Is your phone spending more time charging than in use?
A recent study reveals that some apps can drain up to 85% of your battery life! Here’s a breakdown of the worst offenders — and smart tips to take back control of your phone’s power.
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The Mystery of Drained Batteries in Canada
Across Canada, smartphone users are losing an average of 1 hour and 40 minutes of battery life every day—and most don’t even realize it. The main culprits? Background apps that quietly consume power, especially in major urban areas like Montreal and Toronto, where high network density forces devices to work overtime.
Key figures that may surprise you:
92% of users underestimate how much their apps impact battery life.
Nearly 3 out of 4 smartphones under two years old have already lost 30% of their battery capacity (Source: CRTC).
The hidden cost? An estimated $34 per household each year in excess electricity usage just from charging.
Social Media: The Hidden Energy Vampires
Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are responsible for 62% of excessive battery usage in Quebec. Their constant background activity and automatic content preloading quietly turn your phone into a power-hungry device—even when you’re not actively using them.
Top 3 Power Hogs:
Instagram Reels: Drains up to 1% of battery per minute, especially when watching trending Quebecois videos.
TikTok LIVE: Double the consumption during livestreams featuring local artists.
Facebook Marketplace: Continuous syncing of listings silently eats away at your battery life.
Useful Tools: Essential but Power-Hungry
Navigation tools and banking apps might be indispensable, but they’re quietly draining your phone’s battery—consuming up to 25% of your daily charge, even when not actively in use. Their constant demands for GPS tracking, encryption, and background refreshes make them some of the most power-hungry apps on the market.
Key offenders include:
Google Maps – Especially in 3D mode, where urban density in cities like Vancouver or Toronto increases battery strain.
Banking Apps – Continuous monitoring and push notifications for transactions silently tax your device.
Uber Eats – Real-time driver tracking adds a heavy background load.
The Weather Network (MétéoMédia) – Updates every 10 minutes, regardless of whether you’re checking the forecast.
For Canadian users, managing these “always-on” apps could mean reclaiming hours of battery life each week.
Quick Fixes to Save Your Battery Life
These quick settings tweaks take less than five minutes—and according to tests conducted at McGill University, they can significantly boost your phone’s battery life.
Proven actions that work:
Disable Background App Refresh for Instagram and Facebook
Switch to Low Data Mode in your mobile settings
Download offline maps for your region in Google Maps
Set auto-lock to 30 seconds of inactivity
Enable dark mode after 6 p.m. — saving up to 18% on average battery consumption
Small changes, big impact.
PlanHub: Your Smart Comparison Tool for Phones with Long-Lasting Battery Life
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Explore top performers like the iPhone 16 Plus, offering up to 12 hours of video playback, the Google Pixel 9a with its massive 5,100 mAh battery delivering over 30 hours of regular use, or the Samsung Galaxy S24, designed to easily last a full day on a single charge.Visit PlanHub.ca to compare prices and find the best deal based on your budget and your province in Canada.
The Promising Future of Smart Batteries
The mobile industry is finally tackling the issue with innovations being tested in Montreal and Calgary. Canadians can expect to benefit from these advances starting in 2026.
Ongoing breakthroughs include:
Snapdragon X Elite chip: reduces power consumption by 55% on heavy apps
Solar-powered screens: increase outdoor battery life by 25% (Xiaomi prototype)
Federal regulation: mandatory energy usage labeling for apps
Predictive AI: automatic adaptation to local usage patterns
