Does VPN Use More Battery and Drain Your Phone Faster?

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Battery life is a major concern if you depend on your Android and iOS phones. Even though smartphones have larger, more powerful batteries, the battery life is still a concern. We still do what we can to make it through the day, or to get our phones from charger to charger without worrying about them dying. The battery capacity of our phones is decreasing as more displays and power-hungry applications are added. This can cause battery life to decrease and drain our batteries.

Security is another top concern for both Android and iOS users. VPN is one of the best ways for your data to be secure while using your smartphone. Does VPN affect battery life? Is this true? How much does a VPN impact battery life? How can you conserve battery life using a VPN?

Can VPN drain the battery on your phone?

Yes. It depends on many factors. A VPN can drain between 5% to 15% of your Android or iOS battery. Keep in mind that every app on your phone can impact the battery life, particularly apps that run in the background.

What Causes VPN Battery Drain?

  • Encryption All data sent to your VPN are encrypted and all data returned must also be encrypted. Both encryption and decryption require processing power. This battery is also required. Keep in mind, however, that the more secure encryption level you use, the more battery is required. OpenVPN protocol with AES256 bit encryption is almost unbreakable, but it consumes the most processing power.
  • Non-Optimized Core CPUs Certain iOS devices can support hardware-accelerated AES encryption. This speeds up encryption and reduces battery consumption as it does not use the main CPU’s less efficient encryption method. This feature can cause battery life to be reduced in devices without it.
  • Background Some VPNs can still be active even when you’re not sending or receiving data. The app keeps a connection active with the VPN server so that it is available when you need it. This requires power not only from your CPU, but also your mobile radio chip. Both of these things can impact the battery life of your Android or iOS device.
  • Low Signal Strength Even without a VPN connection, low signals from your mobile network tower or WiFi can cause battery damage. The weak signal will cause your device to increase its power. A VPN can make this even more difficult. VPNs are designed to maintain a connection active so that data can be used even when the VPN isn’t being used.

What Battery Do VPN Users Use?

When you use a VPN on your smartphone, your battery life can increase by 5- 15%. You can expect a different effect on your battery usage depending on how VPN is used. The results you get will depend on the type of VPN service used, your location to WiFi, or the proximity to a tower. Your battery consumption may be lower if you use a weaker encryption standard. There are ways to decrease the impact of a VPN on battery life.

How to Save Battery with a VPN

  • Do not use VPN all the time Using a VPN on an iOS or Android device can help save your battery life. Simply turn it off when it isn’t being used. There are many.

Rank

VPN Service

Rating

Website

1

NordVPN

5/5

Visit NordVPN!

2

Surfshark

4.5/5

Visit PrivateVPN!

3

Surfshark

4.5/5

Visit Surfshark!

4

ExpressVPN

4.5/5

Visit ExpressVPN!

5

Private Internet Access

4/5

Visit PIA!

Conclusion

VPN apps don’t drain more battery than other apps. They can increase your phone’s battery use by 5% to 15%. The phone model, signal strength, encryption used, and device performance all impact the battery consumption. You can save some battery by using a VPN optimized for your phone or installing a VPN on your router.

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