MacRumors

Apple Music has introduced a new UI for alternate albums in an effort to declutter artist pages and make it easier to find these albums. Now, when an alternate version of an album is available (a non-explicit version or a remaster, for example), it will be listed underneath the main album's track list (via MacStories).

This way, the "Albums" section on the artist's main ‌Apple Music‌ page is a bit more focused on their main studio albums and doesn't have clutter of deluxe editions, live albums, or explicit and non-explicit versions. This update does appear to be rolling out slowly, however, as some artist pages still have numerous versions listed under the "Albums" section.

To find if an album has the "Other Versions" list, simply open the album in ‌Apple Music‌, scroll down past the track list, and if there are alternate options you'll see them listed at the bottom of the page. If any of your friends have listened to the album, "Other Versions" will be stacked beneath "Friends Who Listened."

Apple has made quiet changes like this to its music streaming platform in the past, previously revamping artist pages with enlarged portraits and a shuffle all "play" button. More recently, the service gained a new "For You" tab layout that updates throughout the day with artists, songs, and moods that match various themes.

Yesterday, Apple also launched the "Replay 2020" playlist for its users, which will keep track of their most streamed songs throughout the year.

Shanghai-based manufacturing company Universal Scientific Industrial will begin supplying the system-in-package for Apple's upcoming Ultra Wideband item tracking tags in the second to third quarter of 2020, with shipments to reach tens of millions of units by the end of the year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a research note with TF International Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said Universal Scientific Industrial will be the primary supplier of the system-in-package for the tags, fulfilling around 60 percent of orders. Similar to the one inside AirPods, the system-in-package would be a densely packed circuit board, and it would likely include the Apple-designed U1 chip for Ultra Wideband support.

"We believe that the ultra-wideband (UWB) tag will enhance the user experience of iOS's 'find' and augment reality (AR) applications by offering measurement functions in the short distance," wrote Kuo.

Last month, Kuo said the Ultra Wideband tag would be one of Apple's major new hardware products in the first half of 2020, but he has yet to provide a more specific release date for the accessory.

Multiple reports this week have indicated that a new lower-cost iPhone model and refreshed iPad Pro models with 3D sensing could debut as early as next month, possibly at an as-yet unannounced Apple event on Tuesday, March 31. It is certainly possible that the Ultra Wideband tags could also be unveiled at the March event, if one transpires, but the second to third quarter timeframe for system-in-package shipments leaves room for an announcement at WWDC 2020 in June as well.

It is worth noting that Apple has introduced many of its first-generation hardware products several months in advance of their release, including the original iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod, so whether the Ultra Wideband tags are announced in March or June, they might not ship until later in the year.

MacRumors uncovered evidence of Apple working on Tile-like item trackers in iOS 13 code last year, including an unreleased "Items" tab in the Find My app and a potential "AirTag" name for the small, circular tags.

Users would receive a notification when they are separated from a tagged item and, if necessary, they would be able to tap a button in the Find My app that would result in Apple's tag chiming. It would also be possible to disable notifications for "safe locations" such as a home or workplace.

Apple's tags will likely incorporate augmented reality. Last year, for example, MacRumors discovered that a 3D red balloon could help a user pinpoint a lost item after scanning a room with their iPhone. In his research note today, Kuo echoes that the Ultra Wideband tags will benefit augmented reality applications.

iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models are also equipped with an Apple-designed U1 chip with Ultra Wideband, which Apple's website says will lead to "amazing new capabilities," and AirTags will likely be one of them.

Bloomberg this morning reports that Apple's new low-cost iPhone is still on course for launch next month, despite the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on production, although new iPad Pro models originally scheduled for the first half of 2020 could yet face delays or constraints.

The [low-cost iPhone] is still on track to launch in March, though the plans are still fluid, according to people familiar with the matter. Apple has also been preparing updated iPad Pro models with a new camera system for the first half of 2020 and the virus may yet impose delays or constraints on those plans.

Bloomberg's sources don't conflict with noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's latest predictions for the new low-cost iPhone, which is rumored to be based on the iPhone 8, but with upgraded internals. In a research note seen yesterday by MacRumors, Kuo reiterated his belief that the "iPhone 9" or "‌iPhone SE 2"‌ is still expected to launch in the first half of this year in spite of the impact of the viral outbreak on production.

Rumors have been pointing toward a significant ‌iPad Pro‌ update in the first half of this year, including a new triple-lens rear camera system supporting 3D sensing for immersive augmented reality experiences. Today's report also broadly aligns with claims made on Monday by DigiTimes that production on the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models has been slow to ramp up following the extended Lunar New Year holiday, although the Taiwan-based website maintains that launch of the new devices is still expected "around March."

Aside from potential delays, Apple's spring media events have often occurred in March, and the list of products with rumored imminent updates has pointed toward one of those spring events being held again this year. A report yesterday claimed that Apple plans to hold a media event at the very end of March, with Tuesday, March 31 being the most likely date. The launch of the new low-cost iPhone is said to follow on Friday, April 3.

In addition to the new low-cost ‌iPhone, rumors suggest Apple is planning to release an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro, while more outlying launch possibilities for the first half of 2020 include a MacBook Air update, Apple's Tile-like "AirTags" item trackers, and perhaps a wireless charging mat.

Over the last 48 hours, Apple Maps has expanded its transit directions coverage across Europe. Using the app, travelers in cities across France, Germany, Spain, and possibly other countries in the EU are now able to access departure times and transit routes for various modes of public transport including buses, trams, metro trains, and more.

Apple has yet to update its official list of locations for which Maps offers Transit data, possibly because some of the real-time information is still being deployed. There have been a few reports that some cities in the aforementioned countries are still displaying uneven transit coverage.

Google Maps has supported transit directions for several years now, but ‌‌Apple Maps‌‌ has been steadily catching up with detailed routing information in recent years.

Transit coverage began in 2015 with an initial rollout in Baltimore, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, and China. Since then, Apple has expanded the feature to many other regions around the world.

(Thanks, Mauricio!)

Apple today issued an update on its financial guidance for the March quarter, announcing that the company will not meet its revenue goals due to the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic in China.

Our quarterly guidance issued on January 28, 2020 reflected the best information available at the time as well as our best estimates about the pace of return to work following the end of the extended Chinese New Year holiday on February 10. Work is starting to resume around the country, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated. As a result, we do not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter due to two main factors.

Apple cites both constrained iPhone supplies worldwide and lower customer demand for Apple products in China as the main impacts on performance for the quarter.

On the iPhone supply side, Apple says all of its manufacturing partner facilities are located outside of the Hubei province epicenter for the epidemic and have reopened, the ramp-up to full production has been slower than expected.

As for customer demand in China, Apple says store closings and limited hours have significantly reduced customer traffic, although corporate offices and contact centers have reopened and online stores have remained open.

Apple says it is continuing to monitor the situation and will provide additional information on its quarterly earnings call in April. Apple also says it is more than doubling its previously announced donation to help in the public health fight against the Wuhan coronavirus.

Apple had predicted in its earnings release at the end of January that it would see revenue of $63–$67 billion for the March quarter, a somewhat wider guidance range than usual as Apple acknowledged the coronavirus situation was leading to some uncertainty, but it appears the impact will be even larger than Apple had accounted for.

Update 5:59 p.m.: Bloomberg has shared Tim Cook's memo to Apple employees addressing the situation:

Team,

The response to COVID-19 has touched the lives of so many in the Apple family, and I want to thank everyone for their dedication, empathy, understanding, and care. Today, we more than doubled our donation to support the historic and global health response.

Our paramount concern is with the people who make up Apple’s community of employees, partners, customers, and suppliers in China. I also want to recognize the many people across our teams who have been working around the clock to manage Apple’s global COVID-19 response with diligence and thoughtfulness.

Corporate offices and contact centers have reopened across China, and our stores are starting to reopen, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated. This afternoon, I shared this update with our community of shareholders and investors to note that we do not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter. Outside of China, customer demand across our product and service categories has been strong to date and in line with our expectations. Apple is fundamentally strong, and this disruption to our business is only temporary.

Our first priority - now and always - is the health and safety of our employees, supply chain partners, customers, and the communities in which we operate. Our profound gratitude is with those on the front lines of confronting this public health emergency.

Tim

March is the most common month for Apple's spring media events, and the relatively long list of products with rumored imminent updates has pointed toward one of those spring events being held again this year.

A new report [Google Translate] from German site iPhone-ticker.de claims that Apple is planning to hold a media event at the very end of March, with Tuesday, March 31 being the most likely date. A launch of the new low-cost iPhone, variously dubbed the "iPhone SE 2" or "iPhone 9" in rumors, is said to follow on Friday, April 3.

In addition to the new low-cost iPhone, rumors have indicated Apple is planning to release several other products in the next few months, including updated iPad Pro models and an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro. Wildcard rumors for the first half of 2020 also include a MacBook Air update, Apple's Tile-like "AirTags item trackers, and perhaps a wireless charging mat.

We've been hearing for some time that Apple is planning to launch a new low-cost iPhone based on the iPhone 8, but with upgraded internals. This device has been referred to in rumors as the "iPhone SE 2" or "iPhone 9," although concerns over the impact of the Wuhan coronavirus on production have raised some questions about timing for the launch.

In a new research note seen by MacRumors, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo briefly mentions that the iPhone SE 2 is still expected to launch in the first half of this year. The mention comes in a larger report about smartphone camera lens suppliers, with Kuo noting that the iPhone SE 2 will not include a 7-element plastic (7P) lens, and so will not contribute toward shipments of those advanced lenses.

Because Apple expects that the new iPhone SE2 released in 1H20 will not use a 7P lens, it will not help the 7P lens shipment momentum.

It's unsurprising that the iPhone SE 2 won't include a 7P lens, as the iPhone 8 includes a 6P rear camera lens. With Apple looking to keep pricing on the new phone as low as possible, it will almost certainly be reusing components wherever possible, with the exception of key performance-related components like the A-series chip, which is rumored to move from the A11 chip in the iPhone 8 to Apple's latest A13 chip.

A separate report today claims that an update to Apple's iPad Pro lineup is expected "around March," so it's possible we could see a media event next month for Apple to introduce several new products.

Last November, Apple launched new "Replay" playlists within Apple Music, letting its subscribers discover which songs they listened the most to every year they've been using ‌Apple Music‌. At the time of the announcement, the company said that users would be able to track their listening habits throughout 2020, and now it has made the "Replay 2020" playlist available to add to your ‌Apple Music‌ library (via Federico Viticci on Twitter).

To do so, head to Apple Music on the web to get your Replays, then scroll all the way down on the page to find the yearly Replay playlists. "2020 Replay" should be the first one you see, and you can add it to your library by clicking "Add." Afterwards, the playlist will appear on ‌Apple Music‌ across your Apple devices, and as you listen to music throughout the year, new songs will rise up to the top of the playlists, and songs you don't listen to as much will descend. Up to 100 songs will eventually occupy "2020 Replay" by the year's end.

These Replay playlists are Apple's response to Spotify Wrapped, which provides Spotify users with interesting stats on who their most listened to artists, songs, genres, and more were throughout the year. ‌Apple Music‌ Replay is a bit more straightforward, listing your top 100 favorite songs of each year, but you can find more about your favorite albums and artists on ‌Apple Music‌ on the web. ‌Apple Music‌'s ability to showcase your top music from each specific year is also an advantage over Spotify Wrapped.

‌Apple Music‌‌ subscribers can access Apple Music Replay on the web and add the playlists to iOS or Mac devices. At one point, Replay was available directly from the ‌Apple Music‌ app on iOS (on the Browse tab), but this was only a temporary feature highlighting the end of 2019.

Rumors have been pointing toward a significant iPad Pro update in the first half of this year, including a new triple-lens rear camera system supporting 3D sensing for immersive augmented reality experiences.

In a new paywalled blurb published today, DigiTimes claims that production on the device has already begun with a launch expected "around March," which is Apple's usual timeframe for a spring media event in years that it chooses to hold one. The blurb also says that production has been slow to ramp up following the Lunar New Year holiday, with impacts from the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic presumably also playing a role.

Apple is scheduled to launch its new iPad Pro series around March, with related suppliers already kicking off production for the model ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. However, their output has started growing slowly after the extended Lunar New Year break in China with shipments unlikely to peak until after April, according to industry sources.

It's looking like Apple has a fairly significant slate of products ready for updates, so the company may indeed hold a spring media event this year. In addition to updated ‌iPad Pro‌ models, we're also expecting a new low-cost "iPhone SE 2" or "iPhone 9," an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro with the improved scissor-switch keyboard from the 16-inch model, and possibly a few other products.

We'll update this article with any additional details once ‌DigiTimes‌ expands its blurb into a full story.

Last week, Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes made a passing reference to upcoming "AirPod Pro Lite" earphones without offering any details on the product, leading to confusion about whether this would be a third-generation version of the regular AirPods or a new member of the AirPods Pro family.

While we still don't have a full picture of what to expect with these upcoming earphones, ‌DigiTimes‌ today published another short paywalled blurb specifically describing AirPods Pro Lite as an "entry-level version of Apple's AirPods Pro series" and saying that production will not kick off in the second quarter of this year as originally planned.

Production of the AirPods Pro Lite, an entry-level version of Apple's AirPods Pro series, is unlikely to kick off in the second quarter as originally planned, according to industry sources.

We haven't heard any specific rumors about these AirPods Pro Lite earphones, or updates to the AirPods and AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro were just released in October, so we're not expecting an update for some time yet, while the second-generation AirPods are coming up on a year old in March.

We'll update this article with any additional details once ‌DigiTimes‌ expands its blurb into a full story.

Following reports of potential production delays on iPhone components and even shipping delays for products like the Mac Pro, DigiTimes reports today that global notebook shipments could fall up to 36 percent in the first quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

This includes Apple supplier Quanta Computer, which produces Apple's MacBook line. Suppliers like Quanta have moved volume production to facilities in Taiwan to meet client needs, but a component shortage is believed to continue to affect shipment numbers. This shortage is due to suppliers who are prevented from going to work following the outbreak.

This component shortage is predicted to cause disruptions to the supply chain in March. Meanwhile, Quanta is said to be moving to accelerate volume production at its new facilities in Taiwan in order to fulfill rush shipments to its clients in the United States.

Previously, global notebook shipments were predicted to fall about 17 percent in Q1 2020, but that number has been increased to between 29 and 36 percent as of DigiTimes' latest research. "Severe labor and components shortages and stagnant logistics arising from the coronavirus outbreak are derailing supply chain in China, which commands over 90% of global notebook production."

With every new operating system update, there are complaints about battery life and rapid battery drain, and iOS 15 is no exception. Since iOS 15 was released, we've seen reports of issues with battery life, and an uptick in complaints with each new point release since then.

iOS 15 battery life problems can be caused by issues that Apple needs to address in the software, or when excessively using GPS, system-intensive apps and games, and more. A battery life issue caused by a bug can't be helped until Apple provides an update to address it, but there are steps you can take to maximize your battery life and cut down on hidden sources that might be causing excess drainage.

1. Limit When and How Often Apps Access Your Location

It's a good idea to check your location settings to limit apps accessing your location for privacy reasons, but it can also be beneficial to your battery life. Here's how to get to your Location Services settings:

1. Open up the Settings app.
2. Choose Privacy.
3. Tap Location Services.
4. Review the list and edit settings by tapping on the name of each app in the list.

You have four possible choices for location settings for each app, though not all four choices will always be available for every app depending on what it does. You can select the following: Never, Ask Next Time, While Using the App, and Always.

Never will prevent an app from ever accessing your location, and unless there's a specific need for an app to know where you are, such as a mapping app, setting location access to Never is the best choice.

Ask Next Time will prompt an app to ask you with a popup the next time that it wants your location, so you can temporarily approve it. With this setting, location access is off until expressly allowed via the popup.

While Using the App, as the name suggests, allows the app to detect your location only when the app is open and being actively used. If you close the app or switch over to another app, location access ends.

Always allows an app to have access to your location at all times, regardless of whether it's open or closed. This will result in the most battery drain and should be limited to only the apps that you need the most.

A lot of apps will ask for location information that don't really need it to function (for example, a banking app might want location access to show nearby ATMs, which is also available through entering a zip code), so clearing the cruft here will ensure no apps are accessing your location without express permission.

You can also turn off Location Services all together, but most people probably aren't going to want to do so because it can interfere with apps like Maps.

2. Limit Apps Using Bluetooth

iOS 13 introduced a feature that lets you know when apps have requested Bluetooth access, and there are a surprising number of apps that want to use Bluetooth for things like location tracking with Bluetooth beacons or scanning for Chromecast devices.

This is a good list to review to make sure you don't have a sneaky app in the background connecting to Bluetooth sources without your permission as that can drain battery. It's totally fine to allow Bluetooth access to apps that need it for Bluetooth-enabled accessories, but nixing access for retail stores is probably a good idea. Here's how to access Bluetooth settings:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Privacy.
3. Tap Bluetooth.

From this list, toggle off any app that doesn't need a Bluetooth connection to function. It's best to be liberal with the toggling off -- if you disable access and then a feature within an app stops functioning properly, you can just turn Bluetooth back on.

Bluetooth can also be turned off entirely, which can perhaps save a bit of battery life, but it's not a great idea for most people because Bluetooth is used for AirPods, Apple Watches, and other accessories.

3. Turn on Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode has been around for a few years now, and it's the number one best setting to enable if you're concerned about battery life. It cuts down on background activity like behind the scenes downloads and it lowers the brightness of your display after inactivity more quickly.

A popup to enable Low Power Mode will come up when battery life on the iPhone is at 20 percent, but you can enable it at any time through Control Center by tapping on the battery icon or ask Siri to turn it on. Alternatively, it's available in the Settings app:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Battery.
3. Tap the Low Power Mode toggle.

With Low Power Mode turned on, your battery icon at the top of your iPhone will be yellow, which lets you know when it's active. Some people like to keep Low Power Mode on at all times, but know that it does need to be enabled regularly because it automatically turns off when the iPhone is charged.

4. Use WiFi Whenever Possible

WiFi uses less power than a cellular connection, so to maximize battery life, Apple recommends connecting to WiFi whenever possible. At home or work, for example, WiFi should be activated, saving cellular data and battery life.

5. Activate Airplane Mode in Low Signal Areas

When you're in an area with no cellular coverage or a low signal, your iPhone is draining battery looking for a signal or trying to connect. If you're experiencing poor cellular coverage, it's best to activate Airplane Mode since you probably can't do much with low signal anyway.

Airplane Mode will prevent your iPhone from endlessly searching for a signal, saving the battery until you can get to a place with a better connection.

6. Make Sure Your Battery is Healthy

Battery drain can be due to a battery that's old and no longer functioning in optimal condition. You can check the health of your battery by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Battery.
3. Tap on Battery Health.

In the Battery Health section, there's a listing for "Maximum Capacity," which is a measurement of battery capacity relative to when it was new.

If the capacity is under 80 percent, it may be worth seeking out a battery replacement. Apple will replace a battery that is below 80 percent capacity under the one-year warranty plan or under AppleCare+ for free.

Otherwise, replacing the battery will cost between $49 and $69 depending on which iPhone you have.

To make sure your iPhone battery stays healthy longer, you might want to turn on Optimized Battery Charging under the Battery Health section in the Settings app. Optimized Battery Charging allows the iPhone to learn your charging schedule so it can wait until you need it to charge past 80 percent.

For example, if you put your phone on the charger at night, the Optimized Battery Charging setting might hold the iPhone at an 80 percent charge, filling it up close to when you wake up to reduce battery aging.

Apple also recommends avoiding extreme temperatures to prevent permanent battery damage due to heat or cold, as well as removing certain cases when charging. If your iPhone gets warm while charging, it's best to take off the case to keep your battery healthy for a longer period of time.

7. Manage Apps That Are Draining Battery

The iPhone tells you which apps are eating up the most battery so you can make sure nothing is secretly draining your battery without your knowledge. You can check your battery usage statistics by opening up the Settings app and tapping on the Battery section.

There are charts here that let you see your battery level over the course of the last 24 hours or the last 10 days, as well as the apps that have used the most battery life. If there's any app that you don't need that seems to be draining an excessive amount of battery, you can delete it.

For apps you do need, you can moderate how often you're using the app to cut down on battery drain.

This section will also tell you how much time apps spend using Background App Refresh.

8. Limit Background Activity

Apps, both first and third-party, use background app refreshing features to update even when they're not open to do things like load mail messages and download updates so they're ready to use at all times.

Background App Refresh can impact battery life, so turning it off can help make your battery last longer. You can turn off Background App Refresh all together or choose which apps can refresh in the background.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select General.
3. Choose Background App Refresh.

From here, you can tap the Background App Refresh option again to turn Background App Refresh off all together or choose to have it activate only when connected to WiFi, which doesn't drain battery as much as downloading over cellular.

You can also choose to turn Background App Refresh on just for your most used apps by tapping on the toggle next to each app in the list.

9. Adjust Mail Fetch Settings

In addition to turning off Background Refresh, adjusting when and how often the Mail app checks for new emails can save some battery life.

1. Open up the Settings app.
2. Tap Mail
3. Tap Accounts
4. Tap "Fetch New Data" at the bottom.

From here, you can turn off Push (which lets you know right away when a new email message is available) and adjust Fetch settings on a per account basis for accounts that don't support Push (like Gmail accounts).

Adjusting the Fetch settings to have longer intervals before checking for new messages can help save battery life, as can turning off Fetch all together in favor of manual checks that will download new messages only when the Mail app is opened.

You can choose the following settings: Automatically, Manually, Hourly, Every 30 Minutes, and Every 15 Minutes.

10. Limit Notifications

Cutting down on the number of notifications that apps are sending is a good way to save a little bit of battery life. If you have apps inundating you with notifications, it's going to drain battery every time your screen lights up and your phone makes a connection, plus a glut of notifications is just plain annoying.

Adjust your notification settings in the Settings app by following these instructions:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Go through each app and adjust whether or not an app can send you notifications by tapping on the toggle.

If you do allow notifications, you can choose to allow apps to show on the Lock screen, in the Notification Center, as banners, or all three.

Apple also has this handy feature that lets you modify your notification settings right from the notification itself on the Lock screen. Just long press on a notification and then tap the three dots (...) to get to options that include Deliver Quietly or Turn Off.

Deliver Quietly allows notifications to appear in Notification Center but not the Lock screen, while Turn Off lets you turn off notifications for that app entirely.

You can also opt to turn on a Focus Mode to prevent notifications from alerting you for most of the day, and the Notification Summary introduced in iOS 15 is super handy for cutting down on notification spam. It aggregates all of your notifications and delivers them at a set time of the day. It's still best to turn off as many notifications as you can, but for those you need to keep, Notification Summary can make sure they're provided all at once.

11. Disable Automatic Downloads and App Updates

If you're often low on battery, you may not want your iPhone doing things that you're not explicitly initiating, such as automatically downloading apps downloaded on other devices and downloading software and app updates.

Apple has a feature that is designed to sync apps between all of your devices by downloading apps that were downloaded on one device on the other devices as well. So if you download an app on an iPad, for example, Automatic Download will also download the app on your iPhone.

If that's a feature you want, leave that enabled, but if it's not, you can turn it off by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on your profile picture.
3. Tap on iTunes & App Store.
4. Toggle off Music, Apps, and Books & Audiobooks.

If you also don't want apps to update on their own, make sure to toggle off App Updates as well. Leaving this on allows iPhone apps to update automatically when new updates are released in the App Store.

You can also turn off automatic iOS updates if desired by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Software Update.
4. Tap Automatic Updates.
5. Tap the toggle to turn updates off.

12. Activate Dark Mode

Since iOS 13, Apple has included a Dark Mode feature, which is available across the operating system, including Apple's built-in apps and third-party apps as most have implemented support.

On devices with an OLED display like the iPhone X, XS, XS Max, iPhone 11, and iPhone 12 series, Dark Mode can save a bit of battery life, so it's worth enabling. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Choose Display & Brightness.
3. Tap the "Dark" option.

If you tap on the toggle for "Automatic," Dark Mode will turn on or off with the sunset and the sunrise each day, allowing you to toggle between dark and light mode.

Dark Mode can be toggled on through the Control Center too, which is a convenient way to activate it if your device isn't in automatic mode.

13. Turn Down Device Brightness

If you're in a bright room or direct sun, you probably can't help but have screen brightness turned all the way up, but if you don't need a super bright display, dimming it down can save battery life.

Brightness can be controlled through the Control Center on the iPhone using the brightness toggle or through the Display & Brightness section of the Settings app. It's a good idea to turn on the auto-brightness setting to make sure your screen isn't overly bright in darker rooms by default, but some manual adjustment may be necessary in brighter rooms and in the sun.

14. Adjust Auto-Lock and Turn Off Raise to Wake

It's a good idea to set the Auto-Lock on the display as low as you can tolerate, which will cause the iPhone's display to turn off after a short period of inactivity.

You can choose ranges from 30 seconds to never, but the lower end of the spectrum will help preserve battery life by cutting the display when it's not needed.

If you really want to save battery, turning off Raise to Wake can help, though it may make features like Face ID less convenient. Raise to Wake is a rather convenient option, so this should be a last resort.

15. Make Sure Everything's Up to Date

If you're running iOS 15, make sure you have the latest version installed because Apple has been making improvements and refinements to the operating system since it was released. Here's how to check:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Software Update.

From here, the iPhone will let you know if your software is up to date or if there's a new version available.

You should also make sure all of your apps are up to date, which you can do in the App Store.

1. Open up the App Store.
2. Tap on your profile in the upper right.
3. Swipe downwards to refresh everything.
4. Tap on Update All.

The update section of the App Store is also a great way to cull apps. If you see an update for an app you don't use often, swipe to the left on it and you can delete it right then and there.

16. Don't Close Apps

Many battery life guides will suggest manually closing apps by using the App Switcher to prevent them from running in the background, but this doesn't save battery life and can in fact drain more battery.

Apps in the background are paused when not in active use and aren't using battery life. Closing out an app purges it from the iPhone's RAM, requiring a reload when it reopens, which can have a bigger impact on battery.

17. Limit Use of Widgets

If you have a lot of widgets on your Home Screen or in the Today View, they could well be a battery drain culprit. Widgets that need to regularly update to be useful – weather or geo-location widgets, for example – then you might want to consider deleting them.

To delete a widget from your Home screen or the Today view, long press on it, then choose Remove Widget or Remove Stack from the dropdown menu. You can also long press on any space on the screen to enter jiggle mode, and then tap the minus button that appears in the top-left corner of the widget.

18. Avoid Google Chrome

Google Chrome has a reputation among some circles for a being a battery hog, and depending on who you talk to, not much has changed in iOS 15. If you tend to do a lot of browsing in Google Chrome and you're having battery drain issues, it's worth giving Safari a shot instead. The latest version of Apple's browser has been streamlined for better performance, so you may find you're able to browse faster and spend less time doing so in the process.

It's better to stick with native Apple apps over third-party alternatives as a general rule. Typically Apple's code will be optimized to run more efficiency on its own hardware, although exceptions are possible if there's a specific conflict or issue at fault.

19. Reset Your Apple Watch

If you have an Apple Watch paired to your iPhone, it could be the cause of your battery drain problems. Some watch apps or services may be communicating with your iPhone more often than usual, either for a legitimate reason or due to a bug. The easiest way to reduce this possibility is to remove any Apple Watch apps you don't use. The nuclear option is to reset your Apple Watch to its factory default settings.

To do this on your Apple Watch, open Settings and select General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings. (The same option lies at the bottom of the iOS Watch app's General menu.)

This action erases everything off your watch, including any media, data, settings, messages, and so on. You'll also need to re-pair the watch with your ‌iPhone‌ after the process is complete, so treat it as a last resort.

Note that after a new pairing or update, your watch may take a few days to learn and adapt to your usage, before smoothing out into a more consistent balance between battery life and performance, which will hopefully transfer to your iPhone.

20. Erase Network Settings

Some users have reported that resetting their iPhone's network settings can clear up battery drain issues, so this may be worth a try. Go to network settings under Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. No data will be lost, but you'll be asked to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords.

21. Place iPhone Face Down

When you receive a message or any kind of notification on your iPhone, its display illuminates for a moment to alert you. This uses unnecessary energy, but there's an easy way to prevent it.

When you're not using your iPhone, place the handset face down. The device automatically detects this placement, and won't light up the display when alerts are received, saving you some extra battery life.

22. Disable Vibrations and Haptic Feedback

When your iPhone vibrates or provides haptic feedback to an interaction, Apple's Taptic Engine chip engages its physical motor. This uses additional energy, so it might be worth disabling these features if you can live without them.

There are two main vibration settings in Settings -> Sound & Haptics. Try turning off Vibrate on Ring, Vibrate on Silent, or both to save power.

Scroll down to the bottom of this menu and you'll see System Haptics. Disabling this will eliminate system-wide haptic feedback.

23. Turn Off Screen Time

Some users have reported success saving battery by turning off Screen Time, Apple's personal usage monitoring feature. It's not clear why this appears to affect battery life for some people, but if you don't use Screen Time then there's no harm in disabling it.

To do so, go into Settings -> Screen Time, scroll down to the bottom of the screen, then select Turn Off Screen Time.

24. Turn Off Fitness Tracking

Your iPhone includes a motion coprocessor that detects changes in the accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and compass, and uses theses changes to measure and track your movement, elevation change, or other fitness activity.

Despite the motion coprocessor's energy efficiency, it still uses additional battery whenever you're on the move. To disable it, go to Settings -> Privacy -> Motion & Fitness, then toggle the switch off next to Fitness Tracking.

25. Remove Case During Charging

Charging your iPhone when it's inside certain styles of cases may generate excess heat, which can affect battery capacity. If you notice your device getting hot when you charge it, take it out of its case first.

26. Restart

Sometimes an app can act up or a background process can go wonky, and the best solution is to simply restart your iPhone. If you have an iPhone 8 or later, follow these steps:

1. Press and release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, and then release the Side button.

If you have an iPhone 7 or earlier, follow these steps to restart:

1. Hold down the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time.
2. Keep holding until until the screen goes dark and the Apple logo appears on the display.
3. Release the button.

After the Apple logo appears, it will take a minute or so for the iPhone to start back up.

27. Restore as New

If you're at your wits' end and nothing is helping to improve significant battery drain, you can try restoring your iPhone and setting it up as new to eliminate any potential behind-the-scenes problems. This should be a last resort, as starting from scratch can be a hassle.

First and foremost, make sure you have an iCloud backup.

1. On a Mac with Catalina or later, open Finder. On a Mac with Mojave or earlier, open iTunes. On a Windows machine, open iTunes.
2. Plug your iPhone into your computer.
3. If you're prompted to enter a device passcode or to click a Trust This Computer prompt, do so.
4. Select your device from the side bar in Finder or the side bar in iTunes.
5. Click on the Restore open. If you're signed into Find My, you'll be prompted to sign out.
6. Click Restore again to confirm.

After restoring, you can set your device up as if it was a new device. You can restore from the iCloud backup that you created prior to the restore, but you might want to try starting fresh to prevent any possible problems.

28. Turn Off Significant Locations

Significant locations is a feature that tracks your location and marks where you often go, keeping a list of the places that you've visited. This data is collected in the background and there's a chance that it has some small impact on battery life, so disabling it might be worthwhile. Note that significant locations is a feature that powers personalized location services features in Maps, Do Not Disturb While Driving, CarPlay, Siri, Calendar, Photos, and more.

1. Open up the Settings app.
2. Select Privacy.
3. Tap on Location Services.
4. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on System Services.
5. Tap on Significant Locations in the list and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.
6. Tap on the toggle to turn it off.

29. Disable Analytics

If you're sharing your device analytics with Apple or with third-party developers, there's a possibility that your battery life is being impacted when this data is uploaded, though activating low power mode and restricting background usage should take care of this. If you want to disable it anyway, here's how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Privacy.
3. Scroll down to Analytics & Improvements.
4. Disable all of the analytics sharing options.

Other Tips

There are a lot of battery saving tips and guides on the internet, and there were some other questionable tips that people recommended that may or may not save much battery life. It's difficult to tell, but it's not terrible idea to consider some of these options if they're features you don't use.

These tips should be employed judiciously and after the tips above because turning off every feature on the iPhone may not be the most desirable way to save battery.

• Disable "Hey Siri" so the iPhone isn't listening for the wake word.
• Turn off Siri entirely.
• Turn off Siri Suggestions.
• Turn off motion effects.
• Turn off AirDrop.
• Use Safari content blockers.
• Don't use Live or Dynamic wallpapers.
• Turn down volume.
• Turn down the brightness level of the Flashlight feature in Control Center.
• Disable Location Services all together (not recommended).

Guide Feedback

Know of a great battery saving tip that we left or, have questions about battery life, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

It was a fairly interesting week for rumors this week, with reports claiming new 5G iPad models will be coming around the same time as 5G iPhones, likely in the September–October timeframe, while a mysterious "AirPod Pro Lite" has been mentioned as being in the works.

The HomePod turned two years old this week, and Apple is still dealing with the fallout of the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic, which aside from the human toll has impacted both Apple's retail sales and product manufacturing. Read on for details on these stories and more that topped the news this week.

5G iPad Pro Models With A14 Series Chip Said to Launch in Fall 2020

A report this week claims that Apple plans to release its first iPhone and iPad models with 5G connectivity in the second half of 2020. An announcement in September or October is possible.

The new iPhone and iPad models are expected to be equipped with 5nm-based A14 chips — likely A14X for the iPad Pro — and support a combination of mmWave and sub-6GHz variants of 5G. Qualcomm is expected to supply its Snapdragon X55 modem for the iPhones, but the report does not specify which modem the iPads will use. Apple is also said to be hoping to use an in-house antenna design for its upcoming 5G iPhones, having been unhappy with the designs offered by Qualcomm.

Upcoming Low-Cost iPhone Again Rumored to Start at $399

Apple is widely rumored to be planning a new lower-cost iPhone model, tentatively referred to as the iPhone SE 2 or iPhone 9, and a new report this week claims the device will start at $399 in the United States.

The device is expected to resemble the iPhone 8 with a 4.7-inch display and a Touch ID home button, but with a faster A13 chip and 3GB of RAM. It will be available with 64GB or 128GB of storage in Space Gray, Silver, and (PRODUCT)RED, according to oft-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Rumors have suggested the new lower-cost iPhone will be unveiled around March, and ahead of time, suppliers are reportedly gearing up for production of the device. With manufacturing delays stemming from the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China, however, there is some uncertainty about launch timing.

Apple Reportedly Working on 'AirPod Pro Lite' Earphones

A questionable report this week claims that Apple is working with supply chain partners in Taiwan on several upcoming products, including so-called "AirPod Pro Lite" wireless earphones.

"AirPod Pro Lite" is a bit of an oxymoron, as "Pro Lite" sounds like the regular AirPods that Apple sells for $159. Without any further details provided, it is unclear if the report is referring to third-generation AirPods or something else.

Hands-On With Samsung's New S20 and Galaxy Z Flip Smartphones

It's not Apple news, but one of Apple's biggest competitors launched several new products this week, with Samsung taking the wraps off of the foldable Galaxy Z Flip phone, a new Galaxy S20 phone lineup, and new Galaxy Buds+ wireless earphones.

We went hands-on with all of the new products, so make sure to check out our video coverage and stay tuned because there is more to come!

New References to AMD Processors Discovered in Recent macOS Catalina Betas

Over the last few months, an increasing number of references to AMD processors have been uncovered in macOS Catalina code.

Given that Macs currently use Intel processors, the references are naturally prompting speculation that perhaps Apple plans to release Macs with AMD processors, but this is unconfirmed as of yet.

AMD does supply dedicated graphics in select MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, and Mac Pro models.

HomePod Turns Two, Lower-Priced Model Might Launch Later This Year

This week marks two years since Apple released the HomePod, with deliveries to customers and in-store availability having begun February 9, 2018 in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K.

At launch, the HomePod cost $349, but Apple reduced its price to $299 in April 2019. Apple has never disclosed HomePod sales, instead grouping the speaker under its "Wearables, Home, and Accessories" category, which set a quarterly record of $10 billion in revenue over the final three months of 2019.

A lower-priced HomePod with fewer tweeters may launch as early as this year.

Many Mac Models Facing Lengthy Delivery Estimates Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Apple continues to be impacted by the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China, where many of its retail stores remain closed as a precaution. Apple has reopened its five stores in the Beijing area as of Friday, but with limited hours and temperature screening of customers until further notice.

Last week, we reported that many custom iMac, iMac Pro, and MacBook Pro configurations are facing longer-than-usual delivery estimates on Apple's online store, and this now extends to orders of the new Mac Pro in many countries. This is likely the result of many Apple suppliers suspending production in China due to the coronavirus outbreak, and supplies should improve as operations begin to resume.

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