Washington: In a major move to improve smartphone performance, Google has announced strict action against Android apps that consume excessive battery power. The tech giant said apps found using unusually high battery resources will now carry warning labels on the Google Play Store, alerting users before they download them. Such apps may also be removed from Play Store recommendations, helping users avoid applications that significantly drain their phone batteries.
Google revealed that some apps misuse Android’s “wake lock” mechanism, which allows apps to keep running in the background even when the mobile screen is turned off. The company found that certain apps keep this feature active for more than 5% of the time over a 28-day period, even after users stop using them, leading to unnecessary battery drain.
With the new update, a battery usage warning message will appear directly on the app’s page if it shows unusually high power consumption. When users see such alerts while downloading an app, they can easily choose alternative apps with better battery efficiency. The new feature has now been rolled out for Android users, aiming to give smartphone owners greater transparency and control over their device’s battery life.
