iPhone drains faster when connected to a 5G network

• 1 hour ago
• Iphone
• Alexander Godard

• 3

The WSJ has pledged to run a test to perceive the difference in battery loss between a smartphone connected to a 5G network and then in 4G. There is a noticeable difference in the results obtained, especially since the 5G frequency used was not the most efficient and therefore the most greedy.

5G technology increases connection speed as well as battery discharge speed

Last week, we told you about a new study that indicated that the iPhone was the best selling 5G smartphone in January and especially that the global sales of 5G smartphones had surpassed the sales of 4G smartphones for the first time.

A logical note considering that 5G will eventually become the norm on all of our smartphones in the coming years despite the tense discussions about it in recent months.

Si nous sommes toujours à la recherche d’une connexion encore plus rapide, il faut reconnaître que la 5G n’est pas la plus indispensable pour un utilisateur lambda qui se sert de son smartphone au quotidien, autrement dit pour des actions de la vie de everyday. With 4G already being effective for this mode of use, the benefit of 5G is alongside robotics, virtual reality, telemedicine…

However, as individuals, we have access to 5G and it would be a shame not to use it. On the other hand, the note is clear, if you use 5G instead of 4G, your smartphone drains more quickly. It is exactly about this point that The Wall Street Journal Try to explain to everyone.

As you can see in the image below, the test was conducted on four Apple devices, including three iPhones and an iPad. The principle is simple, play a 10-hour YouTube video in “auto” quality first in 5G and then a second time in 4G.

In conclusion, iPhone SE 3 lasts an hour longer when on 4G. The same goes for the iPad Air 5 and iPhone 13 which gain an additional 1.5 hours. Finally, the iPhone 13 Pro holds a battery of two and a half hours, which is a big deal.

Of course, playing a YouTube video for several hours does not in any way reflect the typical usage of the user, but it is nonetheless interesting to note that with equal use, 5G consumes much more battery power than 4G.

Another important point, the 5G frequency used in this test was not based on mmWave technology which in theory provides a much stronger and therefore more greedy connection, even if it loses quality when there are obstacles. The difference was more pronounced.

As a reminder, the iPhone offers a Smart Switch when 5G is not considered necessary. Hence, it specifically uses 4G technology to save battery intelligently.