A system and method quickly and effectively display battery status and/or other parameters of a portable electronic device. In one embodiment, a method displays parameters of a portable electronic device in a power-off state by storing a plurality of user-definable settings in response to a power-off condition. In addition, the method detects an activation of a status input, and in response applies power to a display, and displays a status of the stored parameters on a display, while maintaining operational logic of the personal electronic device in a power-off state. In another embodiment, a method displays a current battery-power status of a portable electronic device, while in a power-off state. This method retrieves a battery-power status that was previously measured and saved. Using this retrieved information, along with a measured amount of time since the information was measured or saved, method determines the current battery-power status.