iOS 11.3 Beta 2 Introduces New 'Battery Health' Feature

[MacRumors]

The iOS 11.3 beta 2 update, seeded to developers this morning, introduces a new "Battery Health" feature that's designed to provide iOS users with more information about their batteries.

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Located in the Battery section of the Settings app, the new Battery Health feature tells you the maximum capacity of your battery and whether or not it is operating at peak capacity.

What you'll see if your device is operating normally​

On devices that are operating at full battery capacity, such as the newly released iPhone X, there is no toggle to turn off the throttling feature that causes iPhones with degraded batteries to run more slowly. An updated support document that outlines the feature says that on a device with a battery that needs to be replaced, power management can be toggled off.

What you'll see if your device has a degraded battery​

Power management will be disabled on all devices when the iOS 11.3 beta is installed, but if an iPhone experiences an unexpected shutdown, power management will automatically be turned on.

Additionally, users can see if the performance management feature that dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns is on and can choose to turn it off. This feature is enabled only after an unexpected shutdown first occurs on a device with a battery that has diminished ability to deliver maximum instantaneous power. This feature applies to iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus.

Apple says that if power management is manually disabled after being enabled due to a shutdown, it won't be able to be turned back on. It will, however, turn on once again automatically if another unexpected shutdown occurs, so it sounds like users may need to turn the feature off more than once on a device that is experiencing issues.

Apple's Battery Health feature is listed as being a "Beta" feature, and Apple will likely continue to refine and update its Battery Health feature over the course of the beta testing period.

Article Link: iOS 11.3 Beta 2 Introduces New 'Battery Health' Feature

 

[srsub3]

hahahahahah don't worry the switch will be out maybe in september after iPhone X-s! or maybe with another extremely helpful feature!

 

[apb87]

hopefully these statistics are more accurate than the inconsistent third party apps.

 

[gretafour]

Should have been in there from the beginning, but better late than never!

 

[hsotnicam8002]

It's not on my (just updated) iPad Pro. Uhm ...

 

[MacInTO]

This is an exciting feature *geek out*!

It will be good to have this rather than having to download a random app for this.

 

[scrapesleon]

Turn the switch on

 

[Villarrealadrian]

Useless...

 

[fede777]

Maybe the switch appears when your battery is lower than X percent

 

[magicschoolbus]

Does it show what speed your phone is being throttled to?

 

[MrBat]

Better later than never...

Took Apple "a while", with the "help" of some Class Action Lawsuits.

 

[jclo]

If anyone installs the update on a device that's actually in need of service, let us know how it looks. Installing on some older devices, but not sure we've got one with a degraded battery.

 

[44267547]

Useless...

It is? At least it gives the option to have something proprietary to The user of the maximum capacity of the battery and if its performing at peak capacity.

 

[Wags]

This could lead to more battery replacement requests under warranty if the information is accurate or not manipulated.

 

[err404]

It's not on my (just updated) iPad Pro. Uhm ...

The iPad Pro has a massive and parallel battery design. There may not be throttling features in the OS for this hardware.

 

[sourdoughjosh]

I suspect the switch only shows up if your specific device starts throttling...

 

[RealAppleFan]

So hardcore Apple defenders (in other words not true fans), please let us know right now why this wasn't always a feature?

I'm waiting.....

 

[MrBat]

This could lead to more battery replacement requests under warranty if the information is accurate or not manipulated.

Exactly. Also, potentially less phones sold.

 

[SD449]

I wonder how this "feature" will effect the 2nd Hand Market, especially prices offered by Game, CEX, Musicmagpie etc

 

[kemal]

I want a mandated battery cover on all phones.

 

[thejtray]

Maybe the switch appears when your battery is lower than X percent

That would actually make sense unless you are at the point closest to having poor performance, but not bad enough to have the switch.

 

[ghostface147]

Our test iPhone 7 shows 95% battery capacity. It's running under Peak Performance Capability. I wonder what percentage it throttles....

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

The thing Apple said they'd be adding is being added. Amazing.

 

[hsotnicam8002]

The iPad Pro has a massive and parallel battery design. There may not be throttling features in the OS for this hardware.

We'll see ...

 

[HacKage]

I had commented this previously as a guess, but it looks like throttling will NOT be in place on the iPhone X due to it having a battery capacity more in line with what every other manufacturer in the world uses.

The iPhone 8 had 60% the battery capacity of the Samsung S8. The iPhone X has 90% of the capacity of the S8. That means that as the battery dies like Apple say is going to happen, the capacity will more than likely still be higher than that of the iPhone 8 when new. It will still be able to cope with these voltage spikes as it deteriorates that should have been handled by the earlier phones in the first place had they put in a battery with sufficient capacity.