Improved Charging Options in iOS 18: Advanced Technology to Protect iPhone Battery

Includes update iOS 18 Advanced battery management features starting with iPhone 15 andIPhone 16These features give users more control over the charging process of their devices, which contributes to maintaining the health of the battery in the long term. This step comes within the framework of Apple's ongoing efforts to improve device performance and extend battery life.

Expanded shipping options to meet users' needs

The new update offers multiple options to set the maximum battery charge, which are: 80% (old option), and new options, which are 85%, 90% and 95%.

These options are intended to reduce the amount of time the battery spends in a fully charged state, which contributes to maintaining its health in the long term. This feature is especially useful for users who leave their phones connected to the charger for long periods. To explain this in more detail:

When a battery remains fully charged to 100% for extended periods of time, it puts additional stress on the battery’s chemical components. This constant stress can lead to a faster deterioration in the battery’s ability to hold a charge over time.

When the battery is fully charged, the concentration of lithium ions in the anode reaches its maximum, and the anode is the negative pole of the battery, usually made of graphite. This leads to an increase in the internal pressure in the battery. This high pressure can cause deformations in the structure of the materials, especially in the graphite layers in the anode.

Full charging also causes unwanted chemical reactions, as the possibility of side reactions between the electrolyte (a solution containing lithium salts, which allows the movement of lithium ions) and the electrodes, which are the basic components in batteries such as the anode, which is the negative pole in the battery as mentioned, and the cathode, which is the positive pole in the battery, increases.

These reactions can lead to the formation of a thin layer on the surface of the electrodes called the “Solid Electrolyte Interphase” (SEI). Over time, the SEI layer can grow, reducing the battery’s ability to store charge.

Therefore, repeated full charging can lead to gradual degradation of the active materials in the cathode and anode. In the cathode, gradual loss of lithium atoms may occur, reducing the battery's storage capacity. In the anode, cracks may occur in the graphite layers, reducing the storage efficiency of lithium ions.

As the full charge cycles are repeated, the internal resistance of the battery gradually increases. This leads to a decrease in the battery's efficiency and its ability to deliver high current when needed.

Also, fully charging increases the activity of chemical reactions inside the battery. This can lead to the battery overheating. High temperatures speed up unwanted chemical reactions, which increases battery deterioration.

There are more complex academic details, but we've tried to keep it as simple as possible. It's enough to know that frequent full charging leads to shorter battery life. So Apple has worked to minimize the effects of these problems, and recommends avoiding frequent full charging and maintaining a charge level between 20% and 80% to extend the life of the battery.

How do the new options work?

Instead of charging the battery to 100%, you can choose a lower maximum (80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%). When you reach the selected limit, your iPhone stops charging, even if it remains connected to the charger. The benefits of this feature include:

Reduce stress: By setting the maximum below 100%, you reduce the time the battery spends in a fully charged state.

Extend battery life: This can help keep your battery healthy for longer, which means better performance in the long run.

If your phone is connected to the charger for long periods, it is beneficial for you.

The charging limit feature in iOS 18 is particularly useful for users who leave their devices plugged in for extended periods of time, such as while sleeping at night or during work hours. In these scenarios, without this feature, the phone continues to charge until it reaches 100% and then remains at that level for hours. This situation puts a constant strain on the battery, as it remains in a fully charged state for an extended period of time, which accelerates the degradation of the battery’s chemical components and reduces its long-term lifespan.

With this new feature enabled, charging stops at a pre-set threshold (such as 80% or 85%), even if the device remains connected to the charger. This means that the battery will not remain fully charged for extended periods, significantly reducing the stress on it. As a result, the battery degradation process is slowed down, maintaining its performance and extending its lifespan. At the same time, the user can still wake up or start the workday with a phone that is sufficiently charged for daily use, without sacrificing the long-term health of the battery.

For more details and brief:

Let’s say you set the charging limit to 85%. When you put your phone on the charger before bed, it will charge to 85% and then stop. Throughout the night, the phone will stay at 85% instead of 100%. In the morning, your phone will be charged enough for your daily use, while reducing the strain on the battery.

 Flexibility of use

You can change this setting according to your needs. For example, you might raise it to 95% if you're going to spend a long day outside. On normal days, choose 80% or 85% to maintain long-term battery health.

In short, this feature gives you more control over how your phone’s battery is charged, helping to balance daily performance with long-term battery health. It’s especially useful for those who regularly leave their phones on the charger for extended periods of time.

How to use the new options

To activate this feature and choose the appropriate maximum battery charge, follow these steps:

◉ Open “Settings”, then go to the “Battery” section.

◉ Click on “Charging”.

◉ Choose your preferred maximum from the available options of 80%, 85%, 90%, and 95%.

Tips for choosing the optimal charging limit

When choosing the maximum charging limit, you should consider your daily phone usage pattern:

If you can charge your phone regularly throughout the day, the lower limit (80% or 85%) may be sufficient.

If you need longer battery life between charges, the 90% or 95% options may be more suitable.

And remember, you can always adjust these settings to suit your changing needs. For example, if you're planning a long day away from power sources, you can temporarily disable the limit to get a full charge.

Smart shipping recommendations

iOS 18 features a smart recommendation feature for the optimal charging limit based on your usage habits. You will receive a notification after a while suggesting the best charging limit for your device. You can also find this recommendation in Settings under “Battery” and then “Charging.”

Slow charger warning

Apple has added a new feature in iOS 18 to alert users when they are using a slow charger. In the Battery menu in Settings, the battery level graph now has an orange color indicating slow charging times over the past 24 hours. If the slow charging time exceeds a certain threshold, a “Slow Charger” warning will appear above the graph.

This feature is useful for users who may be using chargers that are outdated or incompatible with modern charging speeds. It also helps determine why devices are not charging at full speed, especially with wireless chargers that may claim to be compatible with MagSafe technology but actually operate at Qi speeds or slower.

Conclusion

These updates in iOS 18 are a significant step from Apple towards improving the user experience and extending the battery life of the iPhone. By providing more control over the charging process and offering intelligent recommendations, Apple ensures that users can get the most out of their devices while maintaining the long-term health of the battery. Unfortunately, these new features are available exclusively to iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 users.

Source:

macrumors