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Apple Removes AirTag Battery Level Indicator From the Find My App

StuBeck said:
Because when it doesn't update automatically, it's nice to be able to do the update manually and not just wait for something to occur. If it "just worked", there wouldn't be a need for the tool that Apple removed, then reintroduced.
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When it comes to updating headphone firmware, which tool did they previously remove and now reintroduce.

I cant say if it works or not for everyone, but my AirPods got the update without my even knowing there was an update so anecdotally it just worked for me (and my fiancé). Do you know the percentage of failed updates that weren't cause by things like not connecting the case to a power source or delays from the server to support the claim that people need to be able to manually update their firmware?
 
ams1117 said:
It's very hard to estimate coin cell batteries because not all of them have the same discharge curve. But it's easy to know when it's getting too low to operate properly.

Built-in rechargeable batteries are different because you know the exact characteristics of the battery and you can record the graph over time, or even install a coulomb counter.

Of course Apple can say it only uses Panasonic CR2032 batteries but that would be dumb.

Apple could have installed a non-replaceable battery and make the product better in many other ways and give you an accurate counter down before the end of life for a given AirTag. Most people like how the battery is replaceable but you just can't have everything you want.
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I actually think Apple using replaceable batteries is the best choice. If you are traveling and somehow get a low battery notification or feel that it hasn't enough juice, you can just quickly go to any shop and buy a new one and you're good to go.
If Apple had a non replaceable battery system, it would involve some port and cable or induction method to charge it, which you don't always have just with you when traveling...
 
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bobcomer said:
Fix the inaccuracy and show it. Hiding the inaccuracy is just that, hiding.
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The only way Apple can do that is by using batteries with the required circuitry; and those aren't off-the-shelf CRs. At that point the batteries would likely not be user-replaceable. So if you aren't comfortable waiting for the low battery notification, just change them every six months like you do your smoke detectors.
 
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compwiz1202 said:
The good question posted somewhere before was what doesn't work when it says some features won't work with a low battery?
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This is what Apple said in chat:

I have checked and found that if the Battery is low for the AirTags it can sometimes show the wrong location to you through find My since battery is not working well, it may show you the last location when the battery worked well. And after some time it can show you the updated location! So it would work intermittent, in these cases, we do suggest our customers to replace the AirTag battery so that it can work well!

So it sounds like low battery affects accuracy, as one would expect.
 
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Squillace said:
I actually think Apple using replaceable batteries is the best choice. If you are traveling and somehow get a low battery notification or feel that it hasn't enough juice, you can just quickly go to any shop and buy a new one and you're good to go.
If Apple had a non replaceable battery system, it would involve some port and cable or induction method to charge it, which you don't always have just with you when traveling...
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Apple introduces sealed AirTag with Apple Watch battery and inductive charger for twice the price, the forums explode because the battery isn't user replaceable and they need a charger and it's expensive. Whole threads launch about how to ensure your AirTag is always between 20 and 80% charge because they don't trust Apple's charge logic.

Apple introduces an AirTag you can open and replace the battery, the forums explode that they don't know exactly what their minute by minute charge level is and why didn't Apple just make it easy.
 
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Speaking of battery icons... how in the world hasn't Apple given us back the ability to toggle on a numerical percentage on our iPhone home screens yet? My 4s could do it. So why can't my new phone? It's utterly mystifying.
 
ProfessionalFan said:
I don’t understand the reasoning behind this change at all.
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Better UX. There is no need for this indicator until the battery is low, so why complicate the display and take up precious screen space. Simplifying display areas increases how quickly you get the information you need, which isn’t a random battery level.

And if battery level measurements are inaccurate this makes even more sense. Why cause false distress to tens of thousands of users?
 
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Thebrochure said:
Speaking of battery icons... how in the world hasn't Apple given us back the ability to toggle on a numerical percentage on our iPhone home screens yet? My 4s could do it. So why can't my new phone? It's utterly mystifying.
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Probably because percentage is giving you a false sense of precision of the measurement.
 
Thebrochure said:
Speaking of battery icons... how in the world hasn't Apple given us back the ability to toggle on a numerical percentage on our iPhone home screens yet? My 4s could do it. So why can't my new phone? It's utterly mystifying.
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No idea. But yeah a little annoying that you have to go to Control Center to see it. But if Apple hasn't displayed it in many years they probably wont now.
SlaveToSwift said:
Probably because percentage is giving you a false sense of precision of the measurement.
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Apple has no problem displaying battery percent; battery percentage is available on all of their devices. Pamphlet 😜 wants to see it in the status bar instead of having to swipe down for Control Center.
 
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Aston441 said:
Yeah I just started having low battery warnings, even thoigh the battery in it was only 3-4 months old. Popped in a new battery, was fine for a few days, then the earnings would pop up, then show full again a few minutes later. Cleaned the contacts, it happened again. Something else is going on. Maybe a messed up firmware update?
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Batterygate all over again. They tried to conceal it with the iPhone, Macbook and now this.
 
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ProfessionalFan said:
A company as big as Apple should've been able to figure out how to make the reading more accurate by now if that's the reason.

Important to note, that is just speculation at this point anyway from some Dutch blog. Hardly evidence.
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Sorry, but physics is a bitch, even for Apple. (Plus 3rd party batteries adding lots of unknowns)…
 
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I could have sworn I have seen the battery status of my iPad in FindMy on my iPhone, but I can't find it now, after upgrading to the iOS 16 beta.
Can anyone confirm or deny with certainty?
 
SFjohn said:
Sorry, but physics is a bitch, even for Apple. (Plus 3rd party batteries adding lots of unknowns)…
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The fact that 3rd party batteries were to be used should come as no surprise to Apple. Why implement battery status in Find My in the first place when there should be every reason to assume that a company as resourceful as Apple should have realized possible problems. This must be considered poor quality control on Apple's part.
 
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RealPhone said:
The fact that 3rd party batteries were to be used should come as no surprise to Apple. Why implement battery status in Find My in the first place when there should be every reason to assume that a company as resourceful as Apple should have realized possible problems. This must be considered poor quality control on Apple's part.
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Personally I think Apple is doing the right thing. It was a nice idea, but over time it didn’t work well. I don’t worry about my August Lock battery level, it lets me know when it’s low and I change it.
 
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darngooddesign said:
No idea. But yeah a little annoying that you have to go to Control Center to see it. But if Apple hasn't displayed it in many years they probably wont now.

Apple has no problem displaying battery percent; battery percentage is available on all of their devices. Pamphlet 😜 wants to see it in the status bar instead of having to swipe down for Control Center.
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Yes they should just put it over the battery icon when not charging, and the lightning bolt when charging.
 
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