Power Consumption with Bluetooth Enabled

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 87 views

Bluetooth Applet Takes a Surprising 20W of Power Consumption on Laptop

In today's digital age, laptops have become an essential tool for both personal and professional use. However, with the increasing demand for power-hungry features, laptops are consuming more power than ever before. One such feature that has been causing concern among laptop users is the Bluetooth applet. In this article, we will delve into the issue of the Bluetooth applet taking a surprising 20W of power consumption on laptops.

Using a fully up-to-date Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with Cosmic desktop, a user noticed that their ASUS Zenbook laptop was using way more power than usual. Upon checking System Monitor, the app that was first on CPU usage was cosmic-applet-bluetooth, at 3% of CPU in System Monitor and 35% of a single CPU according to htop. This was a significant increase in power consumption, and the user was eager to find out the cause.

Power Consumption with Bluetooth Enabled

When the user enabled Bluetooth, the power consumption of their laptop skyrocketed to 26W. This was a significant increase from the usual 3-6W when Bluetooth was disabled. Moreover, the fan of the laptop started blowing more than usual, indicating that the system was working harder to maintain the increased power consumption. This was a relatively new problem, and the user suspected that it might be a regression.

Power Consumption with Bluetooth Disabled

On the other hand, when the user disabled Bluetooth, the power consumption of their laptop dropped to 3-6W. This was a significant decrease from the 26W when Bluetooth was enabled. The fan also stopped blowing, indicating that the system was working more efficiently without the Bluetooth applet consuming excessive power.

There are several possible causes for the Bluetooth applet taking a surprising 20W of power consumption on laptops. Some of the possible causes include:

Inefficient Bluetooth Driver: The Bluetooth driver might be inefficient, causing the applet to consume more power than necessary.
Power-Hungry Bluetooth Chip: The Bluetooth chip might be power-hungry, causing the applet to consume more power than usual.
System Configuration: The system configuration might be causing the Bluetooth applet to consume more power than necessary.

There are several solutions that can be implemented to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet on laptops. Some of the possible solutions include:

Update Bluetooth Driver: Updating the Bluetooth driver to the latest version might resolve the issue.
Disable Bluetooth When Not in Use: Disabling Bluetooth when not in use can help reduce power consumption.
Adjust System Configuration: Adjusting the system configuration to optimize power consumption might also help.

In conclusion, the Bluetooth applet taking a surprising 20W of power consumption on laptops is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. The possible causes of this issue include inefficient Bluetooth drivers, power-hungry Bluetooth chips, and system configuration. To resolve this issue, users can update the Bluetooth driver, disable Bluetooth when not in use, and adjust the system configuration to optimize power consumption. By implementing these solutions, users can reduce the power consumption of their laptops and enjoy a more efficient and sustainable computing experience.

Based on the findings of this article, we recommend the following:

Update Bluetooth Driver: Update the Bluetooth driver to the latest version to resolve the issue.
Disable Bluetooth When Not in Use: Disable Bluetooth when not in use to reduce power consumption.
Adjust System Configuration: Adjust the system configuration to optimize power consumption.
Monitor Power Consumption: Monitor power consumption regularly to identify any issues and take corrective action.

Future work on this issue includes:

Investigating the Cause: Investigating the cause of the Bluetooth applet taking a surprising 20W of power consumption on laptops.
Developing Solutions: Developing solutions to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet on laptops.
Testing and Validation: Testing and validating the solutions to ensure that they are effective and efficient.

[1] Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with Cosmic desktop.
[2] ASUS Zenbook laptop.
[3] System Monitor.
[4] htop.
[5] Bluetooth driver.
[6] Power-hungry Bluetooth chip.
[7] System configuration.
Bluetooth Applet Takes a Surprising 20W of Power Consumption on Laptop: Q&A

In our previous article, we discussed the issue of the Bluetooth applet taking a surprising 20W of power consumption on laptops. In this article, we will answer some of the frequently asked questions related to this issue.

Q: What is the Bluetooth applet?

A: The Bluetooth applet is a small program that runs in the background and manages the Bluetooth connection on your laptop.

Q: Why is the Bluetooth applet consuming so much power?

A: The Bluetooth applet is consuming a lot of power because it is constantly scanning for Bluetooth devices and maintaining a connection with them. This process requires a lot of power and can cause the laptop to heat up.

Q: Is this a common issue?

A: Yes, this is a common issue with many laptops. The Bluetooth applet is a power-hungry component that can cause the laptop to consume a lot of power.

Q: Can I disable the Bluetooth applet?

A: Yes, you can disable the Bluetooth applet. However, this may cause issues with Bluetooth connectivity and may require you to restart your laptop.

Q: How can I reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet?

A: There are several ways to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet. You can update the Bluetooth driver to the latest version, disable Bluetooth when not in use, and adjust the system configuration to optimize power consumption.

Q: What are the possible causes of this issue?

A: The possible causes of this issue include inefficient Bluetooth drivers, power-hungry Bluetooth chips, and system configuration.

Q: Can I update the Bluetooth driver?

A: Yes, you can update the Bluetooth driver to the latest version. This may resolve the issue and reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet.

Q: How can I adjust the system configuration to optimize power consumption?

A: You can adjust the system configuration to optimize power consumption by disabling unnecessary features, adjusting the power settings, and updating the system software.

Q: What are the benefits of reducing the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet?

A: Reducing the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet can help to:

Extend the battery life of your laptop
Reduce the heat generated by the laptop
Improve the overall performance of the laptop
Reduce the risk of overheating and damage to the laptop

Q: Can I monitor the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet?

A: Yes, you can monitor the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet using tools such as System Monitor and htop.

Q: What are the system requirements for reducing the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet?

A: The system requirements for reducing the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet include:

A laptop with a Bluetooth chip
A Bluetooth driver that supports power-saving features
A system configuration that allows for power-saving features
A power-efficient Bluetooth chip

In conclusion, the Bluetooth applet taking a surprising 20W of power consumption on laptops is a common issue that can be resolved by updating the Bluetooth driver, disabling Bluetooth when not in use, and adjusting the system configuration to optimize power consumption. By following these steps, you can reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet and enjoy a more efficient and sustainable computing experience.

Based on the findings of this article, we recommend the following:

Update the Bluetooth driver to the latest version
Disable Bluetooth when not in use
Adjust the system configuration to optimize power consumption
Monitor the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet using tools such as System Monitor and htop

Future work on this issue includes:

Investigating the cause of the Bluetooth applet taking a surprising 20W of power consumption on laptops
Developing solutions to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth applet on laptops
Testing and validating the solutions to ensure that they are effective and efficient

[1] Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with Cosmic desktop
[2] ASUS Zenbook laptop
[3] System Monitor
[4] htop
[5] Bluetooth driver
[6] Power-hungry Bluetooth chip
[7] System configuration