Remember when your cellphone battery would last a week? If you’re too young for that, I’m sure you’ve been bored by an older relative who’s gone on ad nauseam about those good old days.
Of course, all you could do with those old school handsets was make calls and send text messages. Today’s smartphones are mini-computers, infinitely more powerful than even the best desktop PCs available back then.
And all that computing oomph needs plenty of electrical power to keep it going. Throw in a big, bright display for watching movies, surfing the web and playing video games and you’re lucky if your average smartphone will last from dusk until dawn without a recharge, let alone seven days.
One of the most common requests I get from readers is to recommend a cellphone with decent battery power, one that will last at least two days, preferably longer.
My answer depends on what level of compromise they’re willing to accept.
Many old-timers (and quite a few modern types who just want a cheap second phone) are happy with a device that’s devoid of new-fangled frills such as internet access, apps, a camera and GPS – essentially a modern, shrunk version of those “brick” phones of the early 1990s.
Others are looking for good battery life, but still want all the mod cons, including a big screen, decent camera and enough processing power to run the latest games and apps.
Here are the two phones I’d recommend to these respective groups of people.
Huawei Mate 7
If the Nokia 105 is just too stripped down for your liking and you want a smartphone with all the modern bells and whistles, but with great staying power, the Mate 7 from Huawei is my clear choice.
I’ve reviewed this device before, so I won’t go into any detail here. But essentially, the Mate 7 is a great value, 6-inch-screen smartphone with everything you’d expect from a modern device, including fingerprint unlocking.
What sets it apart form other big-screen phones is its 4100mAh battery which makes it the only phablet I’ve tested that offers anything close to two days’ use without needing a recharge.
But it takes more than a giant battery to keep a modern smartphone going for more than 24 hours. Another secret to the Mate 7’s staying power is its dual-processor design.
One faster processor allows high-end functionality like 3-D gaming and video playback at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, while a second more energy-friendly processor takes care of the more standard applications such as e-mail, messaging and web browsing.
There’s also a feature I’ve never encountered in other phones that’ll make you popular with your friends – reverse charging. Using a special cable fitted with a female USB plug, you can connect someone’s dying phone to your Mate 7’s beefy battery for an emergency top-up.
The Mate 7 is available on contracts starting at around R400 a month or on prepaid for around R7 000, although you can get it from as low as R5 900 from the Orange online store.
For more info, including links to my original review of the Mate 7, visit my personal blog alanqcooper.tumblr.com.
Nokia 105
First introduced two years ago, the Nokia 105 quickly gained a near-cult reputation in techie circles for being cheap as chips and bare bones basic but also for being well made and incredibly frugal in its power consumption with a claimed 35-day standby time.
Nokia’s new owners Microsoft have just released a revamped version of the 105 and although I haven’t tested the latest model, it looks like it’s even better than its predecessor.
At a recommended prepaid selling price of just R245, it’s amazingly good value.
Although unashamedly crafted of plastic, it looks pleasingly modern thanks in large part to the big keys and minimalist, easily legible typeface.
Although chunky, it’s fairly small, about the size of a bar of chocolate and not at all heavy. It’s certainly a lot more compact than most smartphones.
In comparison with those devices, its screen is tiny – a postage stamp-sized 1.45 inches. This is a good thing, though.
Small screen equals low battery drain and, after all, you’ll only be using it to choose from the extremely limited menu of options, maybe play a couple of retro style games like Snake or scroll through up to 2 000 contacts – a big improvement on the original 105’s 500-contact capacity.
There’s also a built-in FM radio and torch which, combined with its power-sipping prowess, make it the ideal load shedding back-up phone and camping trip companion.
Microsoft says audibility has been significantly improved, so it would make a great choice for an older person who wants a basic phone with big keys and a nice loud speaker.
So just how long does the battery last? When I tested the original 105 I found it kept going for just short of two weeks with light use and I’m told the new version has even more stamina.
Available in three colours: cyan, white and black, the new Nokia 105 should be in stores near you some time this month. Ensure you get the new model as the old one is still widely available.
There’s also a dual SIM version for those who want to switch between networks for the best rates, or improve their chances of finding a signal while off the beaten track.