iOS 26 AI Battery Management Feature May Launch With iPhone 17 Air

Apple's rumored AI-powered battery management feature may not be announced at WWDC as part of iOS 26, with Apple potentially launching the tool in tandem with the release of the iPhone 17 Air in September. That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who made the prediction while hosting a Discord chat over the weekend.

iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature
Gurman reported in May that Apple plans to use AI to help you better manage your iPhone's battery life. iOS 26 will have an AI-powered battery management option that will analyze how you use your device and make adjustments where possible to cut down on battery usage.

According to the report, the battery option will be included in the Apple Intelligence suite of features, with Apple drawing on battery data that it has collected from users over time. The battery mode will be able to cut the power draw of apps and other system features based on device usage, and it will also include a Lock Screen indicator that shows how long it will take an ‌iPhone‌ charge.

Gurman has previously acknowledged that the new battery management tool was designed with the super-slim iPhone 17 Air in mind, but this is the first time he has suggested the feature may not arrive until the device is released later in the fall.

Apple's new ultra-thin ‌iPhone‌ doesn't have as much space for a battery inside, and some rumors have suggested that the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌'s battery will not be up to par with the battery life of other iPhone 17 models. Apple plans to improve ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ battery life with the AI optimizations, though the feature set will be available for all iPhones that are able to run iOS 26.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

Popular Stories

Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature

Apple Announces Special Event in New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4

Monday February 16, 2026 6:05 am PST by
Apple today announced a "special Apple Experience" in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Apple invited select members of the media to the event in three major cities around the world. It is simply described as a "special Apple Experience," and there is no further information about what it may entail. The invitation features a 3D Apple logo design...
iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...

Top Rated Comments

F23 Avatar
9 months ago
"Hey Siri how long until fully charged?"

Setting a timer for 45 minutes, expect some rain tonight.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago
This function will not work on older phones (including iPhone 16) as it needs a dedicated chip on the battery. ”It is the most sophisticated chip in the world with 1 trillion transistors and own neural engine with 24 teraflops calculating speed. We call it Apple B1”
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

"Hey Siri how long until fully charged?"

Setting a timer for 45 minutes, expect some rain tonight.
'Here's what I found on the Internet:'
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BarrettF77 Avatar
9 months ago
If this turns out to be true I am officially done with this brand. The did jack and **** for iPhone 16 users and hailed it as AI central. And if a Mac from 10 years ago can tell me how long it will be full but a iPhone 16 pro cannot, this is not the brand for me.

Sad this is what it takes now for Apple to get its customers to upgrade.

Guess this may backfire by us selling our stuff off and going to Android. What a trash brand they have become.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago
Physics > AI
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mazz0 Avatar
9 months ago
They should use “AI” to generate marketing guff about “AI” features. Assuming they don’t already.

Seriously, if this has a greater than 5% effect on battery life I’ll eat my hat*.

*I don’t own a hat.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)