In Under 18 Months, My Iphone's Battery Life Has Gone From Great To Terrible

1 day ago

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

My iPhone is little than 18 months old.
It now cannot make it done a time without a recharge.
Nothing appears abnormal successful nan settings.

Rather than do my accustomed and upgrade my iPhone again past twelvemonth pinch only astir a twelvemonth connected nan clock, I decided to effort what astir group extremity up having to do -- support it going for a fewer years.

Apple says that nan artillery is designed to clasp 80% of its original capacity astatine 1,000 recharge cycles "under perfect conditions." At that point, erstwhile nan battery's maximum capacity dips beneath nan 80% mark, it is functionally astatine nan extremity of its life and will request replacing.

Also: Upgrading to nan iPhone 17? Nearly 70% of users scheme to aft motorboat - here's why

So, I should beryllium bully for astatine slightest a mates of years, right? Wrong.

Some background

The artillery successful my iPhone 15 Pro Max was manufactured successful December 2023 and first utilized successful March 2024 (it was delivered to maine connected March 9). At nan clip of writing, it's early September 2025, truthful nan iPhone is astir 17 months old.

Also: Changing these iOS 18 settings importantly improved my iPhone's artillery life

According to nan information stored by nan operating system, artillery wellness is normal, maximum capacity is 89% compared to erstwhile it was new, and it has been done 501 recharge cycles -- almost precisely halfway done those 1,000 recharge cycles.

My iPhone's artillery is, according to Apple's metrics, astir halfway done its effective lifespan.

On apical of that, I person taken every imaginable measure to attraction for nan battery: I person permanently group nan charging limit to 80% (Settings > Battery > Charging), avoided keeping nan handset connected complaint for excessively agelong periods, and ensured it remains distant from utmost temperatures.

Now it doesn't past a day

I commencement nan time pinch an 80% complaint because that's nan complaint limit I person it group at, and by precocious afternoon, it's hovering adjacent to -- if not past -- nan 20% zone.

Battery usage connected my iPhone 16 Pro Max connected a emblematic day.

This iPhone is moving a beta type of iOS 26, pinch Adaptive Power enabled, truthful successful mentation it should negociate artillery depletion better. However, bugs are to beryllium expected successful beta software, truthful I thought that mightiness person thing to do pinch nan rumor and rolled backmost to nan latest iOS 18 release.

Also: If these iPhone 17 Air rumors are real, my aged telephone is astir to beryllium retired

No. Battery life is nary worse nether iOS 26 than iOS 18.

Now, I americium rather a dense iPhone user. It's ne'er much than an arm's scope away, and I routinely person music, Audible, aliases YouTube playing successful nan inheritance pinch nan surface disconnected (yes, I'm nan feline paying for YouTube Premium). That's ever been my usage pattern, truthful thing has changed. I utilized to beryllium capable to make it to nan evening. Now, early day is tough.

So, what's going on?

What I'm seeing present is simply a denotation of dense usage. Not only does it usage much artillery during nan day, but it besides accelerates and intensifies artillery degradation, thereby reducing nan wide lifespan of nan battery.

Also: The champion powerfulness banks you tin bargain successful 2025

Now, it could beryllium conscionable me, but a speedy search suggests I'm not alone.

So, what are my options if I wanted this handset to past maine 3 years?

Well, I'll show you now, I'm perfectly convinced that this handset won't make it to nan three-year people without being a full nuisance to use. I tin eke much artillery life by expanding nan charging limit from 80%, but that would apt accelerate artillery wear.

Also: Finally, a lightweight powerfulness slope for my iPhone that tin besides return a beating

I could besides get nan artillery replaced. This is what I'll do. I'm readying connected replacing this handset this year, but I can't walk it connected successful this condition.

In nan interim, I'll drawback 1 of my thin-and-light MagSafe powerfulness banks and make that portion of my must-have mundane carry.