Latest news with #AdaptivePower
CNET
2 days ago
- CNET
Adaptive Power Could Be the Best Low-Key iOS 26 Feature for Your iPhone's Battery
If you've installed the newest iOS 26 public beta or developer beta, you may be able to get a jump on an upcoming feature that might deliver long-term benefits. Adaptive Power is a setting designed to extend battery power by selectively saving energy in small ways that add up. In fact, I'm looking forward to turning it on and forgetting about it. If you're (rightly) cautious about installing betas, it's something to anticipate when iOS 26 comes out in the fall. Let's look closer at how this tiny preference could extend your iPhone's battery life. See also: Adaptive Power in iOS 26 Could Save the iPhone 17 Air From This Major Pitfall Currently, the iPhone uses as much power as it needs to perform its tasks. You can extend the battery life by doing a number of things, such as decreasing screen brightness and turning off the always-on display. Or, if your battery level is starting to get dire, you can activate Low Power Mode, which reduces background activity like fetching mail and downloading data in addition to those screen adjustments. Low Power Mode also kicks in automatically when the battery level reaches 20%. If Low Power Mode is the hammer that knocks down power consumption, Adaptive Power is the scalpel that intelligently trims energy savings here and there as needed. Based on Apple's description that accompanies the control, the savings will be felt mostly in power-hungry situations such as recording videos, editing photos or perhaps even playing games: "When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20%." Watch this: I'm Impressed With iOS 26. Apple Just Made iPhones Better 05:40 How to turn adaptive power on Adaptive Power is not on by default and you'll need to opt-in to use it. In iOS 26, you'll find the Adaptive Power toggle in Settings > Battery > Power Mode. In iOS 26, turn on the Adaptive Power option to help extend battery life. (IOS 26 developer build shown here.) Screenshot by Patrick Holland/CNET Since Adaptive Power appears to be using AI in deciding which settings and processes to adjust, I suspect the feature will be available on iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence, which include the iPhone 15 Pro and later. A Reddit thread about Adaptive Power suggests this is the case, with commenters noting it does not show up in iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro models with the beta installed. Adaptive Power sounds like an outgrowth of Gaming Mode, introduced in iOS 18, which routes all available processing and graphics power to the frontmost app and pauses other processes in order to deliver the best experience possible -- at the notable expense of battery life. What does this mean for your charging habits? Although we all want as much battery life as possible all the time, judging by the description it sounds as if Adaptive Power's optimizations will not always be active, even if you leave the feature on. "When your battery usage is higher than usual" could include a limited number of situations. Still, considering that according to a CNET survey 61% of people upgrade their phones because of battery life, a feature such as Adaptive Power could extend the longevity of their phones just by updating to iOS 26. I also wonder whether slightly adjusting display brightness could be disruptive. But because the feature is also selectively de-prioritizing processing tasks, it suggests that the outward effects will be minimal. We'll know more about how well Adaptive Power works as the iOS 26 beta program nears the expected release date in September or October -- battery optimizations are often the last tweaks to be made to operating systems in development just before shipping. If you want to start giving iOS 26 a spin, you can download the first public beta now. Just remember that beta software carries risks, especially these first iterations that have recently been set loose from Apple's labs.
CNET
09-07-2025
- CNET
Adaptive Power in iOS 26 Could Mean Longer Stretches Between iPhone Charges
The upcoming iOS 26 includes several new features I'm looking forward to running on my iPhone, from the Liquid Glass interface to new ways to cut down on unwanted calls and messages. But one feature I can't wait to turn on will hopefully be something I can forget about. A new Adaptive Power setting promises to extend battery power by selectively applying energy savings in small ways that add up. It's currently available in the iOS 26 developer beta and is expected to ship in the fall. See also: Adaptive Power in iOS 26 Could Save the iPhone 17 Air From This Major Pitfall Currently, the iPhone uses as much power as it needs to perform its tasks. You can extend the battery life by doing a number of things, such as decreasing screen brightness and turning off the always-on display. Or, if your battery level is starting to get dire, you can activate Low Power Mode, which reduces background activity like fetching mail and downloading data in addition to those screen adjustments. Low Power Mode also kicks in automatically when the battery level reaches 20%. If Low Power Mode is the hammer that knocks down power consumption, Adaptive Power is the scalpel that intelligently trims energy savings here and there as needed. Based on Apple's description that accompanies the control, the savings will be felt mostly in power-hungry situations such as recording videos, editing photos or perhaps even playing games: "When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20%." Watch this: I'm Impressed With iOS 26. Apple Just Made iPhones Better 05:40 How to turn adaptive power on Adaptive Power is not on by default and you'll need to opt-in to use it. In iOS 26, you'll find the Adaptive Power toggle in Settings > Battery > Power Mode. In iOS 26, turn on the Adaptive Power option to help extend battery life. (IOS 26 developer build shown here.) Screenshot by Patrick Holland/CNET Since Adaptive Power appears to be using AI in deciding which settings and processes to adjust, I suspect the feature will be available on iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence, which include the iPhone 15 Pro and later. A Reddit thread about Adaptive Power suggests this is the case, with commenters noting it does not show up in iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro models with the beta installed. Adaptive Power sounds like an outgrowth of Gaming Mode, introduced in iOS 18, which routes all available processing and graphics power to the frontmost app and pauses other processes in order to deliver the best experience possible -- at the notable expense of battery life. What does this mean for your charging habits? Although we all want as much battery life as possible all the time, judging by the description it sounds as if Adaptive Power's optimizations will not always be active, even if you leave the feature on. "When your battery usage is higher than usual" could include a limited number of situations. Still, considering that according to a CNET survey 61% of people upgrade their phones because of battery life, a feature such as Adaptive Power could extend the longevity of their phones just by updating to iOS 26. I also wonder whether slightly adjusting display brightness could be disruptive. But because the feature is also selectively de-prioritizing processing tasks, it suggests that the outward effects will be minimal. We'll know more about how well Adaptive Power works as the iOS 26 beta program nears the expected release date in September or October -- battery optimizations are often the last tweaks to be made to operating systems in development just before shipping. If you want to start giving iOS 26 a spin, you can download the first developer beta now; a public beta is expected this month. Just remember that beta software carries risks, especially these first iterations that have recently been set loose from Apple's labs.
CNET
24-06-2025
- CNET
Could Apple's New Adaptive Power Feature Extend Your iPhone's Battery Life?
Usually, I'm the one adapting my behavior based on the power remaining in my iPhone, but starting this fall, I can ask my iPhone to do more of the adapting. A new Adaptive Power setting in iOS 26 can extend battery power by intelligently trimming energy usage in small ways that add up to extend the time before you need to recharge. See also: Adaptive Power in iOS 26 Could Save the iPhone 17 Air From This Major Pitfall Currently, the iPhone uses as much power as it needs to perform its tasks. You can extend the battery life by doing a number of things such as decreasing screen brightness and turning off the always-on display. Or, if your battery level is starting to get dire, you can activate Low Power Mode, which reduces background activity like fetching mail and downloading data in addition to those screen adjustments. Low Power Mode also kicks in automatically when the battery level reaches 20%. If Low Power Mode is the hammer that knocks down power consumption, Adaptive Power is the scalpel that intelligently trims energy savings here and there as needed. Based on Apple's description that accompanies the control, the savings will be felt mostly in power-hungry situations such as recording videos, editing photos or perhaps even playing games: "When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20%." Now Playing: I'm Impressed With iOS 26. Apple Just Made iPhones Better 05:40 How to turn adaptive power on Adaptive Power is not on by default and you'll need to opt-in to use it. In iOS 26, you'll find the Adaptive Power toggle in Settings > Battery > Power Mode. In iOS 26, turn on the Adaptive Power option to help extend battery life. (IOS 26 developer build shown here.) Screenshot by Patrick Holland/CNET Since Adaptive Power appears to be using AI in deciding which settings and processes to adjust, I suspect the feature will be available on iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence, which include the iPhone 15 Pro and later. A Reddit thread about Adaptive Power suggests this is the case, with commenters noting it does not show up in iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro models with the beta installed. Adaptive Power sounds like an outgrowth of Gaming Mode, introduced in iOS 18, which routes all available processing and graphics power to the frontmost app and pauses other processes in order to deliver the best experience possible -- at the notable expense of battery life. What does this mean for your charging habits? Although we all want as much battery life as possible all the time, judging by the description it sounds as if Adaptive Power's optimizations will not always be active, even if you leave the feature on. "When your battery usage is higher than usual" could include a limited number of situations. Still, considering that according to a CNET survey 61% of people upgrade their phones because of battery life, a feature such as Adaptive Power could extend the longevity of their phones just by updating to iOS 26. I also wonder whether slightly adjusting display brightness could be disruptive. But because the feature is also selectively de-prioritizing processing tasks, it suggests that the outward effects will be minimal. We'll know more about how well Adaptive Power works as the iOS 26 beta program nears the expected release date in September or October -- battery optimizations are often the last tweaks to be made to operating systems in development just before shipping. If you want to start giving iOS 26 a spin, you can download the first developer beta now; a public beta is expected in July. Just remember that beta software carries risks, especially these first iterations that have recently been set loose from Apple's labs.
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Hans India
iOS 26 brings AI-Powered battery saver, but only for Phone 15 and 16 lineup and later
Apple's latest iOS 26 update introduces a powerful new feature called Adaptive Power, an AI-driven battery optimization tool that promises to intelligently extend battery life. But there's a catch — this smart feature is exclusive to newer iPhones that support Apple Intelligence. AI Meets Battery Life: What Is Adaptive Power? Adaptive Power is designed to proactively manage power consumption without user input. Unlike traditional Low Power Mode, which activates at 20% battery, Adaptive Power subtly adjusts brightness and allows background tasks to delay slightly to reduce battery drain throughout the day. It's part of Apple's broader move to integrate AI deeper into system-level operations. Who Can Use It? Only iPhones with the hardware needed to support Apple Intelligence will get access to Adaptive Power. These include: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max Entire iPhone 16 lineup (16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e) All models in the upcoming iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone 17 Air Notably, the standard iPhone 15 is excluded, despite being in the same generation as the 15 Pro. The reason? It lacks the necessary on-device AI hardware. Why It's Critical for the iPhone 17 Air Rumored to be Apple's slimmest phone ever at just 5.5mm, the iPhone 17 Air may feature a smaller 2,800mAh battery. With less physical room for power, Adaptive Power could play a pivotal role in maintaining all-day usability without sacrificing performance. When Is iOS 26 Coming? Currently in developer beta, iOS 26 will launch publicly in September 2025, alongside the iPhone 17 series. While older devices (as far back as iPhone 11) will receive the update, only the newest models will be able to leverage its full AI-powered features like Adaptive Power.
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Hans India
iOS 26 Brings AI-Powered Battery Saver — But Only to Select iPhones
Apple's latest software update, iOS 26, brings several under-the-hood enhancements — and leading the pack is a new AI-powered battery-saving feature known as Adaptive Power. While the update is available for older models, this exclusive feature is restricted to iPhones equipped with Apple Intelligence, a capability found only in higher-end models. According to a MacRumors report, the Adaptive Power feature will be available only on the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and 16e. Apple describes Adaptive Power as a tool that 'makes small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20 per cent.' The aim is to subtly tweak background processes and system behavior when battery consumption is higher than usual, thereby enhancing overall endurance without a major compromise in user experience. Despite iPhones as old as the iPhone 11 being eligible for the iOS 26 upgrade, the Adaptive Power feature is not supported on devices lacking Apple Intelligence. That includes the standard iPhone 15, which, although part of the same series as the 15 Pro, misses out on this AI integration. The feature is expected to be especially beneficial for Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Air, rumoured to be the slimmest iPhone ever at just 5.5mm thick. With speculation around it housing a 2,800mAh battery, Adaptive Power might become essential in helping the phone maintain a solid battery life while preserving performance. Apple is likely to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup — including the 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and the much-anticipated 17 Air — in September, alongside the stable release of iOS 26, which is currently available as a developer beta. As users await the next generation of iPhones, Adaptive Power stands out as a thoughtful addition, aimed at addressing the long-standing challenge of balancing slim design with long battery life.
