Background location is the clearest permission-related battery concern on Android, especially when an app repeatedly requests location while you are not using it. But a permission is only authorization: having it does not show that an app is actively using the resource or draining your battery. Android’s guidance warns that prolonged background location use can significantly shorten battery life; it does not establish a universal battery-cost ranking for permissions.
How permissions relate to battery use
A permission lets an app access a feature or data when its code uses it. It is not a battery meter, and granting a permission alone does not prove that the app is doing work in the background. For battery impact, the relevant questions are what the app is doing, how often it does it, and whether that activity continues when you are not using the app.
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Android specifically warns that “Background location usage can significantly impact battery life.” The warning concerns actual location activity, not simply the presence of location permission. Android does not provide a device-independent figure comparing battery use by permission category, so there is no reliable basis here to rank location, camera, microphone, or other permissions by typical drain.
Why background location is the main permission to check
Location work can require repeated updates. Android says near-real-time location retrieval over a long period can make battery life significantly shorter. An app that tracks a route while in use is different from one that keeps requesting location while sitting in the background; frequency and duration matter.
#1 Best Overall
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Android 8.0 (API level 26) introduced limits intended to save power: background apps receive location updates only a few times each hour under those limits. Android’s current battery guidance also says background location gathering is throttled. These limits reduce background activity, but they are not a promise that every app’s location use has negligible impact.
Access scope matters
Android distinguishes foreground location access from background location access. The ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION permission enables background location and must be used alongside coarse or fine location access. Whether an app genuinely needs access when you are not using it depends on its feature—for example, an ongoing location-based feature may need it, while a feature used only on screen may not.
Rank #2
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- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
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- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
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Camera and microphone permissions are not proven battery culprits
Camera and microphone permissions deserve attention for privacy, but the Android guidance cited here describes access controls rather than establishing that the permission grant itself causes idle battery drain. On Android 9 (API level 28) and later, apps cannot access the camera or microphone while in the background under the platform restrictions described by Android. Android 12 (API level 31) adds camera and microphone privacy indicators when those sensors are in use.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →These safeguards and indicators can help you understand or limit access. They do not amount to a comparative battery test, and the presence of a camera or microphone permission alone is not evidence of battery drain.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Review and limit unnecessary background location
- Find apps with broad location access. Open your device’s app-permission settings and review which apps are allowed to access location in the background or “all the time.” Menu names and paths vary by Android version and device manufacturer.
- Ask whether background access is essential. If the feature only needs location while you actively use the app, continuous background access may be unnecessary. Android recommends background access only when it is critical to the app’s core functionality.
- Choose a narrower access level where it fits. In that app’s Location permission settings, select a more limited option, such as access only while using the app, or remove background access if the feature does not need it. Options vary across devices and Android releases.
- Check the feature after changing access. Navigation or another feature that depends on ongoing location may work differently when the app is not open. If a feature you rely on stops working, revisit that app’s permission setting rather than granting background access to every app.
Android 11 (API level 30) and later require users to enable background location from a settings page rather than through the runtime permission dialog’s “Allow all the time” button. Android 10 (API level 29) introduced the ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION manifest permission requirement for apps requesting background access. The exact user-facing labels and flow depend on the Android release and device.
What app developers can do to reduce location work
For apps that legitimately need location, Android recommends using the largest practical interval between updates and batching updates when the feature can tolerate delay. Its battery guidance recommends geofence responsiveness of five minutes or more to preserve power. These are development choices that reduce the frequency or urgency of location work; they are not user settings available in every app.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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