Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

N4 turns off at 11%. It was left in the cold this morning?

Feb 24, 2018 12:23PM PST

Have a refurb N4. I was out in the cold today for most of the morning with temps at around 3-5 degrees. This evening my phone died at 11%. Turned off, no warning. Is this a sign of a failing battery or as a result of exposure to the cold? Someone with me said their phone died at 17% in the cold but in the morning rather than in the evening.

Any ideas? I understand phone batteries die quickly over time but I haven't had the phone for long and this is the first time its happened (granted first time its run down to 11%)

Thanks

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Fahrenheit or Celsius?
Feb 24, 2018 12:27PM PST

That's below freezing and usually out of bounds for operation. As to percent, I see nothing wrong with some variation here. Charge it up and as to age, since it's only a 300 cycle battery you can see loss in a year.

- Collapse -
Celcius. I've only had it for 3 weeks.
Feb 24, 2018 12:29PM PST

I've had an iPhone 5s which does a similar thing. Also refurb. I would take it outside for running and it would turn off outside at silly percentages like 60% (granted it also drains quickly too). I blamed it on water but it is often similar temps (sometimes 0) when I take that out.

- Collapse -
I avoided asking the make of this N4
Feb 24, 2018 12:39PM PST

There are about a dozen phones with the N4 moniker. Most are off main brand makers that we can only guess as to the quality. However low temps do reduce the battery capacity or ability to supply power. This is well discussed and I see it on my all electric car as well (2014 Nissan Leaf owner.)

So just keep it charged up to avoid this situation and as to temps, if it was in your pocket it rarely hits the outside temps as you keep it warmer.

Anything in the below 20% level is anyone's guess what a phone will do. I expect it to turn off GPS, maybe bluetooth too and maybe shut down.

- Collapse -
Will my battery life be affected in the long term?
Feb 24, 2018 12:50PM PST

Will my battery life be affected in the long term? Like will it drain quicker. I'm taking those temps are still too cold. Like I said this is the first time I've let it run below 20% specificially for the reason of avoiding it turning off.

- Collapse -
There are OLD pages on the web about this.
Feb 24, 2018 12:58PM PST

For Lithium batteries and I won't duplicate prior content here, you just put it on the charger when not in use. Lithium seems to like a full charge.

The idea that a full charge on Lithium batteries affected life has been debunked. That is, yes but below a percent point so keep it charged to get the best experience.

There are long back and forths about Lithium batteries. Heat is bad. Overcharging is nearly impossible in laptops and phones since there is a battery management system (BMS if you see/read the articles)

- Collapse -
Any ideas then?
Feb 24, 2018 12:38PM PST

I love the phone and am worried that the battery could get worse - it was outside for a good few hours (in a rucksack) and then in my pocket. Or is this another battery issue. I had an S3 mini with similar issues. I've read that it will turn of at pecentages like 20% if I keep using the battery?

- Collapse -
At low percentages, yes.
Feb 24, 2018 12:55PM PST

Things do happen. If you run that low on a day's use it may be time to carry a second battery pack.

- Collapse -
Charging issue?
Feb 24, 2018 12:57PM PST

That's fine I normally end up with 40-50%. I noticed tonight it wouldn't charge past 91% and I had to remove the battery to get it to 100% like I used to when I first got the phone - is this normal or what?

- Collapse -
I usually never have to tinker to get to 100%
Feb 24, 2018 1:01PM PST

But this may be some off brand that isn't quite worked out the bugs. I can't tell yet.

But I have a decade old Pharos m3 Windows Mobile Phone that appears to have finally started to show wear on the battery. It's been plugged in for over 5 years.

- Collapse -
I've had people who have similar issues with this
Feb 25, 2018 12:20AM PST

I think its a battery calibration issue. People have said how their N4s won't charge beyond 88% or some other number unless you take out the battery.

- Collapse -
It's a EE locked phone in the UK.
Feb 25, 2018 12:45AM PST

Not some verizon branded one or anything

- Collapse -
New battery?
Feb 25, 2018 12:46AM PST

If i want to get a new battery should I buy one from samsung website or get something like an Anker or other one.

- Collapse -
Hope this works out for you.
Feb 26, 2018 8:36AM PST

But it's pretty clear to most that when you get to 20ish per cent and less you are pressing your luck.