battery consumption Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

The 15 Best Steam Deck Games

Valve’s Steam Deck is a leading handheld PC known for its user-friendly design and gaming capabilities. It supports a range of games, including: - Vampire Survivors: Affordable, engaging gameplay, and seamless performance. - Stardew Valley: A beloved farming simulator that supports modding. - Balatro: Combines poker mechanics with rogue-like elements, low battery consumption. - Dave the Diver: Quick gaming sessions with charming 2D art style. - Blue Prince: Cozy exploration game with puzzles, suitable for bedtime play. - Dredge: Eerie experience with a day-based structure for brief sessions. - Deep Rock Galactic Survivor: Sci-fi elements and mining challenges, engaging gameplay. - Hades / Hades 2: Action roguelikes with stunning visuals and compelling gameplay. - Sektori: Fast-paced twin-stick shooter, smooth performance. - Elden Ring: Expansive RPG that performs well on the Steam Deck. - Resident Evil 2: Smooth-running remake with a gripping narrative. - Big Hops: 3D platformer with charming visuals and fluid performance at 60FPS. - Warframe: Live-service game offering fast-paced combat, requires internet. - TMNT Shredder’s Revenge: Pixel art brawler with solo and multiplayer options. - Megabonk: 3D version of Vampire Survivors, steady framerate and intuitive controls.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

Proton VPN kills OpenVPN support on Android — here’s why that’s a good thing

Proton VPN has discontinued support for the OpenVPN protocol in its Android application as of February 17, aiming to enhance user experience by promoting faster protocols like WireGuard and its proprietary Stealth protocol. This change reduced the app's size by approximately 36% and was driven by the fact that OpenVPN was used by less than 1% of Android users. The transition to WireGuard and Stealth improves performance with near-instant connection times and reduced battery consumption. OpenVPN can still be accessed through third-party configurations on Proton's servers.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Why High-Performance Android Apps Require More Than Just Kotlin and Jetpack

Smartphone users expect immediate feedback and seamless experiences from applications, which requires a holistic approach to mobile development that integrates user interface design with robust server-side capabilities. Challenges in app architecture and backend integration can hinder performance, particularly for high-level applications. Developers often focus on frontend aspects, neglecting the importance of backend processes, which can lead to issues such as inefficient API payloads and data fetching latency. Architectural bottlenecks, like excessive data retrieval, can waste bandwidth and battery life. A well-structured Android architecture can separate UI from data management complexities, aiding scalability. Modern tools like Jetpack Compose enhance UI development but can introduce performance issues if backend state delivery is inconsistent. Collaborating with specialized nearshore mobile app development teams can help US-based companies address these challenges effectively, benefiting from time zone alignment and cost-effective solutions while maintaining engineering expertise.

BetaBeacon

December 8, 2025

Running Blockchain Games: Android Requirements & Compatibility

Blockchain games use distributed ledgers to store assets and data, including progress tracking and digital economies. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency integration have transformed digital entertainment, leading to the development of popular Web3 RPG titles like Axie Infinity. Games built on blockchain networks require devices with minimum requirements for Android version compatibility, CPU and GPU performance, RAM, storage, wallet integration, network connectivity, security, and battery life.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

Urgent Google app ban affects millions of Android users, check your phone now

A significant adware campaign named "GhostAd" has been identified, affecting Android users globally. This adware infiltrates various applications that appear to be benign utility tools and emoji-editing software, operating a persistent advertising engine that drains device resources and disrupts functionality. At least 15 different infected applications were deployed, some of which were available on Google’s Play Store, including one that reached the number two spot in the "Top Free Tools" category. Users have reported issues such as persistent pop-up ads, disappearing app icons during uninstallation attempts, and slowed device performance. Google has removed the identified infected applications from the Play Store, but existing installations will not be automatically deleted, requiring users to review their apps. The campaign highlights the risks of advertising tools being misused to erode user trust in mobile ecosystems.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Google will now warn about battery-hungry Android apps

Google is enhancing the Android user experience by addressing battery drain caused by applications. The company is collaborating with developers to create power-efficient apps and has introduced new "technical quality metrics" to identify apps that excessively drain battery life. A specific focus is on "excessive partial wake locks," developed in partnership with Samsung, which can significantly escalate battery usage. A new beta metric for excessive partial wake locks has been refined and will soon be available as a core vital for all developers. Starting March 1, 2026, Google will implement new standards that could affect app visibility on the Play Store. Apps that do not meet the quality threshold for excessive wake locks may be excluded from prominent discovery surfaces and could receive warnings about potential battery drain. An app is considered to have excessive wake lock usage if it holds more than 2 cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks in a 24-hour period, with a threshold for "bad behavior" set at exceeding 5% of user sessions classified as excessive over the past 28 days. Developers will receive alerts if their app surpasses this limit.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Starting March 1, Google will warn and ‘label’ Android apps that … – The Times of India

Google is updating its Play Store to improve smartphone battery efficiency by addressing apps that prevent devices from entering Sleep mode. This initiative, developed with Samsung, targets "excessive partial wake locks," which keep the CPU active in the background. Apps will be flagged if their user sessions exceed 5% of excessive wake locks over a 28-day period. Starting March 1, 2026, apps maintaining a non-exempt wake lock for over two hours in 24 hours will face penalties, including potential removal from recommendation lists and warning badges on their listings. Google aims to help users identify apps that may cause battery drain. A beta rollout began in April 2025, and Google has provided tools for developers to monitor wake lock usage and battery consumption.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Google Gemini App Finally Goes True Black—With a Catch

Google is updating the Gemini application for Android users, introducing a new dark theme that features a true black color scheme on the homepage, which benefits users with OLED or AMOLED screens by reducing battery consumption and improving viewing comfort. The update also includes a new organizational feature called "My Stuff," located in the navigation drawer, allowing users to manage their generated media. The user interface has been streamlined, with suggestion chips arranged vertically for better navigation and some labels updated for clarity. Additionally, a "New Chat" button has replaced the previous account switcher, simplifying conversation management. The true black theme is currently limited to the homepage.

AppWizard

November 13, 2025

The Google Play Store Is Making It Easy to Remotely Uninstall Apps From Your Other Android Devices

Users can now uninstall apps from multiple Android devices directly through their smartphones using the updated Play Store version 48.8. This version introduces a "Available on more devices" section on an app's Play Store page, allowing users to easily uninstall or install apps across connected devices. Additionally, Google plans to penalize apps that excessively drain battery power starting next year, potentially removing them from discoverability pages or alerting users about their high battery consumption.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Google Play will warn Android users about apps that drain your battery

Google has introduced a new beta vitals metric for Android app developers that labels battery-draining applications in the Google Play Store. This metric, called "excessive partial wake locks," identifies apps that prevent smartphones from entering sleep mode, which can drain battery life. An app is considered to have excessive wake locks if it holds more than two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks within a 24-hour period. An app crosses the bad behavior threshold when 5% of its user sessions over the past 28 days are deemed excessive. Developers will receive a warning in their Android vitals overview dashboard when this threshold is reached. Apps exceeding the threshold will display a warning label in the Play Store stating, "This app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity," and may become less visible to users as Google restricts their eligibility for certain discovery sections within the Play Store.