Battery and charging
What is standby time?
Standby time is how long the battery lasts with the device switched on and ready, but not being used: screen off, not playing and not recording. It is always the highest battery figure on a product page, and it should not be confused with hours of continuous use.
Why there are two battery figures
A device uses very little while it waits and far more while it works. That is why product pages often give two figures: battery life in use (playing, screen on, recording) and standby time. The second can be several times larger.
What you get day to day falls between the two: it depends on how long you spend using the device and how long it sits waiting. Both figures are manufacturer estimates measured under specific conditions.
Standby on each kind of device
On a battery camera, standby is the normal state: it sleeps and only wakes when it detects motion, so real battery life depends on how many times a day it is triggered. On a baby monitor, voice activation mode keeps the screen off until there is sound.
On mains powered devices (TVs, projectors, chargers), standby is the "off by remote" state: they keep drawing a small amount of electricity so they can turn on quickly. To cut that draw you have to unplug them or use a power strip with a switch.
What to check before you buy
- Compare battery life in use, not standby: it reflects what you will actually do.
- On battery cameras, ask how many daily triggers the advertised figure assumes.
- If the device sits unused for weeks, charge it first: the battery also drains on standby.
Guides to help you choose
Frequently asked questions
It uses little, but it uses some. It keeps functions such as the Bluetooth or WiFi link and the sensors that wake it up running.