Android Smartphones with Accelerometers Which Work with the Screen Off

Submitted by John on Mon, 25/06/2012 - 16:41

Do you find that activity monitoring applications like pedometers don't work (receive events / count steps) when your phone screen is switched off? It's not a bug in Android itself but rather a choice or bug of the hardware manufacturer. Some phones work, some phones don't. If you're looking to buy a new phone and you need the accelerometer to work in standby mode (with screen off), this guide might help you. It's a list of information I collected about the issue on the internet. In each case I've listed the source - where I got the information so you can look it up yourself. When the Android version was mentioned, I've included it in brackets. If you'd like me to add something just drop a note in the comments.

If you don't see your phone here, check this list too which appears to be the same thing and includes a few additional models: SmartTrainer Accelerometer Compatibility List

Android Phones and Tablets which Receive Accelerometer Events in Standby (with the Screen Off)

AKA Phones which Work

Android Phones and Tablets which Do not Receive Accelerometer Events in Standby (with the Screen Off)

AKA Phones which Don't Work Properly

Phones of Disputed Status

Comments

Submitted by Ty on Thu, 05/07/2012 - 11:15

Many thanks for this list.  Very useful information for me!Thanks.

Submitted by patk on Thu, 12/07/2012 - 01:02

I want to deactivate and uninstall prior to purchasing ultimate version. Can't do so from Play Store. Have unrooted HTC One X. Sggestions?

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 03/08/2012 - 13:30

You can add to the non-working list alsoMotorola Photon 4G MB855

Submitted by John on Fri, 03/08/2012 - 22:22

Thanks, added!

Submitted by brans on Thu, 16/08/2012 - 14:26

LG P970Archos tab 101

Submitted by John on Fri, 17/08/2012 - 21:27

Thanks, added

Submitted by RUdy on Mon, 20/08/2012 - 08:10

On samsung galaxy S3 to screen off, is now working or something error . can u fix it ?

Submitted by John on Mon, 20/08/2012 - 22:06

Galaxy S3 works, baby!

Submitted by George on Tue, 25/09/2012 - 11:25

It works on Acer Iconia A500 when you tilt it at the long side

Submitted by John on Tue, 25/09/2012 - 21:08

Thanks, added

Submitted by RendóN on Mon, 01/10/2012 - 05:24

Works fine in this device: Smartphone Acer Liquid MT

Submitted by John on Mon, 01/10/2012 - 23:25

Thanks, added.

Submitted by Reese on Fri, 26/10/2012 - 13:18

Galaxy note 2 doesnt work

Submitted by John on Fri, 26/10/2012 - 13:57

Thanks, added

Submitted by Steve on Sat, 03/11/2012 - 22:21

Tried this on my Asus Infinity TF700 and will not turn it off at all.Please fix.  I would like to use this very much!  Thanks!

Submitted by TOMO on Mon, 12/11/2012 - 21:14

Why doesn't Note 2 work??? :'(In fact, it's even better than S3.

Submitted by Pipacs on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 15:36

I had the following results with an HTC EVO 3D: the accelerometer shuts down when the screen is locked, but then I could re-enable it. So end result is that the accelerometer can be made running while the screen is locked.I suspect many of the phones in the "doesn't work" list behave the same way.

Submitted by John on Sat, 15/12/2012 - 20:17

Maybe. This rings a bell - I think I read posts by people who had tried these things but from what I recall it didn't work or wasn't a satisfactory solution. But to be completely honest I don't remember / am not sure. Worth checking out.

Submitted by ravemir on Wed, 02/01/2013 - 16:34

My phone does record accelerometer values with the screen off, but the problem is the rate at which it does slows down considerably: from 50Hz down to 2Hz. This makes using the sensors quite impractical, for me, but it also means that there is a middle ground regarding manufacturers shutting off sensors.

Submitted by bent on Thu, 10/01/2013 - 02:58

Mediasonic MTP-710 . I can't get your app or any other auto on app to work so I assume that sensor does not work when screen is off. Tks. . . .

Submitted by John on Mon, 21/01/2013 - 06:57

I don't have an app so I'm not sure what you're referring to. Nevertheless I got the message and have added this Mediasonic tab to the non-working list, thanks!

Submitted by delusive on Fri, 08/02/2013 - 21:20

Does anyone know if the Nexus 4 works?

Submitted by Sohhla on Wed, 27/02/2013 - 04:00

Same problem: if I turn the screen off, the accelerometer stops updating. The device I tested on was bought in Brazil (variant S7562L), but I don't think this problem would be exclusive to just some variants of a device.

Add new comment

More information about text formats

Filtered HTML

  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.