New Battery Health Features Remain Limited to iPhone 15 Models on First iOS 17.1 Beta

[MacRumors]

All four iPhone 15 models have two new battery health features in the Settings app, including the ability to view the battery's cycle count and an option to more strictly limit charging beyond 80%. On social media, some users hoped these features would expand to older iPhone models in a future software update, but we are able to confirm that they remain limited to the iPhone 15 lineup as of the first iOS 17.1 beta released today.

It's early in the iOS 17.1 beta testing cycle, so there is still a chance the features are added to older iPhone models in a later beta. However, it's also possible there are hardware-related reasons behind the battery health features being limited to the iPhone 15 lineup. We've reached out to Apple for comment on the matter.

On iPhone 15 models, the 80% charging limit option can be found in the Settings app under Battery → Battery Health & Charging → Charging Optimization. It is separate from the pre-existing Optimized Battery Charging feature on iPhones, which intelligently delays charging past 80% until a more appropriate time by learning the device's daily charging routine. When the 80% limit is enabled, the iPhone will never charge beyond that percentage, except on rare occasions to "maintain accurate battery state-of-charge estimates."

In a support document, Apple says reducing the time that an iPhone battery is fully charged can reduce the wear on the battery and improve its lifespan.

On iPhone 15 models, the battery's cycle count, manufacturing date, and first use date can be viewed in the Settings app under General → About. This information can provide additional insight into the health of the battery. The battery's maximum capacity remains listed under Battery → Battery Health & Charging.

iOS 17.1 is expected to be released in late October.

Article Link: New Battery Health Features Remain Limited to iPhone 15 Models on First iOS 17.1 Beta

 

[jayryco]

This should be standard on Macs.

 

[MacMastermind]

This should be standard on Macs.

And all iPhone’s 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[erikkfi]

That's the power of the A17, folks. Or the A16. But not if you have an iPhone 14 Pro. Only the A16 in the iPhone 15 is powerful enough for this feature.

 

[JCCL]

And all iPhone’s 🤷🏻‍♂️

And iPads…

 

[gleepskip]

This should be standard on Macs.

It should be standard on any Apple product with a non-LFP battery.

 

[Ameer_1]

Now when I have to sell my iPhone each year people are going to ask for a cycle count 😒

 

[RyanXM]

And yet, Coconut Battery can read this information just fine...

 

[RyanXM]

Now when I have to sell my iPhone each year people are going to ask for a cycle count 😒

Swappa has added a listing question with the percentage that is under Battery in Settings...

 

[Rudy69]

This kind of gatekeeping makes no sense at all

 

[Ameer_1]

Swappa has added a listing question with the percentage that is under Battery in Settings...

I usually sell my iPhone on eBay.

 

[abatabia]

This pettiness from apple grows tiresome. No reason for this.

 

[contacos]

Why is this now listed under about and not battery? Settings are a mess. Nuke it all

 

[lkrupp]

This pettiness from apple grows tiresome. No reason for this.

Tiresome enough for you to leave the platform?

 

[munpip214]

Now when I have to sell my iPhone each year people are going to ask for a cycle count 😒

They can already ask you for a battery capacity percentage.

 

[missingar]

This should be standard on Macs.

Not quite the same, but I noticed my M1 Mac usually pauses charging at 80% because I don't use it very often and when I do, it's plugged in.

 

[mxrider88]

This, combined with batteries that have high degradation, is in my opinion just a strategy to make it harder to sell one or two year old models on the second hand market.
People are being totally brainwashed and I struggled a lot selling my 14 pro because of the 88% battery health.

I really start hating apple. Greenwashing on one end and every way to sell you battery, phones and chargers on the other.

 

[abatabia]

Tiresome enough for you to leave the platform?

Funny you should mention that.

 

[Ameer_1]

They can already ask you for a battery capacity percentage.

I know that but my 14 Pro was on 153 cycle count with 100% battery health.

 

[Menneisyys2]

Not quite the same, but I noticed my M1 Mac usually pauses charging at 80% because I don't use it very often and when I do, it's plugged in.

So do I. But particularly when I leave her alone for longer periods (say, 18 hours), she pretty often recharges herself to 100% again. The algorithm is really crappy; a hard 80% limiter would indeed be a god-send.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Why is this now listed under about and not battery? Settings are a mess. Nuke it all

I know when I want the information on my battery, the first thing I think is, "I bet it's on the page that tells me what version of iOS I'm running!"

 

[Fred Zed]

Just this feature is worth the upgrade alone.

 

[MistaBungle]

The courage to include this and limit it on brand new models is unparalleled.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

This should be standard on Macs.

I assume you mean the 80% limit option?

Battery cycle count for a Mac can be found under System Settings > General > About > System Report > Power.

 

[antiprotest]

That's the power of the A17, folks. Or the A16. But not if you have an iPhone 14 Pro. Only the A16 in the iPhone 15 is powerful enough for this feature.

And as many MR users have admonished me, Apple cares about user experience and Apple engineers know much better than I do, so if a feature is not on my device, no matter how absurd it seems, it's because it would have ruined my experience and I am better off without it. 🙏