Is Always-On Displays Ruining Our Battery Life?

September 11, 2025

Why Do Phones Have Always-On Displays Anyway?

Did you know some phones light up even when you’re not using them? It’s called an always-on display. It shows the time, notifications, or widgets, all without you lifting a finger. Seems handy, right? But there’s another side: it might be draining your phone’s battery faster than you’d expect.

The Tradeoff: Convenience vs. Battery

People say always-on displays are a smart way to check info at a glance. No need to wake up the whole device. But as many users on Reddit point out, that extra glow can eat up more battery during the day. On some Android devices, for example, enabling always-on can use 1–3% per hour. That adds up, especially if your phone’s battery already struggles. Suddenly, that extra convenience starts to feel a bit less worth it.

What Actually Saves Battery (And What Doesn’t)?

Turning down screen brightness
Reducing notifications
Turning off background app refresh
Using dark mode
Shutting off always-on displays

Some newer phones with OLED screens are better at handling always-on features, since black pixels are truly off. But even then, there’s still some energy being used. And if you keep your always-on display cranked up, don’t be surprised if your battery doesn’t last as long as you hoped.

The Day the Battery Dropped to Zero

As heard in tech forums, imagine someone running late for an appointment. They stare down at their phone, noticing the battery icon is already red. They haven’t used it much, or at least they didn’t think so. But they did leave the always-on display enabled overnight. That few percent adds up. Now they’re nervously hunting for a charger, all for the sake of checking the time without pressing a button.

Should You Keep It On?

Having an always-on display is cool and handy, but is it worth shaving hours off your phone’s life each day? Or would it be better to flip it off and squeeze a little more out of every charge? How do you feel about trading a bit of convenience for reliable battery life?