How VPN connection affects your phone’s battery life?

02 July 2024
We tested whether being constantly connected to a VPN service is detrimental to battery endurance.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • rKN
  • 14 Jul 2024

NeonHD, 13 Jul 2024I personally use Windscribe VPN. Probably doesn't have... moreAny VPN provider from 14 eyes alliance is not trustworthy at all. Hats off for your choice.

    • c
    • clay
    • j%j
    • 14 Jul 2024

    Leanzazzy, 14 Jul 2024All of these things obviously slow down your Internet speed... moreyoure right.. two months ago i had problem with my phone. i cant connect to any wifi and i cant use my data. and im barely send a message,but i can able to do a phone call. i thot my fone is damage and im about to get a new one. but before it i scroll to my settings, turning off and on evrything. but nothing happ3ned. then i accidentaly delete the vpn connection i guess and presto my phone works normaly. what the heck is the fckn vpn

      Anonymous, 13 Jul 2024What about secure dns? Does it slow down your internet spee... moreAll of these things obviously slow down your Internet speed because your traffic is going through far more hoops and jumps before it can actually reach its endpoints. How much depends on the server, client, and whatever DNS and VPN etc you are using.

      As an example, your maximum download speed is always capped by the upload speed of the server, because when you are downloading something, a server always needs to be uploading it from the other side. The more clients downloading from the same server, the slower the individual download speed as the bandwidth is distributed evenly amongst all the clients(assuming their ISPs all provide them with the same speed). You can see this very clearly with torrents. They often die because no one is seeding it from the other end. On the other hand, they may be infuriatingly slow, simply because the server/seeder does not have a high upload speed (as is usual for consumers) or there may be too many peers/leechers/clients.

      That is the reason most decent sites either use seedboxes or invest in professional sites that have thousands of servers constantly running with extremely fast upload speeds.
      So in reality, most sites and services are mind-bogglingly fast and have enterprise-level speeds that consumers can only dream of, so it's unlikely that you will ever be noticeably capped by them.

        • K
        • Kev
        • 0Za
        • 13 Jul 2024

        Tyfyh, 13 Jul 2024does anyone know a free vpn?VPN by Google. Now its complimentary with Pixel 7 and newer phones after they axed it from Google One. Otherwise, you're better off getting VPN from your company like my friend, free VPN without someone paying for you is just shady in general.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • Ib5
          • 13 Jul 2024

          What about secure dns? Does it slow down your internet speed? Reply please. I use adguard dns.

            • R
            • Reader
            • p4K
            • 13 Jul 2024

            It would be appreciated if sponsored or otherwise affiliated articles were clearly marked, as in this case it's ultimately left up to one's interpretation.

            Only one product was named and tested, only benefits were discovered in the conclusion (despite a rather dramatic effect on battery life in certain scenarios), a link to another unrelated product from the same company is provided, and you might receive a commission from sales. Providing honest benchmarks doesn't mean it's not advertisement.

              • S
              • Sand
              • mv1
              • 13 Jul 2024

              You should have stated which protocol you're using? Don't know which one nordvpn usually uses so might be openvpn instead of wireguard. That would change the results, also do you use their own client or the built phone one or default openvpn / wireguard one? That may also affect the numbers.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 39x
                • 13 Jul 2024

                On a low end device, you'll notice significant battery drain and overheating. Higher end device, you won't notice as much.

                  • T
                  • Tyfyh
                  • 3Nx
                  • 13 Jul 2024

                  does anyone know a free vpn?

                    cyber, 13 Jul 2024your home isp knows exactly where you go with or without vp... moreIt's still a very essential service when using public WiFi.

                      • c
                      • cyber
                      • S2D
                      • 13 Jul 2024

                      your home isp knows exactly where you go with or without vpn,it's funny how some naive folks pay for such a bs

                        I personally use Windscribe VPN. Probably doesn't have the most servers, but it's a very trustworthy vpn.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • LyQ
                          • 13 Jul 2024

                          Casual NordVPN sponsor, yeah they're cooked.

                            We need more articles like this
                            With various apps from now on
                            Adblocks, web browsers, media players
                            And so on ... 👍🏻

                              Invetor, 13 Jul 2024good article and xiaomi with its disappointing battery ... moreIf you get over your serious addiction to screen then you have no problems on battery lasting disappointment

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • rKg
                                • 13 Jul 2024

                                Anonymous, 13 Jul 2024all good just i wouldn't use nordvpn , they have a ske... moreProton is good 👍

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • nDx
                                  • 13 Jul 2024

                                  all good just i wouldn't use nordvpn , they have a sketchy background, use proton or mullvad

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • rKg
                                    • 13 Jul 2024

                                    It all depends on speed after connected and using VPN. If the speed is good then the effect on battery will be so negligible you wouldn't even notice it but if speed is slow, you can expect 20-25% more battery use.

                                      • w
                                      • w1000i
                                      • xs7
                                      • 13 Jul 2024

                                      NordVPN is very poor services, much better to go with ExperssVPN.

                                      NordVPN not working with me and with many emails with them they couldn't get it work in my country and they didn't refund my money ( Totaly fake advertisements ) . But ExperssVPN is way more advance and work any baypass and restriction.

                                        Why didn't compare about the vpnunlimited (keepsolid) app?.

                                        UAE users need paid VPN to make OTT voice calls.