Understanding Battery Performance

A few moments spent adjusting your settings can significantly extend your iPhone's battery life, allowing you to enjoy hours of usage without interruption.

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I vividly recall the excitement of holding my new iPhone 13 Pro Max, confident it would easily last a day, thanks to numerous positive reviews I had seen. However, as the months went by, I noticed the battery depleting faster than expected, and I suspect many of you can relate.

Since testing the iOS 17 beta updates, my battery life has plummeted, barely making it through the day. While beta versions often impact battery performance, the deterioration I experienced was alarming. I knew I needed to take action.

I began researching solutions that truly work, moving past the typical suggestions like enabling low-power mode or switching to grayscale. In this article, I'll share some lesser-known tips and tricks to optimize your iPhone's battery life, which have made a noticeable difference for me. I hope you find them just as beneficial!

The Reality of Smartphone Battery Life

Before we delve into battery-saving strategies, let's explore why your iPhone's battery seems to weaken after just a few months of use. It's a multifaceted issue, not unique to you or your specific device.

First, it's essential to understand that every battery has a limited lifespan. Each charge cycle gradually diminishes the battery's capacity, leading to more frequent low battery alerts.

Source: 9to5Mac

Additionally, newer iPhones support 5G, which, while offering faster data speeds, significantly drains battery life, particularly in areas with poor coverage. The demand for power increases in low-signal situations, a common scenario in many urban areas.

So, as we embrace 5G's benefits, we must also be aware of its battery-related costs.

Making Smart iCloud Backup Choices

With the advent of 5G, iPhones can back up to iCloud over cellular data when WiFi isn’t available. Unless you absolutely need every backup, consider disabling this feature.

The reason is simple: large iOS backups over cellular can quickly drain your battery. By limiting backups to WiFi, you can reduce this strain and save cellular data, particularly valuable if you're on a limited plan.

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To adjust this, navigate to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup, and turn off the ‘Back Up Over Cellular’ option. Your battery will appreciate this change.

Balancing Connectivity: 5G vs. 4G

While 5G provides remarkable speeds and seamless streaming, it can negatively impact battery life, especially in areas with weak signals. In these situations, your iPhone works harder to maintain a connection, consuming more energy.

A practical solution is to switch to 4G when you’re in an area with poor 5G coverage. You can still enjoy decent speeds without putting unnecessary strain on your battery.

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To change this, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data, and select either 5G Auto for when you're on the move or 4G in weak signal areas. Being strategic about your connectivity can greatly enhance battery life.

iCloud Drive and Cellular Data

Even with unlimited data, it’s wise to monitor what gets backed up on your iPhone. Uncontrolled iCloud Drive uploads can consume battery life and data.

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To manage this, go to Settings > Cellular and disable both iCloud Drive and iCloud Backup.

AirDrop

While useful, AirDrop can drain your battery if left on constantly, as it searches for nearby devices. Turn it off when not in use.

Background App Refresh

This feature allows apps to run in the background, but it often isn’t necessary. Categorize your apps into essential and non-essential, disabling background refresh for less critical apps to save battery.

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To adjust this, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, and turn off unnecessary apps. It’s also wise to enable this feature only on WiFi to preserve battery.

Automatic Podcast Downloads

Podcast episodes can automatically download, which may lead to unexpected battery drain. Customize your download preferences to avoid this.

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Go to Settings > Podcasts > Automatically Download to adjust these settings.

Raise to Wake and Brightness Adjustments

If you have ‘tap to wake’ enabled, you likely don’t need the ‘Raise to wake’ feature, which can drain battery life. Disabling this can help conserve power.

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Turning off ‘Raise to Wake’ in Settings > Display & Brightness can help save battery.

Exposure Notifications

Originally introduced during the pandemic, this feature can still ping for updates, draining your battery. Disable it if you no longer need it.

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Privacy Settings

Many apps unnecessarily track your location, consuming battery. Adjust these settings to enhance both battery performance and privacy.

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Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services to limit access.

Reducing White Point

Lowering the intensity of whites can improve battery life. Adjust this in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size by enabling Reduce White Point.

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Implementing these minor tweaks can lead to significant battery performance improvements over time.

Conclusion

Now that you’re equipped with these tips, I encourage you to explore your settings and implement these changes. Share your experiences in the comments—how have these adjustments impacted your battery life and overall interaction with your iPhone?

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