iPhone 15 users can see battery cycle count & more in Settings

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone

Apple quietly added the ability to see additional battery data in iPhone 15 Settings, including the current cycle count.

Battery chart showing MagSafe charging all day
Battery chart showing MagSafe charging all day



After a tumultuous season of battery complaints about iPhone 14, Apple has included several new data points and controls for iPhone 15 users. The latest data comes from a new battery section within the Settings -> General -> About screen.

First reported by 9to5Mac, an X post from Inverse editor Ray Wong showed off a screenshot of the new battery section. It shows information like the battery manufacture date, the first time it was powered on, and the current cycle count.

This information has always been discoverable with third-party tools but can be tricky to surface. This official way to easily see such data will be a boon to battery-concerned individuals.

Of the parameters shown here, users will benefit most from the current cycle count. With this data point and the battery health percentage, users will have more insight into how much their internal battery has aged.

This information is only available on iPhone 15 models. It isn't clear if Apple will bring this feature to older iPhone models running iOS 17.

Can confirm iPhone 15s now show battery cycle count in Settings > General > About pic.twitter.com/G0bOsYYCx4

-- Ray Wong (@raywongy)



The new battery information tab in the About screen isn't the only battery-focused feature discovered in iPhone 15 models. A new toggle in the battery health menu enables users to activate a hard stop at 80% charge.

These new features could be tied to specific hardware components, like a new power management processor. Otherwise, it isn't clear why they won't appear on older iPhones at a later date.

Users concerned about their device's battery health hope to squeeze out every extra second possible from their iPhone before needing a new battery or device. Anyone upgrading annually or every two years won't need to concern themselves much with battery health beyond resale value.

AppleInsider continues to recommend to avoid overthinking charging habits. Use cables with proper safety certification, stick to MagSafe instead of Qi if wireless charging is used, and just charge your device as needed. Anything else, for the average user, is overkill.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    Anilu_777Anilu_777 Posts: 557member
    I disagree with the recommendation for MagSafe. The only phone o used it on was my 12 Pro Max and after nearly a year it was down to 86% battery. My 14 Pro Max is at 96% after a year. My 13 Pro Max also had similarly good battery. After three years my 8 Plus was at 82%. The only difference is the high heat I noticed when charging via MagSafe. No, I would not use MagSafe, or any fast charging for that matter, due to overheating. I always plug in and slow charge. 
    obiwanbillwilliamlondonAlex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 6
    zimmermannzimmermann Posts: 328member
    Me too, always plug in overnight on a slow charger. In two years my battery is still 100%. 
    obiwanbillAlex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 6
    timmilleatimmillea Posts: 247member
    The advice for all rechargeable batteries is to slow-charge to maintain their health. If you absolutely need to fast-charge to suit your life style then just accept that it will involve quickly diminishing battery capacity and the cost of replacing the battery to keep the device useful. 
    muthuk_vanalingambeowulfschmidtobiwanbillFileMakerFellerAlex1Nchasmwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 6
    jfabula1jfabula1 Posts: 139member
    So what now? Most of the chargers now are fast charging….sue Apple for battery obsolescence??
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 6
    obiwanbillobiwanbill Posts: 17member
    I’m with the slow charge crowd. Anything that overheats your battery diminishes battery life … fast charging, wireless charging, sunlight, anything. Also, I try and protect my phone from drops, hard bumps or even vibrations. This also might diminish battery capacity. The electrolytic material is just too fragile in liquid form.

    I keep my iPhone 14 Pro battery in the 20% to 80% range and slow charge. I don’t leave the device plugged in over night. I quickly charge in the morning if I don’t have enough charge, or intermittently charge during the day. 

    I wish we could buy cases that protect the phone AND allow it to cool better. I’m open to any great reco’s.

    Bill


    Alex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 6
    appleinsideruserappleinsideruser Posts: 542member
    AppleInsider said:



    This information is only available on iPhone 15 models. It isn't clear if Apple will bring this feature to older iPhone models running iOS 17.

    These new features could be tied to specific hardware components, like a new power management processor. Otherwise, it isn't clear why they won't appear on older iPhones at a later date.

    Yet current phones can do charging on hold if hot, or doing continuity camera streaming. So no, unlikely to be hardware. Seems like another typical Apple artificial carrot to get us mugs to upgrade.

    i had put in a feature request for this facility last year. So I should be pleased they did what I asked! Never thought they’d pull this dirty of making it 15 only.
    Alex1N
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