I was messing around with the settings on my phone to try and eek out some more battery life. I noticed with the stock battery monitor that the screen was using the most battery (as is expected) so I turned the brightness setting all the way down using the slidebar in settings.
Then I went into the Sprint Zone app, clicked help, then my device, then power controls. There it shows what is turned on on the phone and a general breakdown of how much those things are drawing on the battery (kinda nifty). On the lowest possible brightness setting it says it's at 11% and that that's "medium" usage. Is there a way to get screen Brightness lower? I just find it odd that it still registers as medium usage on its lowest setting...
Also has anyone noticed that on the "Automatic" screen brightness setting that the screen doesn't go as dark as it could go when there is a low light condition? For example if I'm sitting in the dark with auto brightness on, I can turn it off then make the screen darker manually than it would go on auto.
Any thoughts? Or fixes?
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
moses2303 said:
I was messing around with the settings on my phone to try and eek out some more battery life. I noticed with the stock battery monitor that the screen was using the most battery (as is expected) so I turned the brightness setting all the way down using the slidebar in settings.
Then I went into the Sprint Zone app, clicked help, then my device. There it shows what is turned on on the phone and a general breakdown of how much those things are drawing on the battery. On the lowest possible brightness setting it says it's at 11% and that that's "medium" usage. Is there a way to get screen Brightness lower? I just find it odd that it still registers as medium usage on its lowest setting...
Also has anyone noticed that on the "Automatic" screen brightness setting that the screen doesn't go as dark as it could go when there is a low light condition? For example if I'm sitting in the dark with auto brightness on, I can turn it off then make the screen darker manually than it would go on auto.
Any thoughts? Or fixes?
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Try rootdim. Also, the screen brightness is going to be mostly controlled by the kernel, so try using a different kernel or build one from source.
sn0b0ard said:
Try rootdim. Also, the screen brightness is going to be mostly controlled by the kernel, so try using a different kernel or build one from source.
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Click to collapse
There's source?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
It's not in the kernel, it's in an xml or something. There are seven brightness levels (I think it's seven) based on lumens, and there's an associated screen brightness value assigned to each on a scale of 0 to 255. Stock auto brightness levels set the bottom three levels to the same brigness value. I think it's 63. Setting the brightness manually, you can go as low as single digits, maybe even zero.
fachadick said:
It's not in the kernel, it's in an xml or something. There are seven brightness levels (I think it's seven) based on lumens, and there's an associated screen brightness value assigned to each on a scale of 0 to 255. Stock auto brightness levels set the bottom three levels to the same brigness value. I think it's 63. Setting the brightness manually, you can go as low as single digits, maybe even zero.
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Click to collapse
That's cool you can edit the XML files, but how can screen luminosity or display not be part of the kernel or kernel modules? I have an HD2 with CM7 on it, and through installing different kernels and whatnot, I can get different features for display like render effect, auto brightness, and whatnot. Is this only just for sense ROMs then?
---------- Post added at 09:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:10 PM ----------
Kcarpenter said:
There's source?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Not right now there isn't. Would be nice if there was.
fachadick said:
It's not in the kernel, it's in an xml or something. There are seven brightness levels (I think it's seven) based on lumens, and there's an associated screen brightness value assigned to each on a scale of 0 to 255. Stock auto brightness levels set the bottom three levels to the same brigness value. I think it's 63. Setting the brightness manually, you can go as low as single digits, maybe even zero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So maybe the stock rom doesn't let you zero it out? It's posting the lowest value as 11% as read by the Sprint Zone app. Maybe they do it as a safeguard against setting it too low and not being able to see the screen to turn it up when it gets in a brighter environment?
That's a funny thought, I could see me kicking myself over something like that. Would be nice if we could make that call on our own though, wonder how dim it is...and why not make the auto brightness go to the lowest setting (or perhaps even lower than the stock setting)? At least then it would ramp back up as needed.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
Did you try rootdim? I'm pretty sure you can dim the screen lower than stock with it on this phone. I've only used it on my HD2, but it worked well with it and It's free.
Nm rootdim only allows the screen to go down to a value of 30. You can set lower values, but it doesn't change the brightness.
Sent from an EVO 4G LTE using Tapatalk 2.
moses2303 said:
So maybe the stock rom doesn't let you zero it out? It's posting the lowest value as 11% as read by the Sprint Zone app.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Correct - stock only lets the brightness go down to 11%. I'm not sure if auto brightness will ever set it that low though, doesn't seem like it does.
jpbme said:
Correct - stock only lets the brightness go down to 11%. I'm not sure if auto brightness will ever set it that low though, doesn't seem like it does.
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Click to collapse
Yea that's what I'm saying it doesn't go to the minimum. I mean I'm sure the battery savings isn't much, but another usefulness of it going that dark is when you check your phone at night in the car you don't want the phone to be all lit up inviting attention.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
moses2303 said:
Yea that's what I'm saying it doesn't go to the minimum. I mean I'm sure the battery savings isn't much, but another usefulness of it going that dark is when you check your phone at night in the car you don't want the phone to be all lit up inviting attention.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I think 11% is probably dim enough for most cases. If you have a dark background that will help with the car situation. The only time I find it still too bright is when I'm laying in bed at night. I haven't rooted yet so I can't comment on the solutions others suggested but give that a try. You probably won't save that much battery though unless you're in the dark a lot.
Oh - and don't text and drive
I use an app called screen filter at night. It allows the screen to get MUCH dimmer.
jpbme said:
Oh - and don't text and drive
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Haha I knew that was coming :thumbup:
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
Related
I was wondering if someone could create (or if there already is) an app that will dim the screen a lot more than just setting it to 0. I work late hours and come home, just wanting to unwind and play some solitaire. I'm blinded by the screen. I know that there are night/clock apps that can do this. Thanks!
I second this request. The screen is quite blinding in a dark room. A night mode would be nice too have.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I would pay for this app, blows my mind how they could make a phone that can't dim lower. Even when setting brightness to 10 with Dimmer it's a real pain using this phone in the dark.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
shznit said:
I would pay for this app, blows my mind how they could make a phone that can't dim lower. Even when setting brightness to 10 with Dimmer it's a real pain using this phone in the dark.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I would also throw down some of my hard earned dollars for something like this, i want to preserve my battery and the dimmest setting isnt making me feel happy about things
Why not just slide your finger across the task bar from right to left and it would lower the brightness to the lowest setting. To brighten go the other way.
Way easier than another app.
kizer said:
Why not just slide your finger across the task bar from right to left and it would lower the brightness to the lowest setting. To brighten go the other way.
Way easier than another app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but not what I was talking about. I'm talking about lowering the brightness past that for nighttime usage. I know it's possible; I have a bedside app that lowers it way past the default.
BTW, that trick only works with Auto Brightness off.
yeah this would be nice. also, having those cool filters like on CM6 would be nice too. the red filter is great for checking your phone in a dark movie theater.
My brightness is always 90%+ why?
My brightness is always on lowest
My wifi is always on because I'm home and I put it to never sleep.
I'd post pic but when I try to attach it it says pic format not compatible
...what are you asking.
xriderx66 said:
My brightness is always at 90% + regardless even though my phone is set to lowest brightness setting. How can I fix this?
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Click to collapse
This is what I think he means...articulate sentences are not very common these days.
Sdobron said:
This is what I think he means...articulate sentences are not very common these days.
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Click to collapse
Yeah that sorry hehehe
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Make sure auto brightness is off... Also, i keep my brightness on as low as possible as well but i noticed sometimes when pulling down the notification bar ill swipe alittle bit to the side and it will change the brightness. Cool feature but wish there was a way to turn it off.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
i have my brightnesson full and have auto brightness unticked
I find that my brightness is OK most times but occasionally out goes dim on checking the setting has gone from full to completely the lowest setting on its own has anyone any idea what causes this ?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
mancuk29 said:
i have my brightnesson full and have auto brightness unticked
I find that my brightness is OK most times but occasionally out goes dim on checking the setting has gone from full to completely the lowest setting on its own has anyone any idea what causes this ?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
I have exactly the same issue and would be interested in any information to explain this.
Do you have power saving enabled? If so it will automatically reduce the brightness if battery goes low.
Glad I'm not only one
Nope not got power save on or any app which could change settings very strange would like to get to the bottom of it
The only thing i can think is maybe you dragged your finger across the status bar and manually changed the brightness setting.
I have noticed if the battery charge is below 15% the adjust brightness is greyed out in the settings and the brightness is set to the lowest level whether you have the power saving set or not, and if you force the brightness up using the power bar widget , when you phone goes to sleep and wakes up your brightness is back to the lowest setting, but as soon as you charge your phone , the brightness returns to normal.
+1 on TinderBox's comment if the battery is low (not sure how low but my test was under 7%) regardless of settings the brightness keeps getting turned down. When watching video or locking the screen etc.
Does anyone know how to dim Down screen even more than it says on the settings? Like ex. If you use the stock browser it gives you the option to dimmer to (high power save) so it dims more than normal... Can I do that when out of browser?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
I believe you have to use apps found on the Android market. That was also the problem I found with this phone. I'm used to Samsung phones allowing you to maker the screens dim extremely dark right out the box. The Note is my first Samsung phone, and it really doesn't have that many brightness settings. The lowest setting is still fairly bright. I downloaded an app called Lux from the market, and it's amazing. I can make my phones screen almost pitch black at the lowest setting.
Nice thanks I just got lux and it better than the screen filter
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
Be carefull i used one that dims it to 0
and i did that accidentally and it stays in the settings after a reboot , i had to blindly find the app on homescreen and luckily got the dimmer to 15% brought the daylight back
after many attempts
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Yeah that happened to my htc evo before lol but thanks I actually set it to 0 and I was still able to see my screen but really hard to see anything lol well thanks for the app referral it is a good app to have
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
The app called Dimmer will take you from 10 to 0 (10 is as low as you can go with the stock brightness control). However, I later found an app called Screen Filter which works even better - you can make the screen even darker, I found 0 to still be very bright in a dark room.
Even better, you can set up Screen Filter so it dims the screen a small amount all the time to save some battery life.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544757
techntrek said:
The app called Dimmer will take you from 10 to 0 (10 is as low as you can go with the stock brightness control). However, I later found an app called Screen Filter which works even better - you can make the screen even darker, I found 0 to still be very bright in a dark room.
Even better, you can set up Screen Filter so it dims the screen a small amount all the time to save some battery life.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544757
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really didn't like screen filter as it ruins the clarity when you dim... I used it on my evo and it was good while it lasted, but as Dr. Evo directed me to lux, it's a great app as it actually dims the brightness, and doesn't distort the screen with a filter
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
I use Brightness Level, https://play.google.com/store/apps/...XJ2ZWZpc2gud2lkZ2V0cy5icmlnaHRuZXNzbGV2ZWwiXQ... It has a widget for easy access and does all of the levels that I need. Try it out. It's free by the way.
just tried LUX. much better than "screen filter". no grey distortion. Thanks Dr.Evo
madman604 said:
just tried LUX. much better than "screen filter". no grey distortion. Thanks Dr.Evo
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It's a good app, just Google the paid version and get that, it runs ok when it tries to self adjust
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
kimtyson said:
I use Brightness Level, https://play.google.com/store/apps/...XJ2ZWZpc2gud2lkZ2V0cy5icmlnaHRuZXNzbGV2ZWwiXQ... It has a widget for easy access and does all of the levels that I need. Try it out. It's free by the way.
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Click to collapse
Even though you posted a nice app, I was looking for an app that can dim beyond stock... Lol try lux its a good app
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
madman604 said:
just tried LUX. much better than "screen filter". no grey distortion. Thanks Dr.Evo
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Click to collapse
I was going to download it but I noticed it starts up at boot... decided against installing it. I hate apps that unneccesarily start at boot.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Screen filter is so much easier. Add a widget a tap. Simple. That lux has to many confusing options if you ask me.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
erick161 said:
I was going to download it but I noticed it starts up at boot... decided against installing it. I hate apps that unneccesarily start at boot.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
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Click to collapse
Lol its not going to steal your sole lol just try it
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
And ironically I wish that Screen Filter DID start up at boot, so I wouldn't have to enable it @ 75% brightness every morning.
techntrek said:
And ironically I wish that Screen Filter DID start up at boot, so I wouldn't have to enable it @ 75% brightness every morning.
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Haha I just want lux to dim Down when I'm in my room and in the morning as I hate bright as screens
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
crazzysandman said:
Even though you posted a nice app, I was looking for an app that can dim beyond stock... Lol try lux its a good app
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
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You're right. Lux is pretty cool. And it does go lower than the app I posted. Thanks. I'm trying it out.
Since the OTA I can't get my screen to dim enough. Does screen filter save battery.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
i use screendim and i noticed i do save battery.
Sent from my A100 using xda premium
Yea I always wondered this but can anyone be certain for sure
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scuzzbag87 said:
Yea I always wondered this but can anyone be certain for sure
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Click to collapse
why not try it yourself?
Sent from my A100 using xda premium
Try this app called LUX. It allows you to customise brightness.
The paid version allows dim below "0%".
You can set it to something like -40% in a dark room, and normal brightness when you're outside. Basically, it's like auto brightness which you can customise. This is so you don't have to on/off a screen filter app.
And yes lower brightness saves battery.
Nikorasu said:
Try this app called LUX. It allows you to customise brightness.
The paid version allows dim below "0%".
You can set it to something like -40% in a dark room, and normal brightness when you're outside. Basically, it's like auto brightness which you can customise. This is so you don't have to on/off a screen filter app.
And yes lower brightness saves battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LUX is awesome!!! TIP OF THE YEAR!!!
Could we get a market link?
Can't seem to find it, just get light meters and cheap screen flashlights in search results.
Sent from my EOS Xoom using XDA Premium HD
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vito.lux&hl=en (paid)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vito.lux.free&hl=en (free)
Yep.
Check what is using your battery on your phone.
You will notice that screen mostly use up the power
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium
Nikorasu said:
Try this app called LUX. It allows you to customise brightness.
The paid version allows dim below "0%".
You can set it to something like -40% in a dark room, and normal brightness when you're outside. Basically, it's like auto brightness which you can customise. This is so you don't have to on/off a screen filter app.
And yes lower brightness saves battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just tried this app and it killed my battery faster than using screen dim because this program is constantly running on the background. what settings are you using on it?
Sent from my A100 using xda premium
I'm an author of a program named Custom Auto Brightness, currently it's not under-dimming automatically but it'll be added soon.
Meanwhile, could I ask some of you to test it? I'll provide apk if anyone agrees. The problem seems that PoverVR GPUs seem to have problems with screen shading like in Screen Filter and the like, I'd like to check if I were able to circumvent the problem or not.
jahciple said:
i just tried this app and it killed my battery faster than using screen dim because this program is constantly running on the background. what settings are you using on it?
Sent from my A100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Having something run in the background doesn't mean it's using a significant amount of phone's battery. The amount of battery saved from low brightness is much much more than the battery used for Lux to compute brightness level. Of course I did not test it, but it is common sense: as the display uses most of the battery. You can check your battery use in settings.
Lower brightness, longer battery. Lux doesn't even appear in battery use. My screebl app, which constantly uses CPU to check for orientation uses only 3% in battery use.
Download ES task manager to see what's running on startup, and look at what you do not use, it'll probably shock you.
As for my settings in Lux, I set it to dynamic and so far my linked samples are:
Lux ----- Brightness
2 --------- -40%
25 -------- -25%
550 ------- 20%
20000 -----100%
Been using these settings for a couple of weeks, and no problems. I have also added picture viewers, camera apps, and video players to ignore/compatible list.
Another tip to save battery which most already know: use setcpu to underclock your phone when screen is off to 300max/300min, or 600max/300min if you use your phone for music. Needs root though.
well i noticed after i wake up in the morning the battery has gone down so much more after i started using lux. i disabled it and everything was better. it probably used about 10% more battery in 6 hours.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
I can say the same about battery drain. Been off full charge now for an hour, already down @ 78%.
Sent from my XT910-Rogers using XDA Premium.
I use the brightness control from widgetsoid. I leave it set at 10% and my battery still hase 40% or more charge after all day and evening, even though I read on the train for about 1 1/2 hours and do moderate email ---huge difference from auto brightness setting. Tap the widget to go to auto brightness when outdoors (although, frankly, I go days without using it outdoors so this works great for me).
Hi guys!
I just bought LG L5 II. It's still UNrooted, so I need a brightness control that doesn't require ROOT privileges. The reason is quite simple - the minimum brightness is too bright, when you're NOT outdoors (if you're outdoors, you better set the brightness on 40-60%). I'm posting here because it doesn't matter If I have Motorola or LG - the principle is the same - display is too bright.
I've installed Screen Filter. In this topic some of you lot are chatting about Lux app - is it better than Screen Filter? What's your opinion? Obviously I want to save some battery and to use my display at night or indoors (without causing pain to my feelings and emotions ).
I will test Screen Filter for couple of days and see what's what. Hope some of you have tested it already and give me some tips. Cheers!
PS: Sorry for reviving this old thread mods, found it on Google, dunno if there is a newer one 'bout the same problem.
I think Lux and other screen brightness modification apps use a transparent layer over the main ui and we actually darken and brighten that layer running over the Ui instead of setting a further down limit to the screen LCD power value. This might be the reason that using Lux or any other screen dimmer app consumes more battery~ the screen LCD uses same power and in addition an extra app is running in the background continuously . It is only the transparent layer that darkens to save your eyes in dark atmospheres~ LCD power consumption remains the same.
^^ This right here is what I've been wondering for some time, because I suspect that at least some of those apps work that way, and is also likely imho what the OP was really asking. Yes, everyone knows the display is by far the largest drain on battery, and so lowering the brightness helps with that, so the question is does the app in question actually do that or does it simply provide a customizable overlay, as the poster above me speculates. Because if an app is doing the latter, not only will it not conserve battery it will actually drain it more, to a point, because the actual brightness is still the same (even if you don't "see" it) and the app itself is running all the time. Granted its consumption may be very low, but the point is that scenario certainly wouldn't SAVE any battery. And my guess is that within this group of apps that are the focus of this thread, some are simply overlays and some (the very technical ones) are the real deal, and it's a question of knowing which to pick. What I'd really love is for someone who is very technical in this area to see this thread and provide some definitive info.
GuccizBud said:
^^ This right here is what I've been wondering for some time, because I suspect that at least some of those apps work that way, and is also likely imho what the OP was really asking. Yes, everyone knows the display is by far the largest drain on battery, and so lowering the brightness helps with that, so the question is does the app in question actually do that or does it simply provide a customizable overlay, as the poster above me speculates. Because if an app is doing the latter, not only will it not conserve battery it will actually drain it more, to a point, because the actual brightness is still the same (even if you don't "see" it) and the app itself is running all the time. Granted its consumption may be very low, but the point is that scenario certainly wouldn't SAVE any battery. And my guess is that within this group of apps that are the focus of this thread, some are simply overlays and some (the very technical ones) are the real deal, and it's a question of knowing which to pick. What I'd really love is for someone who is very technical in this area to see this thread and provide some definitive info.
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Click to collapse
This is partially right. If you have an LCD, you are just dimming your screen, not saving battery in the process. If you are using a LED screen, the app's will save battery since LED pixels can be individually lit. Using black or battery saving backgrounds will also help your battery life on LED screens. This is one of the reasons why LED screens are much more preferred than LCD.