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