10th February 2026

iPhone Battery Life: How to Optimise and Get the Most Out of It

Steve AthwalLast Updated On 011 mins
Refurbished iphone on charge

Worried your iPhone won’t last the day? You’re not alone. iPhone battery life can dip over time, and the settings menu doesn’t always make things clear. “Battery Health” vs “Battery Life” is confusing, too.

Overview show

iPhone Battery Life by Model (Real-World Use)

Based on mixed daily use: calls, browsing, video streaming, 5G & Wi-Fi.

Battery health vs battery life: the difference.

Battery Health

  • A measure of your battery’s maximum capacity compared to when it was new.
  • Found in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
  • 100% is brand new. Over time, battery chemistry ages and this number falls.
  • Apple considers batteries that fall below 80% capacity to be worn and a good candidate for replacement. (That’s why we set an 85% minimum Battery Health standard—because around 80% is where many users start noticing shorter daily runtime.)

Battery Life

  • How long your iPhone lasts on a single charge.
  • Affected by screen brightness, apps, signal strength, temperature, and usage patterns.
  • You can improve battery life even if Battery Health isn’t perfect.

Quick takeaway

  • Health = the size of the tank.
  • Life = how fast you use the fuel in that tank.
Settings that boost iphone battery life

1) Reduce Screen Drain

  • Auto-Brightness: On.
  • Brightness: Keep it around 30–50% indoors.
  • Dark Mode: On, especially for OLED iPhones (X and newer).
  • Auto-Lock: 30 seconds or 1 minute.

Path: Settings > Display & Brightness

2) Optimise 5G and Mobile Data

  • If coverage is patchy, your phone works harder.
  • Use 5G Auto or switch to 4G when you don’t need top speed.

Path: Settings > Mobile Data > Voice & Data

3) Location Services, but smarter

  • Set non-essential apps to While Using.
  • Turn off Precise Location for apps that don’t need it.

Path: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services

4) Notifications that don’t drain

  • Disable notifications for apps you rarely use.
  • Fewer wake-ups = longer life.

Path: Settings > Notifications

5) Background App Refresh

  • Switch to Wi-Fi only or Off for most apps.

Path: Settings > General > Background App Refresh

6) Mail fetch

  • Change from Push to Fetch (hourly) for non-critical accounts.
  • Or set some inboxes to Manual.

Path: Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data

7) Low Power Mode

  • Use when under 20–30%, travelling, or on long days.
  • It reduces background tasks and visual effects.

Path: Settings > Battery

Iphone battery life: how to optimise and get the most out of it

Habits That Add Hours

  • Charge between 20–80%. The sweet spot. Avoid frequent 0–100% cycles.
  • Avoid heat. Don’t leave the phone on car dashboards or under pillows while charging.
  • Remove thick cases when fast charging. Helps temperature.
  • Use quality chargers and cables. Cheap bricks can overheat or charge poorly.
  • Update iOS. Battery and efficiency fixes ship often.
  • Restart weekly. Clears odd background processes.

iPhone Features to Keep (and When to Turn Off)

  • Optimised Battery Charging: Keep it On. Learns your routine and slows charging past 80% overnight to reduce ageing.
  • Background refresh for essentials: Keep for navigation, calendars, and health devices.
  • Bluetooth: Fine to keep on if you use wearables. Turn off only if you never use it.
Iphone battery life: how to optimise and get the most out of it

Troubleshooting: If Your Battery Still Drops Fast

  1. Check Battery Usage
    Settings > Battery. Look at Last 24 Hours/Last 10 Days.
  • Uninstall or limit apps using high Background Activity.
  • For social and video apps, limit autoplay and notifications.
  1. Reset Settings (non-destructive)
    Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset All Settings.
  • Keeps your data, resets preferences that might be misconfigured.
  1. Signal issues?
  • Poor reception drains power. Try Wi-Fi Calling or switch networks.
  1. Battery Health under 80%?
  • Consider a battery replacement. It’s the best fix for phones that shut down early or sag under load.

iPhone Battery Life — Quick Fixes & Impact

iPhone ModelTypical Daily Battery Life*Notes
iPhone 13All-day (7–9 hours screen time)Highly efficient A15 Bionic chip
iPhone 14All-day (7–9 hours)Similar efficiency to iPhone 13
iPhone 15All-day+ (8–10 hours)Improved efficiency and USB-C
iPhone 15 ProAll-day (7–9 hours)ProMotion and camera use increase drain
iPhone 15 Pro Max1.5–2 daysBest battery life in the 15 range
iPhone 16All-day+ (8–10 hours)**Efficiency gains expected from newer chipset
Use these settings to reduce drain and extend daily runtime.
FixWhereTypical Impact
Auto‑Brightness + Dark ModeSettings → Display & Brightness Medium–High
Low Power ModeSettings → Battery High
Background App Refresh → Off/Wi‑FiSettings → General → Background App Refresh Medium
Use 4G / 5G Auto in weak areasSettings → Mobile Data → Voice & Data Medium
Mail Fetch hourly / ManualSettings → Mail → Accounts → Fetch New Data Low–Medium
Location "While Using"Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services Medium

Impact is indicative. Results vary by model, signal, and daily use.

Refurbished iphones & battery confidence

Buying refurbished? Good choice. At The Big Phone Store, devices are thoroughly tested, securely wiped, and graded for condition. Batteries meet our quality standard of 85% Battery Health and, if a device’s battery doesn’t, we replace it. That means strong Battery Health and dependable battery life from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Not usually. With Optimised Battery Charging on, iOS manages the final 20% near your wake time. Heat is the bigger risk, so keep your phone ventilated.

Constantly force-quitting can use more power. Let iOS manage apps. Only close ones that misbehave.

No, but it drains fast and can raise temperature. Lower brightness or use Auto-Brightness.

In most cases, Pro Max models have the best battery life because they include the largest battery capacity. For everyday users, Pro Max iPhones can last up to 1.5–2 days with mixed use, while standard and Pro models usually last a full day with the right settings.

To check your iPhone’s battery performance:

  1. Go to Settings → Battery
  2. View usage under Last 24 Hours or Last 10 Days
  3. Tap Battery Health & Charging to see maximum capacity

This shows both how long your battery lasts daily and its overall health.

To preserve battery health over time:

  • Avoid frequent 0–100% charging
  • Keep charge levels between 20–80% where possible
  • Avoid heat while charging
  • Use quality chargers and cables
  • Leave Optimised Battery Charging turned on

These habits slow battery ageing and help maintain long-term performance.

Conclusion

Battery Health shows the size of your battery’s tank. Battery Life shows how long today’s charge lasts. Tweak your settings, adopt a few habits, and your iPhone should comfortably make it through the day. If Battery Health is under 80%, a replacement restores performance.

For reliable devices with strong batteries, The Big Phone Store has you covered. If you’re still stuck, our team can help diagnose the issue and suggest the best fix.

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