Apple Continuing to Investigate iOS 5 Battery Issues - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Continuing to Investigate iOS 5 Battery Issues

Yesterday, Apple released iOS 5.0.1, the first update to the company's latest iOS 5.0 mobile operating system and one designed in large part to address complaints of battery life issues. But even with the update, a number of users are still reporting significant issues with battery life on their iOS devices.

ios5
Apple has now provided a statement to AllThingsD indicating that it is continuing to investigate the battery life complaints in an attempt to determine what is causing the problems.

The recent iOS software update addressed many of the battery issues that some customers experienced on their iOS 5 devices,” the company said in a statement. “We continue to investigate a few remaining issues.”

Apple has not committed yet to a near-term iOS update to address any additional issues, but is presumably already working on a follow-up update incorporating fixes for any other problems it discovers.

Popular Stories

apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday

Monday November 2, 2026 1:22 am PST by
Apple is releasing five new products this Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from Friday: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
Apple Logo Gradient 16x9 1

Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming

Monday November 2, 2026 7:27 am PST by
Apple's busiest season isn't over yet. Far from it. With two hardware launch dates still to come in November, plus software updates and new smart home accessories running into December, there's more on the way from Apple before the end of 2026, so be sure to stick around. Below, we've rounded up what's still coming, along with one date in particular that's worth watching if you're a holiday...
iPad Pro 2024 vs Air 2024 Feature

Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027

Sunday November 1, 2026 7:27 am PST by
After announcing a new iPad mini with an OLED display earlier this month, Apple plans to release new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and entry-level iPad models in the first half of 2027, according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the next iPad Air will also feature an OLED display, while he expects the next iPad Pro to be equipped with a...

Top Rated Comments

196 months ago
I like the slightly more disclosive apple.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
196 months ago
I like the slightly more disclosive apple.

I was thinking that myself. It's nice to know even a little information and at least you know they're working on it rather than being silent.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
196 months ago
That is what it's supposed to lose. At that rate, you'd get at least 10 hours of battery life when it's being used, and even more if it's on standby.

That's not what you're supposed to get at all.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stella Avatar
196 months ago
Try recalibrating your battery first and then see if there's any improvement after 5.01.

I'm quite liking the SJ post era - not to say the SJ rein was bad, because it wasn't, it was good, of course. But, SJ would have just said "There's no battery issue".. and Apple would have been digging itself out of a hole by now.

In short: Apple communication has improved.

My 4s is losing about 5 percent an hour on standby. Is this normal?
Depends: What services do you have running? i.e., location service will kill your battery. What is your cell reception like?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
netnothing Avatar
196 months ago
Based on the Apple provided numbers, here's what you 4S owners should (roughly) be seeing for battery drain under ideal conditions:

Talk time - 8 hours on 3G
Loss per hour: 12.5%
Loss in 30 minutes: 6%
Loss per minute: 0.2%

Standby time - 200 hours
Loss per hour: 0.5%

Internet use - up to 6 hours on 3G
Loss per hour: 17%
Loss in 30 minutes: 8%
Loss per minute: 0.3%

Internet use - up to 9 hours on WiFi
Loss per hour: 11%
Loss in 30 minutes: 5%
Loss per minute: 0.2%

Video playback - up to 10 hours
Loss per hour: 10%
Loss in 30 minutes: 5%
Loss per minute: 0.2%

Audio playback - up to 40 hours
Loss per hour: 2.5%
Loss in 30 minutes: 1.2%
Loss per minute: 0.04%

(numbers rounded)

Let me followup with the standby time number......I for example on my iPhone 4 on 5.0.1 charged to 100% last night before bed. Woke up this morning still at 100%. So standby should generally be a slow drain, depending of course on what you have running.

-Kevin
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bjb.butler Avatar
196 months ago
That is what it's supposed to lose. At that rate, you'd get at least 10 hours of battery life when it's being used, and even more if it's on standby.
What? He said he loses 5%~10% an hour on standby. That means, on average, his battery, on standby would go from full to empty in ~13 hours. How is that what it's "supposed" to lose? Apple claims up to 200 hours of standby time. He gets 13 :cool:

10% is wayyy to high to be losing on standby, unless he is in a poor signal area. I have 4~5 bars on Sprint, and my 4S has NEVER lost more than 5% while I sleep (6~8hrs).
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Everything New in the iOS 27.3 Beta
Everything New in the iOS 27.3 Beta
11 hours ago
Apple Music's New Selfie Sing Feature Lets You Record Karaoke Videos
Apple Music's New Selfie Sing Feature Lets You Record Karaoke Videos
11 hours ago
iPhone Jailbreak Gets Past Lockdown Mode and Survives an Update
iPhone Jailbreak Gets Past Lockdown Mode and Survives an Update
13 hours ago
iPadOS 27.3 Expands Siri Mode to Camera App
iPadOS 27.3 Expands Siri Mode to Camera App
15 hours ago
Veterans Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launches November 11
Veterans Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launches November 11
15 hours ago
Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals: Save Hundreds on MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and More
Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals: Save Hundreds on MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and More
16 hours ago
Apple Fitness+ Gets Gym Strength Plans in iOS 27.3
Apple Fitness+ Gets Gym Strength Plans in iOS 27.3
16 hours ago
iOS 27.3 Adding New StandBy Mode Features to iPhone 11 and Newer
iOS 27.3 Adding New StandBy Mode Features to iPhone 11 and Newer
16 hours ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
16 hours ago
iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Apple Intelligence to China
iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Apple Intelligence to China
16 hours ago
iPhone Duo Gets Reachability in iOS 27.3 Beta
iPhone Duo Gets Reachability in iOS 27.3 Beta
16 hours ago
Siri AI Gets More Capable in iOS 27.3
Siri AI Gets More Capable in iOS 27.3
16 hours ago
iOS 27.3 Adds Vertical Tabs and Adaptive Dark Mode to Safari
iOS 27.3 Adds Vertical Tabs and Adaptive Dark Mode to Safari
17 hours ago
watchOS 27.3 Brings Live Rewind and Siri Recap to Apple Watch
watchOS 27.3 Brings Live Rewind and Siri Recap to Apple Watch
17 hours ago
iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Back Apple's Redesigned Health App
iOS 27.3 Beta Brings Back Apple's Redesigned Health App
17 hours ago
Apple Releases First macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Beta
Apple Releases First macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Beta
17 hours ago
Apple Seeds First iOS 27.3 Beta
Apple Seeds First iOS 27.3 Beta
17 hours ago
Apple Releases First watchOS 27.3, tvOS 27.3 and visionOS 27.3 Betas
Apple Releases First watchOS 27.3, tvOS 27.3 and visionOS 27.3 Betas
17 hours ago
iPad Mini 8 Reviewer Dissatisfied With Apple's Excuse for Lack of 120Hz Display
iPad Mini 8 Reviewer Dissatisfied With Apple's Excuse for Lack of 120Hz Display
17 hours ago
iPad Mini 8 Review Claims Battery Life is Way Better Than Apple Says
iPad Mini 8 Review Claims Battery Life is Way Better Than Apple Says
18 hours ago
B&H Photo Launches Early Black Friday Sale With Discounts on Macs and Accessories
B&H Photo Launches Early Black Friday Sale With Discounts on Macs and Accessories
18 hours ago
iPhone Duo Could Take Nearly 30% of Foldable Market in 2027
iPhone Duo Could Take Nearly 30% of Foldable Market in 2027
19 hours ago
Apple Watch Automatically Identifies Songs Playing Around You
Apple Watch Automatically Identifies Songs Playing Around You
19 hours ago
iPhone 18 Rumored to Get Larger Battery and Potential Price Increase
iPhone 18 Rumored to Get Larger Battery and Potential Price Increase
20 hours ago
Apple Store in UK Permanently Closing Later This Month
Apple Store in UK Permanently Closing Later This Month
20 hours ago
Apple's Annual R&D Spending Jumps by More Than $11 Billion
Apple's Annual R&D Spending Jumps by More Than $11 Billion
21 hours ago
Will Apple Ever Merge iPadOS and macOS? John Ternus Responds
Will Apple Ever Merge iPadOS and macOS? John Ternus Responds
21 hours ago
MacBook Neo Gets Rare $30 Amazon Discount
MacBook Neo Gets Rare $30 Amazon Discount
21 hours ago
Hands-On: The OLED iPad Mini is Almost an iPad Pro Mini
Hands-On: The OLED iPad Mini is Almost an iPad Pro Mini
21 hours ago
tvOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1 Likely Coming Soon
tvOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1 Likely Coming Soon
22 hours ago