Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?

Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?

Any idea?

Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>
> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>
> Any idea?

Too marginal to say definitively. It might make a difference if you
routinely turn off BT when using the internal speaker, but most people
don't.

The best way to save power is use airplane mode which turns off the mobile
radio.

On Tue, 22 Oct 2024 02:15 -0400, Bill Powell wrote:
> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>
> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?

You can install AccuBattery to measure the discharge current, so you can
see exactly what difference it makes.

Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>
> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?

My instinct says that moving the speaker coil is going to cost more power
than doing RF for the Bluetooth, but it'll depend on a lot of things, such
as how much volume you have for the speaker.

I'd do some experiments - fully charge the phone, set it to play the same
multi-hour podcast, come back at the end and see what the battery percentage
looks like.

Theo

On 10:54 22 Oct 2024, Theo said:
> Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>
>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>
> My instinct says that moving the speaker coil is going to cost more
> power than doing RF for the Bluetooth, but it'll depend on a lot of
> things, such as how much volume you have for the speaker.

I vaguely recall observing something like an additional 200 mA drain
when playing my phone speaker at a medium-loud volume. That's quite a
lot.

I rarely use Bluetooth but some say its current consumption is about a
tenth of that, or even less.

Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:

> Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>
>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>
>> Any idea?
>
> Too marginal to say definitively. It might make a difference if you
> routinely turn off BT when using the internal speaker, but most people
> don't.
>
> The best way to save power is use airplane mode which turns off the mobile
> radio.

But no cellular radio (for data aka Internet) means no podcast. The OP
isn't listening to local audio files on his phone. He is listening to a
podcast, and that requires Internet access which requires the cellular
radio for data. I suppose he could be using an app to first download a
podcast to save to a local file on his phone, but he didn't mention how
is is listening to the podcast: locally downloaded file, or streaming
from Internet.

Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:

> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>
> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>
> Any idea?

The Bluetooth headset requires its own power source to produce the
audio. Audio played from the phone's speaker uses the phone's battery.
Of course, with the BT headset consuming its own battery to power the
audio output, you'll have to recharge the BT headset. Depending on how
"long" is the trip, your BT headset could die before you arrive. But
then so, too, can your phone, unless you carry a power pack (I always
take on on a trip that is fully charged), or have a power port in the
car or plane to recharge the phone or keep the phone charged.

Presumably your smartphone support Bluetooth LE (low energy). Even if
using the phone's own speaker for audio output, you're likely still
leaving on the BT radio to consume energy. The BT power would be wasted
when using the phone's speaker.

VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:
> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
> >> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
> >>
> >> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
> >> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
> >>
> >> Any idea?
> >
> > Too marginal to say definitively. It might make a difference if you
> > routinely turn off BT when using the internal speaker, but most people
> > don't.
> >
> > The best way to save power is use airplane mode which turns off the mobile
> > radio.
>
> But no cellular radio (for data aka Internet) means no podcast. The OP
> isn't listening to local audio files on his phone. He is listening to a
> podcast, and that requires Internet access which requires the cellular
> radio for data. I suppose he could be using an app to first download a
> podcast to save to a local file on his phone, but he didn't mention how
> is is listening to the podcast: locally downloaded file, or streaming
> from Internet.

I haven't used podcasts in a while, but when I still did, downloading
(in MP3 format) was the normal way, i.e. not streaming and no Internet
needed to play.

Wikipedia implies that's still the case:

'Podcast'
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast>

"A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download
over the Internet."

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>
>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>
> My instinct says that moving the speaker coil is going to cost more power
> than doing RF for the Bluetooth, but it'll depend on a lot of things, such
> as how much volume you have for the speaker.
>
> I'd do some experiments - fully charge the phone, set it to play the same
> multi-hour podcast, come back at the end and see what the battery percentage
> looks like.

Remember to repeat the experiment sufficiently for a statistically
meaningful result ;)

> Theo
>

VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote:
> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>
>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>
>>> Any idea?
>>
>> Too marginal to say definitively. It might make a difference if you
>> routinely turn off BT when using the internal speaker, but most people
>> don't.
>>
>> The best way to save power is use airplane mode which turns off the mobile
>> radio.
>
> But no cellular radio (for data aka Internet) means no podcast.

I wonder how people manage on planes, then?

> The OP
> isn't listening to local audio files on his phone. He is listening to a
> podcast, and that requires Internet access which requires the cellular
> radio for data.

That's an assumption on your part as the OP said nothing about the source
of the podcasts. Many podcasts are downloaded.

> I suppose he could be using an app to first download a
> podcast to save to a local file on his phone, but he didn't mention how
> is is listening to the podcast: locally downloaded file, or streaming
> from Internet.

Correct. Either is possible. How does that help with answering the question
at hand?

sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>
>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>
>> Any idea?
>
> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>
> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>
> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.

Do you have a source?

Jörg Lorenz <hugybear@gmx.net> ha scritto:
>
> When I used podcasts they were usually downloaded and could be played
> any time without a internet connection. That makes them interesting for
> longer flights or ship travelling. And many users build libraries of
> podcasts.
>
And this is also far less environmental impact than streaming.
People should do the same with any media content (video tutorials
on YouTube, music, movies...)
That's also why real FM radio is better than webradio.

--
Qihe

On 10/22/2024 1:05 PM, sms wrote:
> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>
>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>
>> Any idea?
>
> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>
> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>
> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.

Sorry, about 1000x the power, not 3000x.

--
“If you are not an expert on a subject, then your opinions about it
really do matter less than the opinions of experts. It's not
indoctrination nor elitism. It's just that you don't know as much as
they do about the subject.”—Tin Foil Awards

Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:

> VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote:
>> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Bill Powell <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
>>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>>
>>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>>
>>>> Any idea?
>>>
>>> Too marginal to say definitively. It might make a difference if you
>>> routinely turn off BT when using the internal speaker, but most people
>>> don't.
>>>
>>> The best way to save power is use airplane mode which turns off the mobile
>>> radio.
>>
>> But no cellular radio (for data aka Internet) means no podcast.
>
> I wonder how people manage on planes, then?
>
>> The OP
>> isn't listening to local audio files on his phone. He is listening to a
>> podcast, and that requires Internet access which requires the cellular
>> radio for data.
>
> That's an assumption on your part as the OP said nothing about the source
> of the podcasts. Many podcasts are downloaded.
>
>> I suppose he could be using an app to first download a
>> podcast to save to a local file on his phone, but he didn't mention how
>> is is listening to the podcast: locally downloaded file, or streaming
>> from Internet.
>
> Correct. Either is possible. How does that help with answering the question
> at hand?

In my other reply.

Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:

> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>
>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>
>>> Any idea?
>>
>> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>>
>> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>>
>> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.
>
> Do you have a source?

Do you to refute?

Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> ha scritto:

> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>
>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>
>>> Any idea?
>>
>> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>>
>> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>>
>> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.
>
> Do you have a source?
>

https://www.androidauthority.com/does-bluetooth-drain-battery-1145853/

--
Qihe

Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> ha scritto:

> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> ha scritto:
>
>> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>>> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>>
>>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>>
>>>> Any idea?
>>>
>>> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>>>
>>> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>>>
>>> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.
>>
>> Do you have a source?
>>
>
> https://www.androidauthority.com/does-bluetooth-drain-battery-1145853/
>
> --
They say: "The results show that playing back audio over Bluetooth
consumes essentially the same amount of power as playing back
audio over speakers or headphones with Bluetooth turned
off".

--
Qihe

In comp.mobile.android, on Tue, 22 Oct 2024 21:24:44 -0000 (UTC), Chris
<ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>> But no cellular radio (for data aka Internet) means no podcast.
>
>I wonder how people manage on planes, then?

I think they take the train.

In comp.mobile.android, on Tue, 22 Oct 2024 02:15:46 -0400, Bill Powell
<bill@anarchists.org> wrote:

>Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>
>Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>
>Any idea?

No, but I have 3 more questions.

If you leave your bluetooth on all the time, how much does it use when
it's transmitting a signal versus when it's doing nothing?

Does it use more to transmit music than talk?
To transmit loud music than soft music?

On 10/22/24 7:06 PM, Qihe wrote:
> Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> ha scritto:
>
>> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> ha scritto:
>>
>>> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>>>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>>>
>>>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>>>
>>>>> Any idea?
>>>>
>>>> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>>>>
>>>> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>>>>
>>>> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.
>>>
>>> Do you have a source?
>>>
>>
>> https://www.androidauthority.com/does-bluetooth-drain-battery-1145853/
>>
>> --
> They say: "The results show that playing back audio over Bluetooth
> consumes essentially the same amount of power as playing back
> audio over speakers or headphones with Bluetooth turned
> off".

Why not obviate the battery problem by putting the podcasts on a USB
stick plugged into the AUX socket?

--
Cheers, Bev
"When I was in college, the only job I could get was
shitting on people's lawns. Sure, the owners complained,
but it was honest work and it kept me off welfare..."
-- M. Tabnik in mcfl (paraphrased)

Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> ha scritto:
>
>> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> ha scritto:
>>
>>> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>>>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>>>
>>>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
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Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> ha scritto:
>
>> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> ha scritto:
>>
>>> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>>>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>>>
>>>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>>>
>>>>> Any idea?
>>>>
>>>> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>>>>
>>>> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>>>>
>>>> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.
>>>
>>> Do you have a source?
>>>
>>
>> https://www.androidauthority.com/does-bluetooth-drain-battery-1145853/
>>
>> --
> They say: "The results show that playing back audio over Bluetooth
> consumes essentially the same amount of power as playing back
> audio over speakers or headphones with Bluetooth turned
> off".

I also saw that. Interesting. Thanks.

I did suspect sms's claim was way off.

The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 10/22/24 7:06 PM, Qihe wrote:
>> Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> ha scritto:
>>
>>> Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> ha scritto:
>>>
>>>> sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>>>>> On 10/21/2024 11:15 PM, Bill Powell wrote:
>>>>>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>>>>>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any idea?
>>>>>
>>>>> Speaker wattage is about 3W.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bluetooth uses about 2.5mW.
>>>>>
>>>>> So the speaker uses more than 3000x the power.
>>>>
>>>> Do you have a source?
>>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.androidauthority.com/does-bluetooth-drain-battery-1145853/
>>>
>>> --
>> They say: "The results show that playing back audio over Bluetooth
>> consumes essentially the same amount of power as playing back
>> audio over speakers or headphones with Bluetooth turned
>> off".
>
> Why not obviate the battery problem by putting the podcasts on a USB
> stick plugged into the AUX socket?

You're assuming they're (1) in a vehicle and (2) where that is possible.

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
> In comp.mobile.android, on Tue, 22 Oct 2024 02:15:46 -0400, Bill Powell
> <bill@anarchists.org> wrote:
>
>> Which uses less of the phone's battery power on long trips?
>>
>> Playing long podcasts with the Android speaker as the output?
>> Playing long podcasts with a Bluetooth speaker as the output instead?
>>
>> Any idea?
>
> No, but I have 3 more questions.
>
> If you leave your bluetooth on all the time, how much does it use when
> it's transmitting a signal versus when it's doing nothing?
>
> Does it use more to transmit music than talk?
> To transmit loud music than soft music?

Look at the link shared by Qilne. The differences are likely unmeasurable.

Frank Slootweg wrote:

> I haven't used podcasts in a while, but when I still did, downloading
>(in MP3 format) was the normal way, i.e. not streaming and no Internet
>needed to play.

With mobile internet plans being that cheap nowadays I usually just
stream because it is only going to be a few MB anyway.
I use Podcast Addict (paid version, 10 Euros/year), with this app you
can of course do both.

-jw-
--
And now for something completely different...

Qihe, 2024-10-23 00:34:

> Jörg Lorenz <hugybear@gmx.net> ha scritto:
>>
>> When I used podcasts they were usually downloaded and could be played
>> any time without a internet connection. That makes them interesting for
>> longer flights or ship travelling. And many users build libraries of
>> podcasts.
>>
> And this is also far less environmental impact than streaming.
> People should do the same with any media content (video tutorials
> on YouTube, music, movies...)
> That's also why real FM radio is better than webradio.

Well - there is no big difference if you download 100 MB as one file or
stream it using HLS with smaller segments. In the end you will download
100 MB data. So only avoiding downloads completely *may* be better for
the environment. But on the other hand using data media like CD/DVD/BD
was also not ideal since these media had to be produced first.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de