Apple Increases iPhone 15's Advertised Battery Lifespan

Apple today announced that it retested the batteries in all iPhone 15 models and determined that they are able to meet a higher bar.

iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature Gray
In a support document updated today, Apple says the batteries in the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max are designed to retain 80% of their original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions, compared to the 500 charge cycles it advertises for all older iPhone models.

Apple told MacRumors that its latest testing for iPhone 15 models involved charging and discharging the battery 1,000 times under specific conditions, but it did not provide any exact details about the process. Apple added that it has continually made improvements to iPhone battery components and its power management system.

This revelation means that it could take longer for the maximum battery capacity of iPhone 15 models to decline to 80% compared to previous iPhone models. However, Apple said it is "investigating" the battery lifespans of older iPhone models, so a comparison based on the latest testing parameters remains to be seen.

In its support document, Apple says the battery lifespan of any iPhone model ultimately depends on how the device is regularly used and charged.

To view an iPhone's battery capacity, open the Settings app and tap Battery → Battery Health & Charging. On iPhone 15 models updated to the latest iOS 17.4 beta, the menu is now simply called Battery Health and shows more info at a glance.

This news was first reported by 9to5Mac.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

hikawa phone grip stand apple%402x

Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

Friday November 21, 2025 3:53 am PST by
Apple has begun selling the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, a new limited-edition iPhone accessory designed with accessibility in mind. Designed by LA-based Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple, the grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe. Apple says it can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand with two different viewing...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 27 Will Reportedly Have Two Key Upgrades

Sunday November 23, 2025 8:48 am PST by
iOS 27 will reportedly have two major elements: quality improvements and new AI features. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that Apple is focused on improving "quality and underlying performance" over adding new features. Gurman said there is one exception to this rule, though, as he expects...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like a Huge Upgrade

Friday November 21, 2025 9:10 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the new features and improvements expected to come to next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple's next-generation iPhones are less than ten months away and we already have a good idea about what to expect based on corroborated leaks, rumors,...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Two Breakthrough Features

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:26 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include two standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
ipad black friday 2025

The Best Early Black Friday iPad Deals

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:20 am PST by
Black Friday is just over a week away, and iPad deals have finally started to flood in at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Below we're tracking discounts on every current generation iPad, including lowest-ever prices on M3 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, plus steep markdowns on iPad and iPad mini. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a ...

Top Rated Comments

till Avatar
23 months ago
Admittedly it's only been five months, but I've been strictly using the 80% Limit option on my iPhone 15 Pro and the max capacity is still 100%. I'm optimistic that it'll easily last my typical ~5 years between phone upgrades.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FattiesGoneWild Avatar
23 months ago
Launch day 14 Pro Max down to 86% ?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farmboy Avatar
23 months ago

It is unbelievable how easy people are manipulated by Apple. They used recycled batteries in the 14 series hence the short battery lifecycle. They did the same with the 15 series but this time as marketing. At the same time telling users not to charge and use the battery over 80%! Of course it will degrade slower, do not get us started how the iOS code manipulated the statistic so users feel relieved. They did this with iPhone 4 cellular issue's you holding it wrong and performance gate iPhone 6.
You are wrong, or at least misstating. Apple uses about 25% recycled COBALT in their batteries, not "recycled batteries". All phone makers, indeed all portable electronic devices, use as much recycled cobalt as they can.

The recycling is done for several reasons: 1) because cobalt is a very expensive raw material, and because most of it comes from the Congo, where that mining is rife with human abuse; 2) Because it is environmentally unwise to mine the lithium cobalt; 3) Because it is environmentally unwise to just junk the old batteries; 4) Recycled cobalt charges just as efficiently and as much as new cobalt.

The cathode material is Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2), the anode is carbon graphite while the electrolyte is a solid polymer such as polyethylene oxide or polyacrylonitrile or similar. The LiCoO2 coats aluminum collectors while the graphite coats copper collectors.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chfilm Avatar
23 months ago
Great - so I can enjoy the absolutely mediocre battery in my 15 pro for even longer ?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jarman92 Avatar
23 months ago
Happy to see Apple clearly heard the widespread complaints about the 14 series' horrendous battery longevity and made some changes.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ethanwa79 Avatar
23 months ago

It is unbelievable how easy people are manipulated by Apple. They used recycled batteries in the 14 series hence the short battery lifecycle. They did the same with the 15 series but this time as marketing. At the same time telling users not to charge and use the battery over 80%! Of course it will degrade slower, do not get us started how the iOS code manipulated the statistic so users feel relieved. They did this with iPhone 4 cellular issue's you holding it wrong and performance gate iPhone 6.
It unbelievable how incorrect your statement is. They don't use "recycled batteries" in their products. It's MATERIALS. Big difference.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)