iPhone 15 Pro Yearly upgraders do you care about battery health?

[MisterSavage]

Upgrade my iPhone each year and absolutely do not care.

Oddly enough I am the same way about my 2018 iPad Pro and I still am using it daily with the battery working pretty well.

 

[EdMan]

I rarely even look at battery health. Like others said, just replace it if it matters that much. Or get a new phone.

 

[urkel]

Based on comments I see, annual upgrades care more about battery health than anyone on the planet. It’s one of the key excuses made for upgrading a perfectly good phone for a slightly better version of the same thing.

(Sidenote: Apple refused to replace my 13Pro 80% battery under AppleCare+ which became my primary reason for trading in a perfectly good phone for the 15Pro. This time around with AC+ I plan on doing nothing to maintain battery health. Full charging, magsafe everywhere and bring on the heat. I’ve never gotten a battery replaced yet so I’m determined to push this battery guzzler to its limits 😄)

 

[klover]

Yearly upgrader (usually) and I do care about battery health because I sell my old phones and buyers now have this skewed understanding of "health" when you tell them it's at 90% and they think that's a huge issue.

 

[andyw715]

Yearly upgrader (usually) and I do care about battery health because I sell my old phones and buyers now have this skewed understanding of "health" when you tell them it's at 90% and they think that's a huge issue.

Well 10% decline in health in one year does sound excessive.

 

[FeliApple]

Well 10% decline in health in one year does sound excessive.

If you buy the latest (or almost latest) iPhone, battery health is completely irrelevant. It only becomes relevant once you update far enough and once it’s severely degraded, but that’s on the buyer who updates, not the seller.

If you complain about battery health yet you plan to update through six major versions, you don’t have much of a complaint, in my opinion.

 

[Ameer_1]

I get an iPhone each year, I usually sell my iPhone in July or August just in time for the new release in September. I try to sell it the highest possible. Not many people will pay $950 for the pro 128gb with 90% battery health.

 

[Corefile]

I've only upgraded the battery on my 6S once. If you force the iPhone to be in low power mode permanently then that reduces the need to recharge the battery so often.

 

[krspkbl]

if i upgraded every year then no. my 12 pro max that i got on launch day didn't go to 99% until early 2022 and by the time i sold it the health was at 87%. i noticed shorter battery life but it was still really good.

if i sold my 15 pro max for a 16 series next year then i'd not care about battery health at all. the only situation where i would care is if it was really bad at like 80-85% after 1 year and i was selling to some place like C.E.X or other place that buys used electronics. i know some of them are funny about buying devices with battery health at the 80% mark. i trade in with apple so it doesn't really matter.

 

[krspkbl]

I've only upgraded the battery on my 6S once. If you force the iPhone to be in low power mode permanently then that reduces the need to recharge the battery so often.

and by doing that you're disabling features and lowering performance. what's the point buying an iphone if you are just going to leave it in low power mode 24/7? i get it if you've had the phone 4+ years and the battery was really bad and you couldn't or didn't want to replace the battery.

 

[I7guy]

If you buy the latest (or almost latest) iPhone, battery health is completely irrelevant. It only becomes relevant once you update far enough and once it’s severely degraded, but that’s on the buyer who updates, not the seller.

If you complain about battery health yet you plan to update through six major versions, you don’t have much of a complaint, in my opinion.

 

[FeliApple]

I watched the video, what’s your point?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

So I've decided to turn off battery management to allow quicker chartering to 100% especially because I'm out and about. Every year I trade in my iPhone and get the new one. I have Apple Care too and every year my iPhone gets dropped at least once and replaced. So caring about the battery health isn't so important to me, probs the least most important thing.

As a yearly upgrader, do you care and why?

I don’t upgrade yearly (typically every 2 years) but I do have AppleCare+. I don’t concern myself with battery health at all - that’s Apple’s job.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don't really worry about battery life. I use the phone as normal until I get a new phone.

 

[I7guy]

I watched the video, what’s your point?

Sorry this needs to be spelled out but this is the second video I posted regarding refuting your claim of iOS updates “obliterating” battery life and performance.

So far, no evidence exists that it does (except via some anecdotal stories). I posted two anecdotal data points that at least can be discussed in common ground. iPhone 13 should have had its performance obliterated , right?

It’s not hard to imagine going back a few more years my xs max was NOT “obliterated” on iOS 17 as I rightly claimed.

 

[FeliApple]

Sorry this needs to be spelled out but this is the second video I posted regarding refuting your claim of iOS updates “obliterating” battery life and performance.

So far, no evidence exists that it does (except via some anecdotal stories). I posted two anecdotal data points that at least can be discussed in common ground. iPhone 13 should have had its performance obliterated , right?

It’s not hard to imagine going back a few more years my xs max was NOT “obliterated” on iOS 17 as I rightly claimed.

What? It’s an iPhone 13 Pro Max, with the best ever original iOS battery life (28 hours of light use as claimed by Apple), only two major updates in. If you are going to pick an example, pick a better one.

A two-major-version updated iPhone doesn’t compare to one that’s been through five with far worse original battery life to begin with.

The comparison is pointless; the extrapolation, utterly misleading. Pick a better example.

 

[I7guy]

What? It’s an iPhone 13 Pro Max, with the best ever original iOS battery life (28 hours of light use as claimed by Apple), only two major updates in. If you are going to pick an example, pick a better one.

I’m just refuting your general claim that iOS updates “obliterate “ battery life. If you would like to be more specific as to which models and which iOS versions….

A two-major-version updated iPhone doesn’t compare to one that’s been through five with far worse original battery life to begin with.

It’s not hard to imagine my old xs max didn’t have much if any of so-called “obliteration” as I claimed.

The comparison is pointless; the extrapolation, utterly misleading. Pick a better example.

It’s not pointless or misleading it’s two document anecdotal data points. I am pointing out your generalized hyperbolic statements regarding “obliteration” are pointless and meaningless with respect to the a12 and beyond. I fully agree for most 32 bit processors.

 

[FeliApple]

I’m just refuting your general claim that iOS updates “obliterate “ battery life. If you would like to be more specific as to which models and which iOS versions….

It’s not hard to imagine my old xs max didn’t have much if any of so-called “obliteration” as I claimed.

It’s not pointless or misleading it’s two document anecdotal data points. I am pointing out your generalized hyperbolic statements regarding “obliteration” are pointless and meaningless with respect to the a12 and beyond. I fully agree for most 32 bit processors.

Why do I have to keep repeating myself? I have always been extremely clear. iOS updates are way better in terms of performance, but they bring about keyboard lag and small artifacts, and they significantly worsen battery life if:

They are updated far enough, and only when compared to the original iOS version.

I cannot give you a specific timeframe, because it varies by device. The iPhone 8 on iOS 14 is flawless, the iPhone 11 is probably too on iOS 15. The M1 iPad Pro probably doesn’t have too many issues as of iPadOS 17, and the iPhone 5s is great on iOS 9.

On the other hand, the iPhone 6s was obliterated by iOS 13, the iPhone 12 Mini has suffered a lot in terms of battery life by iOS 17, etc. It varies. It’s not always the same.

The better the initial conditions, the longer it takes for the device to suffer. You probably won’t need long to see the iPhone SE 3’s battery life plummet, whereas the best iPhone ever on its original iOS version (the 13 Pro Max), won’t suffer too easily.

They’re all degraded, but the impact is reduced because one can last 28 hours on its original iOS version, and the other one probably struggles to get more than 8 even with efficient usage. I mean, really, take 7 hours out of the 13 Pro Max and nobody cares. Take two out of the 3rd-gen SE and all users will be complaining. It’s very simple.

I have never said “every major iOS version destroys devices”. I will never say that, because that’s not true. You keep outright saying that I am, in fact, saying this.

 

[nburwell]

I typically upgrade every year or every other year. I really couldn’t care less about battery health. Now if I held on to my iPhone for 4/5 years, then I would be more cognizant of battery health and probably try to practice way to get the most of the battery (fully knowing there is a chance I’d have to replace the battery at some point).

 

[FeliApple]

I typically upgrade every year or every other year. I really couldn’t care less about battery health. Now if I held on to my iPhone for 4/5 years, then I would be more cognizant of battery health and probably try to practice way to get the most of the battery (fully knowing there is a chance I’d have to replace the battery at some point).

I reckon that if you were to update iOS AND keep a device for years, you’re better off just assuming that a battery replacement (or replacements) is/are necessary to maintain even a mediocre usability and it’s the price to pay to keep an updated iPhone for many years.

I keep devices for a long time but I don’t update, so this doesn’t apply to me. If I were to, though, I’d just see it like a necessary evil, sadly.

 

[I7guy]

Why do I have to keep repeating myself? I have always been extremely clear. iOS updates are way better in terms of performance, but they bring about keyboard lag and small artifacts, and they significantly worsen battery life if:

I’m not sure you and I agree…that’s why…

They are updated far enough, and only when compared to the original iOS version.

I cannot give you a specific timeframe, because it varies by device. The iPhone 8 on iOS 14 is flawless, the iPhone 11 is probably too on iOS 15. The M1 iPad Pro probably doesn’t have too many issues as of iPadOS 17, and the iPhone 5s is great on iOS 9.

I’ll use your superlative: the m1 iPad Pro is flawless on iOS 17. My xs max is very good on iOS 17 — in fact similar to OOB.

On the other hand, the iPhone 6s was obliterated by iOS 13, the iPhone 12 Mini has suffered a lot in terms of battery life by iOS 17, etc. It varies. It’s not always the same.

The better the initial conditions, the longer it takes for the device to suffer. You probably won’t need long to see the iPhone SE 3’s battery life plummet, whereas the best iPhone ever on its original iOS version (the 13 Pro Max), won’t suffer too easily.

I don’t think the iPhone 13 will “suffer” until well into it’s sixth year and even then who knows. My guess it will be like my Xs max; “good till the last drop”.

They’re all degraded, but the impact is reduced because one can last 28 hours on its original iOS version, and the other one probably struggles to get more than 8 even with efficient usage.

The iPhone 13 is not degraded and if that is your take, we disagree on this point. I agree 32 bit devices and older devices - older than the a12 won’t hold up as handily.

I mean, really, take 7 hours out of the 13 Pro Max and nobody cares.

That will happen, if ever at the time the 13PM becomes obsolete.

Take two out of the 3rd-gen SE and all users will be complaining. It’s very simple.

I have never said “every major iOS version destroys devices”. I will never say that, because that’s not true. You keep outright saying that I am, in fact, saying this.

It’s not a generality and most modern iPhones will not exhibit the type of behavior you describe until they are obsolete - and even if then.

 

[FeliApple]

I’m not sure you and I agree…that’s why…

I’ll use your superlative: the m1 iPad Pro is flawless on iOS 17. My xs max is very good on iOS 17 — in fact similar to OOB.

I don’t think the iPhone 13 will “suffer” until well into it’s sixth year and even then who knows. My guess it will be like my Xs max; “good till the last drop”.

The iPhone 13 is not degraded and if that is your take, we disagree on this point. I agree 32 bit devices and older devices - older than the a12 won’t hold up as handily.

That will happen, if ever at the time the 13PM becomes obsolete.

It’s not a generality and most modern iPhones will not exhibit the type of behavior you describe until they are obsolete - and even if then.

Alright, we’ve discussed this, and it’s not relevant to the topic.

My comment was initially about battery health: if I were to upgrade yearly, it would be irrelevant, and if you don’t update iOS, it’s irrelevant, too, hence “it only becomes relevant once updated far enough” and as a yearly upgrader, a user won’t encounter any issues. Which is what I said originally.

The rest pertains to a discussion we’ve had; one in which you’re wrong, and one which I will not have again.

 

[I7guy]

Alright, we’ve discussed this, and it’s not relevant to the topic.

My comment was initially about battery health: if I were to upgrade yearly, it would be irrelevant, and if you don’t update iOS, it’s irrelevant, too, hence “it only becomes relevant once updated far enough” and as a yearly upgrader, a user won’t encounter any issues. Which is what I said originally.

The rest pertains to a discussion we’ve had; one in which you’re wrong, and one which I will not have again.

Batteries will degrade with age. We all know that. The throttling occurs because the battery can’t supply the peak current to meet demands of the hardware. So if you upgrade iOS versions most likely it’s the battery that will have to be replaced because the performance and lag and etc on a modern iPhone will be just fine - the battery has to supply juice as older hardware is less efficient for the same task.

As for the rest, you are flat out wrong with no proof backing up your assertions. Discuss it, don’t discuss it- that up to you. I’ve presented two anecdotal viewpoints already that have some solid basis of discussion.

 

[FeliApple]

Batteries will degrade with age. We all know that. The throttling occurs because the battery can’t supply the peak current to meet demands of the hardware.

Agreed.

So if you upgrade iOS versions most likely it’s the battery that will have to be replaced because the performance and lag and etc on a modern iPhone will be just fine - the battery has to supply juice as older hardware is less efficient for the same task.

The first part is debatable at least, the second one is… poorly worded I’d say, but true in spirit: not only is older hardware is less efficient for the same task, but more importantly, the OS demands more from the hardware, and it can’t cope. If the task is simple enough and the iOS versions are comparable (original), then runtime should be comparable, too (when comparing it against each device’s expectations, not in absolute terms, obviously).

As for the rest, you are flat out wrong with no proof backing up your assertions. Discuss it, don’t discuss it- that up to you. I’ve presented two anecdotal viewpoints already that have some solid basis of discussion.

We can discuss it elsewhere if you like, this isn’t the thread.

 

[I7guy]

[...]

The first part is debatable at least, the second one is… poorly worded I’d say, but true in spirit: not only is older hardware is less efficient for the same task, but more importantly, the OS demands more from the hardware, and it can’t cope. If the task is simple enough and the iOS versions are comparable (original), then runtime should be comparable, too (when comparing it against each device’s expectations, not in absolute terms, obviously).


[...]

There are some scenarios I can think of that will put strain on an older battery:
- gaming
- recoding a movie
- Foreground and background tasks, such as listening to music or youtube while surfing.
- doing any of the above in hostile climates: such as Phoenix Az.

As long as usage is efficient, reading some material from your device without using any signal, low brightness...yeah the battery should support you.