A power management system includes a sensor to detect current output from a battery, a first comparator to compare the battery current to a first reference value, and a burst controller to perform a first power control operation based on said comparison. The power control operation reduces power consumed by the battery in order to cause the battery current to fall below the first reference value. This may be accomplished by reducing or shutting down power to one or more functions or features of a host system that includes or is coupled to receive power from the battery. The host system may include or correspond to a mobile phone and/or any of a number of other electronic devices.