"Is your phone feeling sluggish and the battery draining fast? The cause might be one of these 10 apps. It's time to get smarter: Here's how to take care of your smartphone."
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With increasingly intensive smartphone use, battery power is a rare commodity. While many modern phones are equipped with large-capacity batteries, several apps—both popular and not—remain the main culprits for power consumption and a heavy load on your device's performance.
Here are some of the most power-hungry apps and how to handle them.
1. Streaming and Social Media Apps
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(Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) — These apps drain your battery because they constantly run in the background, play videos, send notifications, and automatically refresh content. TikTok, in particular, is known for its intense video activity and data usage.
The solution is to limit your usage and set a daily time limit. Don't forget to turn off auto-play, too. You should also make sure to regularly clear your cache. (Path: Settings > Apps > (App Name) > Storage > Clear Cache)
2. Instant Messaging Apps
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Apps like WhatsApp need to keep running in the background to receive instant messages and notifications. This keeps your phone constantly working. On some phones, you can limit data usage and background activity for these apps. It's time to get smarter with your phone use!
While the apps above have many benefits and are essential for daily life, there are some types of apps you should consider deleting for the health of your phone. Which ones? Keep scrolling!
3. Battery Saver and Phone Cleaner Apps
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Ironically, apps that claim to save battery or clean your phone actually burden your device and drain power due to their constant background processes. So, you need to be very aware of your needs when downloading apps to your smartphone.
If you're already using a battery saver app but feel it's not useful, simply delete it. You can perform a manual cache cleanup through your phone's settings instead.
4. Antivirus Apps
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Most modern phones already have strong built-in security systems. Third-party antivirus apps often weigh down the system and drain the battery. And they may not even prevent viruses from getting in. The best way to keep your phone secure is by being smart when browsing the internet and only downloading apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store or App Store.
5. Default Apps (Bloatware)
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Apps that are pre-installed by the phone manufacturer are often useless and just take up memory and drain power. Try to filter your apps carefully and either delete or disable these apps through your Settings > Apps.
6. Navigation/Map Apps
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For car and motorcycle users, navigation apps will definitely drain your battery and screen.
So, how can you keep your phone in top condition?
• Download Offline Maps: Before you travel, download maps of the area you'll be visiting. This will reduce continuous data and GPS signal usage.
• Close Apps When Not in Use: Make sure to completely close the navigation app after you've reached your destination.
• Use Battery Saver Mode: Activate your phone's power-saving mode during your journey to limit background activity from other apps.
7. Online Shopping Apps/Marketplaces
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With online shopping apps, the main problem that drains your phone is the notification system. Try to adjust your notification settings. Not all notifications need to be turned on.
If the app has a Lite version or a website, consider using the Lite version or accessing the website directly through a browser for your shopping needs.
8. High-Graphics Games
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You probably play games on your phone from time to time, or even often. High-graphics online games tend to burden the CPU and GPU, which causes your smartphone to heat up quickly and drain the battery.
Here are some solutions for you gamers who spend a lot of time on your smartphone screens:
• Use Game Mode: Most modern phones have a game mode that can optimize performance and manage battery usage.
• Adjust Graphics Settings: Lower the graphics quality (resolution, frame rate, shadow effects) in the game's settings to reduce the workload on the device.
• Give Your Phone a Break: Don't play games for too long. Take breaks so your phone doesn't overheat.
9. Online Dating Apps
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Since online dating apps often use location services and send intensive notifications, set the app's location permission to "Only while using the app." Also, turn off location services when you're not actively using the app. Additionally, limit background activity so the app doesn't continuously look for matches or send notifications when you're not active.
10. Weather Apps
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When using a smartphone, it feels incomplete to have to delete a weather app or feature. So, you can keep it. But, remember to disable the automatic location or GPS connection. You can also reduce the update frequency for the app. Use a minimalist widget for the weather app.
WRAP UP!
By knowing which apps are essential and which are not, you can ensure your phone is always in top condition. Time for a digital cleanup!
