TimeCapsule has its drawbacks, but battery life shouldn't be one of them. Photo: ElevationLab
Want to extend your AirTag’s battery life to 10 years and keep the tracker dry and concealed? Well, that’s easy to do with ElevationLab’s innovative new TimeCapsule AirTag battery case. The weatherproof case keeps an AirTag safe and sound — and frees you from swapping out the Apple tracking tag’s coin-shaped batteries every year.
Save your iPhone battery with these easy tips. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
It can be hard figuring out what advice will actually save your iPhone battery life and what’s basically tech superstition. What settings can you easily change that make the biggest impact without ruining your phone?
Low Power Mode is the obvious setting, a single switch that pulls all kinds of levers behind the scenes. Turning down your brightness as far as you can is another easy trick. But how about quitting apps? Does it make any difference? What about the always-on display? Should you turn it off?
Here are the 10 things you can do to save iPhone battery life — and help your iPhone battery thrive over the long term, too.
Higher capacity iPhone 16 batteries mean longer stretches between recharges. Photo: Apple
Every iPhone 16 version got a higher-capacity battery. Every one. Apple says its new models will go longer without needing a recharge, and clearly that’s not hype.
Also, the conspiracy theory that Apple would reduce the size of the iPhone 16 Plus battery turned out to be bunk.
Paying $80 for hi-res over-ear ANC headphones with 80-hour battery life seems like a steal. But for a short time you can pay just $56. Photo: EarFun
Known for high-quality earbuds that don’t break the bank, EarFun released a set of over-ear cans Monday for the first time — Earfun Wave Pro Hi-Res ANC Wireless Headphones.
Introduced at CES 2024, the new noise-canceling EarFun Wave Pro cans claim high-resolution audio, hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) and a stalwart 80 hours of playback. And all that comes at a cost of just $80. Actually, even less for early-bird buyers.
It’s not a small battery. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If you get a Vision Pro, you’ll soon need to learn how to charge up that battery. Apple only promises two hours of battery life on its revolutionary headset. Although real-world usage is pushing closer to three, if you want your spatial computing to be untethered, you’ll need to charge the Vision Pro battery often.
Here’s how to do it — along with some tips that will keep you (and your data) safe.
iPhone battery life doesn't improve under iOS 16.4.1, as had been hoped. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Testing shows that the recently released iOS 16.4.1 does not fix an iPhone battery problem introduced by its predecessor.
This wasn’t the usual small change in battery life that’s usual with updates. Many iPhone models saw significant drops with iOS 16.4. And the latest version isn’t a fix.
R.I.P. iPhone, who died tragically just a few hours before the end of the day. Image: Jonatan Svensson Glad/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
iPhone battery dying faster than you’d like? You can see exactly what’s using up your iPhone battery in the Settings app. It will show you which apps use more power than others, what services run in the background, and what drains your battery most over the course of the week.
If you suspect your phone doesn’t last as long as it used to, or notice that it’s charging very slowly, this will help you diagnose the problem.
Keep reading to find out whether you should quit all your iPhone apps when you’re done using them (you shouldn’t) and how you can keep apps and email from running in the background.
Get the most battery life out of your Mac. Image: Apple
How do you kill that which cannot die? The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro boast industry-leading battery life. In the PC world, the high power consumption of Intel processors means you generally must choose between battery life and performance.
The latest MacBooks use Apple’s own custom chips, cut from the same cloth as the iPhone and iPad chips Apple has been designing since 2010 (and, in a roundabout way, the one they made for the Apple Newton in 1994). This is what powers them to last all day at full speed.
If you want to take your M1 Max MacBook Pro to the coffee shop to get work done, and you leave your power cable at home — even if you’re editing 8K ProRes video streams in Final Cut Pro — you still might be ordering lunch and staying through dinner. How could one possibly need more battery life, and how do you get it?
While some iPhone models saw an increase in battery life with iOS 15.4.1, most did not. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Benchmark testing of nine different iPhone models shows that less than half of them experienced any improvement to battery life from the recent iOS 15.4.1 update, despite Apple describing that as a major feature of the new version. More of the handsets saw a decrease instead.
On the devices affected, the drop in battery life is generally small, but it’s nevertheless likely to leave some iPhone users holding off on the update. Which is unfortunate, as iOS 15.4.1 also closes a security hole that Apple says has been actively exploited.
The iPhone 13 is heavier than its predecessor. But that’s because of a larger battery. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The good news for buyers of the iPhone 13 series is that all four handsets promise significantly longer battery lives. The downside is that the change required putting in bulkier batteries that add to the weight and thickness.
Still, the increases are fairly marginal for an improvement that’s near the top of so many iPhone users’ wish lists.
Tim Cook seems really excited about 5G. Should you be? Photo: Apple
The new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro bring 5G to Apple’s smartphones for the first time. But it comes at a cost to your battery.
In the first published battery tests, Tom’s Guide tested the new iPhones on both 4G and 5G, running both on the same screen brightness and loading up new sites every 30 seconds until they ran out of battery. Their conclusion? That 5G usage has a pretty major impact on battery life.
Reversing a trend, iOS 14 battery life could be noticeably longer than iOS 13. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Tests done on a range of iPhone models running the just-released iOS 13.6 reveal that it slightly reduces the battery life of all these handsets when compared to the previous version. And, generally speaking, that has held true for the last six iOS 13 updates.
But there’s good news. Tests with an early iOS 14 beta showed this upcoming version brings a significant increase to battery life.
An iPhone SE test shows it might not have the battery life you expect. Photo: Mrwhosetheboss
A side-by-side battery comparison by a popular YouTube channel concludes that for consumers wanting a long-lasting smartphone, the second-generation iPhone SE might not be the best answer.
It could be one of many new faces. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Apple’s recent watchOS 6 upgrade brought a host of new features and faces to Apple Watch. But it has also had a nasty impact on battery life for lots of upgraders.
Apple Watch Series 5 owners are reporting that their new wearable isn’t lasting as long as Apple promised it would in between charges. However, they’re not the only ones who are suffering.
How gorgeous is the iPhone 11 Max Pro? Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
This thing is a beauty. The first thing you notice is the glass back. The frosted matte finish makes it semi-translucent, giving it a weirdly illusory depth. It looks great. Not even the controversial, compound-eye camera bump can spoil its good looks. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is the best-looking iPhone to date, and I love it.
But don’t be fooled by the familiar design. This year’s refresh makes almost everything about Apple’s most expensive handset better than ever.
It’s faster, stronger and more water-resistant. It packs the best display you’ll find in a phone, and the best camera you’ve ever used. The battery lasts forever. Is it worth its hefty price tag? Absolutely.
Find out more in our full iPhone 11 Pro Max review.
The very first iPhone 11 reviews are out, which means it’s time to find out whether that $699+ you just spent on an upgrade was worth it. And you probably won’t be surprised to hear the results.
Apple’s most affordable iPhone this year, just like its predecessor, is a hit with critics. It is getting heaps of praise for its improved cameras, even longer battery life, and bolstered performance.
There are a few complaints, however. Find out what reviewers think of the iPhone 11 right here.
Only Energizer would build a phone with an 18,000 mAh battery Photo: Energizer
There are people who say they want a phone with the biggest battery they can get, but Energizer proves them wrong. Its latest device sports over 6 times the battery capacity of the iPhone XS Max, but to pack in that much power it’s almost three times as thick as Apple’s current flagship.
Apple often integrates ideas from rival products into its handsets. That’s not likely to happen this time.
With a great screen, cameras, battery life and Face ID, the iPhone XR is a nifty smartphone. Photo: Kristal Chan/Cult of Mac
The iPhone XR is typical Apple. It’s an entry-level phone with a bunch of premium features. Jony Ive just cannot cut corners, even if he wanted to. This is no plasticky, cut-rate phone built to meet a price point. It’s a primo phone with primo features (and a primo price tag, TBH). It just happens to be the cheapest new iPhone in Apple’s lineup.
The XR delivers everything customers care about: a big, beautiful screen; great cameras; long battery life; and Face ID.
The iPhone XR is arguably Apple’s most interesting smartphone of 2018 because of this slightly odd bundle of budget/premium features. It’s arguably a $1,200 phone in a $750 package.
Despite the smallest battery, iPhone XS Max lasts longer. Photo: Mrwhosetheboss
Apple promises that the iPhone XS Max delivers better battery life than any other iPhone. It also lasts longer than rival devices in between charges, according to a new battery test.
Apple’s most expensive smartphone to date easily outpaces the Sony Xperia XZ3 and the new Google Pixel 3 XL. It even manages to last a little longer than the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 — but there is a catch.
Man’s brand new Apple Watch turns out to be toilet plunger Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple Watch Series 4 lasts up to 18 hours on a single charge — just like its predecessors — and it somehow manages that with significantly smaller batteries.
An official Product Information sheet confirms Apple’s latest wearables have around 20 percent less battery capacity than Series 3 devices. It’s a testament to the power efficiency of the new components.
The first iPhone with ProMotion? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple promises that you’ll get better battery life if you upgrade to the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max. Their cutting-edge A12 Bionic chips and power-efficient Super Retina displays should mean that they last longer than any other iPhone in between charges.
But is that really the case? One battery test has found that last year’s iPhone X actually has more stamina than its successor.
There are over 1.4 billion active Apple devices in the world. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
If you ever watched schlocky ’70s sci-fi show The Six Million Dollar Man, you probably remember the opening sequence, during which a faceless narrator describes building a man who is “better than he was before. Better … stronger … faster.”
With the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, Apple’s engineers achieved just that type of incredible transformation. They fabricated phones that look “normal,” like last year’s iPhone X. But, just like the shadowy geniuses who built the bionic man, Apple indeed made the iPhone X better, stronger and faster — thanks in large part to the A12 Bionic chip that powers the new phones’ most advanced functions. (Other hardware and software upgrades help, too.)
Just like Col. Steve Austin, the ace astronaut who got $6 million worth of bionic implants after a devastating crash, the iPhone X received massive internal upgrades to morph into the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. While it looks like the same old (excellent) device, it’s actually far more fantastic and futuristic.
The Series 4 comes with some great new watch faces, like this information-packed Infograph face. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
I have a new best friend. It’s the Apple Watch Series 4. Boy, do I love this miraculous little machine.
The new Apple Watch really is wonderful. As with everything else, speed makes it so much more fluid and seamless. The display is gigantic and awesome! There’s so much technology packed inside, it’s a sci-fi marvel.
I took it for a long bike ride to test it out. Here’s what I found.