An iPad whose battery goes dead just at that critical time when one wants to send an urgent email or conduct an important conference call is every professional’s nightmare.
It’s a nightmare that’s not uncommon, considering that most people are usually on the go for hours together and the average battery span of an iPad, with Internet usage, is just about 10 hours.
Naturally, iPad users are perpetually on the look-out for ways and means to maximize the battery span and life of their device to get the most out of it.(The difference between battery span and life is that span relates to the time span between recharges and life refers to the replacement of the battery).
Contrary to what most people believe, quitting apps forcefully and frequently is not the solution to preserving battery life. Apple, the manufacturer of iPad, has made that clear on many an occasion. But there are other, more beneficial ways of saving on both battery span and battery life, according to Apple. The Apple website lists down several important and simple tips to enhance battery life and span of the iPad. Actually, these tips are relevant for all Apple devices, including iPhones and MacBook.
Regularly update the software
This is an important step towards augmenting the battery life and battery span of any Apple device. Just keeping the software of the device updated to the latest version helps in saving the battery, since the software updates always come with new energy-saving technologies.
Keep away from extreme temperatures
The iPad is designed to function best in the temperature range of 15 and 22 degrees C. Exposure to temperatures higher than 35 degrees C is particularly harmful to the battery and can damage it permanently. It’s even more important to store and charge the device within the ideal temperature range.
Store at 50% charge
Storing the device for a prolonged period should not be done at full charge. Keeping it 50% charged, and in a moisture-free, cool environment, is good for the iPad for long-term storage. Storing the device in a fully charged or fully discharged condition is detrimental to the battery. If stored for more than six months, the device should be charged to 50% every six months. Removing from prolonged storage usually needs 20 minutes of charge before the device can be used.
Charge without the casing
A casing generates excess heat that can damage the battery. So the best way to charge the iPad is to do it without the casing.
Charge to a computer only if it’s switched on
There’s no harm in charging an iPad to a computer but the latter should not be switched off or even in a sleep/standby mode as that would drain the battery of the iOS device.
Optimize the iPad settings
Use the auto-brightness feature or dim the brightness of the iPad for optimization of its battery life. Dimming is easy; just swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Center and drag the Brightness slider to the left. Also, a Wi-Fi connection consumes less power; hence it’s better to use that instead of a cellular network.
Keep it in Low Power Mode
Devices operating on iOS9 or newer platforms have a Low Power Mode feature. Activating this feature when the battery is really low (10% to 20%) reduces its brightness and system animations, besides optimizing its performances. The Low Power Mode can be activated with one tap and gets automatically switched off when the device is put on recharge. Activating this mode does not hamper the use of basic functions such as making and receiving calls, email and messages, internet access etc.
Keep a check on battery usage
It’s easy to check and analyze the battery usage of the device, simply by going to Settings > Battery. Settings also provide access to several battery optimization tools. These include:
- Turn off Background Activity feature, as it allows the device to use battery on one app while another app is functional. Just go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and set the switch to Off.
- Choose to fetch data manually or increase the fetch interval if the Mail app shows Background Activity message. For that, just go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data.
- If the device is using location and background location services, turn it off by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
- Switch off push notifications on the home and lock screen by going to Settings > Notifications. Tap App and set Allow Notifications to Off.
- Use the device on Airplane mode if it shows no mobile coverage or low signal. The battery gets consumed significantly while searching for a better signal.
These few basic tips can go a long way in boosting the battery span and life of an iPad, enabling better and longer usage.