Travelling is hard on a phone battery: navigation all day, hundreds of photos, a weak or foreign network and a screen at full brightness. Even a healthy phone can be empty by mid-afternoon. Here is what helps today, and how to tell if the battery itself is the problem.
Quick fixes that help today
- Turn on Low Power Mode (iPhone) or Battery Saver (Android) as soon as you leave the hotel.
- Lower the screen brightness – the screen is the biggest power user.
- Download offline maps of Amsterdam in Google Maps or Apple Maps on hotel Wi-Fi, so the phone does not keep searching for data.
- Weak signal drains power. In places with poor reception, switch to Wi-Fi or airplane mode for a while.
- Close apps that track your location in the background, and turn off Bluetooth when you are not using it.
- Cold weather makes batteries drop fast. Keep the phone in an inside pocket in winter.
Is the battery worn out?
Batteries wear with every charge. After a couple of years, a phone may lose charge much faster or even switch off at 20–30%. Signs that the battery itself needs replacing:
- The phone switches off suddenly while it still shows charge.
- The percentage jumps up and down.
- It gets warm and slow during normal use.
- The back or screen is bulging – stop using it and have it checked straight away.
On an iPhone, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below about 80% maximum capacity, Apple considers the battery worn. Many Android phones show battery information under Settings → Battery or in the device care section.
Battery replacement while you wait
A battery replacement is one of the quickest repairs we do: often ready in 20 to 30 minutes. You get a fixed price before we start and a 1-year warranty on the new battery.
PhonePlus, Binnen Bantammerstraat 4, Amsterdam – near the Nieuwmarkt and about ten minutes' walk from Centraal Station. Walk in without an appointment.
- Monday: 10:00–19:00
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00–21:00
- Sunday: 12:00–21:00
