Highlights
- iPhone 15 uncovers a feature allowing users to set maximum battery charge limits.
- Derived from iOS 17 RC code, aiming at prolonging battery lifespan and health.
- Different from the “Optimized Battery Charging”, providing more direct battery control.
- Compatibility is likely restricted to USB-C iPhones.
Apple’s unveiling of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro has created waves not just because of its tech specifications or the shift from Lightning to USB-C, but also a potentially understated feature that could prolong the phone’s battery lifespan – the option to limit the maximum battery charge.
Unearthing the Hidden Feature
The capability to limit the battery’s maximum charge first came into light when 9to5Mac delved deep into the iOS 17 RC’s code.
While Apple hasn’t officially communicated about this, the discovered code indicates a significant leap in battery health management.
Once activated, the option, expected to be nestled in the Battery settings, will allow users to set a threshold to which the battery can be charged.
This means if a user sets the limit at 90%, the iPhone will halt charging once it reaches this level.
The interface will reportedly carry notifications, alerting users when the phone charges to its full set capacity and when it was last recharged to the decided limit.
Balancing Battery Health and Daily Needs
The rationale behind this potential feature is grounded in the science of battery health. Lithium-ion batteries, which smartphones predominantly use, tend to degrade faster when consistently charged to 100 percent.
By allowing users to set their maximum charge limit, Apple gives a nod to preserving battery longevity over daily usage needs.
It’s a feature that Android counterparts, like Samsung’s Galaxy series, have embraced, highlighting the industry’s move towards sustainable tech usage.
Apple’s initiative, in this case, also seems to be a response to grievances from iPhone 14 Pro users who reported rapid reductions in their device’s maximum battery capacity over a short span.
Distinguishing Between Old and New
A keen point to highlight is the differentiation between this feature and the existing “Optimized Battery Charging”.
The latter, present in previous iPhone models, learns user patterns to finish charging past 80 percent around the time a user typically unplugs their device.
The newly discovered option, on the other hand, consistently limits the recharge to a predefined battery level, providing more direct control over battery health.
Compatibility and Availability
While the feature’s presence in the iOS 17 code is promising, it remains to be seen if it will be available to users from day one post the iPhone 15’s launch.
Early indications suggest that this battery optimisation might be exclusive to iPhones with USB-C compatibility, given its absence in iPhone 14 models.
iOS 17 is poised for a public release on September 18, with iPhone 15 pre-orders commencing shortly, leading to its official release on September 22.
FAQs
Ques) What is the new battery feature discovered in the iPhone 15?
The iPhone 15 might introduce a battery health management feature that lets users set a threshold for the maximum battery charge. This means if set to 90%, the device will stop charging once it reaches this level.
Ques) How is this feature different from the existing “Optimized Battery Charging?
While “Optimized Battery Charging” learns user patterns to decide when to charge past 80%, the newly hinted feature consistently limits the recharge to a set battery level, regardless of user patterns, providing direct control over battery health.
Ques) Will this feature be available on all iPhone models?
Initial indications from the iOS 17 RC code suggest that this feature might be exclusive to iPhones with USB-C compatibility.
Ques) Why is such a feature important?
Regularly charging lithium-ion batteries to 100% can accelerate their degradation. By allowing users to set a charge limit, can potentially extend the battery lifespan and the device’s overall longevity.