Batteries on mobile devices drained more quickly by apps which are free, researchers say

Researchers have found that if you want to make your mobile device’s battery last longer, it may be better to avoid using free apps where possible.

Free apps are all well and good when you’re looking to save a few bucks, but new research suggests they might have you reaching for the battery charger more often than you would if you were using paid apps. And then there’s the long-term implications regarding battery life to consider too. The culprit? Why, those pesky ads, of course.

Researchers from Microsoft and Purdue University used a special energy profiling tool to find out more about how apps on Android and Windows Mobile phones affect battery life when run over a 3G connection. In one case in particular, 75 percent of an app’s power requirement was spent not on gameplay but instead on operating third-party ad services.

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