In what should surprise no one, Pokémon GO seems to drain phones.
Pokémon GO has been rolled out in Australia and New Zealand (check out these microtransactions). The game sounds fun, but one common comment seems to be that the game uses a whole bunch of battery life. Website CyberShack notes that the game’s heavy use of GPS and rear-facing camera are what can drain batteries.
Short battery life is actually a “known issue.” According to game’s official page, developer Niantic writes:
Heavy battery use
Some devices may experience battery drain while playing Pokémon GO for prolonged periods of time. We are working on a solution.
The Pokémon Go Database and Pokémon Go Champ have a handful of tips to conserve battery life, including adjusting screen brightness, minimizing in-game actions, and turning the sound off.
There is also a battery saver option in the game’s settings, but it’s still unclear if that makes a noticeable difference.
So far, here is what players say they’re experiencing with the game’s battery life.
You know, with this issue, there is one real winner: