Zwift Mobile Link: Extreme Battery Usage - iOS 2.1.0 & 2.1.1

The Archives Archived: Tips and Troubleshooting
1

The new Zwift features are draining the battery extremely quick on both new and old devices. This happens whether I interact with the app or if i leave it open but untouched while riding. The batteries in both phones shown in my samples are in good health; usually averaging 3-4 days between charges

Debugging/Reproduction - iPhone 4s (Version 9.3.5):

  1. Restart Phone
  2. Close all apps
  3. Charge phone to 100%
  4. Disable background App Refresh in Settings
  5. Turn on low power mode (to ensure less background processes occur)
  6. Turn screen brightness to low
  7. Open Zwift Mobile Link
  8. Set Phone on desk
  9. Enjoy Zwift group ride
  10. Close app after ride

A 1 hour ride results in the battery being drained from 100% to less than 10%. As seen in the attached screenshot, Zwift Mobile Link has used 97% of my battery in the last 24 hours. That includes using google hangouts for work all day.

The same results can be seen on a more modern device.

Debugging/Reproduction - Phone 6 (Version 11.0.3)

  1. Restart Phone
  2. Close all apps
  3. Charge phone to 100%
  4. Disable background App Refresh in Settings
  5. Turn on low power mode (to ensure less background processes occur)
  6. Turn screen brightness to low
  7. Open Zwift Mobile Link
  8. Enjoy Zwift group ride (Give the odd ride-on and send the odd message)
  9. Close app after ride

After a 1 hour ride the battery is drained from 100% to less than 20%.

2

We’ve used a couple of phones with mobile link. Power usage on the 7 has not been extreme. On a 5s, ZML used 68% of a full power charge in two hours, far more drain than any other app has.

iOS 11.0.x has increased battery drain overall on these two phones, but ZML on the 5s was especially notable.