iPhone 15 Pro Max. Had it at 80% since the day I got it.
2 years later. 89% at 502 cycles
2 years later. 89% at 502 cycles
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
16 Pro Max first use Oct 2024 always 80% limit
262 cycles and max capacity 100%
I don’t run it down below 10% and seldom below 20% but often low 20s
262 cycles and max capacity 100%
I don’t run it down below 10% and seldom below 20% but often low 20s
Your experiment would have a better result had you relied solely on wired charging.
Reading the article and comments on this post, sounds like limiting yourself to 80% isn’t worth it. It always seemed pointless to me. A battery is gonna degrade over time regardless if you do this. Might as well use your iPhone to its full potential while the battery is at its peak
15 Pro Max, used since September 2023. 89% health after 516 cycles.
Started off using the 80% limit, but after about six months I read an article that said it wasn’t making any difference to battery health, and a lot of people in the comments said the same thing. So I turned off the limit and now charge to 100%.
I almost exclusively use MagSafe charging, including overnight, and only rarely use USB-C. My battery also rarely dips below 15% in a given day.
Started off using the 80% limit, but after about six months I read an article that said it wasn’t making any difference to battery health, and a lot of people in the comments said the same thing. So I turned off the limit and now charge to 100%.
I almost exclusively use MagSafe charging, including overnight, and only rarely use USB-C. My battery also rarely dips below 15% in a given day.
My iPhone 15Pro … first used December 2023 charged on magsafe stand overnight… every night… never used the 80% limit ever… 274 charge cycles and 93% health…
good first person review. thanks. very informative. very useful. very on-topic.
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line.
Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum capacity is at 94 percent with 299 charge cycles.
With last year's test, I spent a lot of time with my battery below 20 percent. I saw some comments suggesting that draining it so low could also affect battery capacity over time, so this year, I tried hard to keep my battery between 20 and 80 percent. I wasn't always successful, but my iPhone 16 Pro Max was in that middle charge area most of the time.
You can compare your own battery health with mine, but my guess is that my 94 percent battery capacity is about average, regardless of whether charging limits are on or off. In fact, my iPhone 15 Pro Max was also at 94 percent capacity at the 12 month mark when I did this same test last year.
I did a mix of charging via MagSafe and charging with USB-C, and my iPhone 16 Pro Max can get hot when charging over MagSafe, especially with MagSafe battery packs. Since I was trying to keep above a 20 percent charge, I did more wireless charging when I was out. I can't help but wonder if heat was an issue this year.
It continued to be inconvenient limiting my iPhone battery to an 80 percent charge. It was fine when home, but if I was out and wanted to use the camera or needed GPS, it often wasn't enough battery. When you set an 80 percent charge limit, the iPhone will charge to full every so often to calibrate, and I appreciated surprise days with 20 percent extra battery.
If I had to guess, I probably had a 50/50 split between MagSafe charging and fast charging with USB-C. Most charging was indoors at around 72 degrees, but there were times when I was outdoors with a battery pack in warmer conditions.
I use my older iPhones for software tests, so my iPhone 15 Pro Max is still around. At the two year mark, its capacity is 88 percent, down from 94 percent in September 2024. It has 352 cycles, and I've kept it at the 80 percent limit.
During this year's testing, my iPhone 16 Pro Max battery was still at around 98 percent just a couple of months ago, so I thought the limit was having more of an impact, but I saw a decent drop as we got closer to September. It was even at 95 percent about a week ago, but now I'm down to 94 percent.
I now have two years of data with my iPhone limited to an 80 percent charge, and I don't think it's been worth it. My coworker who also has a 16 Pro Max did not have an 80 percent charge limit set, and his battery capacity is 96 percent with 308 charge cycles.
Maybe setting an 80 percent limit improves battery health over a longer period of time, but over a one-year period, the results have been disappointing. Setting charging to a 90 or 95 percent might make more sense.
I have upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and did already limit it to an 80 percent charge for another 12-month test. I'm interested to see how the larger battery changes things, and whether the switch to aluminum will make a difference.
What's your iPhone battery capacity and cycle count? Let me know in the comments below, and weigh in on whether you think the 80 percent charge limit is a good idea.
Article Link: iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?
MacRumors, why can't you do more of this kind of analysis ?
I have a 15 Pro since it was released, so two years now. I've always had the limit set to 95%. Never used MagSafe and only rarely does it drop below 20% battery. I'm at 87% health with 446 cycles.
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line.
Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum capacity is at 94 percent with 299 charge cycles.
With last year's test, I spent a lot of time with my battery below 20 percent. I saw some comments suggesting that draining it so low could also affect battery capacity over time, so this year, I tried hard to keep my battery between 20 and 80 percent. I wasn't always successful, but my iPhone 16 Pro Max was in that middle charge area most of the time.
You can compare your own battery health with mine, but my guess is that my 94 percent battery capacity is about average, regardless of whether charging limits are on or off. In fact, my iPhone 15 Pro Max was also at 94 percent capacity at the 12 month mark when I did this same test last year.
I did a mix of charging via MagSafe and charging with USB-C, and my iPhone 16 Pro Max can get hot when charging over MagSafe, especially with MagSafe battery packs. Since I was trying to keep above a 20 percent charge, I did more wireless charging when I was out. I can't help but wonder if heat was an issue this year.
It continued to be inconvenient limiting my iPhone battery to an 80 percent charge. It was fine when home, but if I was out and wanted to use the camera or needed GPS, it often wasn't enough battery. When you set an 80 percent charge limit, the iPhone will charge to full every so often to calibrate, and I appreciated surprise days with 20 percent extra battery.
If I had to guess, I probably had a 50/50 split between MagSafe charging and fast charging with USB-C. Most charging was indoors at around 72 degrees, but there were times when I was outdoors with a battery pack in warmer conditions.
I use my older iPhones for software tests, so my iPhone 15 Pro Max is still around. At the two year mark, its capacity is 88 percent, down from 94 percent in September 2024. It has 352 cycles, and I've kept it at the 80 percent limit.
During this year's testing, my iPhone 16 Pro Max battery was still at around 98 percent just a couple of months ago, so I thought the limit was having more of an impact, but I saw a decent drop as we got closer to September. It was even at 95 percent about a week ago, but now I'm down to 94 percent.
I now have two years of data with my iPhone limited to an 80 percent charge, and I don't think it's been worth it. My coworker who also has a 16 Pro Max did not have an 80 percent charge limit set, and his battery capacity is 96 percent with 308 charge cycles.
Maybe setting an 80 percent limit improves battery health over a longer period of time, but over a one-year period, the results have been disappointing. Setting charging to a 90 or 95 percent might make more sense.
I have upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and did already limit it to an 80 percent charge for another 12-month test. I'm interested to see how the larger battery changes things, and whether the switch to aluminum will make a difference.
What's your iPhone battery capacity and cycle count? Let me know in the comments below, and weigh in on whether you think the 80 percent charge limit is a good idea.
Article Link: iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?
Not worth it. Use the battery and don't limit the amount you have to work with. If you have ApplyCare+ you can just get a battery replacement if it drops below a certain health percentage.
yes it worked perfectly for me. 300 cycles and still at 100% health.
iPhone 16 pro max 99% BH cycle count 274 mainly charging with cable sometimes with MagSafe powerbank. I don’t know what some people use to charge their phone that their BH drop so fast.
So, let’s say I keep my phone for 4 years. In order to protect the battery life of my phone, i have to limit the device battery endurance by 20% per day over this period. And this every day - probably running out of juice several times because I forgot a power bank when I was out and about. And all this to keep the max battery capacity after the 2nd or 3rd year above 80% - but one will use only 80% anyway. Hmmm, better use the battery to the max during the life time and then it’s probably time to upgrade anyway.
My 13 Max Pro is now just over 3 years old. And the max battery capacity dropped recently 80 %. So, right now, after 3 years, I am limited to 80% from now on only. And if had charged to 80% from day one, I would have limited EVERY DAY from day 1… not sure, if I see the sense in all this.
My 13 Max Pro is now just over 3 years old. And the max battery capacity dropped recently 80 %. So, right now, after 3 years, I am limited to 80% from now on only. And if had charged to 80% from day one, I would have limited EVERY DAY from day 1… not sure, if I see the sense in all this.
Last edited:
I thought it wasn’t worth it but then my 16 Pro Max stayed at 100% capacity for the entire year at 341 cycles… I use the cable to charge 99% of the time and rarely let it go under 20%. I often recharged from 40% or so…
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line.
Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum capacity is at 94 percent with 299 charge cycles.
With last year's test, I spent a lot of time with my battery below 20 percent. I saw some comments suggesting that draining it so low could also affect battery capacity over time, so this year, I tried hard to keep my battery between 20 and 80 percent. I wasn't always successful, but my iPhone 16 Pro Max was in that middle charge area most of the time.
You can compare your own battery health with mine, but my guess is that my 94 percent battery capacity is about average, regardless of whether charging limits are on or off. In fact, my iPhone 15 Pro Max was also at 94 percent capacity at the 12 month mark when I did this same test last year.
I did a mix of charging via MagSafe and charging with USB-C, and my iPhone 16 Pro Max can get hot when charging over MagSafe, especially with MagSafe battery packs. Since I was trying to keep above a 20 percent charge, I did more wireless charging when I was out. I can't help but wonder if heat was an issue this year.
It continued to be inconvenient limiting my iPhone battery to an 80 percent charge. It was fine when home, but if I was out and wanted to use the camera or needed GPS, it often wasn't enough battery. When you set an 80 percent charge limit, the iPhone will charge to full every so often to calibrate, and I appreciated surprise days with 20 percent extra battery.
If I had to guess, I probably had a 50/50 split between MagSafe charging and fast charging with USB-C. Most charging was indoors at around 72 degrees, but there were times when I was outdoors with a battery pack in warmer conditions.
I use my older iPhones for software tests, so my iPhone 15 Pro Max is still around. At the two year mark, its capacity is 88 percent, down from 94 percent in September 2024. It has 352 cycles, and I've kept it at the 80 percent limit.
During this year's testing, my iPhone 16 Pro Max battery was still at around 98 percent just a couple of months ago, so I thought the limit was having more of an impact, but I saw a decent drop as we got closer to September. It was even at 95 percent about a week ago, but now I'm down to 94 percent.
I now have two years of data with my iPhone limited to an 80 percent charge, and I don't think it's been worth it. My coworker who also has a 16 Pro Max did not have an 80 percent charge limit set, and his battery capacity is 96 percent with 308 charge cycles.
Maybe setting an 80 percent limit improves battery health over a longer period of time, but over a one-year period, the results have been disappointing. Setting charging to a 90 or 95 percent might make more sense.
I have upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and did already limit it to an 80 percent charge for another 12-month test. I'm interested to see how the larger battery changes things, and whether the switch to aluminum will make a difference.
What's your iPhone battery capacity and cycle count? Let me know in the comments below, and weigh in on whether you think the 80 percent charge limit is a good idea.
Article Link: iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?
My 2 year old iPhone 15 was at 84% when I traded it in for the 17 pro. I used the optimize charging setting, I also was bad about letting the charge go until the phone turned off. This time around I'll try and keep it above 20%, may help that my new car has CarPlay that isn't wireless. Old car didn't have carplay at all.
a smartphone is a tool and the battery is a consumable, when the tool doesn't do its job anymore, either replace the battery or the tool.
No need fretting over battery life, health ... but I know it's a hot topic for many here. Me, don't care ...
No need fretting over battery life, health ... but I know it's a hot topic for many here. Me, don't care ...
I beat the absolute stuffing out of my iPhone 16 Pro Max battery and my capacity was around 93% when I traded it in for the 17 Pro Max last week.
Interesting. my 13Pro is at 87% and it is almost always between 30% and 89%. it must have about 1700 cycles it is almost 5 years old
For my 15PM, I didn't baby it at all and left it plugged in and charging overnight, and plugged in when I was at home most of the time. No charging limit or anything. I just upgraded to a 17PM, and my battery was at 87%. I really don't think the limit does anything unless it's over the long term.
16 Pro Max. Bought December 2024.
80% limit on charging most days.
Charge via USB-C (car, computer, fast charger).
I don't charge it every night, only when it needs it.
161 battery cycles.
100% battery capacity.
The one time I had to recharge in public was the day I spent 10 hours listening to streaming radio on a Bluetooth headset while I spent the day traveling between Pike Place Market and T-Mobile Field, with heavy video and social media use.
80% limit on charging most days.
Charge via USB-C (car, computer, fast charger).
I don't charge it every night, only when it needs it.
161 battery cycles.
100% battery capacity.
The one time I had to recharge in public was the day I spent 10 hours listening to streaming radio on a Bluetooth headset while I spent the day traveling between Pike Place Market and T-Mobile Field, with heavy video and social media use.
Yes, looking at people’s data it seems Apple has generally improved how it charges the battery on the 16. Doesn’t seem to be a huge difference, or any difference, between those limiting to 80% vs those with no limit or higher limit.
