iOS 26 Brings AI Battery-Saving Feature, But Only for Select iPhones

Highlights

• iOS 26 update adds an AI-powered battery feature called Adaptive Power Mode.
• It uses Apple Intelligence to make subtle performance tweaks to extend battery life without major slowdowns.
• The feature is only available on iPhones with Apple Intelligence and is not supported on iPhone 14 Pro or regular iPhone 15.

Caption – The AI-powered battery-saving feature from iOS 26 is not available on all iPhones. (Image credit – Apple)

Apple’s new iOS 26 update might not look like a big leap at first glance with its fresh Liquid Glass design taking centre stage. But it quietly adds some smart new features under the hood. One of the most useful additions is a new AI-powered battery-saving tool called Adaptive Power. Although the catch is that it is only available on select iPhones. Here’s what we know.

iOS 26 – Adaptive Power

Caption – The Adaptive Power Mode is reportedly not available on the iPhone 14 Pro and below models. (Image credit – MacRumors)

Adaptive Power is a new setting under Power Mode that uses Apple’s on-device AI known as Apple Intelligence to make small adjustments that help your iPhone last longer throughout the day.

As Apple explains, “When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20 per cent.”

So, it doesn’t drastically slow down your phone, just makes minor tweaks when needed to stretch your battery a bit further.

Which iPhones Support Adaptive Power?

Not every iPhone getting iOS 26 will support this feature. According to MacRumors, Adaptive Power only works on devices that have Apple Intelligence, which includes –

• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 16e

Apart from these, the regular iPhone 15 also doesn’t support it even though it runs the same version of iOS. It is because the model lacks the AI capabilities required.

Why This Matters for iPhone 17 Air?

Many tech enthusiasts have pointed out that the feature could be especially useful for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. This is because 17 Air is rumoured to be just 5.5mm thick, even slimmer than the Galaxy S25 Edge. With such a thin body, Apple is expected to include a relatively small 2,800mAh battery. That’s where Adaptive Power could help and make sure the phone delivers decent battery life despite its size.

We’ll find out more in September, when Apple is expected to launch the full iPhone 17 lineup. It will include the standard, Pro, Pro Max and Air models. The stable iOS 26 release will roll out around the same time, following its current developer beta phase.

FAQs

Q1. What is Adaptive Power in iOS 26 and how does it work?

Answer. Adaptive Power is a new setting under Power Mode that uses Apple’s on-device AI, known as Apple Intelligence, to make small adjustments like slightly lowering display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer to extend your iPhone’s battery life.

Q2. Which iPhones support the Adaptive Power feature in iOS 26?

Answer. Adaptive Power only works on devices that have Apple Intelligence, which includes: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 16e.

Q3. Why is Adaptive Power important for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air?

Answer. The iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to be just 5.5mm thick with a relatively small 2,800mAh battery, so Adaptive Power could help ensure decent battery life despite its slim design.

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