Embodiments include systems and methods for managing radio power consumption in a mobile communication device. A processor of a mobile communication device may monitor a processing demand of a modem processor in the mobile communication device, and the device processor may compare the processing demand of the modem processor to a demand threshold. The device processor may select a power-saving mode for a radio of the mobile communication device based on the comparing, and the device processor may apply power to the radio based on the selected power-saving mode.