Edge+ 2023 shutting down at 30% battery level?

[billdz]

Hello, my phone works normally until the battery level goes sown to about 30%. Then the level suddenly drops to zero and the phone shuts off. Is this a battery issue or something else? Any fix? I've tried clearing the cache and deleting all non-essential apps, did not help.
Thanks for any info,
Bill

 

[B. Diddy]

That's pretty typical of a degraded battery. You can get a better idea by using an app like AccuBattery to estimate the battery health. Anything <85% indicates a fairly deteriorated battery.

 

[mustang7757]

I agree with B. Diddy about degrading battery but try safe mode and monitor it if it's the same

 

[billdz]

I agree with B. Diddy about degrading battery but try safe mode and monitor it if it's the same

@B. Diddy
I downloaded AccuBattery, it says 83%. How do I put the phone into safe mode?

The battery only costs $20 but is quite difficult to change, not sure if I can do it. Not sure what a phone store would charge to change it.

 

[B. Diddy]

These are the steps for Safe Mode: https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-230439/

Battery health of 83% does suggest a degraded battery. Even though the phone is presumably less than 2 years old, this can happen if the phone is used heavily during that time, or if charging habits are suboptimal. Lithium batteries will degrade more quickly if they are regularly discharged to zero or close to zero -- in general, it's recommended to start charging when the battery reaches 30-40%. Also, harsh temperatures (extreme heat or cold) can also be detrimental.

Battery replacement cost can vary with the phone, the region of the world, and with the individual shop. In the US, it may cost around $75-150.

 

[Mooncatt]

Just a note about batteries. There are no standard battery sizes for phones, and are only made in limited runs. Any "new" battery you buy today will have likely been sitting on a warehouse shelf for a year or two and arrive to you already partly degraded. It'll be a roll of the dice no matter where you buy it from, so it's a factor to keep in mind on deciding just how bad you want to replace it.

 

[billdz]

@B. Diddy I put the phone into safe mode when it was at 29% battery level. Over the next couple of hours, with no charging, the level actually rose slowly to 48%. Then I restarted the phone into regular mode and within 5 minutes it dropped to 0% and shut off. Does this suggest any particular issue?

 

[B. Diddy]

That strongly suggests that the battery is failing or defective. I think it'd be best to bring it to a repair shop, or consider upgrading to a new phone and recycling that one.

I would also make sure any important data is backed up or synced somewhere safe, in case the phone completely fails without warning.

 

[billdz]

That strongly suggests that the battery is failing or defective. I think it'd be best to bring it to a repair shop, or consider upgrading to a new phone and recycling that one.

I would also make sure any important data is backed up or synced somewhere safe, in case the phone completely fails without warning.

Roger that. How is it even possible for the battery level to substantially increase in safe mode without charging?

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm not sure about that, but it might indicate some kind of voltage fluctuation (that would also be consistent with failing battery).

 

[Mooncatt]

It's more likely due to eased voltage sag. When any electrical device is put under a load. The voltage supplied will drop until things stabilize again, hence the name voltage sag. If you've ever noticed your lights dim when the air conditioner kicks on, that's voltage sag due to the high startup current demand of the compressor.

In a healthy battery, this sag is minor and not detectable. As a battery ages, the sag becomes more pronounced, to the point you see the meter drop. In extreme cases the sag can fall below the safety cutoff voltage of the battery, which is what causes the sudden shutdown when you think you still have power available.

What I think is happening in safe mode is your battery is charged enough to get past the boot up sequence without the voltage dropping to the cutoff point but does drop enough to affect the battery meter. After the boot is complete and the phone goes to an idle state with minimal background processes running, the battery voltage recovers somewhat. That tricks the battery meter into thinking the battery was charged some.