Experimental Insight on the Impact of VoNR and VoLTE Calls on the Smartphone Battery Performance during Mobility in 5G SA Network

The advent of 5G New Radio (NR) technology has introduced unprecedented capabilities in wireless communications, enabling enhanced throughput and sig- nificantly reduced latency. However, the substantial capabilities of 5G mobile communication have concurrently imposed considerable demands on the battery capacity of user equipment, particularly smartphones. 5G NR-capable smart- phones must support multiple NR frequency bands, utilize wide spectrum ranges through multiple antenna configurations, and maintain native voice call func- tionality in 5G Standalone (SA) networks via Voice over New Radio (VoNR). VoNR calls in 5G SA networks represent a critical native solution that presents significant opportunities for battery conservation.In this work, we conducted comprehensive experiments within live 5G SA network environments, utilizing smartphones equipped with all major chipset platforms available in the Android ecosystem. The primary objective was to investigate the impact on battery performance during active VoNR and VoLTE calls under mobility conditions, specifically when devices maintained Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected states. Our observations revealed that battery drain is higher during active VoNR calls in mobile scenarios com- pared to VoLTE calls. Notably, this finding contradicts results from previous laboratory-based studies, which suggested different performance characteristics. Furthermore, our experiments demonstrated that handover events occurred more frequently during VoLTE calls, a phenomenon that aligns with theoretical expec- tations in mobile network environments. The findings from this study provide valuable insights for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Original Equip- ment Manufacturers (OEMs) regarding battery performance optimization duringVoNR calls in mobile scenarios. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering practical insights that can inform future resource alloca- tion strategies while maintaining optimal user experience for 5G NR smartphone users.