iOS 26 battery life thread.

[FeliApple]

Yeah, I’m wondering if I got a lemon. I maybe have had one day since I got the phone on launch that was even close to the advertised battery life. I have everything basically turned off and no widgets, and brightness at barely nearly the sun icon for most of the day. Call me crazy, but yeah I’m pissed. It’s been like this both on stable 26.0, 26.0.1 and on this current beta.

That’s more or less how I use my 16 Plus on iOS 18.

That battery life definitely sounds wrong. 85% (so 100-15%) after 5 hours with brightness at the sun level and efficient settings is poor unless you’re, I don’t know, gaming.

That’s not good. Maybe try 26.1? A full restore?

 

[goldmac2006]

This is pretty much the first time since iOS 11 that battery life is affected everywhere, including the latest devices. Hopefully it makes people more mindful of updates, realistically it won’t.

I personally dislike Liquid Glass, but I respect your opinion if you do.

I’d love a design change back to iOS 6, but it will not happen. If it’s not going to happen they might as well keep iOS 11’s design language, IMO.

I am ok with it for aesthetics. But battery life wise it’s not good so that’s why I called it a blockhead lol 😂

But skeuomorphism should have been a better idea than taking so much energy and graphics processing to achieve translucent and simulated frosted glass effects!

 

[FeliApple]

I am ok with it for aesthetics. But battery life wise it’s not good so that’s why I called it a blockhead lol 😂

But skeuomorphism should have been a better idea than taking so much energy and graphics processing to achieve translucent and simulated frosted glass effects!

As I said pretty much every time this topic comes up, as somebody who never updates, I’d possibly be willing to sacrifice some battery life for a return to iOS 6 aesthetics.

But iOS 26 sacrifices battery life and I don’t even like it. Hopefully those who are suffering the battery life impact, at least, like the design.

 

[Séamus Boyle]

That’s more or less how I use my 16 Plus on iOS 18.

That battery life definitely sounds wrong. 85% (so 100-15%) after 5 hours with brightness at the sun level and efficient settings is poor unless you’re, I don’t know, gaming.

That’s not good. Maybe try 26.1? A full restore?

Yep. I don’t game on the phone. I erased everything and set up my phone as new. Gonna try this before I go back to 26.1

 

[Séamus Boyle]

I set up my phone as new and then backed up from the cloud. Based on someone’s advice, I disabled adaptive power and listen to Siri. This is what I’m getting so far, with 9 hours off the charger. Gonna monitor it throughout the day.

 

[pcubed18]

I’m so confused as well. I have the 17 Pro Max. I setup as new and restored from the cloud. It’s still restoring when I plug in. But this is what I was getting as of yesterday. Is this good, normal and or bad? Wondering if it should be better - if so, I’ll return my phone and get a new one. I know, sounds nuts.

 

[goldmac2006]

As I said pretty much every time this topic comes up, as somebody who never updates, I’d possibly be willing to sacrifice some battery life for a return to iOS 6 aesthetics.

But iOS 26 sacrifices battery life and I don’t even like it. Hopefully those who are suffering the battery life impact, at least, like the design.

Agreeable. And that also includes drain from initial set up of iPhones

 

[FeliApple]

I’m so confused as well. I have the 17 Pro Max. I setup as new and restored from the cloud. It’s still restoring when I plug in. But this is what I was getting as of yesterday. Is this good, normal and or bad? Wondering if it should be better - if so, I’ll return my phone and get a new one. I know, sounds nuts.

I don’t know anything about your usage pattern. Settings, brightness, Wi-Fi or Cellular, etc.

But for an original iOS version Pro Max, 2h of SOT to 60% is abhorrent.

 

[pcubed18]

I don’t know anything about your usage pattern. Settings, brightness, Wi-Fi or Cellular, etc.

But for an original iOS version Pro Max, 2h of SOT to 60% is abhorrent.

I figured as much. I’m debating buying a new one and selling mine. I know it sounds nuts, but bad.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

Okay. This may be a dumb question, but here goes...

In battery settings, what does "Screen Idle" mean? Is the screen on, but the phone is not actively being used? For example, checking the time?

 

[whoknows87]

Welp my battery has dropped a whopping 3% since upgrading to 26.1
99
98
97 within days, is this normal ? 207 cycle count 16 ProMax

 

[phrekaru]

Welp my battery has dropped a whopping 3% since upgrading to 26.1
99
98
97 within days, is this normal ? 207 cycle count 16 ProMax

Me too, yesterday mine go down 97% with 211 cycles

 

[dwrufus53]

Welp my battery has dropped a whopping 3% since upgrading to 26.1
99
98
97 within days, is this normal ? 207 cycle count 16 ProMax

My 16PM is still plugging away at 100% with 197 cycles.

 

[goldmac2006]

My 16PM is still plugging away at 100% with 197 cycles.

91% at 491 cycles for my 15 pro

 

[Artemiz]

Welp my battery has dropped a whopping 3% since upgrading to 26.1
99
98
97 within days, is this normal ? 207 cycle count 16 ProMax

It might drop further over the next few days before it plateaus. My 13P did the same and now it’s been at 87% for about 9 months now.

Battery capacity drops aren’t linear. They drop quick from 100% and then plateau around 90% for a few months. Nothing to worry as long as your iPhone isn’t getting too hot.

 

[whoknows87]

It might drop further over the next few days before it plateaus. My 13P did the same and now it’s been at 87% for about 9 months now.

Battery capacity drops aren’t linear. They drop quick from 100% and then plateau around 90% for a few months. Nothing to worry as long as your iPhone isn’t getting too hot.

My phone does get hot every now and then , and I do nothing intensive, no gaming , barely any youtube, emails and occasional social media- lots of whatsapp

 

[Blue Hawk]

ouch mine dropped by 2% since latest update, whats your cycle count, current battery capacity first use date and if you have charging limit set, I am curious

It’s in German

 

[whoknows87]

It’s in German

Thanks.
My manufacture date is Nov 2024
First Use April 2025
Cycle Count 210
97%

 

[Squadron]

Hi, Did anyone experience " Ongoing Device Setup" + "Optimizing Library" on iPhone 17 pro max ios 26? Usually it take how long to finish both of this? And if i want to restore backup from iTunes, is it going to be the same, getting the same " Ongoing Device Setup" + "Optimizing Library"?

 

[Barbareren]

The decrease of battery life really is obvious on iOS 26 (26.1) isn’t it. Fortunately it hasn’t affected my battery condition (in the Settings) yet, but it’s impossible not to notice the decrease; it’s significant. Also, just rebooting the device I lose much of the percentage. I have the same setup as before, minimising battery usage, and I know I could do more now, but I do actually enjoy the new user experience with the new animations and such (bells and whistles). It’s the current compromise. I suppose that Apple will optimise the software to be more gentle on battery life in the near future. Fortunately I have a model with decent battery life overall, and I’ve just ordered a new one (last year’s model - 16 Pro Max).

 

[Jakimo]

I've had an amazing battery experience on my iPhone Air - quite impressive (stable iOS release only)

I allow it to charge to 90% daily, and find that it lasts all day at work - and I use my phone constantly (no gaming tho). On my 20-minute commute, it's charging.. that's it. The first few days of having one, this wasn't quite the case.. I think fresh installs/phones can take days to settle

 

[RickyCMC]

I have a 15 Pro Max and my battery health just went to 92% with 303 cycles. I’m a heavy user but I do have the 80 percent charge limit in place. Is this bad to be at 92 at this point?

 

[Nikhil72]

3 days on 26.2 and my battery has been solid. Better than 26.1RC, 17PM

 

[goldmac2006]

I have a 15 Pro Max and my battery health just went to 92% with 303 cycles. I’m a heavy user but I do have the 80 percent charge limit in place. Is this bad to be at 92 at this point?

I felt the same way when I jumped from iOS 18.4 to 18.5 then to iOS 26 beta. I had charge limit like you.

From what I understand it the betas really usually do that. But if it continues to drop after it was at 92% for a week then that’s something to consider

 

[Travis299]

I have a 15 Pro Max and my battery health just went to 92% with 303 cycles. I’m a heavy user but I do have the 80 percent charge limit in place. Is this bad to be at 92 at this point?

Ditto with 15PM.