Apple Releases Firmware Update for iPhone Air MagSafe Battery

[MacRumors]

Apple today released new firmware for the iPhone Air's MagSafe battery accessory. The firmware has a version number of 8B25, up from the prior 8A351 version. In the Settings app, the new firmware is listed as 99.0 while the prior firmware is 91.0.

This is the second firmware update that Apple has provided to iPhone Air users since the battery was released in September. Apple does not provide details on what's included in firmware updates for accessories, but the new firmware likely provides efficiency and performance updates.

Accessory firmware updates are done quietly without the user knowing about them, so Apple does not offer installation instructions. MagSafe Battery firmware should update when the battery is connected to the iPhone Air, but you can also force an update by connecting the battery pack to a Mac.

You can check the version number of the MagSafe Battery's firmware by attaching it to an iPhone Air, then going to Settings > General > About > iPhone Air MagSafe Battery.

The MagSafe Battery is exclusive to the iPhone Air, and it provides iPhone Air users with up to an additional 65 percent charge. The Battery Pack is thin and light because it actually incorporates the exact same battery that Apple used in the iPhone Air.

Article Link: Apple Releases Firmware Update for iPhone Air MagSafe Battery

 

[t0rqx]

Manipulating battery life in numbers?

 

[Reeneman]

Even faster charging now

 

[Little Endian]

So we made iPhone thinner and lighter than ever by giving it poor battery life. But no worry we can make even more money by selling an overpriced accessory that makes your iPhone air as thick and heavy as a regular iPhone pro.

 

[klasma]

Will it get Liquid Glass?

 

[Reeneman]

So we made iPhone thinner and lighter than ever by giving it poor battery life. But now worries we can make even more money by selling a overpriced accessory that makes your iPhone air as thick and heavy as a regular iPhone pro.

Exactly. That’s the huge strategy.
No one will be happy with the given battery life and everyone needs to buy this battery pack.

 

[navaira]

This is almost as good as when cables get software updates.

 

[rishey]

The battery snaps on snappier.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Exactly. That’s the huge strategy.
No one will be happy with the given battery life and everyone needs to buy this battery pack.

Rubbish, the battery life on the Air is fine.

 

[Damian83]

This is almost as good as when cables get software updates.

i'm still waiting for a firmware update of my Polishing Cloth and my Mac Pro Wheels...

 

[aParkerMusic]

So we made iPhone thinner and lighter than ever by giving it poor battery life. But now worries we can make even more money by selling an overpriced accessory that makes your iPhone air as thick and heavy as a regular iPhone pro.

It’s rated at the same battery life as my iPhone 16 Plus. I use my phone all day long and I’ve never dropped below 45% in a day.

THE MISCHARACTERIZATIONS NEED TO STOP!

 

[JohannesO]

Camera bump
&
Battery bump

 

[madrigal77]

So we made iPhone thinner and lighter than ever by giving it poor battery life. But now worries we can make even more money by selling a overpriced accessory that makes your iPhone air as thick and heavy as a regular iPhone pro.

What poor battery life? It has the same battery life as the 16 Pro.

 

[Donkey Man]

Apple today released new firmware for the iPhone Air's MagSafe battery accessory. The firmware has a version number of 8B25, up from the prior 8A351 version. In the Settings app, the new firmware is listed as 99.0 while the prior firmware is 91.0.

This is the second firmware update that Apple has provided to iPhone Air users since the battery was released in September. Apple does not provide details on what's included in firmware updates for accessories, but the new firmware likely provides efficiency and performance updates.

Accessory firmware updates are done quietly without the user knowing about them, so Apple does not offer installation instructions. MagSafe Battery firmware should update when the battery is connected to the iPhone Air, but you can also force an update by connecting the battery pack to a Mac.

You can check the version number of the MagSafe Battery's firmware by attaching it to an iPhone Air, then going to Settings > General > About > iPhone Air MagSafe Battery.

The MagSafe Battery is exclusive to the iPhone Air, and it provides iPhone Air users with up to an additional 65 percent charge. The Battery Pack is thin and light because it actually incorporates the exact same battery that Apple used in the iPhone Air.

Article Link: Apple Releases Firmware Update for iPhone Air MagSafe Battery

My Air lasts TWO days in its original battery - why the hell would anyone need to buy that ridiculous hump?

 

[Radeon85]

What a time to be alive, even battery packs need firmware updates 😄

 

[greg624]

Heard that it was already pulled?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Heard that it was already pulled?

I can't get mine to update. I had an Air and went to a 17 Pro Max. Been trying to get the firmware to 99 but it's staying at 91 despite connecting to Mac or to my 17 Pro Max. lol - So maybe you're right. lol

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I'm still using the Lightning iteration of the Mag Safe Battery pack, discontinued over two years ago (still going strong). I cannot recall there having been a firmware update on that particular unit but my memory ain't what it used to be...sadly.

 

[estabya]

Exactly. That’s the huge strategy.
No one will be happy with the given battery life and everyone needs to buy this battery pack.

As an iPhone Air user, my usage pattern stands in stark contrast to this statement.

 

[Rafagon]

Heard that it was already pulled?

Heard that as well.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Would be nice if Macrumors updated ... not sure who to ping... but https://9to5mac.com/2025/12/02/appl...update/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter 9to5 got the pulled notice somehow. Looks like 9to5 is citing

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995969969751023768

 

[Trey M]

It’s rated at the same battery life as my iPhone 16 Plus. I use my phone all day long and I’ve never dropped below 45% in a day.

THE MISCHARACTERIZATIONS NEED TO STOP!

I agree that the issue is quite overblown, but I can say with 100% certainty that the battery in real world usage is no where close to the 16 Pro Max. I know you mentioned the plus.

I love the Air and am disappointed they’re not making another till 2027. But the battery is the significant drawback for potential buyers.

 

[GDF]

So we made iPhone thinner and lighter than ever by giving it poor battery life. But now worries we can make even more money by selling an overpriced accessory that makes your iPhone air as thick and heavy as a regular iPhone pro.

Battery life is not poor, as is the same as my 16 Pro or maybe even a little better. People that keep saying that are clueless. Amazing they built a larger/thinner phone and still have the same or better battery life than a 16 Pro and not much worse than a 17 Pro.

And the MagSafe battery accessory is not overpriced, as I purchased from Walmart for $59. Not much different than the nearest competitor Anker’s battery pack and would rather have Apple’s.

 

[zenmacx]

Dripping with denial, Air owners posting about good battery life in order to support Apple or their own needs to justify their purchase, aren’t at fault.

They’ve been put in this position by the company that created this phone.

My first hand experience with the Air I bought reveals it’s basically a good phone but fails to last a full day. However doing my research in advance, I knew what I was in for.

 

[Virinprew]

It’s rated at the same battery life as my iPhone 16 Plus. I use my phone all day long and I’ve never dropped below 45% in a day.

THE MISCHARACTERIZATIONS NEED TO STOP!

You know that the video playback and the like are optimized by the chip right? So that’s like some optimistic EV range which is never achievable.