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CIR BATTERY LIFE
Whether you're using a laptop or a smartphone, the devices can be tweaked to get the most out of its lithium-ion batteries. All things being equal, the C.D.M.A. mobile standard used by Verizon uses more power than a G.S.M. network, principally used by AT&T and T-Mobile. If battery life is critical, you might want to consider G.S.M. as long as its coverage meets your needs. The brighter your screen, the more juice you're using. If you're in a dimly lit room, turn down your LCD screen's brightness. If you have an autodimming feature on your device that detects the light in a room, use it. The same advice holds for sound; if you use your smartphone or laptop to play music, lower the volume. (Photo illustration by Tony Cenicola/The New York Times)