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Resolved New iPhone 14 Pro Max won't charge beyond 96%

A

Aggedor

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 10, 2020
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I've just got my first iPhone, a 14 Pro Max (128GB version). It's great but when I charge it on my Belkin wireless charging station, it never gets above 96%, and the Belkin's charging light stays orange.

Is this normal? Maximum capacity is 100%, and optimised battery charging is turned on.
 
What time is the optimised battery charging scheduled to finish? Have you tried switching it off?

Also sounds obvious but have you tried a restart?
 
robvalentine said:
What time is the optimised battery charging scheduled to finish? Have you tried switching it off?

Also sounds obvious but have you tried a restart?
Click to expand...
I've restarted, I'll see if it changes anything tonight.

How do I check when optimised battery charging is schedule to finish? In the battery setting, there is a just a toggle control with no other info.

Interesting the bar chart of charging says "Last Charged to 96%", suggesting this is deliberate (as in, it stopped at 96%, rather than failing to charge to 100%)? Is this just part of the optimised charging?

IMG_0011.jpeg
 
spikeymike said:
What happens when you charge using a lightning cable? Does it charge to 100%?
Click to expand...
I've just tried it - after another night on the wireless Belkin charger, where it stopped at 96%, and it charges to 100% via lightning cable.

I'm happy if this is just how it is - I presume Apple's optimised charging knows what it is doing - but it's a bit weird.
 
JerseyDoug said:
Same. OP, if it charges to 100% via lightning then I'd think it is working properly.
Click to expand...
Right. Wireless charging is a different beast, and the phone is looking after itself (and the battery) with optimised charging. Fair enough!
 
Could the inherent hotter conditions of inductive charging be turning the charging at this point off? Effectively protecting the battery.

Note: I've admittedly no Mag Safe devices but did read about this preventative software measure in context of Apple's own Mag Safe battery pack.
 
Aggedor said:
How do I check when optimised battery charging is schedule to finish? In the battery setting, there is a just a toggle control with no other info.
Click to expand...
How long have you had the phone? The AI with optimised charging does require time to learn your charging behavior to cap at 80%, then complete to 100% shortly before using the device for the day. Albeit on another phone, mine took roughly 5 weeks to detect my clear patterns of use. Also, certain location services must be on for this to function.

Edit: This includes the criteria for optimised charging to function.
 
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Alpha Centauri said:
Edit: This includes the criteria for optimised charging to function.
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting this. I've had several phones since optimized charging came about but never took the time to figure it out. My 14PM is still 100% but my wife's 13Pro's battery is starting to go down due to usage and charging nearly everyday. I appreciate it!
 
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Alpha Centauri said:
How long have you had the phone? The AI with optimised charging does require time to learn your charging behavior to cap at 80%, then complete to 100% shortly before using the device for the day. Albeit on another phone, mine took roughly 5 weeks to detect my clear patterns of use. Also, certain location services must be on for this to function.

Edit: This includes the criteria for optimised charging to function.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's very useful info!

I've had the phone since Friday - so a grand total of five days! I've been putting it on to charge only once a day, when I go to bed (on my Belkin wireless charging station), except for yesterday when I tested charging via lightning during the day.

So I guess it's still learning and optimising.

My issue at the moment is actually that the Belkin charger makes a noise when it is charging - a very faint whistling, which I can hear very clearly as the charger is right by my bed. I'm contemplating whether to return it and try another charger, or just use cables.
 
Piscestg said:
My 14PM is still 100% but my wife's 13Pro's battery is starting to go down due to usage and charging nearly everyday.
Click to expand...
The optimized charging will kick in irrespective of battery health, also at 100%. I bought a 13 Mini, a ph not synonymous for battery longevity, so try not charging it more than absolutely required. In its current state of "newness" and my use, that's every 1 1/2 days. This also meant that charging at work now and then, but equally some shift work, had needed a longer learning process for the algorithm to figure my habits out. That's I guess where the three location services must be ticked for the AI to "know" I'm at home, charging can take its time overnight to 80% and run to 100% in the last hour prior to the set alarm. It's pretty cool actually.
 
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Aggedor said:
My issue at the moment is actually that the Belkin charger makes a noise when it is charging - a very faint whistling, which I can hear very clearly as the charger is right by my bed. I'm contemplating whether to return it and try another charger, or just use cables.
Click to expand...
Yes, it will take some weeks for the AI to configure optimized charging.

Which Belkin charging station is it? Are you using it with other devices also? I've no experience with w/less chargers at all but certainly would take issue with it making noises overnight, it would worry me too much. Perhaps it is faulty, maybe return and ask for a replacement if you want to stick to inductive charging?

Edit: Hopefully someone using that Belkin can confirm this, but I'm just wondering if it actually tops out at 96% by design? Again, I admit not having experience with w/less charging. I am however looking at buying Apple's Mag Safe battery pack for travels. I know it's a different device entirely but it will only charge the phone up to 90%. Even less when it detects things heating up too much. Just thinking out loud.
 
Last edited:
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Alpha Centauri said:
The optimized charging will kick in irrespective of battery health, also at 100%. I bought a 13 Mini, a ph not synonymous for battery longevity, so try not charging it more than absolutely required. In its current state of "newness" and my use, that's every 1 1/2 days. This also meant that charging at work now and then, but equally some shift work, had needed a longer learning process for the algorithm to figure my habits out. That's I guess where the three location services must be ticked for the AI to "know" I'm at home, charging can take its time overnight to 80% and run to 100% in the last hour prior to the set alarm. It's pretty cool actually.
Click to expand...
OK I will work on that. Thanks for the info. She uses her phone so much this will help.
 
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Alpha Centauri said:
Yes, it will take some weeks for the AI to configure optimized charging.

Which Belkin charging station is it? Are you using it with other devices also? I've no experience with w/less chargers at all but certainly would take issue with it making noises overnight, it would worry me too much. Perhaps it is faulty, maybe return and ask for a replacement if you want to stick to inductive charging?

Edit: Hopefully someone using that Belkin can confirm this, but I'm just wondering if it actually tops out at 96% by design? Again, I admit not having experience with w/less charging. I am however looking at buying Apple's Mag Safe battery pack for travels. I know it's a different device entirely but it will only charge the phone up to 95%. Even less when it detects things heating up too much. Just thinking out loud.
Click to expand...
I was using the Belkin BoostCharge 3-in-1, which is not MagSafe, you just lean the iPhone against the pad.
Screenshot 2023-02-09 at 07.27.52.png


It only charged to 96%, and it had coil whine. The watch and AirPods charged to 100%. The last night I used it, the phone's battery report said that charging had been paused due to temperature.

I've just changed to the Belkin MagSafe charger, and this one charges the phone to 100% and doesn't have coil whine. Finally!

Screenshot 2023-02-09 at 07.29.37.png


So I guess the cheaper Belkin a) used maybe a cheaper coil, and b) not being MagSafe, there wasn't perfect charging alignment, leading to coil whine and inefficient wireless charging?

Whatever the case, I'm happy now!
 
Aggedor said:
So I guess the cheaper Belkin a) used maybe a cheaper coil, and b) not being MagSafe, there wasn't perfect charging alignment, leading to coil whine and inefficient wireless charging?
Click to expand...
Yup, alignment issue/ coil, sounds absolutely plausible. This leading to higher temp and limiting charging %. Awesome you got that sorted.
May want to mark the thread as "resolved" for other's to directly navigate if they're having the same issue.
 
Alpha Centauri said:
Yup, alignment issue/ coil, sounds absolutely plausible. This leading to higher temp and limiting charging %. Awesome you got that sorted.
May want to mark the thread as "resolved" for other's to directly navigate if they're having the same issue.
Click to expand...
Ah thanks, I will!
 
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