You know the feeling. You start a call with 50% battery, and 20 minutes later you're down to 30%. Or worse, you're on a long call and your phone dies mid-conversation. It's frustrating, especially when you need to stay connected.
The good news is that this is totally normal, and there are reasons for it. The better news is that there are things you can do to help. Let's talk about what's actually happening and how to deal with it.
Why Calls Kill Your Battery
When you're on a call, your phone is doing a lot more work than when it's just sitting there. Here's what's draining your battery:
Your Phone's Radio is Working Hard
The biggest battery drain during calls is your phone's radio—the part that connects to cell towers. When you're on a call, it's constantly sending and receiving data to keep that connection alive. It's like having a conversation while running—it takes more energy.
Your phone has to maintain a steady connection to the cell tower, process your voice, send it out, receive the other person's voice, and play it back—all in real time. That's a lot of work, and it uses a lot of power.
Fun fact: The radio is one of the most power-hungry parts of your phone. Even when you're not on a call, it's constantly checking for signals, but during a call, it's working at full capacity.
Your Screen Stays On
When you're on a call, your screen usually stays on (or turns on frequently) so you can see who you're talking to, use the keypad, or access call controls. Even with modern OLED screens that are more efficient, keeping the screen on uses battery.
If you're using speakerphone or have the phone to your ear, the screen might turn off, but it's still using power to detect when you move it away from your face. Plus, if you're checking other apps during the call, that's even more battery drain.
Your Phone is Processing Audio
Your phone's processor has to encode your voice, decode the other person's voice, filter out background noise, adjust volume levels, and handle all the audio processing in real time. All of that takes processing power, which uses battery.
If you're using noise cancellation or other audio enhancements, that's even more processing power. These features make calls sound better, but they come at a cost to your battery.
Weak Signal = More Battery Drain
This is a big one. When you have weak signal, your phone has to work harder to maintain the connection. It increases the power to the radio, tries different frequencies, and constantly searches for a better signal. All of that uses way more battery than when you have strong signal.
If you're in a basement, a parking garage, or somewhere with poor coverage, your battery will drain much faster during calls. The phone is basically shouting louder to be heard by the cell tower.
Quick Fixes That Actually Help
Here's what you can do right now to save battery during calls:
Use Wi-Fi Calling When Possible
Wi-Fi calling uses your internet connection instead of cell towers, which can be more efficient. If you're at home or somewhere with good Wi-Fi, enable Wi-Fi calling. It might use less battery, especially if your cell signal is weak.
Turn Off Background Apps
Close apps you're not using. If you're on a call and have Instagram, TikTok, or other apps running in the background, they're still using battery. Close them before or during long calls.
Use Speakerphone or Headphones
If you're using speakerphone or headphones, you can turn the screen off completely. The phone will still use battery for the call, but you'll save on screen power. Plus, you won't accidentally open apps or turn on the screen.
Move to Better Signal
If you have weak signal, try moving to a window or going outside. Better signal means less battery drain. It's one of the easiest ways to save battery during calls.
Keep Your Phone Charged
If you know you have a long call coming up, charge your phone beforehand. Or use a portable charger or keep it plugged in during the call if possible. It's simple, but it works.
Long-Term Solutions
If battery drain during calls is a constant problem, here are some things to consider:
Check Your Battery Health
If your phone is more than 2-3 years old, the battery might be degraded. Most phones have a battery health setting where you can check. If it's below 80%, that could be why calls drain it so fast. Consider getting the battery replaced.
Consider Your Carrier
If you're constantly in areas with weak signal, your carrier might not have good coverage there. Switching to a carrier with better coverage in your area could help reduce battery drain during calls.
Use Alternative Calling Methods
For long calls, consider using a browser-based calling service or VoIP app that uses Wi-Fi. These can sometimes be more battery-efficient, especially if you have good internet but poor cell coverage.
When You Should Actually Worry
Some battery drain during calls is normal. But if your phone is dying after just 10-15 minutes of calls, or if it's getting hot during calls, that's a problem. It could be:
A Failing Battery
If your battery health is very low, it might not be able to handle the power demands of calls. Get it checked or replaced.
A Software Issue
Sometimes a software bug can cause excessive battery drain. Try restarting your phone, updating the OS, or doing a factory reset if it's really bad.
A Hardware Problem
If your phone gets very hot during calls or the battery drains extremely fast, there might be a hardware issue. Take it to a repair shop or contact the manufacturer.
Bottom Line
Battery drain during calls is normal—your phone is doing a lot of work. But there are things you can do to help: use Wi-Fi calling when possible, close background apps, move to better signal, and keep your phone charged for long calls.
If the drain is extreme or your phone is getting hot, that's a sign something might be wrong. But for most people, some battery drain during calls is just the cost of staying connected. Plan ahead, charge when you can, and don't stress about it too much.