If you’ve ever been stuck in a situation where your phone battery was nearly dead and there wasn’t a charger in sight, then you know what true phone anxiety is. Thankfully, many Android OEMs have built-in battery management tools to help you relieve some of that anxiety, but perhaps one of the most powerful battery saving tools is from Google. It’s called Extreme Battery Saver mode, and we’ll show you how you can enable this on your Google Pixel smartphone.
Products used in this guide
- Solid performer: Google Pixel 5 ($692 at Amazon)
What is Extreme Battery Saver mode?
Extreme Battery Saver is a mode on newer Google Pixel phones (Pixel 3 and later) that takes draconian measures to help you squeeze every last drop from your battery. You probably don’t want to have it on all of the time, but if you’re really in a pinch and can’t get to a charger, this can be a lifesaver. It works by turning off power-hungry features like Wi-Fi and background activity like notifications and refreshes. It can also slow down your Pixel’s overall performance so it’s not as power-hungry. You can set “essential” apps to not go to sleep, such as Maps or your messaging app — things you might need in an emergency.
How to enable Extreme Battery Saver mode on your Google Pixel phone
Open the Settings app.
Tap on Battery.
Tap on Battery Saver.
Tap on Extreme Battery Saver.
Tap on When to use.
Tap which option you want to enable, such as Ask every time, Always use, or Never use.
The Ask every time feature will ask you if you want Extreme Battery Saver mode enabled when your standard Battery Saver mode turns on. In contrast, the Always use setting automatically turns this on when regular Battery Saver mode kicks in. I have Battery Saver mode scheduled for when my Pixel’s battery reaches 15%, but I’ve chosen to have Google ask me if I want more extreme measures taken. Your choice may vary.
Our top equipment picks
To take advantage of the Extreme Battery Saver feature, you’ll need a Google Pixel smartphone. The best option available right now is the Google Pixel 5, which also just happens to be one of the best Android phones you can buy.
Pixel perfect
Google Pixel 5
$692 at Amazon
$700 at Best Buy
$699 at B&H
Battery champ
Google performed a major course correction from the bad battery woes of the Pixel 4, and the Pixel 5 fully lives up to the performance and endurance expectations its predecessor lacked. Couple that with a great camera and aluminum frame, and you’ve got yourself a great value flagship.
