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iPhone Battery Health: What You Need to Know

An iPhone is only as useful as its battery life. From the very first iPhone, users have been swapping tips on how to optimize iPhone battery life and battery lifespan over time to get more performance from every charge. batteries from working together to make iPhones last longer, but eventually, it’s important to know when to have your iPhone battery replaced. If you need troubleshooting because your iPhone is slow or not charging at all read our article for those solutions first.


That’s why Apple introduced the iPhone Battery Health feature that has become a fixture in iOS device settings. Today, we’re walking through the Battery Health feature, how to get the best iPhone battery performance, and when to replace your iPhone battery. ‘re rather not improve your battery health, considering upgrading your device, you can also sell your iPhone to us.


What is iPhone Battery Health?

iPhone Battery Health is a feature added in iOS version 11.3, released in 2018. If your phone is not yet version 11.3 or higher, then it’s time to update your software. The Battery Health feature can be found in the Settings menu and will give you basic, useful information about the overall health and performance of your iPhone’s battery.
From the iPhone Battery Health dashboard, you can keep track of your phone’s battery to help optimize performance and identify the right time to get your iPhone battery replaced.


The three dashboard items in your Battery Health tool are Maximum Capacity, Peak Performance Capability, and a toggle to Optimize Battery Charging
Maximum CapacityMaximum capacity is the efficiency of your battery since your phone came out of the factory.
Optimal phone performance is between 100% and 80% maximum capacity.
Peak Performance CapabilityMost of the time, this will include a message saying your iPhone is capable of peak performance. Sometimes, if you experienced a recent crash, you may see a message saying your battery was “unable to deliver the necessary peak power.” means your phone has automatically turned on performance management, and the battery should be replaced soon.


Optimized battery chargingToggling this option will prevent your phone from charging over 80% in order to protect the battery and increase your overall battery lifespan. This option is ideal if your phone is charging most of the time, and if you want to charge up overnight, but may be turned off if you plan to travel and need 100% charge when you depart.


How to Check Your iPhone Battery Health

Settings > Battery Health.You can find your iPhone Battery Health dashboard by navigating to iPhone Settings. Then scroll down until you see Battery Health and select this option. This will show you some basic information and you can tap to investigate further or change your battery performance settings.


Is 75% Overall a Good Battery Health?

yes and noWhen looking at your Battery Health page, the most obvious factor is the Maximum Capacity percentage. 100% is factory-fresh, and iPhones can run extremely well with batteries as low as 80% performance in Maximum Capacity.
If your iPhone’s battery health has slipped to 75% or below, it will still perform well. However, you can expect further degradation and may see lower numbers and worse performance in the near future.
Battery Health Percentage to Replace iPhone Battery, According to AppleAt what Battery Health percentage should you replace your iPhone battery? You will start noticing a significant drop in performance between 75% and 60%.
If your iPhone battery health percentage drops below 80% within the duration of your warranty – usually about one year – then Apple will replace the battery.
How Long an iPhone Battery Can LastA new, 100%-80% capacity iPhone battery can hold a charge for 8-20 hours, depending on how it’s used. Sitting off in your pocket, it can last all day. Playing games and movies, it will last about a third of the day without a power source.


It usually takes about two years before you start to see any significant drop in iPhone battery performance. require an early iPhone battery replacement. If you feel that no battery will prove the health of your device, you can also sell your device to us.
Tips to Extend iPhone Battery Life & Lifespan

How do you maximize the performance if an iPhone battery?
Avoid full charge or full drainDon’t charge overnightUse a dimmer screenSwitch off location servicesTurn on Optimized Battery ChargingUse an original or approved Apple chargerClose apps and unused featuresAvoid extreme temperaturesUse the right phone case

Keep your software updatedReplace the battery on timeFor more information checkout our other article: Maximizing Your iPhone’s Battery Settings

Does AppleCare+ Cover Battery Replacement?

If you still have AppleCare+ at the time your iPhone battery drops below 80% maximum capacity, then yes. Your battery replacement can and probably should be included in AppleCare+ warranty coverage.
If your iPhone is out of warranty, you will need to ship it to the nearest repair location and or visit an Apple store, the repair will cost $89. You may also be charged for any additional repairs made, or required to have the phone repaired other than the battery before sending it in.

How Can I Change my iPhone Battery?

If you are confident with phone repairs and have an iPhone repair kit (tiny screwdrivers, frame separate, etc) then you can DIY aniPhone battery replacement. However, this is not recommended for inexperienced technicians. iPhones are delicate and just opening the case can put your components at risk. Especially if your iPhone battery is swollen!
You will need to delicately remove tiny screws, pry open the case, gently lift the securing tabs, use tweezers to extract the pull tabs, and finally lift out the battery. Replacing it requires an equally delicate reinstallation.

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MacBook having trouble sleeping? Battery running down? Try this utility

Do you find your MacBook battery randomly dying while sitting on its side or in its laptop bag doing nothing?


Have you ever come back to your MacBook to find the battery dead or dying, but the lid’s been shut and the computer doesn’t seem like it’s doing anything? Or maybe you’re coming back to find your sleeping MacBook is warm, even hot Chances are that something is bringing the system out of sleep and running the battery down.
Something is up.
Well, that’s the question. And believe me, trying to track down the cause can lead you deep into the bowels of macOS.

Sleep Aid is a utility by Ohanaware that delves deep into the Power Management messages and settings, looking for reasons why your MacBook could be being pulled out from a slumber, and into a state of insomnia.


And when I say this utility takes a deep dive, believe me, that it takes a very deep dive. Sleep Aid spots each and every time your MacBook is woken from slumber, whether that’s because a charger’s been plugged in, because of a Bluetooth or network wake-up request, a notification, or a normal background task, as well as a suspicious wake-up that may indicate a problem.


Here’s what you can expect to see: it’s very detailed.
But there’s more — Sleep Aid can also help solve sleep issues. Using the Sleep Settings window, you can enable and disable sleep-related options and configure various settings to help solve sleep issues, or simply reduce the number of times the Mac experiences a wake-up when it’s not in use.


I’ve been using Sleep Aid on a few different MacBooks, and I have to admit that it’s a really powerful, handy tool. If you’re the curious type, you’ll love the insight that it gives you into what’s going on when the lid is shut on your MacBook. If you’re tearing your hair out because your Macbook won’t sleep properly and you’re coming back to find the battery depleted, this tool will be invaluable in helping you troubleshoot and fix the issue.

Sleep Aid comes with a 14-day no-obligation (you don’t have to enter payment details or even an email address), fully featured free trial; after that, you can buy a license, with prices starting at $25. 

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I traded my MacBook for a Dell XPS 15 for a month, and didn’t regret it at all

When you’re shopping for a Dell XPS laptop, you know exactly what you’re getting. The bezels are wicked thin, the display shines bright and colorful, and the performance is as good as the design. and feel of what is arguably Dell’s most competitive laptop model has remained mostly the same; that’s how timeless the original was.


Also: I tested Dell’s latest XPS laptops and can’t recommend them enough
In fact, this year’s Dell XPS 15 looks and feels the same as last year’s model, and I’m not complaining. Only now, the performance of the laptop is more capable, thanks to a shift to Ada Lovelace GPUs, though Dell still tells me the XPS line is more tailored for prosumers, content creators, and just about anyone but gamers.
I’ve been testing the Dell XPS 15 over the past month, relegating my trusted MacBook Pro and MacBook Air to the sidelines, and am concluding my review period with the belief that this remains one the best options for Windows users.


Coming from the MacBook’s industrial design, my first impression of the Dell XPS 15 was how much more rugged it looked and felt. The exterior is chiseled with sharp lines and rounded corners, and the brushed aluminum lets you know that this laptop means business.
Also: This 16-in-1 Thunderbolt dock is the PC accessory of my dreams
The XPS 15 weighs a healthy 4.21 lbs, and its presence was most definitely felt as I backpacked throughout New York City for work and briefings. Fortunately, on top of the three USB-C ports — two of which are Thunderbolt 4 — Dell includes an SD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. For those aforementioned briefings, I often need to transfer photos and videos — captured with my mirrorless camera — to my laptop for editing, and the built-in SD card slot is much Appreciated.


As for the bottom half of the laptop, I found the XPS 15 keyboard a little too low-profile for my tastes. The soft-touch keycaps can feel mushy and not as tactile as I’d like for my type-heavy workflow, though the backlighting gets plenty bright for those late-night writing sessions.


Also: I found the best keyboard for students, and its ChatGPT shortcut proves it
The carbon fiber weave surrounding what is one of the larger trackpads I’ve used on a 15-inch laptop is a nice, edgy touch, serving as a rather comforting wrist rest when gliding and clicking around. at times, with the XPS 15 processing my inputs as a “pinch out” or “pinch in” when my left wrist was simply laying a little too close to the middle surface.


There was more to say about the XPS 15’s design last year when the changes were actually new, so I’ll plug our review for those who want a more in-depth analysis of what’s been pictured in this article. My takeaway is that while I prefer the all-aluminum build — both on the inside and out — of the MacBook or Microsoft Surface Laptop, it’s great to see Dell stick with a distinguishable design language — one that I’m sure has many other fans.


Also: This Acer laptop may be the most affordable way to have an Nvidia 40 Series GPU
The review unit that Dell provided me features a 13th-gen Core i7-13700H, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, an RTX 4070 (40W), and a 3.5K resolution OLED display, which was the most noticeable upgrade of all.

this is one of the most — if not the most — sharp-looking, color-accurate displays I’ve seen on a laptop, and it’s a feature that I’d recommend potential buyers opt for if photo and video work is central to you. 
When paired with the top-firing speakers flanking the sides of the keyboard, the multimedia experience on the XPS 15 can be mesmerizing. It’s one of the few display-speaker pairings that I’d rank alongside Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro.


The ability to configure the XPS 15, from the processor to the Windows operating system to the graphics card to the display, is great to see, especially if you fancy the design and form factor of the laptop but don’t want to overspend on excess In fact, the review unit I tested was more than enough for my week’s work, with the XPS 15 breathing through multi-window applications, 4K video editing on Adobe Premiere Pro, and some touch-ups on Adobe Photoshop.

Also: Best laptops for graphic designers, according to experts who use them
What’s more impressive to me is how long the XPS 15 held up in between charges. Even when using it to power an external monitor, I averaged about six to seven hours of usage before the 10% lower battery warning appeared. Keep in mind that I ‘m tasking the machine with video exports, frequent conference calls (with a suboptimal 720p webcam), and miscellaneous things that pop up throughout a journalist’s work week.


ZDNET’s buying adviceIf I were to buy the Dell XPS 15, I’d be comfortable with a less-powerful RTX 4050 and a smaller storage size of 512GB, since Most of my work is saved on the cloud. With the 3.5K resolution display add-on, that rings me up at around $2,049, a relatively fair price for one of the more premium Windows laptops out there. 
You’ll save an additional $300 if you can live with the FHD+ (1920 x 1200) non-touch display.

And if looks are all you really care about, the Dell XPS 15 can be had for as little as $1,299. No matter the price, you can expect reliable performance and battery life, and a design that’s as timeless as they come.

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Battery bad after installing iOS 16.6? Try these 7 tips

Some iPhone users are experiencing battery issues after the iOS 16.6 update.
Here we go again with yet another iOS 16 update and more iPhone owners complaining of battery issues. 
The iOS 16.6 update (there’s also an iOS 15.7.8 for iPhones running the older version, so make sure if you’re running an older device to check that out) contained a bunch of security fixes for vulnerabilities that put your data at risk. 

Also: The best iPhones right now
But what should you do if you’re finding that it is degrading your battery life?


I’ve been keeping an eye on social media and Apple’s support forums, and opinions are, as always, mixed. Some say this update is a big improvement and that it fixes the overheating issue found in iOS 16.5 (I would say that I’ve definitely seen an improvement here). 
Others say it’s abysmal, claiming not only that they are getting less battery runtime, but also that their battery health plummeted. If you’re curious — or concerned — about battery health, I suggest reading about what Apple doesn’t want you to know about your iPhone’s battery. 


Also: Why some people are buying MacBook Pros with broken displays
If you’re experiencing better battery life, good for you. You can stop reading here and get on with your day. However, if you are one of those people having battery issues, I have some tips and tricks to help you make it through the day.
7 tips if you’re having battery issues 1. Be patientIt’s normal to experience a drop — even quite a significant drop — in battery life following the installation of an iOS update.
Also: iOS 17 may introduce a useful iPhone smart display feature — and I have questions iPhones

 need to carry out a number of tasks in the background in the aftermath of an update. This consumes more battery power than usual, and the battery life will return to normal once all these extra tasks have been completed. 
Maybe try a reboot and see if that helps. It can’t harm!

2. Try a few tweaks

A few things I’ve seen help with battery life on iOS 16 releases:
Turn down screen brightness.Turn off Wi-Fi assist, a feature that uses cellular data when your Wi-Fi connection is weak or slow — you can disable it by going Settings > Cellular, and scroll down to the bottom to turn off Wi-Fi Assist.Reset network settings, not sure how or why this helps, but several people have reported back that it improved battery life dramatically — got Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and then tap on Reset and then Reset Network Settings.Use Dark Mode — it really does make a huge difference.

3. Update your apps
The problem might not be an iOS issue but more a problem with apps that haven’t been updated, especially when new versions of iOS have been released. That means it’s a good idea to make sure all your apps are updated before you spend a lot of time trying to diagnose what’s going on.

Also: My iPhone’s battery doesn’t stay at 100% for as long as it used to. Is there a problem?
Fire up the App Store app and tap your profile icon in the corner, then scroll down to Available Updates to look for updates (I like to pull down this screen to refresh it, so I see all the latest updates).
4. Find out what’s eating your batteryIf none of the previous steps helped, what else could it be? It could be a rogue app that’s draining the battery. And fortunately, iOS offers you the tools you need to track down misbehaving apps.
Also: How to turn off Clean Energy Charging on the iPhone


Head over to Settings > Battery, and here you will see a lot of data, including Battery Usage By App. Tapping on it also allows you to switch to Activity By App, which shows a breakdown of how much power the app is using while on the screen and how much it is using when in the background.
You can use this information to diagnose battery drain issues. Here are some other things you can use this information for:


An app going berserk in the background will show lots of activity in the background compared with screen activity (try disabling background activity for that app and see if that helps).You can spot charging problems (Was the battery actually charging when you thought it was?).You can also spot poor battery performance (look for battery charge falling rapidly).iOS 13 battery drainAnalyzing battery drain in iOS.Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET5. Check if your battery needs replacingIs your iPhone getting on a bit? 


If it’s four years or older, then the battery might be getting old and needs replacing. 
Tap on Settings and head to Battery > Battery Health & Charging and check what the Maximum Capacity of the battery is listed as. If this is below 80% then this indicates a worn battery and that it’s time for a replacement.
6.What about overheating?Don’t get into a competition to see how hot you can get your iPhone. That’s a path that leads to hardware damage. A stressed, hot battery is an unhappy battery, and that can lead to premature wear and performance issues.
Also: Using your iPhone in high temperatures can cause permanent damage.
So, if it’s overheating, remove it from a hot window and don’t keep it in a hot car. I also recommend temporarily taking it out of any case it’s in.


7. Wait for the next iOS updateBugs do slip through the net, and sometimes all you can do is wait for Apple to fix the problem and roll out a new update.
Apple is getting much better about fixing issues like this, although you do have to wait for the fix and take a gamble that the new update does indeed fix the problem and not cause more chaos.

Also: iPhone or Android slow or buggy?
That said, given that pretty much every update Apple rolls out nowadays is packed with iOS security fixes, I recommend installing updates because not doing this can leave youriPhone vulnerable to attack.

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Apple’s iPhone 14 lineup is official: Goodbye Mini, hello iPhone 14 Plus

The iPhone 14 lineup consists of four different models, but this year there’s a twist.
Apple on Wednesday held a special event from its Apple Park campus in Cupertino, Cali., where the iPhone 14 lineup was unveiled, alongside a trio of new Apple Watch models — Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra —  and new AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. 


The 2022 iPhone offering consists of four new smartphones, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Notice that the iPhone 14 Mini isn’t an option, as Apple has retired the smallest phone in its lineup and replaced it with a larger screen iPhone 14 Plus. 


Also: iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Is the newest iPhone worth the upgrade?
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 PlusThe base iPhone 14 models now come in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes, forgoing the iPhone 14 Mini’s smaller display. The displays have 1200 nits peak brightness for outdoor viewing.


Inside the iPhone 14 is an A15 Bionic processor — that’s the same that was used in the iPhone 13, with Apple touting the performance of the processor as a benefit to iPhone 14 users, even a year after its initial release.The overall design of the iPhone 14 looks like the iPhone 13, with a notch cutout at the top of the screen for the True Depth Sensor that’s used for Face ID to unlock the phone or approve Apple Pay payments. There are a total of five colors available for the iPhone 14 line: midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and red.


As for camera upgrades, the iPhone 14 has a new 12-megapixel main camera with a larger sensor and 1.5f aperture to collect more light. The ultra-wide camera stays at 12-megapixels. There’s also a new 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera, with auto-focus, for taking selfies or used with FaceTime video calls.
A new feature coming to iPhone 14’s camera is called Photonic Engine. Apple uses its Deep Fusion image processing earlier in the photographic process, capturing more detail, color and lighting in the image that’s captured.
Video on the iPhone now comes with an Action Mode to stabilize video when you’re active, such as when running. 
Apple’s also making a big push for customers to switch over from a plastic SIM card to an eSIM that’s embedded in the phone and can be programmed and changed with the tap of a button or two. In fact, Apple has removed the SIM card tray from the iPhone 14 altogether. eSIM or bust, eh? 


The iPhone 14 also features crash detection just like the new Apple Watch models, which can detect if you’re in a car accident and alert emergency responders. 
The rumored satellite connectivity feature for the iPhone 14 is real. The iPhone 14 will be able to connect to satellites when you’re in an area where there’s no cellular service, so you can contact emergency responders and request help. Emergency SOS via Satellite uses the iPhone 14’santennas to connect directly to a satellite, with the phone directing and telling you exactly where to point the phone to ensure a connection. You’ll be able to send messages using the new feature.


Also: How the Apple iPhone 14 connects to satellites during emergencies
It’s hard to not see Emergency SOS via Satellite being a feature that’s highlighted in Apple commercials as having saved lives a year from now. It will be free for two years, starting with the iPhone 14 in the US and Canada. Emergency SOS via Satellite launches in November.  The iPhone 14 starts at $799, while the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899. You can preorder either model starting Sept. 9, with the iPhone 14 shipping Sept. 16 and the iPhone 14 Plus shipping Oct. 7.  


iPhone 14 Pro in various colors. iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro MaxThe iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max features a slightly new design, at least when it comes to the notch — or lack there of — on the display. Instead of a notch, there’s now a cutout just below the top of the screen that houses the new TrueDepth camera. Instead of leaving the cutout on its own, Apple uses it as a starting and stopping point for new alerts and notifications that appear to show up from the new cutout, or as Apple calls it – the Dynamic Island. All jokes about the name aside, it really does look useful.
There are four colors for the iPhone 14 Pro models this year. They are space black, silver, gold and deep purple.


The iPhone 14 Pro has a new display, keeping the same sizes of 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch with a peak brightness of 2000 nits. But wait, there’s more — the iPhone 14 Pro will have an always-on display, a first for the iPhone, and something that Android phones have had for years.
It’s a feature that’s been rumored to come to the iPhone for awhile now, and one that makes sense to bring to life alongside the new lock screen widgets
Inside the iPhone 14 Pro line is a new A16 Bionic processor.

It’s a 4nm chip with 16 billion resistors. Apple included a Display Engine in the A16 Bionic that allows the always-on display to exist without draining the iPhone’s battery. At least that’s according to Apple, we’ll have to wait and see what battery life is like in actual use.The camera system on the iPhone 14 Pro has an upgraded 48-megapixel camera with a quad-pixel sensor. With the larger sensor, Apple is able to do some impressive things, such as directly crop the image on the sensor and provide a 2x telephoto picture option.

The ultra-wide camera is 12-megapixels, with improvements across the board, including its macro mode capability. Apple mentioned the dedicated telephoto lens but didn’t go into any details. Now that the iPhone 14 Pro website is up, I can tell you that the telephoto camera is 12-megapixels. 
Apple estimates thebattery life of the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max will stay strong enough to power through a full day. 

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New iPhone 14 models compared: Which one should you buy?

The curtain has been lifted at Cupertino and four new iPhones will soon arrive at an Apple store near you:iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

That’s a whole lot of iPhones if you’re in the market for an upgrade, with new features aplenti to make your investment all the sweeter.
To get you up to speed on the latest handsets and help you make the best buying decision this fall, ZDNET experts sifted through spec sheets, price points, feature lists, and presentations to bring you all the information. Here are key reasons to buy one iPhone 14 model over the other — starting from the top of the line.

1. You want the longest-lasting battery lifeOut of all the iPhones announced during Apple’s fall event, the iPhone 14 Pro Max stands tall for the longest-lasting battery life. Apple says that the larger Pro model should last for up to 29 hours of video playback. If the 14 Pro Max is a step-up from the 13 Pro Max, which had an impressive endurance when tested, there are good times ahead for the new iPhone. 


2. You want the best iPhone camera systemTechnically, both the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max have the best iPhone camera systems to date, so you can’t go wrong with either one. The benefit of the Pro Max’s larger display is that it functions as an expansive viewfinder when shooting photos and videos. The 6.7-inch panel should also be of greater use for video editing on the go.
3. You’re willing to pay the big bucksThe iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 for the 128GB variant, with the most expensive 1TB model peaking at $1,599. Those prices aren’t including taxes, cases, and chargers. For the 14 Pro Max, you’ll have to pay up to reap the large-screen benefits. 


You should buy the iPhone 14 Pro if…iPhone 14-red 
1. You want ‘Pro’ features in a more regular sizeThe one and only reason to buy the smaller iPhone 14 Pro over the Pro Max is size preference. The regular iPhone 14 Pro is arguably the safer, less-fatiguing phone to use among the flagship duo. Its 6.1-inch display comfortably fits more in a hand and users switching over from older iPhones should feel at home with the palm-friendly size. Still, the iPhone 14 Pro comes with the same multi-camera system as the Pro Max, as well as all the exciting new safety and Dynamic Island features. 


1. You want a large iPhone for lessFor the first time in a while, Apple is offering a less expensive, big-screen phone, making the iPhone 14 Plus the perfect gateway for folks who want the “Pro Max” form factor. Instead of paying $1,099 for the highest-end iPhone though, the 14 Plus starts at $899. Still, you can expect similar software features like the new iOS 16 lock screen, satellite-based safety tools, and more. 
2. You don’t want to go ‘Pro’ for the best battery lifeApple made it clear during its ‘Far Out’ keynote that the iPhone 14 Plus has the best battery life ever on an iPhone. That’s a big claim, but one that’s not surprising.

ZDNET has tested every iPhone to date and always found the larger ” Plus” and “Pro Max” options to yield the most enduring performance. In the case of the new 14 Plus, Apple says that the phone should last up to 26 hours of video playback, besting the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. 
You should buy the iPhone 14 if…
1. You want the latest iPhone for lessAnd finally, the iPhone 14. It’s the least expensive model in the fall lineup but possibly the most important. Traditionally, the standard, non-Pro iPhone has been Apple’s bread-winner, appealing to the masses through value-driven prices, subtle obstacles , and eye-catching colors (see image above). This year’s iPhone 14 is priced the same as last year’s with a starting price of $799. It’s not cheap, but also not as expensive as the other models. 


2. You have your eyes set on a specific colorThere’s nothing more hypnotic than walking into an Apple store and seeing all the poppy iPhone colors perfectly laid out for you to play with. Between the Pro and non-Pro iPhones this year, the latter is noticeably more adventurous with its color options and should appeal to a wider range of consumers. If you’re dead set on a red, blue, or purple iPhone, then look no further than the regular 14.  

Clearly, there are a lot of new smartphone to shop from, and each one offers a feature or two that the others do not. My ultimate buying advice is this: Visit your local Apple store and give each model a test drive. Run your most frequented apps, take pictures and videos, and get a feel for each phone’s fit and finish. Naturally, your preferences will narrow down the options and allow you to choose the best iPhone for you.

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Apple iPhone 14 vs. Garmin inReach Messenger: Which satellite communication tool is right for you?

Apple iPhone 14 vs. Garmin inReach Messenger: Which satellite communication tool is right for you?

1. You want more than just emergency communicationGarmin’s inReach platform is more than just a way to get ahold of emergency services via satellite. There are several different devices you can use, ranging from the $399 Mini 2 handheld with a relatively small display to the $1,499 Tread Series with a 10-inch display to help keep you on track and provide a means for communicating with friends and loved ones, using a satellite connection to relay your text messages. And in the event of an emergency, you have one-button access to alert emergency responders.


The inReach Messenger is the most affordable device in the inReach lineup at $299, but it still offers the same core features and capabilities as the rest of the line. For instance, you can use the smartphone app to send messages to friends and loved ones, via a satellite connection. You can also get weather reports directly on Messenger, you can use it so others can view your location, updating at set intervals, to keep track of your latest trek across a hiking trail.


And because Messenger is tracking your location, you can use its trackback routing feature to guide you back on the path you just took in the event you get lost.
2. You don’t mind paying for the serviceIn order to take advantage of some of the inReach features, you’ll need to sign up for an inReach subscription plan. You can pay for it monthly or pay for a full year of service. Plans start at $14.95 per month and go all the way up to $64.95 a month.


The most affordable plan is the $15 Consumer: Safety plan that comes with unlimited SOS alerts, 10 text messages, unlimited check-in messages and sets the tracking interval to a minimum of 10 minutes.
Also: Why my Garmin Enduro 2’s LED flashlight is my favorite feature
It’s not terribly expensive for someone who frequently is an area with no cellular or Wi-Fi connection and wants the peace of mind that they can at least stay in touch with friends or family on top of being able to contact emergency responders.
3. You want peace of mind and don’t have an iPhoneRight now, there aren’t any Android phones that offer a similar feature as the iPhone 14’s emergency satellite texting. Sure, having to remember to charge and bring another device with you is a bit of a pain, but having an inReach Messenger in your bag or glove box provides peace of mind.
No to mention, the entire inReach line is designed for use outdoors with long battery lifeand serves multiple purposes. It’s not simply a device that acts as a gateway for communicating with first responders but offers the ability to do so much more while off the grid.
You should use Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite if…1. You don’t want to worry about buying or carrying another deviceThe iPhone 14 line starts at $799, which isn’t cheap. And the idea of ​​buying a $299 device, for some, is surely going to be a sticking point. Especially when the iPhone 14 now provides arguably the most important feature that the inReach Messenger offers in emergency SOS communication to get help when you need it the most.There’s something to be said about not having to worry about having another device on you at all times, let alone worrying about it being charged. Odds are you’ll have your phone on you, and it’ll be charged.


The inReach Messenger is easy enough to toss in a backpack or your glovebox, but you still have to worry about when the last time was that you charged it — or did you remember to pay your subscription?Find My app to share your location once every 15 minutes with anyone you have added as a friend in the Find My app.
3. You don’t want a monthly subscriptionFor the first two years of owning an iPhone 14, you’ll get access to Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature at no extra cost. Apple hasn’t said what the fee is going to be, if any, after that two-year period .
I have a suspicion that Apple is giving SOS access away for free while it builds out its satellite features and capabilities to be more like Garmin’s inReach service, providing more features such as text messages with contacts, weather updates and more GPS-specific features.
Once those features are available, Apple will have a monthly fee that includes SOS services. Although, I’d imagine that Apple keeps the SOS stuff free.


2. You only want peace of mindFor some, part of the appeal of exploring the wilderness is going off the grid and disconnecting from everything. What’s the point of going on a long hike in the mountains if you’re just going to be looking for the best Instagram shots or checking your email every 10 minutes?
The inReach Messenger allows you to go off the grid, but it also still allows people to get ahold of you. Or for you to be tempted to “just check in real quick.”
At its core, Emergency SOS via Satellite is designed only for use in an emergency. In fact, you have to dial 911 in an area without Wi-Fi or cellular coverage to even trigger it.
Also: How to GPS-track any phone


That said, if you do want to provide peace of mind to loved ones while you’re hiking, you can use Apple’s 

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Bad iPhone battery after installing iOS 16? Don’t panic! Do this instead

iOS 16 has been out a few days and people are complaining about iPhone battery problems after installing the update.


These problems fall into three categories:
Rapid battery drop during the iOS 16 install processPoor battery life after installing iOS 16A noticeable drop in ” Battery Health” following the installation of iOS 16Let’s look at these separately.


Also: Problems downloading iOS 16? Here’s how to fix it fast
Is a big drop in battery life while installing iOS 16 normal?

Yes. This is perfectly normal.
A lot must happen when updating the whole operating system, from downloading and verifying the update, making sure there’s enough space for the update, carrying out the update, clean up after the update, and then housekeeping tasks such as updating search indexes in the hours following an update.
This all takes battery power, much more than you’d expect from regular day-to-day use, and it’s perfectly normal to see the battery plummet by many percentage points.
I’ve seen some precipitous drops in battery life happen over the course of a few minutes while updating, which is why I recommend having the iPhone on charge during this process.


Is poor battery life after installing iOS 16 normal?This is also so common that I consider it normal.
First, those housekeeping processes that happen after installing an update can take days to complete. One of those housekeeping tasks in battery recalibration, and this can give the temporary impression that the battery is draining more rapidly when in fact it isn’t.


My advice is to use the iPhone for a few days normally and chances are all the problems will solve themselves. Also, update your apps regularly (the problem could be a buggy app).


Also, when Apple inevitably releases the iOS 16.0.1 update, install this, because it’s likely to contain a bunch of fixes, and if there is an issue with battery drain, it might sort that out.Is a big drop in “Battery Health” normal, too?“Battery Health” is that number you can find by tapping Settings > Battery > Battery Health. The figure is quoted as Maximum Capacity, and I’ve written quite a bit about this over the years.
My advice is simple: Stop worrying about it.


“Battery Health” is a feel-good number that doesn’t really tell you anything meaningful about the actual health of your battery. My iPhone tells me that my battery is still at 94% capacity after almost a year of heavy use.
I guarantee you this number is wrong.


But it doesn’t matter. Your iPhone battery should be good for three years at least. After this, you probably need to think about getting it swapped out.
Also: Your iPhone battery is lying to you in weird ways
The bottom lineI’ve been updating iPhones for well over a decade, and if there’s one thing that I can guarantee that will happen when a new version of iOS is released, it’s that a lot of people will complain about battery life.
And remember, there are now over a billion iPhones in use. Even if only a small percentage of people notice deteriorated battery life, that’s going to amount to a lot of complaining.


And just to be clear, these people are not imagining that battery life has taken a nosedive.
It really is worse.
But for most of those users, it’s a problem that will have sorted itself out in a week or so (or until Apple releases a patch or there’s an update to a buggy app).
Just sit back, keep using your iPhone, and keep a charger or power bank nearby for regular top-ups.


And for a small group of really unlucky users, their iPhone’s battery will have waited until the new iOS update to decide to give up the ghost finally.
For those people, the only solution is a new battery (or a new iPhone).

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iPhone 14 Pro battery draining? Turning off ‘always-on’ display won’t help. Here’s what will

Everyone wants their iPhone’s battery to last longer, even if they’ve just bought a new iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max.


Apple claims that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max get “up to” 20 and 25 hours of video stream, respectively, but even that’s not enough for some new owners.The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max features an always-on display, and it seems that people believe that this puts a significant dent in battery life. That, or they’ve been reading one of the many “battery saving tips” posts on the internet that highlight this new feature as a big battery drain.


Well, is it?Also: Apple’s worst product has now become one of its best
There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to do some real-world testing.
There are a few different ways to do real-world testing, but here I decided to make things simple.
For this test I put theiPhoneinto Airplane Mode and then left it with the display on (and doing nothing) for a couple of hours, made a note of the drop in battery level, and then repeated the test with the display off.


It’s quick and simple, and if there was going to be any significant improvement in battery life, it would show up in a couple of hours.
Bottom line, the always-on display makes little difference.
Just to be sure, I repeated the experiment, but this time I ran it for four hours, and again, the difference was negligible.

Also: How to take great macro photos with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max


The always-on display is clearly a feature that’s been optimized for the OLED ProMotion display, and turning it off buys you very little extra battery life.
That said, if you put your iPhone into Low Power Mode (tap on Settings > Battery and toggle Low Power Mode), the always-on display is one of the features disabled.
So, if you’re trying to get more battery life (maybe you’re running out, or need to get through an especially long day), turning off the display is not going to help you.
What should you do?


Here are a couple of suggestions that will get you hours of extra battery life:
Turn on Low Power Mode: You do lose some features, but this dramatically will extend your battery lifeCarry a power bank: I suggest something small like the Anker 622 MagneticBatterywhich uses MagSafe so you don’t need to carry a separate charging cable. 

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Here’s what Apple doesn’t want you to know about your iPhone’s battery

Apple is very selective about what information it wants you to have access to. Here’s how to get an “access all areas” pass for everything you want to know about youriPhone’s battery.


It’s rather intriguing how we can obsess over little things. I’ve lost count over how many conversations I’ve had with people over things like the signal strength bar or battery life meter on their smartphone. reading full, 100%, or indicating perfection, we start to feel uncomfortable.
Also: iPhone went for a swim? Here’s how Siri can help eject water from its speakers
And if there’s one thing that iPhone users obsess over more than anything, it’s their battery. 


What Apple wants you to see (and why it’s confusing)Apple gives you access to very specific information about your battery. You can see this yourself by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. 
This screen gives you a very basic overview of your iPhone’s battery health, including one figure that people seem to obsess over more than anything — the Maximum Capacity meter.
Apple describes this number as “a measure of battery capacity relative to when it was new,” and goes on to say how “lower capacity may result in fewer hours of usage between charges.”


Also: Battery bad after installing iOS 16.5? Try these 7 tipsSounds like a bland, rather innocuous thing, doesn’t it?
Oh, but people do get fixed on it.
In part, this is down to the mysteriousness around what it actually means, and the way it can sit at 100% for months before starting to decrease — sometimes plunging precipitously fast. 
Below, I have two screenshots I took this month, showing a battery drop of three percentage points:
Battery’s maximum capacity readingIn three weeks, iOS 16 says my battery’s maximum capacity fell three percentage points, from 95 to 92%.Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETThen there are the endless blog posts, social media missives, and YouTube videos spreading the urban myth that if you “charge your iPhone the right way,” you can keep this at 100% forever.
Also: iPhone overheating? Here are 8 potential causes and their solutions

You can’t.
The reason you can’t keep this at 100% is down to the laws of physics.  
Why lithium-ion batteries wearEvery time you charge and discharge a lithium-ion battery, it experiences a small amount of wear. According to Apple, “a normal battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions This means that for every 25 charge and recharge cycles, the Maximum Capacity number should drop a percentage point.  
But iPhones can seemingly be stuck at 100% for months in the beginning, and this is part of the problem with this figure and why it causes confusion. This is because the battery inside your iPhone has a higher actual capacity than Apple claims. Apple underpromises on the capacity because new batteries have a natural variation in capacity, and Apple would prefer that your battery has slightly more capacity — not less — than what’s in the spec sheet.


Also: My iPhone’s battery doesn’t stay at 100% for as long as it used to.
Once the actual capacity wears down to the capacity that Apple states in the spec sheet, that Maximum Capacity number starts to tick down.
But your iPhone collects a lot more information about your battery.
A lot more.

To find this hidden information you have to go to Settings > Privacy & Security, then scroll to the bottom and tap on Analytics & Improvements.
Next, you need to click on Analytics Data. This setting only exists if you have Share iPhone Analytics (or Share iPhone & Watch Analytics) enabled. If it’s not enabled, you’ll need to enable it and wait a day or so for the iPhone to collect the data.
Yes, the information is only logged if you choose to share it with Apple.
Also: iPhone envy? Here are 3 iOS 17 features already available on Android
If Analytics Data is enabled, then tap on it, and you’ll be presented with what looks like a wall of files.


The Analytics Data screenDon’t panic.
You need to scroll until you find a file starting with the name Analytics-. There’s likely to be a bunch of them with dates in the name.
The latest one will be at the bottom of the list. Tap on it to open it and it’ll be full of information.
A ton of it.Also: Which MagSafe battery pack is the best? 
First, if you also own an iPad or Apple Watch as well as an iPhone, you need to know you’re looking at the right file. At the top look for “os_version”:iPhone OS. up the list of files until you find one relating to your iPhone. 

And going through this data on the iPhone itself is a pain (although can be done if you’re patient and do a copy and paste into an app like Notes). What I do is tap the Share button and email the file to myself so I can open it at my leisure on a Mac or PC (you could always AirDrop it yourself).

First off, if you look for last_value_CycleCount, that will tell you how many recharge cycles your battery has been through. Earlier I mentioned that as far as Apple is concerned, your battery should retain 80% of its capacity after 500 recharge cycles, so having access to this figure gives you an idea of ​​how worn your battery is.
This is probably the most important figure that Apple doesn’t tell you.
My iPhone 14 Pro Max is less than a year old and has gone through 216 recharge cycles. 
Also: iPhone Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max? Which new iPhone should you buy? 
That’s a lot, and accounts for why the Maximum Capacity figure is 92%. See, the math works out — it’s almost halfway through the 500 recharge cycles, and almost halfway to being 80% worn.


But there’s more we can get from this file.
Another metric is last_value_MaximumFCC, which refers to the maximum capacity of your battery when new as measured in mAH (milliAmp Hour). Apple prints a rated capacity on its batteries, but this is a theoretical number and the actual capacity will vary because of manufacturing tolerances .
The figure that you get from the log file will be the maximum capacity of your battery as measured by the iPhone.

The last_value_MaximumFCC will almost always be a little bigger than the battery’s rated capacity. This accounts for why the Maximum Capacity figure doesn’t start ticking down on day one.
Also: The Apple products you shouldn’t buy this month
Another figure you can get out of the logs is last_value_NominalChargeCapacity, which gives you the current capacity of your iPhone’s battery.
The difference between these two numbers indicates how worn the battery really is.

So, while you can’t do anything to prevent battery wear, you can reduce premature battery wear by keeping the battery within its rated temperature zone, and not overcharging it.


The iOS feature, called Optimized Battery Charging, does a good job of preventing premature battery wear from overcharging.
Also: 5 useful iOS 17 features Apple quietly released at WWDC 2023
But note that I said, “premature battery wear.”
It doesn’t do anything for regular batterywear.