Methods for controlling power states in a computing device, and apparatus for performing such methods are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring a plurality of sensors included in a computing device. The method further includes detecting, based on the monitoring, occurrence of at least one of a change in physical orientation of the computing device and one or more changes in an ambient environment of the computing device and, responsive to a detected change, activating a controller of the computing device. The method also includes providing, from the sensors to the controller, data corresponding with the at least one of the detected changes. The method still further includes selecting, by the controller, based on the data provided by the sensors, a power state for the computing device and transitioning the computing device to the selected power state.