I'm running GrapheneOS on a Pixel 7 Pro.

When I'm not connected to WiFi but only use mobile data I'm experiencing way more battery usage then when I'm connected to WiFi. My provider is Odido, and I'm using eSIM, and have a VPN connected all the time (Proton VPN).

Any idea what could cause this? When I'm not at home and using mobile data I can bearily make it through the day, I have to recharge at the end of the afternoon.

Battery usage graph: https://i.imgur.com/TjOzBSc.png
After 14:00 I switched on WiFi.

  • de0u replied to this.

    GerhardTM Any idea what could cause this?

    The first thing to suspect would be marginal coverage. If you are using 5G, maybe turn it off; if you have 5G turned off, maybe turn it on.

      Same for me on Pixel 8. I heard it's just that the Google Tensor chipsets are horrible. Older Pixels with Snapdragon chips don't have the problem.

      I turned off 5G and selected 4G, battery life seems much better now.
      But I never experienced this kind of behaviour with other phones and/or Android versions.

      So 5G isn't a option in grapheneos without battery drain? Or is this a Pixel (7 Pro) issue?

        GerhardTM As others have said, it's a matter of coverage, if you're using a protocol that has less coverage, your phone has to work harder to maintain a stable connection.

          GerhardTM Samsung can't, for the love of it, make a good modem. It's always been inefficient and always will be, no matter if Exynos or Tensor. Hopes are up that Google switches to TSMC this year and this will improve efficiency to some degree, but the modems will still be made by Samsung most likely. Newer Pixels are way better than the 7 series, but still nowhere near Qualcomm and especially Apple's C1 now.
          So yeah, what you are experiencing is normal with that phone.