Background location can affect the battery, but that depends on how often and how precisely an app reads it. Official Android and Apple sources give no percentages of drain, so we give none here.

What uses the most battery?

According to the Android documentation, background location can significantly affect the battery. Higher accuracy, more frequent readings, and shorter delivery delay use more energy. Apple describes the visits service as the most energy-efficient and the standard location service as the one that uses the most.

  • Android, high accuracy (GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile network, and sensors): according to Google it can cause significant drain, so Google leaves it to foreground apps.
  • Android, balanced (usually Wi-Fi and the mobile network): Google recommends it, or low power, for most apps.
  • Android, low power (cell towers, city level): minimal drain.
  • Android, passive (readings from other apps): almost no drain.

Why is geofencing more economical on Android?

According to the Android documentation, geofencing is optimised for battery. Google calls a notification when a user is near a shop an excellent use case for geofencing and advises considering it instead of passive tracking in the background. Apple’s current documentation on monitoring regions does not describe energy use.

Your phone reports that you are near an area, and only then may an app briefly check your location. That is how DOBIERO works: a geofence is only a trigger for a new assessment, not continuous tracking.

Since Android 8 the system limits background location to a few readings per hour. After the Android 8 changes, Google reports a battery result up to 10 times better on some devices. That compares with the time before the changes; it is not a drain value.

How does DOBIERO limit location checks?

DOBIERO needs precise location, and every check is limited in time:

  • In the background DOBIERO checks location in limited sessions: up to 45 seconds, or up to 150 seconds at a large venue on iPhone.
  • It may retry up to three times, 1, 2 and 5 minutes after the previous attempt, for up to 40 seconds each.
  • A failed reading needed to move the monitored area may be retried up to three times, after 1, 2 and 5 minutes.
  • Android shows a silent message during the short service.
  • While DOBIERO is open on screen, it keeps the list current.
  • The system may delay or skip a check, and battery use depends on your phone and its settings.

How do I check which apps use the battery?

The percentages in settings apply to your phone. There is no single number that holds for all phones.

  • Pixel (some steps apply to Android 14 and newer): Settings, Battery, Battery usage, View by apps.
  • Samsung (Polish-language support page): Ustawienia, Pielęgnacja urządzenia, Bateria, Pokaż szczegóły (names depend on the version).
  • iPhone: open Settings, then Battery, then the full battery usage view for a day, and look at the section with app and system activity. Descriptions next to apps show whether the use happened on screen or in the background.

Does battery saving affect location?

On Pixel, Battery Saver turns off location services when the screen is off. On other makers’ phones the behaviour depends on their settings. The guide “Why aren’t DOBIERO notifications arriving?” covers what this means for DOBIERO reminders.

On iPhone, Apple’s description of Low Power Mode lists, among other things, 5G, brightness, background refresh, and automatic downloads, but does not list Location Services. Adaptive power (iPhone 15 Pro and newer) may limit background activity.

Does turning off location save battery?

Android Help advises turning off location access to save battery but warns that some apps do not work without it. Without background location DOBIERO cannot automatically check places while the app is not visible. You can change access in phone settings at any time.