Help - Nokia 5130 XpressMusic standby time is rated 12 days but I'm only getting 3

[alanbrenton]

I bought a few units of the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic just a few weeks ago and noticed that both my wife's and my units are only getting by 3-4 days before the cellphone runs out of power though the rated standby time as per owner's manual is 12 days.

I only use my phone for emergencies (rarely) and still I'm getting just 3 days between charges. I have the network set to Automatic and I have the touchguard on so I'm not sure what's eating up the battery when I rarely use the phone. My older Nokia unit's battery would last a week or so.

http://www.migsmobile.net/2009/04/23/nokia-5130-xpressmusic/

It happens to both our phones so I'm wondering if we've set it up somehow that the battery drains so fast. We don't use it for internet connections either.

Can we complain to Nokia Canada. Could it be that the batteries are problematic. She bought hers at a Rogers store and I bought mine at The Source. I have a few more units that haven't been used but this overly short battery life is bugging me.

Thanks for any advice.

[HowEver]

Don't leave them sitting around. These kinds of batteries like to be charged more often.

As for getting 3 days' standby when 12 was advertised, welcome to the world of modern electronics. You will NEVER get the manual's standby time.

If you used the phones once in a while, the batteries would be in better health and then when on occasion you did NOT use them they might last for more than three days.

And really, if charging a phone every three days is bothersome, perhaps you should just leave your cell phones plugged in all the time, and move on to some more serious and life-changing topic.




I bought a few units of the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic just a few weeks ago and noticed that both my wife's and my units are only getting by 3-4 days before the cellphone runs out of power though the rated standby time as per owner's manual is 12 days.

I only use my phone for emergencies (rarely) and still I'm getting just 3 days between charges. I have the network set to Automatic and I have the touchguard on so I'm not sure what's eating up the battery when I rarely use the phone. My older Nokia unit's battery would last a week or so.

http://www.migsmobile.net/2009/04/23/nokia-5130-xpressmusic/

It happens to both our phones so I'm wondering if we've set it up somehow that the battery drains so fast. We don't use it for internet connections either.

Can we complain to Nokia Canada. Could it be that the batteries are problematic. She bought hers at a Rogers store and I bought mine at The Source. I have a few more units that haven't been used but this overly short battery life is bugging me.

Thanks for any advice.

[alanbrenton]

Don't leave them sitting around. These kinds of batteries like to be charged more often.

As for getting 3 days' standby when 12 was advertised, welcome to the world of modern electronics. You will NEVER get the manual's standby time.

If you used the phones once in a while, the batteries would be in better health and then when on occasion you did NOT use them they might last for more than three days.

And really, if charging a phone every three days is bothersome, perhaps you should just leave your cell phones plugged in all the time, and move on to some more serious and life-changing topic.

Thanks for the tips HowEver. I'll try to charge them more often. I got 5 units and so wanted to get to the bottom of the problem. I'll probably contact Nokia Canada if I do get some free time.

Charging 3 days isn't bothersome, it's just surprising that the rated standby time was 12 days and I was only getting 1/4-1/3 that time. Also, my 2003 Nokia phone's charge lasts longer than this new unit, which I find odd as I thought newer cellphones would be able to hold charges a little bit longer.

I'll probably contact Nokia Canada if I do get some free time and then move on with my life. :)

[HowEver]

If you want to save yourself the hassle of contacting Nokia, which is not the easiest route, buy a bunch of $1 batteries from eBay. They are generally made in the same Chinese factories (overnight or weekends, a little entrepreneurship on the employees' part) as the name brands, and these days last way longer than eBay batteries from just a few years ago.

If you have lots of free time, sure, call Nokia. They aren't likely to help you, especially if you have 5 units which can't be used regularly and are going to suffer battery death from disuse, or at least already have to some extent.

Manufacturers call batteries "consumables" for a reason: they wear out. They want them to wear out. The phone lasts a period of time, batteries not so long. You're supposed to be buying replacements, just perhaps not this soon, and perhaps not for phones left sitting around.

[alanbrenton]

If you want to save yourself the hassle of contacting Nokia, which is not the easiest route, buy a bunch of $1 batteries from eBay. They are generally made in the same Chinese factories (overnight or weekends, a little entrepreneurship on the employees' part) as the name brands, and these days last way longer than eBay batteries from just a few years ago.

If you have lots of free time, sure, call Nokia. They aren't likely to help you, especially if you have 5 units which can't be used regularly and are going to suffer battery death from disuse, or at least already have to some extent.

Manufacturers call batteries "consumables" for a reason: they wear out. They want them to wear out. The phone lasts a period of time, batteries not so long. You're supposed to be buying replacements, just perhaps not this soon, and perhaps not for phones left sitting around.

I just got them last month. I wouldn't be complaining if I've been using them for months but I appreciate your attention However.

[Paolo]

the 12 days is achieved by testing done in a laboratory where there is no variables.

you will never get that much in the real world where you have obsticles, buildings, distance to towers, radio transmit power, atmospheric conditions, capacity, interference, etc.

[alanbrenton]

the 12 days is achieved by testing done in a laboratory where there is no variables.

you will never get that much in the real world where you have obsticles, buildings, distance to towers, radio transmit power, atmospheric conditions, capacity, interference, etc.

Thanks Paolo. That's a welcome relief. I guess with the added features, it just depletes the battery more so than my earlier Nokia phone though I would expect for the new phone to have at least the same battery life as the older model.

[shivash39]

its UP TO 12 days...so that mean you dont have to get 12 days..people always make these mistakes...

[alanbrenton]

its UP TO 12 days...so that mean you dont have to get 12 days..people always make these mistakes...

I know that but this is 3 vs 12 days we are talking about. :)

[Digital_Domain]

Is bluetooth off?

[alanbrenton]

Is bluetooth off?

Hi Digital_Domain, yes BT is off. I just checked the phone.

I actually had left another unit just on the desk close to the balcony (for testin g purposes) with good Rogers reception and it only lasted 4 days (no phone calls whatsoever).

It's just really weird that the battery charge lasts only for 3 days.