Your iDevice can do amazing things—until the battery runs out. But don’t let that stop you from using it to the fullest. With the right settings or gear, you can stay charged up without sacrificing your favorite features.
Let’s begin with conservation, and the first step is knowing that your screen gobbles power. To dim it, go to Settings > Brightness (Brightness & Wallpaper on an iPad) and drag the slider to the lowest level you can stand. To shut off the screen automatically when not in use, decrease your Auto-Lock interval in Settings > General > Auto-Lock.
Keep your iPhone 4 charged and lookin’ good with Mophie’s sleek Juice Pack Air ($79.95, mophie.com).
While settling down with a book or movie, leave the wireless world behind so you don’t burn battery powering those connections. To turn off Wi-Fi, tap Settings > Wi-Fi, then flick its switch to Off. To disable 3G or turn off cellular data entirely, go to Settings > General > Network (Settings > Cellular Data on a 3G iPad). To silence both with a tap, turn on Airplane Mode in Settings (this costs your iPhone the ability to make and receive calls). You can also disable Bluetooth in Settings > General > Bluetooth.
The MiLi Power Spring’s short charging time makes it our pick for your iPhone 3GS ($79.95, milidirect.com).
When you must keep a wireless data connection, curb how often apps receive new data in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, then tap Fetch New Data. There you can disable push updates and reduce how often apps fetch data. Disable push notifications and location services in Settings > Notifications or Location Services, respectively.
HyperMac’s iPad Stand ($129.95, hypershop.com) can power a film festival with hands-free viewing.
If conservation isn’t cutting it, consider an external battery. Some work as iPhone cases and iPad stands, providing utility beyond hours of extra juice—and you can see three of our favorites pictured on this page. Combined with our power-management tricks, they can help make hunting for wall sockets a thing of the past.
