I’m not going to get into the Android vs. iOS debate here. I’ll just say that Android suits my workflow better than iOS and leave it at that. I’ve owned three Android phones: the original HTC G1, the Motorola Milestone and the HTC Desire HD (my current phone). And, yes, I’ve used iOS devices, too, which is why I can say that Android suits me better.
When I got my Desire HD, I suspected that the huge, beautiful display would be a battery eater, and I was right. I typically got about 14 hours of use, which was barely enough. I’d have to plug in my phone as soon as I got home. Sometimes, I’d have to plug it in during the day, especially after heavy use. Usually, by noon, I’d see the battery bar had slipped below 50%.
Last week, I bit the bullet and upgraded to Cyanogen Mod 7. I’d tried some of the release candidates with varying degrees of luck and was unimpressed. With the release of 7.0, I was ready to give it a serious go. I’m so glad I did.
I use Battery Monitor Widget (I use the Pro version) to monitor my battery usage. Since installing Cyanogen Mod 7, I’m averaging 17.5h of battery use a day. On a typical workday, I get home with over 30% of my battery remaining. Today is Saturday, so my phone’s seen only light use. After 11 hours on, I have 70% of my battery remaining. That’s an incredible number. Battery Monitor Widget tells me I have 16 hours of battery life remaining, a projection based on usage since the phone was unplugged. If true, that’ll mean over a day and a half of battery life, a number I can live with.
