Nomophobia nation: Young people would rather run out of fuel than phone battery

• Nearly half of Gen Z (47%) worry more about running out of phone charge than they do running out of electricity (42%) and petrol (31%)[1]
• Stress and frustration (44%) are the most common feelings when a phone battery is low, with one in 10 (12%) admitting they feel ‘panic’[2]
• One in 10 (9%) 18-34 year olds say they are not able to concentrate if their phone battery is low[2] 
• On average, 18% charge is the point where people start to worry about their battery getting low[3]
• Gabi, 29 from London, shares how relying on her phone for payments and navigation makes having a low battery stressful
• Uswitch mobiles expert Simrat Sharma offers her top tips on how to make phone battery last longer

The UK is gripped by ‘nomophobia’ - the fear of being without a mobile phone - as a new study reveals 18-27 year olds are more frightened of their smartphone battery dying (47%) than their car running out of fuel (31%)^[1].

Stress and frustration are the most common feelings when phone battery is low, with four in 10 Brits experiencing one of these (44%). A further one in 10 (12%) admitted to feeling full-blown panic, rising to a fifth (20%) for those aged 18-34^[2].

Younger adults are more likely to experience physical signs of battery anxiety, with almost one in 10 (9%) 18-34 year olds saying they are not able to concentrate if their phone battery is low. One in 20 say they experience an increased heart rate (5%) or sweaty palms (6%)^[2].

For Gabi, 29 from London, keeping her phone charged is essential: “I am very tied to my phone, I always keep it in low power mode - even from 100%. It has all my banking apps and cards, and since I often pay with my phone, running low on charge can be stressful. I’m also terrible with directions, so if I’m somewhere unfamiliar and my phone’s about to die, that really worries me. 

“When I’m out, anything below 30% starts to make me uneasy, and once it hits 20% I’m already planning how to charge. If I’m with friends, I’ll usually stay close to them until I can recharge.”

The low-battery worry tipping point for the average Brit is when their phone reaches 18%, but iPhone and Android users differ in when that concern sets in. On average, iPhone users start worrying at 16–20%, whereas most Android users only begin to fret at 11–15%, suggesting greater confidence in their devices holding out longer^[3].

Almost a fifth (19%) of Brits report obsessively checking their phone battery level when it’s getting low, with just under half (42%) saying they avoid making calls or using apps if their battery gets too low^[4].

Younger adults are also more proactive in avoiding a low battery while out and about. Almost a third (32%) of 18-34 year olds have had to buy a charger or power bank whilst out to avoid a dead phone and more than one in ten have chosen a setting for a meetup based on phone charging facilities (14%) or been late to social plans (13%)^[4]. 

Simrat Sharma, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “Our phones are integral to our daily lives, and the anxiety of a low battery is clearly a widespread feeling. While it might be tempting to save the last few percent by not using your phone, there are smarter ways to make sure it lasts all day.”

Simrat shares her top tips to make your phone battery last longer

• Turn down your screen brightness: The display is one of the biggest drains on your battery. Lowering the brightness, or using auto-brightness, can significantly extend your phone’s life.
• Use low-power mode: Most smartphones have a built-in low-power or battery-saver mode. This automatically reduces background activity and visual effects to conserve energy.
• Close unused apps: Apps running in the background can silently drain your battery. Get in the habit of closing any apps you aren’t actively using.
• Smart charging habits: Your battery stays healthier when you keep it between 20% and 80% instead of charging to full or letting it drain completely. It’s also a good idea to avoid overnight charging, since holding the battery at 100% for hours can wear it down over time.
• Switch to Flight Mode when you’re low on power: It stops mobile data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to cut background activity and save battery, without closing your apps. Just note you can’t call or message until it’s turned off.
• Data settings: 5G speeds are great, but the constant connection uses far more power than 4G. If you don’t need the extra speed, switching back can help your battery last longer. 
• Lower your screen refresh rate: You can also lower your screen’s refresh rate from 120Hz to 60Hz, it makes scrolling a little less smooth but noticeably reduces power use.

For more tips and information on how to get the most out of your mobile phone, visit Uswitch.com.