Apple Preparing Diagnostic Tool in New iOS Update as iPhone 6s Battery Issue Expands

[MacRumors]

A few days after issuing a message on its Chinese website regarding the battery shutdown issue plaguing some iPhone 6s users, Apple today added a new message onto the site. The update reiterates on the cause of the issue -- some batteries were exposed to "controlled ambient air" during manufacturing -- while also expanding the scope of the affected range of customers facing the problem.

In the original message, Apple noted that "a small number" of iPhone 6s smartphones made in September and October of 2015 were facing unexpected shutdowns due to their prolonged exposure to controlled ambient air. Now, Apple said that it's discovered a few customers "outside of the affected range" who have also been facing unexpected shutdowns of their iPhone 6s devices.

A small number of customers outside of the affected range have also reported an unexpected shutdown. Some of these shutdowns can occur under normal conditions in order for the iPhone to protect its electronics. In an effort to gather more information, we are including additional diagnostic capability in an iOS software update which will be available next week. This will allow us to gather information over the coming weeks which may potentially help us improve the algorithms used to manage battery performance and shutdown. If such improvements can be made, they will be delivered in future software updates.

As it continues to face new issues with the "small number" of affected customers, Apple is preparing an iOS update that it said will introduce an "additional diagnostic capability" so the company can gather information and improve its ability to manage the battery performance levels and untimely shutdowns. The update, presumably iOS 10.2, will be made available sometime next week, and Apple mentioned that if any improvements and solutions are discovered thanks to the diagnostic tool, "they will be delivered in future software updates."

For those who think their iPhone 6s is affected, Apple launched a repair program last month offering free battery replacements for any iPhone 6s manufactured between September and October 2015 which are experiencing shutdowns. There's also a new tool so customers can enter their iPhone's serial number to see if it's eligible for the replacement program.

Article Link: Apple Preparing Diagnostic Tool in New iOS Update as iPhone 6s Battery Issue Expands

 

[nfl46]

an iOS software update which will be available next week.

I guess we know when iOS 10.2 is coming out, not that it is surprising.

 

[jmh600cbr]

I guess we know when iOS 10.2 is coming out, not that it is surprising.

beat me to it!

 

[docziandras]

a few customers "outside of the affected range"

...including me and a few other forum members around here with iPhone 6 devices...

 

[needfx]

hope the 7's have avoided this issue
time will tell

 

[Juicy Box]

For those who think their iPhone 6s is affected, Apple launched a repair program last month offering free battery replacements for any iPhone 6s manufactured between September and October 2015 which are experiencing shutdowns.

I have a 6s Plus that has this issue, but the program says my serial number is not eligible for the program.

With my phone, the shutdown doesn't happen until it gets down to 10% though. But sometimes, it seems like the battery % drops rather quickly for no apparent reason. I would close all the apps, and not do a thing on it, and it drops from 30% to 10% in about one hour.

I have Apple Care on the 6s Plus, so that should cover it I guess.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

...including me and a few other forum members around here with iPhone 6 devices...

If you're having issues on your iPhone 6 it's likely because the battery is simply old and worn out. Download a battery health app and see. My old 6 has just around 40% of the original battery capacity now which is why it'll drop drop say 36% to 1% instantly. This isn't a fault of Apples. Just an old battery showing it's age.

 

[Northgrove]

No issues here on mine yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if this won't happen again to me. My earlier phone was the iPhone 5 and got the known battery issue, haha... I hope I'm not carrying a curse with me. On the other hand, the replacement after 2-3 years of use made the phone like new and I'm sure it extended the lifetime of it by a year compared if it wouldn't even have had the issue to begin with. *looking at it positively*

 

[iCloudStrife]

Is "controlled ambient air" AppleTalk for "air conditioning"?

(Lucky I'm still on the iPhone 5s).

 

[k1121j]

lol a few.... My 6 does it at around 30 percent then when it turns back on it has higher percent then when it shut off

 

[heyjoe23]

I have a 6s Plus that has this issue, but the program says my serial number is not eligible for the program.

With my phone, the shutdown doesn't happen until it gets down to 10% though. But sometimes, it seems like the battery % drops rather quickly for no apparent reason. I would close all the apps, and not do a thing on it, and it drops from 30% to 10% in about one hour.

I have Apple Care on the 6s Plus, so that should cover it I guess.

I have the same problem, 6s Plus and my serial is not eligible also.

The last few days, my battery drains from 30% down to single digits pretty fast. If I do a hard reset, the phone powers back on with 20-30% battery and lasts for a couple hours. The phone is a month over 1 year old. Not good life for a $700 phone.

 

[samcraig]

So two comments.

1. If they were able to backtrack the issue to "ambient air", then isn't is possible they knew that already and let those phones out into the market anyway with fingers crossed?
2. It's always "a few." - Apple really needs to stop using phrases like this as PR spin. It's now become cliche/hyperbole.

 

[Zirel]

If you're having issues on your iPhone 6 it's likely because the battery is simply old and worn out. Download a battery health app and see. My old 6 has just around 40% of the original battery capacity now which is why it'll drop drop say 36% to 1% instantly. This isn't a fault of Apples. Just an old battery showing it's age.

Jeez!

My iPhone 6 has more than 95% of the original capacity yet.

I've seen some people complaining about the battery, but they don't they were replaced with some "generic" in third party repair shops until asked. Guess what? Those batts are awful!

 

[5105973]

I have the same problem, 6s Plus and my serial is not eligible also.

The last few days, my battery drains from 30% down to single digits pretty fast. If I do a hard reset, the phone powers back on with 20-30% battery and lasts for a couple hours. The phone is a month over 1 year old. Not good life for a $700 phone.

Was your battery good for most of the time you had it? I also have a 6s Plus but it has not gotten much use since I got my SE in April and now I'm on an HTC 10. One of the last few iOS updates, I guess it was the first one that introduced raise to wake, caused my SE and 6S Plus battery life to become pitiful. I turned off raise to wake and that helped a little. I have refused the last update on the SE and the last two updates (I think) on the 6S Plus. I am sadly not fond of iOS 10 which is why I made the HTC my primary phone.

I wonder what triggered the kind of issues so many people are seeing. I would have thought if it were some kind of manufacturing issue we would have seen this trouble much sooner in the life of each iPhone.

 

[Juicy Box]

I have the same problem, 6s Plus and my serial is not eligible also.

The last few days, my battery drains from 30% down to single digits pretty fast. If I do a hard reset, the phone powers back on with 20-30% battery and lasts for a couple hours. The phone is a month over 1 year old. Not good life for a $700 phone.

So is yours out of warranty? I bought Apple Care for my current iPhone.

I haven't called Apple Support yet, basically because every time I do I have a bad experience. If it gets really bad I do.

I have used Apple Products since 1994, and I have talked to Apple Support more in the past two years, than I have the pervious 20 years combined. It is getting frustrating.

 

[heyjoe23]

Was your battery good for most of the time you had it? I also have a 6s Plus but it has not gotten much use since I got my SE in April and now I'm on an HTC 10. One of the last few iOS updates, I guess it was the first one that introduced raise to wake, caused my SE and 6S Plus battery life to become pitiful. I turned off raise to wake and that helped a little. I have refused the last update on the SE and the last two updates (I think) on the 6S Plus. I am sadly not fond of iOS 10 which is why I made the HTC my primary phone.

I wonder what triggered the kind of issues so many people are seeing. I would have thought if it were some kind of manufacturing issue we would have seen this trouble much sooner in the life of each iPhone.

No, I have just noticed the problems recently. I am not a heavy user of the phone. I used to be able to go a couple days before charging. I have wondered too if it was a software update that did it. I may try a backup and then restore to see if that will fix it.

 

[IcedT1]

My iPhone is outside of the affected range, but I am having a problem in which my iPhone drains very quickly and runs hot when its on standby. It is running iOS 10.1.1 and sadly restoring 10.1 or 10.2 beta gives no sign of improvement. When I look at the battery usage, it is showing 7 minutes of usage time and 7 hour of standby time, but the battery has drained from 100% to 20%. I went to Apple Store several times and they insisted my phone was having apps crashing constantly, same issue was seen after they helped me restore the phone. (which I call bulls*t)

 

[Juicy Box]

One of the last few iOS updates, I guess it was the first one that introduced raise to wake, caused my SE and 6S Plus battery life to become pitiful. I turned off raise to wake and that helped a little. I have refused the last update on the SE and the last two updates (I think) on the 6S Plus. I am sadly not fond of iOS 10 which is why I made the HTC my primary phone.

Updates!

This is one reason I don't want to call Apple Support about my iPhone. They will most likely ask me to update to the newest iOS. I am currently on iOS9, which I am not a fan of. But, when I updated my iPad 2 to iOS 10, it became so sluggish, and the battery life really sucks now. I would rather not have that happen to my iPhone too.

 

[Sportcat]

I have a Genius Bar yesterday for tomorrow (12/7) at 12:45 for a 6s program battery replacement. Let's hope they have batteries available and this goes smoothly.

 

[heyjoe23]

So is yours out of warranty? I bought Apple Care for my current iPhone.

I haven't called Apple Support yet, basically because every time I do I have a bad experience. If it gets really bad I do.

I have used Apple Products since 1994, and I have talked to Apple Support more in the past two years, than I have the pervious 20 years combined. It is getting frustrating.

It is out of warranty. I did not buy the extended warranty, I have not really needed it in the past. Heck, my old 5s is still going strong with my son using it.

This phone was a replacement phone from Apple after my original phone's sleep on/off button stopped working after a month.

The battery life has been good. I do not use my phone a lot and have been able to go a couple of days without charging. I am wondering if it a software issue too. I may try backing it up and restoring it in the next day or so to see if that fixes the issue.

 

[Planey28]

I have a 6s Plus that has this issue, but the program says my serial number is not eligible for the program.

With my phone, the shutdown doesn't happen until it gets down to 10% though. But sometimes, it seems like the battery % drops rather quickly for no apparent reason. I would close all the apps, and not do a thing on it, and it drops from 30% to 10% in about one hour.

I have Apple Care on the 6s Plus, so that should cover it I guess.

Doesn't matter what your serial is, 6s Plus is not eligible for the program. It only covers the 4.7" phone.

I had this issue and very poor battery life, took my phone to the Apple Store and got a replacement device as I'd brought this issue up several times with Apple. I might have got lucky but it's worth talking to them if you haven't already. I did bring up the programme with the genius but he said Plus phones are not covered by the programme.

 

[Xenomorph]

I found out about my 6S's bad battery from one of those apps that shows you the actual battery capacity. It was an invaluable tool that proved what I had been suspecting. Of course, Apple BANS those types of apps.

 

[Thunderhawks]

...including me and a few other forum members around here with iPhone 6 devices...

That includes 6S Plus I hope.

My number was so far not listed, but my 6S Plus many times all of a sudden just shows half a screen
The top half is black and the lower half shows part of whatever app I am in.

After about a second it then pops" back to a full screen for the app.

It also has switched off a few times.

 

[Vash108]

is this only affecting China user batches?

 

[hotlap]

Spot on.

I noticed two unusual situations with the 6S, based on ambient temp changes.

These I have reported to Apple.

1) In June 2016 I attended the Finke Desert Race, as accredited media - its located Alice Springs, in central Australia.

To cover the event, our team had to be in place well before dawn.

The local ambient (i.e.) around 1-2C @ dawn, was a big change from what the phone was used to, typically being in Sydney or Adelaide.

With little use, yet with car charging, as we moved around, the 6S would shut off when taking a photo.

Hard reboot would work, showing a higher % but then fell over again.

2) In New Zealand - 2nd weekend of Nov - Cromwell, in the South Island. I'm there for the Australian GT Championship finale. Pretty much same thing happened.