Apple has improved the battery lifespan of the iPhone 15. The company announced on Tuesday that its latest iPhones can maintain 80% of their original charging capacity after 1,000 cycles, which is double the company’s previous estimate. Interestingly, this change coincides with upcoming EU regulations that will rate phones based on their battery longevity.
Previously, Apple’s online support documents stated that iPhone batteries could maintain 80% of their original full charge after 500 cycles. However, after retesting long-term battery health in its 2023 smartphones — iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max — the company discovered that they can retain 80% capacity after at least 1,000 cycles. Apple announced that its support documents would be updated on Tuesday to reflect the new estimate.
According to Apple, their testing included charging and draining the batteries 1,000 times under specific conditions and running various tests that simulate common usage scenarios. As for how the estimate doubled without any physical or software changes, the company credits ongoing improvements to its battery components and iOS power management.
For older iPhones (pre-2023), the original estimate of retaining 80% capacity after 500 charge cycles remains unchanged — at least for now. Apple mentioned that it’s currently investigating whether the estimates for older models need to be updated.
Beginning in June 2025, smartphone and tablet manufacturers operating in the EU will receive a grade (A to G) based on their energy efficiency, battery longevity, protection from dust and water, and resistance to accidental drops. The battery longevity component of the grade mandates at least 800 charging cycles while maintaining at least 80% of their original capacity. This is why Apple started retesting its devices’ long-term health.
For optimal battery life, Apple suggests keeping your phone in temperatures between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit whenever possible. It’s also advisable to avoid charging or leaving your device in hot environments (95 degrees or higher) and minimize direct sunlight exposure. If you’re storing an old iPhone for an extended period, it’s best to leave it half-charged.
Additionally, Apple is planning to relocate one of your phone’s most crucial battery metrics to a different section of iOS settings. Starting with iOS 17.4, which is currently in beta, the battery cycle count will be moved from Settings > General > About to a more logical location under Battery Health (under Settings > Battery). Apple introduced the battery cycle count to its mobile software in iOS 17, which was released last fall.