These tips really only work within the first week of use. If you’ve used the device for 2 months already, this won’t help as much but it will still help.

Keep in mind, by “training the battery,” I mean recalibrating the battery meter of your Sidekick:

1. The initial charge out of the box is crucial. The instructions state you should charge the device 6-8 hours upon initial start up. People get so excited by getting the sidekick that they yank it off the charger 3-4 hours later so they can go show their friends!  This is a BIG mistake. Despite every urge to do so, let it charge at least 6 hours out the box.

2. For the next couple of days try and let your sidekick drain it’s battery completely before you charge it again.  When you charge it, make sure it charges 4-5 hours minimum before you take it off the charger. Leaving it plugged in overnight is usually the best option.

After a few days, you’ll begin to notice an improvement in your battery life.  The Sidekick now had a baseline for a fully charged battery and an empty battery.

Do this for 4 or 5 days and you will be set.

Here are some other tips to help get better battery life from your Sidekick:

1. Turn your LCD brightness down as low as you can tolerate.
2. Try and avoid being on all 3 IM clients at the same time for any extended period.
3. The music player is the second biggest battery drainer next to making phone calls. If you use the music player more than a few hours a day, you might want to consider a separate MP3 player. 
4.  Make sure to close out of the photo application when done. If you just “Jump” out, the device still keeps the camera rolling, draining more of the battery.  Make sure you “Done” out of the camera app to be sure.
5. When charging, keep the phone on a surface that allows it to dissipate the heat. A desk top or table is good.  On a pillow or a bed is bad! The hotter the battery gets over time, the less use you will be able to get out of it.

What if your Sidekick is not new and you want to get better battery life and this doesn’t help.  You can get a new battery for your phone and do this procedure.  New Sidekick batteries are about 10 dollars on eBay.  Don’t pay 40-60 dollars for a new one from T-mobile

Here are some links to new Sidekick batteries:

Replacement Sidekick LX Battery  Replacement Sidekick 3 Battery    Replacement Sidekick Slide Battery  Replacement Sidekick ID Battery

Originally posted 2008-10-18 18:47:52.

Related posts:

  1. Fix The Backlight on Your Sidekick So has the backlight on your Sidekick stopped? Can you...
  2. T-mobile Sidekick 2009 is now Available It is time to get your new Sidekick from T-mobile. ...
  3. Fix a White LCD Screen on Your Sidekick Fix White LCD Screen on Sidekicks The LCD screens on...
  4. How to Replace a Sidekick 3 Screen Sidekick 3 Screen Replacement Replacing the LCD assembly flip screen...