iPhone 15 Pro Update: iPhone 15 Pro disappointing battery life (coming from a 13 mini)

[bbates123]

Earlier I had posted about what disappointing battery life I was seeing coming from a 13 mini where it literally seemed like it had about the same battery life as the 13 mini. I have the always on display on and I don't want to turn it off because that's the main reason I wanted the phone in the first place.

My "Home and Lock Screen" battery usage was always one of the biggest consumers of battery and I assumed it was due to the AOD and Lock Screen notifications. But I got to thinking about my Home Screen and if there was something going on there. I had 2 widgets, one for Fantastical and one for Tempest (weather). I decided to remove both widgets yesterday morning and I also logged out of Fantastical. The results were amazing. I saw a good 20% improvement in battery life. I added the Tempest widget back in and so far battery life seems to be about as good as yesterday.

I just posted this to encourage people to also look at Home Screen widgets when trying to troubleshoot battery issues.

 

[Macloven]

thanks for the tip. I just deleted all of mine to get a basepoint and will add back 1 at a time to see what was draining my 15pro battery so fast.

 

[FeliApple]

Wait OP, you had shared a screenshot that showed about 1.5 hours of screen-on time on 50%. Frankly, 20% more than that just sounds equally abhorrent. How much better is it? Can you share a screenshot?

 

[bbates123]

Here's today. Currently 55% remaining after 12 hours off charger. Today was a heavier usage day for me with more time spent on cellular than normal.

 

[FeliApple]

Here's today. Currently 55% remaining after 12 hours off charger. Today was a heavier usage day for me with more time spent on cellular than normal.

That still looks like 1.5 hours on 56%. If usage was heavier then it’s marginally better, but I still expect better, way better... like 6 hours more than that.

 

[kristof461]

Here's today. Currently 55% remaining after 12 hours off charger. Today was a heavier usage day for me with more time spent on cellular than normal.

I mean…how is it 12h off charger if it is clearly visible that more than 3h you did during charging at night the day before?
Anyway that’s the worst thing. You did nothing during the day but battery was draining. Not like crazy but significantly. That’s the worst. Especially that sometimes it doesn’t if you use your phone or not. It will lose same amount of battery. Crazy.

 

[bbates123]

I mean…how is it 12h off charger if it is clearly visible that more than 3h you did during charging at night the day before?
Anyway that’s the worst thing. You did nothing during the day but battery was draining. Not like crazy but significantly. That’s the worst. Especially that sometimes it doesn’t if you use your phone or not. It will lose same amount of battery. Crazy.

I'm not sure of the question/comment with the 3h. I did nothing at night but I have the phone on Standby so it will show screen on that whole time when I'm not using it. And yeah, the AOD does a slow drag during the day and I do get a lot of notifications (Outlook, Teams, Eufy, etc.). The main point is that it's now noticeably better than my 13 mini which it didn't seem to before. It's after 8pm and I'm at 50% on a heavier than normal usage day for me. Before I was at 50% at 6:30pm on lighter usage.

 

[FeliApple]

I'm not sure of the question/comment with the 3h. I did nothing at night but I have the phone on Standby so it will show screen on that whole time when I'm not using it. And yeah, the AOD does a slow drag during the day and I do get a lot of notifications (Outlook, Teams, Eufy, etc.). The main point is that it's now noticeably better than my 13 mini which it didn't seem to before. It's after 8pm and I'm at 50% on a heavier than normal usage day for me. Before I was at 50% at 6:30pm on lighter usage.

Are you a very heavy user in terms of apps and settings? Is it at max brightness at least? Otherwise it makes even less sense. 1.5 hours on 50 is worse than my 9-year-old updated 5c.

 

[Al Rukh]

Here's today. Currently 55% remaining after 12 hours off charger. Today was a heavier usage day for me with more time spent on cellular than normal.

The linear drain between 9am to 1-2pm is not ideal in my opinion. Do you have poor cellular where you’re at?

Edit: It seems like your 5G cellular reception is poor. Turn off 5G for a day or two and check for improvements. Even if you’re on 4G/LTE, with one signal bar, the battery will still take a hit as it pings to the nearest cellular tower more frequently than it should. Try to remedy this and I think it might solve your battery life woes.

 

[kristof461]

I'm not sure of the question/comment with the 3h. I did nothing at night but I have the phone on Standby so it will show screen on that whole time when I'm not using it. And yeah, the AOD does a slow drag during the day and I do get a lot of notifications (Outlook, Teams, Eufy, etc.). The main point is that it's now noticeably better than my 13 mini which it didn't seem to before. It's after 8pm and I'm at 50% on a heavier than normal usage day for me. Before I was at 50% at 6:30pm on lighter usage.

I mean…really? Do I have to show you what you posted? Ok. So you said how good your battery is and how heavy user you are. You also attached below screenshot. Explain to us marked part. Isn’t that night? Isn’t that a using during charging?

 

[reppans]

‘GPS-working’ solid arrow is still there, do have AirTags nearby? I’d try turning location services off for a day.

 

[winxmac]

I only have widgets when you swipe from the left and nothing on the home screen... The only widgets I use are the Apple Weather app and News app...

I really hate having widgets with the icons and I don't understand why users put widgets on the home screen when I find it only suitable to be used on an iPad screen...

 

[ctjack]

I also suspect poor 5g - need to turn on wifi calling if at home or force 4g. 4g always yields better battery ; it is just defeats the purpose of 5g phone.

For reference, a launch 14pm with 88% battery health. 6.5hr sot, 5hr idle, 38%. Off the charger in the morning.

 

[bbates123]

I mean…really? Do I have to show you what you posted? Ok. So you said how good your battery is and how heavy user you are. You also attached below screenshot. Explain to us marked part. Isn’t that night? Isn’t that a using during charging?

I never said it was good, I think I said it was better. I still don't love this battery and I expected more, but it IS better since I removed Fantastical. I am NOT a heavy user, I'm a light user. I'll say it again, I don't use my phone at night. You are seeing Standby usage during the night...I have my phone in Standby mode where it displays the clock all night.

 

[bbates123]

View attachment 2306976I also suspect poor 5g - need to turn on wifi calling if at home or force 4g. 4g always yields better battery ; it is just defeats the purpose of 5g phone.

For reference, a launch 14pm with 88% battery health. 6.5hr sot, 5hr idle, 38%. Off the charger in the morning.

Does the poor 5G matter if I'm on Wifi though? Wifi calling is on.

 

[bbates123]

‘GPS-working’ solid arrow is still there, do have AirTags nearby? I’d try turning location services off for a day.

You're right! I didn't notice that earlier. When I first unlock my phone after it's been sitting for a while that GPS arrow does stay on for a few min then goes away. I double checked all my apps and they're either set to Never or When Using, and only for the apps where that would really matter. I do have AirTags nearby. For fun I might try turning it off for a day and see if that makes things even better but ultimately I'm going to want that on.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Does the poor 5G matter if I'm on Wifi though? Wifi calling is on.

Depends on the setting I guess. Set it to Auto rather than on. That way it should use WiFi as far as I understand it.

 

[kristof461]

Depends on the setting I guess. Set it to Auto rather than on. That way it should use WiFi as far as I understand it.

No. There is a clear description. 5G will be used if iPhone recognizes it as necessary. To me it’s all about downloading bigger files and turning to 4g if signal is lower. With 5g on even if signal is weak it will be 5g.

 

[kristof461]

View attachment 2306976I also suspect poor 5g - need to turn on wifi calling if at home or force 4g. 4g always yields better battery ; it is just defeats the purpose of 5g phone.

For reference, a launch 14pm with 88% battery health. 6.5hr sot, 5hr idle, 38%. Off the charger in the morning.

Is it your Pro battery performance or iPhone 14 because I am confused?

 

[ctjack]

Is it your Pro battery performance or iPhone 14 because I am confused?

The screen is from 14 pro max.