10-25-2004, 03:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Dell Axim X50/X50v/X30 Battery Life Tests
UPDATE: I've updated my test results with some older test data I did for the X30 and X3i.
Given Kati's post on Saturday, I figured I should publish the results of the battery tests that I've been working on. For all of the tests below, I set the backlight to "medium", which is four notches above being turned off. This is the setting that I used my X30 at in day to day scenarios, so it seemed like a fair place to start. I don't think anyone who is concerned about battery life would ever use their device at full brightness all the time. The CPU was set to AUTO for all these tests. Unless otherwise noted, these times are until the device shut off due to lack of power. Here are the test results...
Dell Axim X50v
X50v, Standard Using: 3 hours and 38 minutes - This Spb Benchmark test opens up File Explorer, then opens a Word document, and repeats that process over and over. This is meant to simulate an average PIM workload.
X50v, Active WiFi: 2 hours 10 minutes - The standard Spb Benchmark WiFi test turns on the WiFi, but doesn't actually transfer any data, so to me this test isn't realistic. So what I did was create a test page that had 35 KB worth of text on it and 65 KB worth of graphics. The page refreshes every 30 seconds - the goal here is to emulate an average Web surfing experience of downloading a page, reading it, then downloading another one. I should note that in this test, it was 2 hours and 10 minutes until the WiFi was turned off due to lack of power. It lasted another 59 minutes after that just remaining on with no data transfer. When I ran this test again, and overrode the automatic WiFi turn off, the device lasted a total of 3 hours and 38 minutes before it died.
X50v, Active WiFi: 2 hours 15 minutes - As above, test #2. This test is difficult to get 100% accurate results for because the pop-up window that warns you WiFi is about to be turned off has no auditory warning, so it shuts off the WiFi silently (I'd love to see Dell add a beep). The I noticed WiFi was turned off at 2 hours 24 minutes, so I estimated when I saw it was last working successfully.
X50v, MP3 Playback: 8 hours 43 minutes - this Spb Benchmark test turns the screen off and loops the same MP3 file. I had headphones plugged in and the volume turned up to maximum.
Dell Axim X50, 520 Mhz Model
X50, Active WiFi: 3 hours 35 minutes - WiFi stayed on until battery was down to 24%, then it turned off automatically.
X50, Active WiFi: 3 hours 18 minutes - Tested again, same test as above.
X50, Standard Using: 5 hours and 37 minutes - Same test as above.
Dell Axim X30, 624 Mhz Model
X30, Standard Using w/Backlight on Maximum: 3 hours 17 minutes
X30 with Extended Battery, Standard Using w/Backlight on Maximum: 7 hours 7 minutes
X30, Zero Utilization, Backlight Off, Extended Battery: 28 hours 7 minutes
X30, Standard Using w/Backlight on One Notch Above Off: 7 hours 2 minutes before first low power beep, 11 hours 17 minutes before complete shut off
X30, WiFi Test, 50% brightness: 2 hours 25 minutes - This was one of my early WiFi tests, using 128 KB HTML + graphics, on a 10 second refresh.
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10-25-2004, 03:06 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 17
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Jason thanks for the insight on this. If you get time and could throw up some comparison numbers to your old X30 and any other Pocket PC's you have around that would be great. 
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10-25-2004, 03:07 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 68
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How about video playback ?
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10-25-2004, 03:12 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Those are some interesting results Jason.
Under standard usage between the X50 and X50v, you're looking at a 2 hour difference in battery life.
It seems as though VGA is a real power guzzler...perhaps that extended battery may be a viable option after all. 
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10-25-2004, 03:14 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 426
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Great tests Jason. That pretty much answered my questions and I feel alot better about the X50v battery now. Especially, when I hear that the lowest brightness setting on the X50v is pretty darned good. That would make the results even better.
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10-25-2004, 03:18 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 813
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Yes, a battery test on the lower brightness setting provided it is usable would be a great indication.
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10-25-2004, 03:34 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 76
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Re: X50/X50v Battery Life Tests
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
I should note that in this test, it was 2 hours and 10 minutes until the WiFi was turned off due to lack of power. It lasted another 59 minutes after that just remaining on with no data transfer. When I ran this test again, and overrode the automatic WiFi turn off, the device lasted a total of 3 hours and 38 minutes before it died.
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Jason, what is this "overrode the automatic WiFi turn off" you speak of? Is there a setting? What do they call the setting? I don't have my test X50 yet, and I'm too anxious to wait.
That automatic turn off was what made me reject the Axim X3 for use with our vertical market software product. This setting may exist on the X50 due to me. I tried to send my influence as far up the engineering chain at Dell as I could back when the X3 was introduced.
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10-25-2004, 03:35 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,133
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Battery life seems "less bad" than I thought, but I still don't regret getting the extended battery. I'm just envisioning travel - perhaps using Wifi in the airports, and using the device wireless-off on the plane. I want to make sure my battery isn't dead by the time I get *off* the plane, or I won't know what hotel I'm staying in.
Anyway - I sent emails to both Vaja and Sena suggesting that they might want to consider making a version of an X50v case with room for the extended battery. Vaja gave a standard "we'll keep that in mind and let you know when we have an X50 case" response. Sena sounded more interested in the idea. But we'll see!
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10-25-2004, 03:55 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 335
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kati Compton
Battery life seems "less bad" than I thought, but I still don't regret getting the extended battery. I'm just envisioning travel - perhaps using Wifi in the airports, and using the device wireless-off on the plane. I want to make sure my battery isn't dead by the time I get *off* the plane, or I won't know what hotel I'm staying in. |
I think I'll use the standard battery and some form of external rechargable battery pack - such as the Socket device if they do a 50% off sale
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kati Compton
Anyway - I sent emails to both Vaja and Sena suggesting that they might want to consider making a version of an X50v case with room for the extended battery. Vaja gave a standard "we'll keep that in mind and let you know when we have an X50 case" response. Sena sounded more interested in the idea. But we'll see!
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Having used an E&B Slipper case with my X5 for the last couple years (and a Vaja slip case on my previous iPaq) I'm thinking about what I'll use on my X50v. The main criteria for me will be to keep the size down to a minimum while giving the screen some protection. I'd like basically a screen protector and some form of adhesive plastic covering for the rest of the case.
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10-25-2004, 03:57 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 139
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something is weird here...
2:10 (WIFI live) + 59 (WIFI off) = 3:09 hours with the automatic WIFI shut-down and 3:38 WITHOUT WIFI shut-down??? (all 3:38 WIFI live)
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
(btw how do you disable WIFI shut down? not that I am buying Dell, just curious)
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