The three free ‘lifesaving’ tricks to keep your phone battery alive on the go that won’t affect performance

Andrew Smith, lecturer at The Open University, says watching a movie on your smartphone is one of the best ways to make long-haul travel less “tedious”.

But as we all know, it’s also a sure-fire way to drain your battery and leave you with a dead phone.

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So, here are three ways to boost your phone battery on-the-go, and a bonus tip that might cost you a little extra.

Avoid social media

“Smartphones and tablets eat power when trying to communicate – whether through GPS or mobile broadband (3G/4G),” Smith explained in an article published in The Conversation.

While the advice was published nearly a decade ago, the sentiment remains the same – avoid social media.

“Avoiding Facebook, email and other social media may seem challenging,” he added.

“But for the duration of your journey this may not be such a bad thing.”

Avoid standby mode

If you don’t need your device for a map or entertainment, Smith recommends utilising aeroplane mode to save on battery.

Equally, if you can turn the device off and avoid standby mode – that’s your best bet.

As Smith puts it: “Rather than leaving any of your devices on standby, just switch them off.

“Standby will slowly eat valuable power, especially for phones and tablets.”

Read a book

You’re avoiding social media, and your device is on aeroplane mode. So, what’s next?

You might not like where Smith is going with this one, but hear him out.

“Here’s a radical suggestion: simply switch off your laptop or tablet and put it in your hold luggage,” he says.

“Books are good for the soul and every long trip I take, I invest in a new book.”

Alternatively, you can pack an Amazon Kindle, an alternative device to your phone.

Don’t mind spending money?

If you don’t mind spending a bit of money to secure your phone batter life, you can buy a battery pack.

“While books may keep us off Facebook and Buzzfeed, they can’t replace everything your phone does,” Smith adds.

“So my main recommendation is to invest in a external battery charger for your smartphone.

“Some battery packs can recharge your smartphone at least four times before losing their charge.

“Many of these are available for around £20 each – why not?”

Don’t want to splurge on a power bank? Buy a coffee instead.

“When I travel, I’m always on the lookout for power; some airports are dire, others wonderful,” he notes.

“If you are on a budget, then consider some of the many coffee shops or bars, you will be surprised at how many power outlets are available.”

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk