battery efficiency Archives

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Android will finally show you which app is draining your battery

Google has introduced a new system-level metric called “excessive partial wake locks” to identify apps that prevent Android phones from entering sleep mode, which leads to unnecessary battery drain. This metric, co-developed with Samsung, will be integrated into Android's core vitals metrics to help measure app performance and efficiency. Starting March 1, 2026, apps that keep devices awake for more than two hours unnecessarily will face penalties, including reduced visibility in Play Store recommendations and potential user warnings. This initiative aims to improve transparency for users and encourage developers to optimize their apps.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Google’s Gemini App Revamp: Inside the Android Redesign Reshaping AI Interfaces

Google has updated its Gemini app for Android, introducing a redesigned homepage, a true black dark theme, and a new ‘My Stuff’ feature. The update aims to enhance user experience by making interactions more intuitive and organized, following a previous redesign in September. The gradual rollout starts with select users on Android. The black dark theme is optimized for OLED screens, reducing eye strain and improving battery efficiency. The ‘My Stuff’ hub centralizes user-generated content, addressing organization issues from earlier versions. The update aligns with Google’s broader AI strategy, integrating with services like YouTube and Google Maps. The app now supports better organization tools, including a refreshed conversation view. Users have praised the dark theme and streamlined interface. Analysts suggest these updates could be pivotal in the AI race, enhancing Gemini's competitiveness against rivals like OpenAI. Some users have noted minor rollout delays, indicating a need for wider availability.

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 13, 2025

Valve’s Steam Frame is an all-in one headset for VR, PC games, and streaming

Valve has introduced the Steam Frame, a standalone VR headset with PC-streaming capabilities, set to launch in early 2026 at a price lower than the Valve Index. Key features include dual LCDs with a resolution of 2160×2160 pixels per eye, refresh rates from 72 Hz to 120 Hz (experimental up to 144 Hz), inside-out tracking with four outward-facing cameras and two inward-facing eye-tracking cameras, a modular strap and rear-battery design, and a weight of approximately 440g. It is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and runs on SteamOS 3, supporting Proton/FEX compatibility for non-VR Steam titles. The Steam Frame aims to eliminate the need for a gaming PC, making PC VR more accessible to a wider audience and allowing existing Steam game owners to use their current library. Valve has yet to disclose specific game compatibility and performance details for the headset.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Google’s about to name and shame the Android apps killing your battery

Google will begin flagging applications on the Play Store that exhibit excessive battery drain starting March 1, 2026. Apps will be marked if over 5% of their user sessions in the past 28 days show excessive wake lock behavior. Non-compliant apps may experience reduced visibility in Play Store recommendations and could receive a public warning badge indicating potential battery drain. This initiative is part of Google's updated technical quality guidelines, which now include battery efficiency as a performance metric alongside existing checks for crashes and freezes. Developers who ignore these guidelines risk lower rankings and visibility for their apps.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Google is cracking down on apps that secretly drain your battery

Google is introducing new app quality guidelines for Android devices to reduce excessive battery drain, effective March 1, 2026. Developers will be held accountable for apps that unnecessarily deplete battery life, particularly through mismanaged "wake locks." Apps that excessively hold wake locks will face penalties in the Play Store, including reduced visibility and warning labels for users. An app will be flagged if it keeps a device awake for over two cumulative hours in 24 hours without justification, or if it consumes more than 4.44% of battery per hour on wearables. This initiative was developed in collaboration with Samsung to improve app performance and user satisfaction.

AppWizard

November 2, 2025

Android’s upcoming feature could make the always-on display actually useful

Google is set to introduce an update for Android's always-on display (AOD) called "Min Mode," which will transform it from a static clock and notification hub into a dynamic, app-driven interface. This feature will allow applications to display simplified, low-power interfaces on the AOD, enabling users to see essential information without fully activating the screen. Initial code indicates that Google Maps will utilize Min Mode for live turn-by-turn navigation in a minimalist, monochrome format optimized for portrait orientation. Min Mode aims to enhance the AOD's functionality by displaying relevant data such as navigation directions, fitness metrics, or media controls while conserving battery life. Developers will need to balance functionality with battery efficiency to maintain the AOD's simplicity and accessibility.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Android 17 Min Mode turns AOD into a live app canvas

Most Android devices now have an always-on display (AOD) feature, which allows users to view the time and notifications without unlocking their phones. Google is developing a new feature called "Min Mode" for Android 17, which will enable apps to integrate with AOD by rendering minimal user interfaces on the low-power display. Min Mode will not replace the traditional AOD but will function as an additional mode, allowing for a full-screen application surface while maintaining low brightness and refresh rates. Apps can activate Min Mode by defining a MinModeActivity in their AndroidManifest and communicating with a MinModeProvider in SystemUI. This feature aims to provide glanceable, battery-efficient experiences for applications that typically drain battery life. Early indications suggest that Google Maps may be the first app to implement Min Mode, with relevant code already identified. The feature is expected to be available in Android 17, as it is currently disabled at the system level and is not anticipated to be included in Android 16 QPR3.

AppWizard

October 30, 2025

Android 17 could bring full-screen apps to your phone’s always-on display

Google is developing a new feature called Min Mode for Android 17, designed to enhance the Always-On Display (AOD) functionality. Min Mode allows applications to showcase minimal, persistent interfaces while conserving battery life by operating within an ultra-low-power display state. It enables apps to present a full-screen interface when the device is idle and is integrated within the SystemUI package. Developers can register a “MinModeActivity” in their app's Manifest file to activate this feature. To prevent screen burn-in, the system shifts pixels every 60 seconds. Google Maps is expected to be one of the first applications to implement this feature, adopting a minimalist power-saving mode. Min Mode is anticipated to be introduced as a new developer API with the release of Android 17.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

QuickStep App: Android’s Default Launcher Guide

The QuickStep App is the default launcher on many Android devices, managing the home screen interface and app interactions. It allows users to open and switch between apps, customize the home screen, add widgets or shortcuts, access the app drawer, and use gestures for quick actions. QuickStep is pre-installed, integrates with the system for smoother performance, is battery efficient, and receives consistent updates from Google or device manufacturers. It is essential for maintaining an easy-to-use interface, faster multitasking, smoother animations, and reducing app crashes. Users should not uninstall QuickStep, as it is a core system component, although they can set a different launcher as default. To optimize the QuickStep experience, users are advised to keep their Android updated, use gesture navigation, organize apps, customize widgets, and avoid clutter.