Google Pixel phones are packed with smart features, but not every default setting is doing your battery any favors. I learned that the hard way after watching my Pixel losing battery for no obvious reason. I didn’t want to reset the phone, uninstall half my apps, or carry a power bank everywhere, so I started looking through Android’s settings instead. That’s when I found several options that I didn’t really need.
Change preferred network type
Especially in weak 5G areas
The first setting I changed was the preferred network type. I switched my Pixel from 5G to LTE, and this made more sense for my daily routine than I expected.
5G sounds great on paper, and when the signal is strong, it is fast. But in weak 5G areas, it can drain a Pixel battery in no time.
The phone keeps trying to hold on to that faster network, jumps between 5G and LTE, and works harder in the background than it needs to.
That trade-off simply wasn’t worth it for me. Most of the time, my Pixel is either connected to my home Wi-Fi or office Wi-Fi. That is where I do the heavy lifting anyway, whether I am downloading large files, updating apps, backing up photos, or installing a big game.
I don’t really need 5G running all day just to browse social media, reply to messages, check emails, stream music, or use maps. LTE is more than fast enough for those everyday tasks.
Once I switched to LTE, my Pixel felt more predictable. I wasn’t watching the battery drop while the phone sat idle or moved through areas with patchy 5G coverage.
This isn’t about saying 5G is useless. I still see the value in it when I need maximum speed. But for regular day-to-day use, especially when Wi-Fi handles most of my data needs, LTE feels the smarter default.
I headed to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Preferred network type and selected LTE.
Disable Always-on Display and lift to check gesture
Use tap to check gesture instead
The next change was turning off Always-on Display and the Lift to check phone gesture. I know AOD is supposed to be one of those convenient smartphone features, but on Pixel phones, I have never found it impressive enough to justify the battery trade-off.
It shows the basics, but the customization options are still quite limited compared to what you get on some other Android phones.
Lift to check phone was even more annoying in my daily use. I have lost count of how many times I accidentally turned on the screen just by picking up the phone, moving it on my desk, taking it out of my pocket, or slightly adjusting it in my hand.
It sounds harmless, but those small accidental wake-ups add up quickly. Between AOD keeping the screen partially active and Lift to constantly wake it up, my Pixel had too many chances to drain battery without me actually using it.
Instead, I switched to Tap to check phone, and it feels like a better middle ground. I can still check the time, new messages, notifications, and other lock screen information whenever I need to, but now it happens only when I intentionally tap the display.
I don’t need my Pixel to light up every time it moves. I just need it to respond when I ask it to, and Tap to check does exactly that.
You can disable Always-on display from the Settings > Display & touch menu. And the Lift to check phone option is buried under the Settings > System > Gestures menu.
Pro tip: Keep adaptive battery on
Don’t touch that
One pro tip I would add here: don’t turn off Adaptive Battery while you are digging through the battery menu. It is easy to get carried away once you start looking for every possible setting that may affect battery life, but Adaptive Battery is one Pixel feature I would leave alone.
This setting is designed to work quietly in the background and learn how I actually use my apps.
If there are apps I barely open, I don’t want them to wake up constantly, refreshing in the background and using battery for no good reason.
Adaptive battery helps limit that behavior based on my usage patterns, so it makes more sense to keep it enabled instead of disabling it in the name of saving power.
I should have changed these sooner
I didn’t magically double my Pixel’s battery life, and I don’t want to pretend these changes will fix every battery issue. But switching the preferred network type from 5G to LTE, turning off Always-on Display, and replacing Lift to check phone with Tap to check phone made a noticeable difference.
The best part is that none of these changes ruined the Pixel experience for me. LTE is still fast enough for most of what I do, and I don’t need my screen glowing all day, and tapping the display feels more intentional than waking it every time I pick up the phone.
- Brand
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Google
- Display
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1280 x 2856 pixel resolution LTPO OLED at (495 PPI)
Pixel 10 Pro is a flagship offering from Google that rivals iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S26 series.
