Tested - iPhone Air MagSafe Battery.
Small but informative video from Aaron at MobileReviewsEh about the wireless abilities of the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery.
Its wired capabilities are not impressive, but that’s not the point of this battery. It really shines as a wireless device, charging his “test iPhone” faster while running cooler than all the other battery banks he used for testing (a literal bucket full of battery banks).
Small but informative video from Aaron at MobileReviewsEh about the wireless abilities of the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery.
Its wired capabilities are not impressive, but that’s not the point of this battery. It really shines as a wireless device, charging his “test iPhone” faster while running cooler than all the other battery banks he used for testing (a literal bucket full of battery banks).
Is your new iPhone battery replacement as old as the battery you got replaced?
My wife’s iPhone 12 Pro Max has 78% battery health, and I was thinking about getting it serviced with a fresh battery about a month ago. I went to the Apple Store, and one of the Geniuses told me the strangest thing about Apple’s replacement batteries (rough quotes here):
Genius: We can replace your battery, but since Apple made all the batteries for the iPhone 12s when they were first released, it still won’t last as long as a brand new phone’s battery.
Me: OK, so this iPhone was released back in 2020, and you’re telling me that if you do a battery replacement, that new battery will also be from 2020?
Genius: Yes, and it won’t last as long.
In my head I was thinking - umm…what are you talking about? Do you know what you’re even talking about?? Then it all made sense:
Genius: You’re better off trading it in for a newer device.
Aah, the ole upsell tactic. The trade-in offer for the 12 Pro Max was $280, but I declined and held off on the battery replacement since there is another year before the 12 Pro Max goes vintage.
I really hope this person was the only person using this tactic because it’s a lie. I wonder how many other people are told this insanity, that all genuine replacement batteries were already made 5 years ago, and they’re just sitting in a warehouse somewhere, slowly degrading over time. No doubt there are iPhone replacement batteries being stored away, but maybe they’re a few months old? Apple doesn’t like to hoard components, especially for 5 years.
They follow the Just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing method:
Apple uses a just-in-time manufacturing approach, which means that components and finished goods are manufactured and delivered to Apple’s warehouses and retail stores as close to the time of need as possible. This reduces the need for Apple to maintain large inventories.
For the record, here’s what Apple says about their batteries:
iPhone uses built-in, high-quality lithium-ion batteries. They're rigorously designed, tested, and manufactured to meet Apple quality and performance standards. These genuine Apple batteries have also been certified for safety.
The things said at an Apple Store never cease to amaze me. You really do learn something new everyday, at the Genius Bar.
My wife’s iPhone 12 Pro Max has 78% battery health, and I was thinking about getting it serviced with a fresh battery about a month ago. I went to the Apple Store, and one of the Geniuses told me the strangest thing about Apple’s replacement batteries (rough quotes here):
Genius: We can replace your battery, but since Apple made all the batteries for the iPhone 12s when they were first released, it still won’t last as long as a brand new phone’s battery.
Me: OK, so this iPhone was released back in 2020, and you’re telling me that if you do a battery replacement, that new battery will also be from 2020?
Genius: Yes, and it won’t last as long.
In my head I was thinking - umm…what are you talking about? Do you know what you’re even talking about?? Then it all made sense:
Genius: You’re better off trading it in for a newer device.
Aah, the ole upsell tactic. The trade-in offer for the 12 Pro Max was $280, but I declined and held off on the battery replacement since there is another year before the 12 Pro Max goes vintage.
I really hope this person was the only person using this tactic because it’s a lie. I wonder how many other people are told this insanity, that all genuine replacement batteries were already made 5 years ago, and they’re just sitting in a warehouse somewhere, slowly degrading over time. No doubt there are iPhone replacement batteries being stored away, but maybe they’re a few months old? Apple doesn’t like to hoard components, especially for 5 years.
They follow the Just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing method:
Apple uses a just-in-time manufacturing approach, which means that components and finished goods are manufactured and delivered to Apple’s warehouses and retail stores as close to the time of need as possible. This reduces the need for Apple to maintain large inventories.
For the record, here’s what Apple says about their batteries:
iPhone uses built-in, high-quality lithium-ion batteries. They're rigorously designed, tested, and manufactured to meet Apple quality and performance standards. These genuine Apple batteries have also been certified for safety.
The things said at an Apple Store never cease to amaze me. You really do learn something new everyday, at the Genius Bar.
80% charge limit on iPhones - does it help save battery health?
Juli Clover at MacRumors ran this experiment two years in a row with a 15 Pro Max and a 16 Pro Max, and got the same result each year, keeping her phones’ charging limit at 80%:
• 16 Pro Max - 94% battery health after 297 cycles.
• 15 Pro Max - 94% battery health after 297 cycles in one year.
• 15 Pro Max - 88% battery health after 352 cycles in two years.
I ran a similar test and got similar results each year:
• 15 Pro Max - 99% battery health after 296 cycles.
• 16 Pro Max - 100% battery health after 270 cycles.
I would say my numbers are higher because I use MagSafe more than 90% of the time in cool environments, whereas Juli had a 50/50 mix between MagSafe and fast charging via USB-C, not to mention using battery packs while outside in warmer environments.
Heat is the biggest factor that degrades battery health, and you get the most heat with the fastest charging speeds. The bulk of my charging is in two different bedrooms that are pretty cold - one has a Anker MagGo Magnetic Charging Station (8-in-1) and one has the standard Apple MagSafe charger.
Annual phone upgraders don’t need a charge limit, unless they want to sell the phone at the best price possible with a higher battery health (yours truly). If you trade in your device each year, then don’t even worry about charge limits.
Juli Clover at MacRumors ran this experiment two years in a row with a 15 Pro Max and a 16 Pro Max, and got the same result each year, keeping her phones’ charging limit at 80%:
• 16 Pro Max - 94% battery health after 297 cycles.
• 15 Pro Max - 94% battery health after 297 cycles in one year.
• 15 Pro Max - 88% battery health after 352 cycles in two years.
I ran a similar test and got similar results each year:
• 15 Pro Max - 99% battery health after 296 cycles.
• 16 Pro Max - 100% battery health after 270 cycles.
I would say my numbers are higher because I use MagSafe more than 90% of the time in cool environments, whereas Juli had a 50/50 mix between MagSafe and fast charging via USB-C, not to mention using battery packs while outside in warmer environments.
Heat is the biggest factor that degrades battery health, and you get the most heat with the fastest charging speeds. The bulk of my charging is in two different bedrooms that are pretty cold - one has a Anker MagGo Magnetic Charging Station (8-in-1) and one has the standard Apple MagSafe charger.
Annual phone upgraders don’t need a charge limit, unless they want to sell the phone at the best price possible with a higher battery health (yours truly). If you trade in your device each year, then don’t even worry about charge limits.
Ceramic Shield 2 - the real winner this year for iPhone.
“Scratchgate” might be unjustly taking the headlines for Apple’s new lineup of phones, but what isn’t getting the praise it deserves is Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2. For years we have seen phones being tested, and they have always had the same scientific scratch results per Jerryrigeverything:
Scratches at a level 6, with deeper grooves at a level 7.
Zack’s famous quote (referring to Mohs Scale of hardness) is recognized by millions of phone nerds and saboteurs of technology, but that ended with the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and iPhone Air. This is a big deal because even though coins and keys couldn’t scratch your screen, any other grit in your pocket would easily scratch your screen. I’m talking about fine sand particles that comes from day to day living and end up in your pocket.
Sand particles have a high quartz content, which is a level 7.
Even though I am a bit OCD about cleaning my dedicated phone pants pocket, my screens still got scratched each year. Nothing huge, but still annoying. And no, I’m not throwing a screen protector on just to destroy the beautiful flow between the body and screen. Now with Ceramic Shield 2, I can lower my OCD levels just a tad knowing that even quartz will be less likely to gash my screen.
Apple’s investment with Corning is a huge win for the economy and for iPhone purists who hate the idea of a screen protector. Remember, this is the first time ever that a mainstream smartphone display has this level of resistance to scratches.
Makes me wonder how durable that new display is on Apple Watch Series 11.
“Scratchgate” might be unjustly taking the headlines for Apple’s new lineup of phones, but what isn’t getting the praise it deserves is Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2. For years we have seen phones being tested, and they have always had the same scientific scratch results per Jerryrigeverything:
Scratches at a level 6, with deeper grooves at a level 7.
Zack’s famous quote (referring to Mohs Scale of hardness) is recognized by millions of phone nerds and saboteurs of technology, but that ended with the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and iPhone Air. This is a big deal because even though coins and keys couldn’t scratch your screen, any other grit in your pocket would easily scratch your screen. I’m talking about fine sand particles that comes from day to day living and end up in your pocket.
Sand particles have a high quartz content, which is a level 7.
Even though I am a bit OCD about cleaning my dedicated phone pants pocket, my screens still got scratched each year. Nothing huge, but still annoying. And no, I’m not throwing a screen protector on just to destroy the beautiful flow between the body and screen. Now with Ceramic Shield 2, I can lower my OCD levels just a tad knowing that even quartz will be less likely to gash my screen.
Apple’s investment with Corning is a huge win for the economy and for iPhone purists who hate the idea of a screen protector. Remember, this is the first time ever that a mainstream smartphone display has this level of resistance to scratches.
Makes me wonder how durable that new display is on Apple Watch Series 11.
More details about the intimate relationship between the iPhone Air battery and its dedicated external battery pack.
Yours truly a few days ago:
If Apple made a single battery pack for all new iPhones, it would be a more generic experience across the board since the iPhone 17 lineup still uses a 3rd party Qualcomm modem. The Battery Pack wouldn’t meet Apple’s standards of true optimization. It would still be better than a generic 3rd party battery pack that just destroys battery health, but this unique, intimate relationship with the MagSafe Battery and the iPhone Air makes it outlast the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 40 hours of video playback vs 39 hours, making the combo the best battery life of any iPhone to date.
Now we have confirmation from iFixit that the MagSafe Battery is the same as the iPhone Air’s battery:
And in a fun twist, we’ve confirmed that it’s the exact same cell found in Apple’s MagSafe battery pack. You can swap between them and the phone still boots up just fine. Like a rear-mounted spare tire on an SUV, an iPhone Air with a MagSafe battery pack is ready for an on-the-go swap, if you will. Granted it’ll take a bit more than a tire iron to make it happen.
The intimate relationship is deeper than I thought. The MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air is like getting a kidney transplant from your twin versus a complete stranger.
Yours truly a few days ago:
If Apple made a single battery pack for all new iPhones, it would be a more generic experience across the board since the iPhone 17 lineup still uses a 3rd party Qualcomm modem. The Battery Pack wouldn’t meet Apple’s standards of true optimization. It would still be better than a generic 3rd party battery pack that just destroys battery health, but this unique, intimate relationship with the MagSafe Battery and the iPhone Air makes it outlast the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 40 hours of video playback vs 39 hours, making the combo the best battery life of any iPhone to date.
Now we have confirmation from iFixit that the MagSafe Battery is the same as the iPhone Air’s battery:
And in a fun twist, we’ve confirmed that it’s the exact same cell found in Apple’s MagSafe battery pack. You can swap between them and the phone still boots up just fine. Like a rear-mounted spare tire on an SUV, an iPhone Air with a MagSafe battery pack is ready for an on-the-go swap, if you will. Granted it’ll take a bit more than a tire iron to make it happen.
The intimate relationship is deeper than I thought. The MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air is like getting a kidney transplant from your twin versus a complete stranger.
How my iPhone 16 Pro Max looks like after 11 months of use (an OCD perspective).
I’ve seen some of the most disgusting iPhones over the course of my existence, and I get it that most people don’t care about their phones as long as it works. I, however, am not one of those people. My iPhone is not just a tool…
It’s jewelry.
A hard look at the fine craftsmanship and attention to detail is something I do more often than I would like to admit to admire the fine precision from the folks over at Cupertino. To throw a case on every once in a while is fine for protection, but putting on a screen protector is where I draw a hard line. The smooth transition between metal and glass will be utterly destroyed, leading to a mediocre experience when twirling the device in hand or dancing between swipes and edge gestures.
To keep the pristine look of my main device, I usually resort to a thorough cleaning of my right front pocket and my right back pocket - the two homes for my iPhone - making sure there’s no lint nor any fine grains of sand that can easily scratch the screen. I even have a toothbrush that is exclusively used for cleaning the top speaker, bottom speaker, microphone holes, USB-C port, and dust around the rear cameras, always making it look brand new.
You really can’t tell this phone is even used, even though I used it daily.
That’s right, I sold my 16 Pro Max in anticipation of the iPhone Air. My current device of choice has been an iPhone 13 mini, which is now thankfully fresh with a new battery from Apple since it was becoming chaotic.
Here are some pics of my iPhone 16 Pro Max before it went to its new home. I still get goosebumps admiring the shiny, brushed, titanium chassis. You would be hard pressed to tell that it was even used for 11 months. 📓
I’ve seen some of the most disgusting iPhones over the course of my existence, and I get it that most people don’t care about their phones as long as it works. I, however, am not one of those people. My iPhone is not just a tool…
It’s jewelry.
A hard look at the fine craftsmanship and attention to detail is something I do more often than I would like to admit to admire the fine precision from the folks over at Cupertino. To throw a case on every once in a while is fine for protection, but putting on a screen protector is where I draw a hard line. The smooth transition between metal and glass will be utterly destroyed, leading to a mediocre experience when twirling the device in hand or dancing between swipes and edge gestures.
To keep the pristine look of my main device, I usually resort to a thorough cleaning of my right front pocket and my right back pocket - the two homes for my iPhone - making sure there’s no lint nor any fine grains of sand that can easily scratch the screen. I even have a toothbrush that is exclusively used for cleaning the top speaker, bottom speaker, microphone holes, USB-C port, and dust around the rear cameras, always making it look brand new.
You really can’t tell this phone is even used, even though I used it daily.
That’s right, I sold my 16 Pro Max in anticipation of the iPhone Air. My current device of choice has been an iPhone 13 mini, which is now thankfully fresh with a new battery from Apple since it was becoming chaotic.
Here are some pics of my iPhone 16 Pro Max before it went to its new home. I still get goosebumps admiring the shiny, brushed, titanium chassis. You would be hard pressed to tell that it was even used for 11 months.
I miss ProMotion and the giant screen, but it’s only a few more days for the next best thing.
Maybe we’ll see a fingerprint reader instead of Camera Control for iPhone Fold?
No lint or dead skin here…
or here.
Part of me feels a bit of regret, selling a physical SIM version of the 16 Pro Max, but I think I will be alright.
The new MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air might seem like a misstep, but it makes perfect sense for two reasons.
Control and optimization.
The iPhone Air is the first iPhone to have all chips be Apple-designed chips, giving them unprecedented control of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, and cellular efficiencies. The Apple-developed A19 Pro can talk to the N1 network processor and the C1X cellular modem at a more optimal level, maximizing battery and function based on multiple factors.
If Apple made a single battery pack for all new iPhones, it would be a more generic experience across the board since the iPhone 17 lineup still uses a 3rd party Qualcomm modem. The Battery Pack wouldn’t meet Apple’s standards of true optimization. It would still be better than a generic 3rd party battery pack that just destroys battery health, but this unique, intimate relationship with the MagSafe Battery and the iPhone Air makes it outlast the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 40 hours of video playback vs 39 hours, making the combo the best battery life of any iPhone to date.
Remember - Love is in the Air.
Who knows, maybe in the future when all iPhones have Apple-designed chips, Apple could go back to making one MagSafe Battery Pack that is optimized across the board.
Control and optimization.
The iPhone Air is the first iPhone to have all chips be Apple-designed chips, giving them unprecedented control of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, and cellular efficiencies. The Apple-developed A19 Pro can talk to the N1 network processor and the C1X cellular modem at a more optimal level, maximizing battery and function based on multiple factors.
If Apple made a single battery pack for all new iPhones, it would be a more generic experience across the board since the iPhone 17 lineup still uses a 3rd party Qualcomm modem. The Battery Pack wouldn’t meet Apple’s standards of true optimization. It would still be better than a generic 3rd party battery pack that just destroys battery health, but this unique, intimate relationship with the MagSafe Battery and the iPhone Air makes it outlast the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 40 hours of video playback vs 39 hours, making the combo the best battery life of any iPhone to date.
Remember - Love is in the Air.
Who knows, maybe in the future when all iPhones have Apple-designed chips, Apple could go back to making one MagSafe Battery Pack that is optimized across the board.
iPhone Air - first bend test makes its debut.
Courtesy of a Tom’s Guide interview with Joz and John Ternus in collaboration with Lance Ulanoff from Tech Radar. See it for yourself.
Courtesy of a Tom’s Guide interview with Joz and John Ternus in collaboration with Lance Ulanoff from Tech Radar. See it for yourself.
iPhone Air is the Goldilocks of iPhones.
Just a few hours before Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event, I expressed my true emotions about the iPhone Air and what it would take for me to buy one:
I can deal with the lack of ultra wide and telephoto cameras.
I can deal with the lack of reverse wireless charging.
I can deal with a binned A19 Pro or standard A19 chip.
I can deal with worse battery life.
But please Apple, for the love of God, give us a truly immersive, gorgeous display.
The display is a 1:1, uncompromised panel matching the iPhone 17 Pro, and the 6.5 inch display is not too big and not too small.
It is just right.
Love is in the Air.
Just a few hours before Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event, I expressed my true emotions about the iPhone Air and what it would take for me to buy one:
I can deal with the lack of ultra wide and telephoto cameras.
I can deal with the lack of reverse wireless charging.
I can deal with a binned A19 Pro or standard A19 chip.
I can deal with worse battery life.
But please Apple, for the love of God, give us a truly immersive, gorgeous display.
The display is a 1:1, uncompromised panel matching the iPhone 17 Pro, and the 6.5 inch display is not too big and not too small.
It is just right.
Love is in the Air.
The displays on iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro are all equally great this year - financially it makes the most sense.
Besides the size, every minute spec of the display is identical across the board with the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro devices. I compared every bullet point and there is no difference. Quite surprising, and really blurs the line whether or not most people should even consider the Pro lineup.
Yesterday I wrote about how the iPhone Air should have the same display as the 17 Pro in order to fit the premium narrative, and Apple definitely delivered.
Kudos to Apple, but it also makes financial sense. Last year the iPhone 16 Pro jumped to 6.3 inches and the regular 16 was still 6.1 inches, requiring two separate production lines. Now that both phones have the same screen size, why engineer an inferior 6.3 inch display for the regular iPhone 17, when you can just use the same display across the board and save time and engineering costs?
Besides the size, every minute spec of the display is identical across the board with the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro devices. I compared every bullet point and there is no difference. Quite surprising, and really blurs the line whether or not most people should even consider the Pro lineup.
Yesterday I wrote about how the iPhone Air should have the same display as the 17 Pro in order to fit the premium narrative, and Apple definitely delivered.
Kudos to Apple, but it also makes financial sense. Last year the iPhone 16 Pro jumped to 6.3 inches and the regular 16 was still 6.1 inches, requiring two separate production lines. Now that both phones have the same screen size, why engineer an inferior 6.3 inch display for the regular iPhone 17, when you can just use the same display across the board and save time and engineering costs?
iPhone 17 Air’s display really needs to match the iPhone 17 Pro to give it that futuristic, “invisible device with a full edge to edge screen,” feeling.
The iPhone 17 Air is really in a weird position. It’s more premium and less premium in many ways, and we’re just a few moments away from finding out the narrative behind the iPhone 17 Air (if that’s even the real name).
The one thing that really would make me stay away from it is an inferior screen compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. It should have at least the following features:
Same thin bezels as the iPhone 17 Pro.
Same Dynamic Island as the iPhone 17 Pro.
Always On Display.
It would be icing on the cake if it had the following (alleged improvements):
Improved anti-reflective display.
Higher peak brightness.
The rumored smaller Dynamic Island is being touted as a Pro only feature, but I would argue if there is a smaller Dynamic Island, it has to be on the 17 Air since Apple is already tight for space.
I can deal with the lack of ultra wide and telephoto cameras.
I can deal with the lack of reverse wireless charging.
I can deal with a binned A19 Pro or standard A19 chip.
I can deal with worse battery life.
But please Apple, for the love of God, give us a truly immersive, gorgeous display.
The iPhone 17 Air is really in a weird position. It’s more premium and less premium in many ways, and we’re just a few moments away from finding out the narrative behind the iPhone 17 Air (if that’s even the real name).
The one thing that really would make me stay away from it is an inferior screen compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. It should have at least the following features:
Same thin bezels as the iPhone 17 Pro.
Same Dynamic Island as the iPhone 17 Pro.
Always On Display.
It would be icing on the cake if it had the following (alleged improvements):
Improved anti-reflective display.
Higher peak brightness.
The rumored smaller Dynamic Island is being touted as a Pro only feature, but I would argue if there is a smaller Dynamic Island, it has to be on the 17 Air since Apple is already tight for space.
I can deal with the lack of ultra wide and telephoto cameras.
I can deal with the lack of reverse wireless charging.
I can deal with a binned A19 Pro or standard A19 chip.
I can deal with worse battery life.
But please Apple, for the love of God, give us a truly immersive, gorgeous display.
The iPhone 17 ‘Air’ reveal needs to have Phil Schiller levels of nerdery during its presentation.
iPhone 17 Air is not only a thin iPhone, but it is a sign of things to come. I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple’s foldable device (said to launch next year) is essentially two iPhone Airs attached to a hinge (to put it crudely). The engineering of this device is going to carry over in a lot of ways to the next generation of devices, be they iPhones or iPads.
It won’t be a traditional “One more thing” event for the masses, but it sure as heck will be for engineers and designers. It needs to be talked about with a level of nerdery that just screams authenticity and excitement. A scripted performance just isn’t the same.
Hopefully we get this enthusiasm and excitement in post-event interviews.
iPhone 17 Air is not only a thin iPhone, but it is a sign of things to come. I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple’s foldable device (said to launch next year) is essentially two iPhone Airs attached to a hinge (to put it crudely). The engineering of this device is going to carry over in a lot of ways to the next generation of devices, be they iPhones or iPads.
It won’t be a traditional “One more thing” event for the masses, but it sure as heck will be for engineers and designers. It needs to be talked about with a level of nerdery that just screams authenticity and excitement. A scripted performance just isn’t the same.
Hopefully we get this enthusiasm and excitement in post-event interviews.
iPhone 13 mini - what does a typical day with 77% battery health look like?
How long does an iPhone 13 mini with 77% battery health last on iOS 26?
Let’s just say it needs a trusty companion, the MagSafe Battery Pack.
Here is my (typical) log from a few days ago, with less than normal usage:
5:30am - 100% battery
6:32am - 77% battery
12:18pm - 20% battery
12:19pm - Dropped to 15%…attached MagSafe Battery Pack
1:05pm - charged to 76%…detached MagSafe Battery Pack
4:55pm - 17% battery
4:56pm - 9% battery right after connecting MagSafe battery pack.
6:00pm - 50% battery with MagSafe Battery Pack drained.
9:07pm - 23%
9:08pm - 14%
9:09pm - 2%
10:00pm - Dead iPhone, right before I was about to cast something to my Chromecast.
Apps used: Safari, YouTube, Messages, X, WhatsApp, Files, News.
Nothing taxing. The phone does run smoothly most of the time, but it does start to hiccup and slow down as the charge level drops. Other times, it will hiccup even when the battery is nearly full, probably because the phone is a bit warm from charging.
Again nothing taxing, just basic apps. No gaming, no 3D rendering, and no camera usage.
The main issue with poor battery health is predicting how long it will last when it is low on battery. My battery collapsed from 23% to 2% in less than two minutes, but it lasted almost an hour.
In the end, I am able to get a full days use out of it from 5:30am to 10pm when I go to work with a fully charged MagSafe Battery Pack. On a vacation day, I would need to keep a charger close by. It’s time for a Genius Bar appointment to get the battery replaced.
How long does an iPhone 13 mini with 77% battery health last on iOS 26?
Let’s just say it needs a trusty companion, the MagSafe Battery Pack.
Here is my (typical) log from a few days ago, with less than normal usage:
5:30am - 100% battery
6:32am - 77% battery
12:18pm - 20% battery
12:19pm - Dropped to 15%…attached MagSafe Battery Pack
1:05pm - charged to 76%…detached MagSafe Battery Pack
4:55pm - 17% battery
4:56pm - 9% battery right after connecting MagSafe battery pack.
6:00pm - 50% battery with MagSafe Battery Pack drained.
9:07pm - 23%
9:08pm - 14%
9:09pm - 2%
10:00pm - Dead iPhone, right before I was about to cast something to my Chromecast.
Apps used: Safari, YouTube, Messages, X, WhatsApp, Files, News.
Nothing taxing. The phone does run smoothly most of the time, but it does start to hiccup and slow down as the charge level drops. Other times, it will hiccup even when the battery is nearly full, probably because the phone is a bit warm from charging.
Again nothing taxing, just basic apps. No gaming, no 3D rendering, and no camera usage.
The main issue with poor battery health is predicting how long it will last when it is low on battery. My battery collapsed from 23% to 2% in less than two minutes, but it lasted almost an hour.
In the end, I am able to get a full days use out of it from 5:30am to 10pm when I go to work with a fully charged MagSafe Battery Pack. On a vacation day, I would need to keep a charger close by. It’s time for a Genius Bar appointment to get the battery replaced.
Wireless MagSafe charging is better for your iPhone’s battery health than wired charging.
I have had my iPhone 16 Pro Max since October 2024, and I have been using wireless charging I would say, at least 90% of the time. I have a combination of MagSafe and Qi2 chargers in my bedroom, spare room, and kitchen.
With 270 cycles, I still have 100% battery health, even with installing and running iOS 26 betas. I use a standard MagSafe puck in the kitchen, and I use the Anker MagGo Magnetic Charging Station (8-in-1) at night. Every time I use a cable to charge my device, I do notice it charges faster, but it also makes the device hotter since it’s fast charging. Most people will fall in this scenario because they’ll probably use their laptop chargers to charge their device, which provides the fastest speeds, and also the most heat.
Wireless technology has gotten so advanced, that even if it technically is less efficient, the device doesn’t reach higher temperatures, still giving you better battery health in the long run. Of course I stand by this claim only for MagSafe and certified Qi2 chargers. I’m not the only one as Brandon Butch goes a bit deeper in his video explaining his wireless charging experience during some of his testing. He found wired charging to be 4 degrees hotter than MagSafe charging on his iPhone 16 Pro.
Brandon also used a 90% charging limit, and I have been using an 80% charging limit on my 16 Pro Max. If I was on the regular 16 Pro (I’m leaning heavily towards the 17 Pro), I would also bump it up to 90% to give me that extra juice.
Check out his video for more tips on how to maximize your iPhone’s battery health.
I have had my iPhone 16 Pro Max since October 2024, and I have been using wireless charging I would say, at least 90% of the time. I have a combination of MagSafe and Qi2 chargers in my bedroom, spare room, and kitchen.
With 270 cycles, I still have 100% battery health, even with installing and running iOS 26 betas. I use a standard MagSafe puck in the kitchen, and I use the Anker MagGo Magnetic Charging Station (8-in-1) at night. Every time I use a cable to charge my device, I do notice it charges faster, but it also makes the device hotter since it’s fast charging. Most people will fall in this scenario because they’ll probably use their laptop chargers to charge their device, which provides the fastest speeds, and also the most heat.
Wireless technology has gotten so advanced, that even if it technically is less efficient, the device doesn’t reach higher temperatures, still giving you better battery health in the long run. Of course I stand by this claim only for MagSafe and certified Qi2 chargers. I’m not the only one as Brandon Butch goes a bit deeper in his video explaining his wireless charging experience during some of his testing. He found wired charging to be 4 degrees hotter than MagSafe charging on his iPhone 16 Pro.
Brandon also used a 90% charging limit, and I have been using an 80% charging limit on my 16 Pro Max. If I was on the regular 16 Pro (I’m leaning heavily towards the 17 Pro), I would also bump it up to 90% to give me that extra juice.
Check out his video for more tips on how to maximize your iPhone’s battery health.
How to disable headphone safety notifications on iPhone and Apple Watch.
Normally this isn’t good advice, but I had to get rid of these safety notifications for my sanity. My background noise sleep setup coupled with earplugs is my ultimate sound proofing system for working the graveyard shift, and there’s nothing worse than your speaker warning you about loud volumes along with your watch vibrating with the same notification during a deep sleep session.
These can be disabled only in certain regions, but thankfully the US is one of them. 📓
Normally this isn’t good advice, but I had to get rid of these safety notifications for my sanity. My background noise sleep setup coupled with earplugs is my ultimate sound proofing system for working the graveyard shift, and there’s nothing worse than your speaker warning you about loud volumes along with your watch vibrating with the same notification during a deep sleep session.
These can be disabled only in certain regions, but thankfully the US is one of them. The settings are buried, but on iPhone:
Go to Settings.
Accessibility.
Audio & Visual.
Headphone Notifications.
Toggle OFF.
On Apple Watch (or your iPhone’s Watch app):
Go to Settings.
Accessibility.
Headphone Notifications.
Toggle OFF.
If you’re in a region that doesn’t allow you to toggle Headphone Notifications off, and you are in a similar situation where you need loud white noise and use ear plugs at the same time, you can try and re-categorize your Bluetooth speaker:
Go to Bluetooth.
Select your device’s settings by clicking on the blue “i” logo.
Click on Device Type.
Select Other.
I think this will work. Logic would say, since your devices are technically no longer connected to headphones, you shouldn’t get any Headphone Notifications, right?
I don’t know exactly what the “other” category does, but audio still plays through my Bluetooth speaker.
For my hardwired devices such as my Bose SoundDock XT, I was able to change the settings so the audio levels are not recorded under the Health app.
Toggling this feature OFF should not give you Headphone notifications.
If you have a lightning to headphone jack or USB-C to headphone jack adapter connected to an external speaker, you can change the settings to (hopefully) avoid getting headphone notifications:
Go to Settings.
Sound & Haptics.
Headphone Safety.
If you have an iPhone with a lightning port, you will see the words Lightning Adapters on the bottom. If you have a USB-C iPhone you will see the words USB-C Audio Accessories on the bottom.
Click your option, and toggle OFF Connected To Headphones.
Will AppleCare One cover a non-US iPhone, even if you live in the US?
If you have a non-US iPhone set to the US region and live in the US, you will have to call Apple Support in order to get AppleCare One coverage. My Canadian iPhone 16 Pro Max tells me I need to contact Apple for an in-store or remote assessment in order to determine eligibility. I already have AppleCare+ on the device and my other devices that have AppleCare+ can be transferred to AppleCare One, so my gut tells me the error is because my model is not a US model. As for my iPhone 13 mini, the battery health is at 79%, so that doesn’t qualify.
Instead of calling Apple, I decided to go to my nearest Apple Store to do an in-store assessment, but the Genius (not trying to be sarcastic) wasn’t able to do the right diagnostic test to make it AppleCare One eligible. I wasn’t going to switch from my current AppleCare+ to AppleCare One, but I just wanted to see if it would even be possible to do on a non-US device.
They told me to call Apple Support since they have more robust remote diagnostic tools, so we will see how that goes in the future.
If you have a non-US iPhone set to the US region and live in the US, you will have to call Apple Support in order to get AppleCare One coverage. My Canadian iPhone 16 Pro Max tells me I need to contact Apple for an in-store or remote assessment in order to determine eligibility. I already have AppleCare+ on the device and my other devices that have AppleCare+ can be transferred to AppleCare One, so my gut tells me the error is because my model is not a US model. As for my iPhone 13 mini, the battery health is at 79%, so that doesn’t qualify.
Instead of calling Apple, I decided to go to my nearest Apple Store to do an in-store assessment, but the Genius (not trying to be sarcastic) wasn’t able to do the right diagnostic test to make it AppleCare One eligible. I wasn’t going to switch from my current AppleCare+ to AppleCare One, but I just wanted to see if it would even be possible to do on a non-US device.
They told me to call Apple Support since they have more robust remote diagnostic tools, so we will see how that goes in the future.
Is choosing an iPhone getting too complicated?
I like reading other people’s iPhone stories, and Imthaz over at Volatile Inputs tells his iPhone journey over the years. I’ll have a more in-depth post later on about my journey, but for now, he brings up a good point at the end:
People have long said the iPad line-up is confusing, with too many overlapping options. I feel the iPhone is heading the same way. But perhaps that’s the nature of a maturing product line – what started as a simple choice has evolved into something that can truly fit different needs and preferences. For someone like me who’s been upgrading annually for years, maybe it’s time to embrace the complexity rather than long for the simplicity of the past. After all, having options means there’s likely a perfect iPhone out there for everyone – even if finding it requires a bit more thought than just picking a colour.
I like reading other people’s iPhone stories, and Imthaz over at Volatile Inputs tells his iPhone journey over the years. I’ll have a more in-depth post later on about my journey, but for now, he brings up a good point at the end:
People have long said the iPad line-up is confusing, with too many overlapping options. I feel the iPhone is heading the same way. But perhaps that’s the nature of a maturing product line – what started as a simple choice has evolved into something that can truly fit different needs and preferences. For someone like me who’s been upgrading annually for years, maybe it’s time to embrace the complexity rather than long for the simplicity of the past. After all, having options means there’s likely a perfect iPhone out there for everyone – even if finding it requires a bit more thought than just picking a colour.
REEVUS water bottle is great for workouts
I was too lazy to go upstairs and try to find my iPad for working out, so I decided to just use my iPhone and prop it up with the MagSafe compatible lid on the REEVUS water bottle and get the job done. I knew I would get side tracked if I went upstairs so I just had to grind it out on the small screen. 📓
I was too lazy to go upstairs and try to find my iPad for working out, so I decided to just use my iPhone and prop it up with the MagSafe compatible lid on the REEVUS water bottle and get the job done. I knew I would get side tracked if I went upstairs so I just had to grind it out on the small screen.
Quick access to water without having to open a lid.
Cap stays clean + phone stays in place = happy runner.
Amazon’s app lets you save your returns to the Wallet app.
Not sure when this update was rolled out, but it’s a heck of a lot easier now to keep track of your Amazon returns. I started two returns recently, and I was given the option to add the barcode into the Wallet app.
No more random screenshots with barcodes scattered in my Photo Library.
Not sure when this update was rolled out, but it’s a heck of a lot easier now to keep track of your Amazon returns. I started two returns recently, and I was given the option to add the barcode into the Wallet app.
No more random screenshots with barcodes scattered in my Photo Library.
iPhone 17 leak theory.
We are about 40-ish days from new iPhones being announced, and we got presumably our first look at a test unit out in the wild. From what is visible, the hardware matches what the rumors have mentioned for months, with an elongated camera bump with the flash and LiDAR sensor further away from the camera lenses.
A recent tip given to MacRumors also suggests a new Camera Control button which I didn’t believe initially, but could still be a feature:
The tipster claimed to be familiar with an iPhone 17 Pro commercial that is allegedly being produced by a film company that has publicly listed Apple as one of its clients. […]
The tipster revealed three alleged iPhone 17 Pro features that have not been rumored previously:
• An upgraded Telephoto lens with up to 8× optical zoom, compared to up to 5× optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro models. The lens can apparently move, allowing for continuous optical zoom at various focal lengths.
• An all-new pro camera app from Apple for both photos and videos. This app would compete with the likes of Halide, Kino, and Filmic Pro. It is unclear if the app would be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro models.
• An additional Camera Control button on the top edge of the devices, for quickly accessing the camera and related settings. This would complement the Camera Control button on the bottom-right edge of all iPhone 16 models.
Could this additional Camera Control button exist exclusively as an iPhone 17 Pro Case? The iPhone 17 Air is expected to have a case with extended battery capabilities for days when you just need that extra power, so why not a more Pro-oriented case for days when you’re expected to really push the camera to its limits?
It doesn’t seem out of the blue to have a dedicated case that has additional camera controls. Apple did have a battery case for the iPhone 11 models that included a Camera button.
We are about 40-ish days from new iPhones being announced, and we got presumably our first look at a test unit out in the wild. From what is visible, the hardware matches what the rumors have mentioned for months, with an elongated camera bump with the flash and LiDAR sensor further away from the camera lenses.
A recent tip given to MacRumors also suggests a new Camera Control button which I didn’t believe initially, but could still be a feature:
The tipster claimed to be familiar with an iPhone 17 Pro commercial that is allegedly being produced by a film company that has publicly listed Apple as one of its clients. […]
The tipster revealed three alleged iPhone 17 Pro features that have not been rumored previously:
• An upgraded Telephoto lens with up to 8× optical zoom, compared to up to 5× optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro models. The lens can apparently move, allowing for continuous optical zoom at various focal lengths.
• An all-new pro camera app from Apple for both photos and videos. This app would compete with the likes of Halide, Kino, and Filmic Pro. It is unclear if the app would be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro models.
• An additional Camera Control button on the top edge of the devices, for quickly accessing the camera and related settings. This would complement the Camera Control button on the bottom-right edge of all iPhone 16 models.
Could this additional Camera Control button exist exclusively as an iPhone 17 Pro Case? The iPhone 17 Air is expected to have a case with extended battery capabilities for days when you just need that extra power, so why not a more Pro-oriented case for days when you’re expected to really push the camera to its limits?
It doesn’t seem out of the blue to have a dedicated case that has additional camera controls. Apple did have a battery case for the iPhone 11 models that included a Camera button.
iPhone 11 Smart Battery Case.