your device’s power. It ranks lower than some streaming giants but still accounts for a significant amount of monthly battery usage. Interestingly, nearly half of its energy consumption occurs in the background, meaning it drains power even when your phone is in your pocket.
Meta’s text-based competitor to X, Threads, is a relative newcomer that has quickly established itself as a power-hungry application. Despite its simple interface, it runs extensively in the background for nearly seven hours a month. This persistent activity pushes its monthly battery consumption to levels that rival more established video-heavy platforms.
With over a billion users, TikTok is a global phenomenon that keeps screens active for hours. Users often get lost in the feed for short bursts, but the cumulative effect on battery life is massive. It runs nearly as many background processes as major streaming services, ensuring that it continues to sip power long after you have closed the app.
Topping the list of battery drainers is Netflix, the world’s leading movie and TV streaming service. Between active viewing and background operations, it can consume a staggering amount of power each month. If you watch shows without Wi-Fi and keep your screen brightness high, you will likely see your battery percentage drop faster than with any other app.
You don’t necessarily have to delete these apps to improve your phone’s endurance. Simple steps like lowering screen brightness and restricting background activity for specific apps can make a big difference. Additionally, using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data whenever possible can reduce the strain on your battery.
Tell us which of these apps you use the most and if you have noticed the battery drain in the comments.
