Does Bluetooth Drain Your Battery?

Many people are under the impression that Bluetooth drains the battery from their phones. However, a test conducted by Wirecutter found that leaving Bluetooth unconnected has little impact on battery life. It also showed that even connecting to a Bluetooth device like a fitness watch or a Tile tracker had a minimal effect on a phone's battery. 

Even though Bluetooth won't drain your battery in most instances, one noticeable area that impacts battery life is streaming audio through Bluetooth headphones or speakers. The constant use of your phone with the addition of Bluetooth running will ultimately result in your battery life dying quicker.

Bluetooth Drains Your Phone Battery: Myth or Fact? (Myth)

In nearly every case, the statement, Bluetooth drains your phone battery, is a myth. When phone manufacturers began incorporating Bluetooth into their devices, they needed to find a way to do so without impacting performance. In the end, they integrated the Bluetooth feature in a way that minimized its impact on the phone's battery life.

However, the apps and devices you connect to may impact your phone's battery differently. Items such as Bluetooth headphones and speakers are notorious for draining battery life if you use them for a prolonged period. 

Is it OK to keep Bluetooth on all the time?

It's perfectly fine to leave your Bluetooth on all the time. Truthfully, it will make your life easier because you won't need to turn on the feature whenever you want to connect your headphones or other Bluetooth devices. As mentioned in the section above, leaving your Bluetooth on won't drain your battery and has minimal impact on your phone's performance.

Does turning Bluetooth off save phone battery?

For the first smartphones that came out in the mid-90s, turning off Bluetooth may have helped to conserve battery life. However, with new technology, most Bluetooth devices run off Bluetooth-BLE or Bluetooth 4.0. This improved technology was designed with low power consumption in mind and had little to no impact on a phone's battery life.

So, while it could have helped to save phone batteries a few decades ago, turning off Bluetooth on your phone today probably won't help save your battery. 

Does Bluetooth use data?

You may wonder if the feature pulls from your phone's data when using Bluetooth for a device like your Tile tracker. The good news is that Bluetooth doesn't need data to work properly. 

Order an energy-efficient Bluetooth Tile tracker

Tile Bluetooth trackers operate similarly to other Bluetooth devices, such as fitness watches. The efficient design of the tracker allows it to draw a minimal amount of power from your phone's battery. 

If you are currently looking to add a new tracking device to your current lineup of Bluetooth devices, the Tile tracker is available in a variety of styles. Visit our shop today to select your unique tile and Tile tracker plan.