When the iPhone goes completely flat it does that special thing where it shows a flat battery when you start to charge it but doesn't boot up until it has charged back up past a certain point. I think the iPhone is quite conservative with the battery in order to make sure it always shuts off with plenty of juice left to sustain it.

I don't remember ever having to monkey around with a Nokia battery either; even when the phone has been left, quite literally, for years.

Are some of today's smartphone manufacturers lacking a bit of finesse in this department?