iPhone 6 Plus - battery life/extending

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Hi all,

Advice needed. I've an iPhone 6 Plus and have just ordered a bar mount.
I use RWGPS and intend on selling the Garmin Etrex 30 as I'm fully IOS in the house and getting an old laptop out to transfer data is PITA.
So,
How long will a fully charged phone record for on full brightness?

And has anyone a recommendation for a battery pack/re-charger for all day rides.

Thanks.

 

[ufkacbln]

Catch 22.....
There are a number of cases with batteries that extend life, but mean that they no longer fit in the holders.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

With GPS on, a device with a screen that size. You'll be lucky to get 90 minutes out of one

 

[Joffey]

It'll be like riding with an iPad on your bars! Get a Garmin 25 / 520

 

[mjr]

Why have the screen on all the time? Just switch it on when you want to look and use voice prompts/readouts otherwise. Screen-on battery life is one of the few advantages of non-backlit LCD units.

 

[jefmcg]

Can recommend tecknet and new Trent batteries. Bring 2 cables, cause they do fail. Get a topeak tribag or trunk bag.

You can't use the cables in the rain, of course.

Will your phone be protected it it rains?

 

[cheys03]

The best thing to do is run a test. You'll find that in summer the battery lasts longer than in winter, which can be considerably less. I've the same model as you and guesstimate that you'd get roughly 3-4hrs in summertime wth full brightness. I rarely attach mine to the bike, but when I do it goes in this waterproof case https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391090028439

This model of case does not allow charging whilst In the case, but I've not had need to yet as I keep the brightness fairly low. When I had a 4s with shocking battery life the bike case allowed a charger to be plugged in so I used a cable and one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131756825319 (lots of variations available including bigger capacity, Anker get good reviews) in one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121843531650 (again, lots of choice if you don't like that one). You could modify the 6 plus case to allow charging on the bars if you needed.

It is rather large on the bars! But for having everything at your fingertips it's brill. I use OS maps and sometimes the openstreetview series and the big screen is lovely. Pinch zoom etc very user friendly.

Edit: see you ride a Rohloff Brompton - very nice. I had one in the past but the heavy rear-end didn't suit me unfortunately. Still have Bromptons and the phone mounts to the M bar reinforcement piece no problem, the charge cable can be routed to a front bag rear pocket nicely.

 

[Tin Pot]

With GPS on, a device with a screen that size. You'll be lucky to get 90 minutes out of one

This is far too pessimistic.

 

[Tin Pot]

Hi all,

Advice needed. I've an iPhone 6 Plus and have just ordered a bar mount.
I use RWGPS and intend on selling the Garmin Etrex 30 as I'm fully IOS in the house and getting an old laptop out to transfer data is PITA.
So,
How long will a fully charged phone record for on full brightness?

And has anyone a recommendation for a battery pack/re-charger for all day rides.

Thanks.

I'm not using it as you are, so I'd be interested in what you find, but my iPhone 6+ last a long time generally.

I would be surprised if you get less than four hours.

Check your settings are minimising unimportant activities:

- Background refresh
- turn off wifi/Bluetooth if you're not using them

Low Power mode is pretty good but might contradict you're desire to be displaying constantly.

Also, consider audio - I've used one ear bud to get directions, and periodic stats with no problems.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

This is far too pessimistic.

Possibly, if it was just GPS tracking. I'd have said 4 to 5 hours. But the always on screen at 100% brightness is what will kill the battery.

 

[Milkfloat]

One tumble off the bike will kill it faster than 100% brightness.