IPhone se Smart battery. The best Apple Watches we ve tested, from the newest…

Smartphones

The best Apple Watches we’ve tested, from the newest Series 8 to the budget-friendly SE

The best Apple Watches track activity and sleep, feature long-lasting batteries, and more. After testing the models, here are our top picks.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Allison Murray is a writer based in Chicago. She has years of reporting experience on a wide variety of tech-related topics and breaking news at various outlets like Digital Trends and Lifewire.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Allison Murray is a writer based in Chicago. She has years of reporting experience on a wide variety of tech-related topics and breaking news at various outlets like Digital Trends and Lifewire.

The Apple Watch has become a gold standard for wearable tech, and the release of the Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra. and updated Apple Watch SE last fall brought even more robust health-tracking features for monitoring heart health, body temperature, and sleep habits, as well as other cycle-tracking functions. Additionally, the updated sensors and processors support fall and crash detection features, allowing users to contact emergency services even without immediate phone access.

At Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, the company unveiled WatchOS 10, the latest version of the watch’s operating system, with several new features for health, exercise, and easier app and widget access.

But is one of the latest Apple Watches the best fit for your wrist? To help you decide which Apple Watch to invest in, we’ve rounded up the best models you can buy right now based on our own hands-on testing with the models and paying attention to health tracking features, app compatibility, watch face size, and wrist Band options. The Apple Watch Series 8 is our pick for the best Apple Watch, but we also included models from previous generations and more splurge-worthy options.

Apple Watch Series 8

Best Apple Watch overall

Apple Watch Series 8 tech specs: Display size: 41 or 45mm | Battery life: 36 hours (with Low Power mode) | Storage capacity: 32GB | Features: New health features, extended battery life, updated chip and sensors

The Apple Watch Series 8 is a big leap forward for the flagship smartwatch. It not only features an updated S8 chip but also two new sensors to detect falls and car accidents. This allows you to use the watch to contact emergency services and emergency contacts when you can’t reach your phone or the OnStar button in your car.

The case is made of 100% recycled aerospace-grade alloy, giving the watch face plenty of strength to handle everyday wear and tear as well as the occasional accident. The glass watch face is also designed to be tough, using Apple’s Ion-X glass to protect against scratches and cracks while still providing great usability.

The Series 8 also focuses on health features like a built-in ECG and heart sensor to give you feedback on your heart rate, rhythm, and even blood oxygen levels to help you monitor your overall health as well as quickly treat any sudden issues. It also helps with women’s health issues, letting you more accurately track your cycle so you can discuss any issues with your doctor.

Another new feature for the Series 8 is the ability to use SOS calling and messaging even when a cellular network is out of range. The updated SOS feature allows the watch to connect to satellites in order to contact emergency services and contacts in case of a fall, crash, or medical emergency. And the battery has been updated as well, giving you up to 36 hours of use with the new battery-saver mode.

Apple Watch Ultra

Best Apple Watch for outdoor sports

  • Toughest Apple Watch yet
  • Titanium case and sapphire crystal
  • Enhanced safety and health features
  • Dual-frequency GPS
  • Very expensive
  • Most people won’t use all features
  • Satellite SOS requires monthly fee

Apple Watch Ultra tech specs: Display Size: 49mm | Battery life: 60 hours | Storage capacity: 32GB | Features: Toughest Apple Watch yet, titanium case and sapphire crystal, enhanced safety and health features, dual-frequency GPS

The Apple Watch Ultra is a totally new iteration of the smartwatch, designed from the ground up to handle the toughest outdoor challenges you can find. The case is made of aerospace-grade titanium with a sapphire crystal face for extra durability to handle everything from everyday wear and tear to extreme weather conditions.

Along with all of the updated health and safety features that the Series 8 introduced, the Apple Watch Ultra also has updated GPS capabilities, utilizing dual-frequency tracking technology to give you accurate location information even in mountainous terrain.

The watch is rated for water resistance up to 100 meters (328 feet) and scuba diving up to 40 meters (131 feet), making it a great choice for divers, snorkeling enthusiasts, and competitive swimmers. And with MIL-STD-810H durability, the Apple Watch Ultra is able to handle temperatures as low as.4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) and as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius), as well as shocks, sustained vibrations, and high altitudes.

The integrated battery can give you up to an impressive 60 hours of use with the low battery mode, giving you peace of mind on long camping trips or hiking and diving excursions.

The all-new action button lets you create custom controls for indoor workout tracking, adding waypoints to your hiking compass, or tracking your dive time. And with dual integrated speakers, calls, music, and even Siri can be heard loud and clear. There’s even an integrated emergency siren that blasts an 86-decibel sound pattern to help emergency workers find you if you’re lost or hurt or to scare away dangerous animals while hiking.

The Best iPhone Cases

This guide has been updated to add our case picks for the iPhone 14 series.

A good case is a wise investment for your iPhone. Even the least expensive iPhone is pricey, and the right case offers protection against scratches, dings, and cracks—and allows you to personalize your phone—often without adding much bulk or changing how you use your device. Whether you’re looking for a case to conveniently attach to various accessories throughout your day or seeking the most protection possible, we’ve tested hundreds of iPhone cases and can recommend the right one to fit your needs.

Best basic case for any iPhone: Smartish Gripmunk

The Smartish Gripmunk is a reliable choice for anyone seeking a simple, durable, and protective case generally available for 10 to 15. It has been our favorite case for every iPhone model since the iPhone 7, and although it isn’t particularly flashy, it is dependable. The case is flexible enough to allow for an easy installation, but it won’t stretch out or pull off over time. It also offers finger grooves on the edges that help improve grip, plus excellent shock absorption. Though every accident is different, we’ve dropped iPhones wearing this case dozens of times and never damaged their bodies. You’re unlikely to find a case of this quality at a lower price.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Visually, the Smartish Gripmunk isn’t the most exciting case out there, but Amazon offers a “secret menu” with a handful of patterns you can have printed on the back of the case; another alternative is to upload your own images or text on the Smartish website for more personalization. Note that the Gripmunk doesn’t protect against every impact—no case truly can—but if you want to be extra safe, check out our protective picks for every iPhone model.

Read more about the Smartish Gripmunk in our full guides to the best cases for the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 12 series, the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone X series, and the iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 7, and iPhone 8.

Best leather cases: Apple Leather Case and Mujjo Full Leather Case

For those who prefer the look and feel of leather, we’ve found Apple’s Leather Case to be notably better than those of any other brand we’ve tested over the years. It’s the thinnest, most attractive leather case available, and it offers as much protection as you could hope for from this style. The iPhone 12, 13, and 14 versions conveniently include MagSafe, and we love the color options for this case across all models. No leather case will last forever, but Apple’s material feels premium and provides a solid grip.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Among Wirecutter staffers, we’ve found that the lifespan of the Apple Leather Case is about one year. Around that time, the underlying plastic starts to show through, and what starts out as handsome weathering becomes ratty and torn up. Leather wears more obviously than plastic, so don’t expect this case to keep its day-one appearance for long. Apple also discloses that if you use MagSafe accessories with it, you will see slight imprints in the case over time.

Apple no longer sells an iPhone X–specific version of the Leather Case. The iPhone XS model fits the iPhone X but with a small gap (of less than a millimeter) underneath the camera “bump.” If that bothers you, this may not be the right case for your 2017 iPhone X, but no other leather case makes fewer trade-offs.

Because Apple doesn’t make a leather case for the iPhone 11, we recommend the Mujjo Full Leather Case; it isn’t quite as good as Apple’s Leather Case, but it is the best you’ll find for this model. The Mujjo case’s design is extremely similar to that of the Apple case, with slightly rough but supple leather on the outside, microfiber on the inside, and an open bottom edge. It also has a matte finish that feels just as nice.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The button covers on the Mujjo Full Leather Case are molded into the leather rather than inserted as metal accents, which makes the buttons feel squishier than we’d like. Still, it’s a great case with a slim and understated look. We used to recommend this case for the iPhone XR, but it’s since been discontinued.

Read more about the Apple Leather Case and the Mujjo Full Leather Case in our full guides to the best cases for the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 12 series, the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone X series, and the iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 7, and iPhone 8.

Best wallet case for all iPhones: Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1

Anyone looking to combine their wallet with their iPhone should consider the Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 case. It does a great job of keeping your cards (up to three) protected and in place, and it can also accommodate some cash. The case’s molded plastic design fits well in the hand, and you don’t have to worry about it deforming over time—the Wallet Slayer maintains its shape and thickness no matter how full (or empty) it is.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 is certainly as bulky as you might expect a wallet case to be, but we don’t think it feels overly thick. People with tighter s may want to consider something slimmer; this case is also too thick to work with most Qi wireless chargers and MagSafe chargers.

Read more about the Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 in our full guides to the best cases for the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 12 series, the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone X series, and the iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 7, and iPhone 8.

Best clear cases for all iPhones: Smartish Gripmunk Nothin’ to Hide and Spigen Liquid Crystal

Apple’s most recent generations of iPhones come in an array of striking body colors such as pale pink, cherry red, and navy blue, but unfortunately, none of those shades are visible from the front. If you don’t want to cover up the bold color on the back of your new phone but still need the protection of a good case, the Nothin’ to Hide is a clear variant of our favorite basic case for the iPhone 13 and 14 series. It’s identical in every way regarding size and design, but it’s made of hard plastic rather than the more rubber-like TPU of the basic Gripmunk.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Over time, every clear case will turn yellow to some degree, and the Nothin’ to Hide is no exception. We’ve seen claims of “anti-yellowing technology” over the years, but we’ve never found a transparent case that hasn’t become a bit grimy over time.

  • Spigen Liquid Crystal for iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
  • Spigen Liquid Crystal for iPhone11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
  • Spigen Liquid Crystal for iPhone XS Max, XR
  • Spigen Liquid Crystal for iPhone SE (2nd generation), 8, 7

For iPhones older than the 13 series, the Spigen Liquid Crystal has been our favorite transparent case for years. It’s simple and protective, and it has air s in the corners for drop protection. The inside is lined with small dots to prevent the water-like splotches that can appear when a case sticks to the phone’s glass back, and we like that fingerprints are less evident on the Liquid Crystal than on many other transparent cases.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Just like the Nothin’ to Hide, the Spigen Liquid Crystal will yellow over time. You may not notice the change in color until you compare your case directly with a brand-new one, and we think the Liquid Crystal is inexpensive enough to merit a replacement down the line. We used to recommend the Liquid Crystal for the iPhone 11, iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 7 Plus, but the case has been discontinued for those models.

Read more about the Smartish Gripmunk Nothin’ to Hide and the Spigen Liquid Crystal in our full guides to the best cases for the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 12 series, the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone X series, and the iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 7, and iPhone 8.

Protective cases we recommend: Smartish Gripzilla, Speck Presidio Pro, and Speck Presidio Grip

If you tend to drop your phone a lot—or if you simply don’t want to take any risks when it comes to damage—the Smartish Gripzilla is the most protective case we recommend for the iPhone 12, 13 and 14. Deep grooves molded into the sides provide better grip for those who are more prone to dropping their devices. Despite its thickness, pressing the buttons remains easy, and the case works with both Qi and MagSafe chargers. Though no case can guarantee a damage-free fall, the air s inside the Gripzilla’s raised corners and its soft rubber interior provide strong shock absorption.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Smartish Gripzilla is bulky but not unreasonably so. It makes the phone about 50% thicker, adding ⅛ inch to the overall size.

We love the Speck Presidio Pro for the iPhone 11 and iPhone X series because it holds up against drops better than most other cases that are bulkier and less attractive, and it’s reasonably priced. The Presidio Pro is built with a hard, matte-plastic exterior and lined with rubber. Shock-absorbent air s on the border help it provide more protection than thinner or more basic cases offer, though we still don’t recommend trying to test its limits on purpose.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Speck Presidio Pro is not the most protective case available, but it’s our favorite because it’s slightly more stylish than bulkier cases from other companies yet it still offers great defense against drops and other damage. If you’re looking for something truly bulletproof, consider a case from OtterBox or Urban Armor Gear. We used to recommend the Speck Presidio Pro for the iPhone XR, but it’s currently unavailable online.

The Speck Presidio Grip is the best protective case for older iPhone models, as well as for the SE. Like the Presidio Pro, it has hard plastic on the outside and rubber on the inside, but the Grip is built with raised ridges on the back to help prevent it from slipping out of your hand. If the unfortunate fall does happen, the Grip should armor your phone to withstand drops of as much as 10 feet—but again, no case is a true guarantee. We like that it comes in a range of color options, and we also appreciated that the phone’s buttons stayed nice and clicky through the case in our tests.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Many customer reviews complain that the Presidio Grip feels cheap compared with Speck’s previous CandyShell line. We disagree that it’s inferior, though it certainly feels different. We also prefer not to recommend protective cases that cost more than 25, but we found that the Presidio Grip was worth its price tag. We used to recommend the Presidio Grip for the iPhone SE, 7, and 8, but it’s since been discontinued.

Read more about the Smartish Gripzilla, the Speck Presidio Pro, and the Speck Presidio Grip in our full guides to the best cases for the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 12 series, the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone X series, and the iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 7, and iPhone 8.

Best folio case for the iPhone 11 and iPhone X: Speck Presidio Folio

We have yet to find a folio-case recommendation for the iPhone SE, iPhone 12, or iPhone 13. We will update this guide if we do.

If you like using your phone case in place of a wallet, and if you welcome an extra layer of screen protection, we recommend the Speck Presidio Folio case for the iPhone 11 and iPhone X series. In a category full of bulky options, it’s one of the thinnest folios we’ve ever tested, and it’s well designed from the case down to the folding cover. The Presidio Folio consists of hard plastic covered by waxed fabric, and it offers good button protection while still allowing for volume control even when the lid is closed. (Many other folio cases omit this feature.) The inside of the front cover features a little door that flips up to reveal a plastic card holder, a design that offers significantly more security for your cards compared with many other cases. Although it’s thicker than a basic case, it’s still compatible with Qi wireless charging.

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Flaws but not dealbreakers: The lid of the Presidio Folio case stays in place better than those of most other folios we tested, but it can still flop around a bit when you’re using your phone. We like the plastic that protects and holds cards, but it does mean you have to take out the entire stack to access the card hidden in the back. We used to recommend the Speck Presidio Folio for the iPhone 11 series, but it’s since been discontinued.

Read more about the Speck Presidio Folio in our full guides to the best cases for the iPhone X series.

Why Is My iPhone Battery Draining So Fast? 10 Easy Fixes (2023)

Why is your iPhone battery draining so fast all of a sudden? Does the iOS 16 update drain your battery life? If your iPhone loses battery faster than you’d like it to or faster than you think is normal, we can help. We’ll answer common iPhone battery drain questions, and walk you through some simple solutions to stop your iPhone battery from dying fast.

Why Is My iPhone Dying So Fast? iOS 16 Battery Drain Other Issues

Are you wondering why your iPhone battery dies so fast? Is your iPhone losing charge after updating to iOS 16? You’re not alone. iOS update battery drain issues are extremely common and for good reason! A new iOS update drains battery because of the many big changes to your iPhone features that come with installing the most recent iOS software. The larger fall updates, like the recent iOS 16 update, often affect your iPhone battery more than the smaller updates we see throughout the year.

While some of this is unavoidable, there are certain things you can do to optimize your battery use and cut back on unnecessary iPhone battery drain. We’ll show you some iOS 16 battery-saving tips and offer guidance on how to preserve battery life on your iPhone.

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How to Save Battery on iPhone

First, we’ll cover how to quickly check your battery health. Odds are, your iPhone battery is fighting fit, but is being drained by unneeded processes running in the background. We’ll cover some easy solutions to prevent battery drain from iOS 16 on your iPhone. Also, If you enjoy learning about how to use your Apple devices, be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day.

Check Your iPhone Battery Health Suggestions

This is a good first step whether you’re worried that the iPhone update is draining the battery or not. Your iPhone will recommend specific changes in Settings to preserve iPhone battery life. To see why your iPhone battery is draining faster than it should be, use these steps to check Battery Health suggestions:

  • Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Battery.

On the next screen, your iPhone will suggest changes to settings that will improve battery life. You can tap on each suggestion to jump to the setting that needs changing. If you don’t want to make the change, at least you understand what’s contributing to your battery drain.

Note: If you don’t see the Battery Life Suggestions section, your iPhone doesn’t currently see any ways to improve battery life via Settings.

However, we’ll have to respectfully disagree—there’s almost always a way to fix iPhone battery drain. Continue on down the list to see how many ways you can fix an iPhone battery dying faster than it should.

Dim Your iPhone Screen If Your iPhone Keeps Losing Charge

Keeping your iPhone’s screen at full brightness is a likely culprit when your iPhone battery drains fast, but it’s easily remedied. This is actually one of the main causes of battery drain and consumes more power than you might think! Here’s how to dim the screen brightness to save battery on your iPhone:

  • Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.
  • Tap and drag the Brightness slider toward the bottom, or as near to the bottom as you can go and still comfortably read your display.

If you have your iPhone brightness set to a more reasonable level but your iPhone battery is draining quickly anyway, there are a lot more options for conserving battery on iPhone. Keep reading!

Turn on Auto-Brightness to Stop iPhone Battery Drain

Auto-Brightness settings adjust your screen lighting automatically based on ambient light levels. This keeps your iPhone from losing battery too quickly by wasting it on unnecessary screen brightness. To save battery on your iPhone by enabling Auto-Brightness:

    Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Accessibility.

Next, we’ll take a look at some lesser-known settings to help improve iPhone battery life.

Turn Off Raise to Wake to Save iPhone Battery

All iPhone models have the Raise to Wake function enabled by default. This might be part of your problem, especially if you pick up your iPhone a lot or walk with it swinging in your hand. The iPhone screen constantly turning on will definitely drain your battery. To turn off Raise to Wake to save iPhone battery life:

    Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Display Brightness.

Once you’ve disabled this feature, you just have to tap your iPhone to wake it. Now that we’ve covered brightness settings that help prevent battery drain on iPhone, we can move on to things like apps that drain iPhone battery.

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Update Apps to Keep Your iPhone Battery from Dying Fast

Apps that need updates kill iPhone battery health. iOS update battery drain often has to do with apps. When new software is released, such as the iOS 16 update, developers have to play catch-up too. Apps that need updates may run inefficiently, or accidentally run operations in a way that’s counterproductive to the way it should be done on the most current iOS software. If you don’t automatically update apps on iPhone, taking the time to update all the available apps on your list could seriously help with iPhone battery drain! Here’s how to update apps to avoid battery drain on your iPhone:

  • Open the App Store and tap your account icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Do iPhone widgets drain battery? We’ll take a look at that next.

Remove Widgets to Stop iPhone Battery from Draining

Do widgets drain the battery on iPhones or iPads? Yes, but not all of them cause as much iPhone battery drain as others. If your iPhone battery is dying too quickly, consider getting rid of any widgets you don’t need.

If your battery is dying fast on your iPhone, try removing unnecessary widgets with the steps below:

  • Open the Today View by swiping right on the Lock screen or swiping all the way right on your Home screen, one screen past the first Home screen page.
  • Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit.

Try Restarting If Your iPhone Is Dying Really Fast

Restarting your device is troubleshooting 101. If you ever have any issue with a device, Apple-made or otherwise, a simple restart almost always helps. Restarting your iPhone probably won’t fix the problem of battery drain completely, but it’s likely to give it a bit of a boost.

How to Restart Your iPhone X or Later:

  • Hold down the Side button and the up or down volume button.
  • Drag the Power Off slider to turn your iPhone off.

How to Restart Your iPhone 8 or Earlier, or iPod Touch

  • Hold down the Top or Side button until Slide to Power Off appears on the screen.
  • Slide the slider to power off the iPhone.

Turn Off Background App Refresh to Save iPhone Battery Life

Background App Refresh allows your apps to check for new content and update even when you’re not using them. This is intended to save you loading time when opening up apps, as the latest information should be ready and waiting after being refreshed in the background. However, allowing all your open apps to continually update and refresh in the background is a sure-fire way to drain your iPhone battery. Here’s how to turn off Background App Refresh to keep your iPhone from losing charge:

    Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap General.

Adjust Location Services to Fight iPhone Battery Drain Issue

Location Services is another sneaky feature that could explain why your iPhone is losing charge. Lots of different apps want to know and use your location for various legitimately useful reasons, but most of them don’t need to track your location when you aren’t using the app. You can quickly go through your apps and choose whether they can use your location Always, While Using the App, Ask Next Time, or Never. If the app never needs your location, feel free to select that. For most apps, it makes the most sense to allow Location Services only while using the app. To do this:

    Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Privacy.

Place Your iPhone Face Down to Stop Battery-Draining Notifications

When your iPhone is facing up, the screen illuminates whenever you receive a notification. If you receive a lot of notifications, they could easily be part of why your iPhone battery drains faster than you’d like it to, especially since notifications in iOS 16 are rich, meaning you can see conversations, images, and more directly from the Lock screen. Instead of letting the screen light up and drain iPhone battery life every time you get a notification, simply leave your phone face-down when not in use. Trust me; it works surprisingly well!

Turn On Low Power Mode to Stop the Battery Dying Fast on Your iPhone

Not everyone is aware of the iPhone battery-saving powers of Low Power Mode. Sure, we’d love our iPhone battery life to last forever without it, but when you have three more hours until you can charge your iPhone and your iPhone battery percentage is at 30 percent, Low Power Mode is an iPhone battery life saver. To turn on Low Power Mode, you can activate Siri and say, “Turn on Low Power Mode.” Alternatively, you can turn on Low Power Mode manually in the Control Center, as demonstrated below.

  • Open the Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner of your screen. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.

Turn On Reduce Motion to Stop Battery Drain on Your iPhone

Another issue that can be the cause of iOS update battery drain is an increase in animations that come with new software features. If you’ve been enjoying the interesting effects (fireworks and confetti, anyone?) and reactions in the Messages app, you’re using animations that require lots of iPhone battery life. While the flashy features of the Messages app might be fun, they’re sure to cut into the amount of time your iPhone can stay alive. Beyond the Messages app, the iPhone has animations for everything. Simply switching from an app to the Home screen has its own animation. Each animation may not use much battery life, but the little bit each transition uses adds up quickly. To turn on Reduce Motion and stop iPhone battery drain from these small animations:

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  • Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Accessibility.

Use Airplane Mode or Wi-Fi to Stop Battery Drain in Low Reception Areas

If a secure Wi-Fi network is available, log into it rather than using your cellular data plan. Also, if you are out and about in a location with poor cellular reception, having your iPhone constantly searching for a cell signal leads to your iPhone draining battery faster than you may realize. To prevent iPhone battery drain, open the Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner of your screen. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead. Next tap on the Airplane mode icon which, logically enough, looks like an airplane. When the icon is orange, Airplane mode is enabled, and your iPhone will not continue searching for a Wi-Fi or cellular signal.

FAQ

  • What kills iPhone battery the most?The factor that many experts agree has the biggest effect on iPhone battery life is screen brightness. Fortunately, this is also one of the easiest things to adjust! With a combination of keeping your phone face down when not in use, using the auto-brightness feature, and generally being okay with a dimmer screen (you may be surprised how much easier it is on your eyes), you’ll save a huge amount of battery. Another top iPhone battery drain is app activity. You can check which apps use the most battery within your iPhone Settings.
  • How do I maximize battery life on my iPhone?The tips in this article are mostly geared toward short-term iPhone battery drain, but what about battery life and battery lifespan? Check out our article on how to make your iPhone battery last longer, and how to keep it functioning well for years to come.
  • Is it safe to charge my iPhone overnight?Believe it or not, this is actually bad for your iPhone’s battery! There are quite a few reasons for this, but most of them have to do with how the lithium-ion batteries in our iPhones age. Fortunately, Optimized Battery Charging introduced in iOS 13 aims to mitigate battery wear to maintain its lifespan. It works by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged while connected to power during overnight charging. When the feature is enabled, your iPhone will charge to 80 percent during the night and then quickly charge the last 20 percent right before you wake up. We go into more detail about this feature below!
  • What is Optimized Battery Charging?Optimized Battery Charging protects your iPhone’s battery by limiting or preventing the kind of aging that occurs when a lithium-ion battery is held at 100 percent charge. Essentially, it uses an algorithm to predict your schedule based on your use patterns. It then delays charging as needed to allow your phone to reach full charge right when you need it to. As Apple puts it, Optimized Battery Charging is designed to reduce the wear on your battery and improve its lifespan by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged. That way your iPhone doesn’t sit in a high-tension state known as trickle charging, which damages the health of your device battery!
  • Should I let my iPhone completely die before charging it?No. Using up the last 20 percent of your phone’s battery will diminish its function over time, and likely shorten the overall lifespan of your battery. For the everyday user, this means it won’t take as long before the phone stops holding its charge like it’s supposed to, and the battery dies more quickly than it should. Not good!
  • Why is my iPhone hot and losing battery?While this can signal a hardware issue (such as with your battery), the problem can also be a malfunctioning app or an energy-draining feature. We recommend restarting your iPhone and installing any new software updates. If your iPhone is still overheating, you’ll want to do some quick troubleshooting to pinpoint and resolve the issue.
  • Does sharing location drain battery?Yes. Sharing your location (such as through the Find My Friends feature in Find My or an ETA in Apple Maps) will definitely drain your iPhone battery. If you’ve been having trouble with your iPhone battery draining too quickly, we recommend limiting your use of these features.

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