Latest news with #AdaptivePower
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
iOS 26 brings a new AI-powered feature to extend your iPhone's battery life: Here's how it works
Apple's new iPhone launch is just weeks away, which should be followed by the official rollout of the company's new iOS 26 operating system. While Liquid Glass stole the spotlight during Apple's WWDC address earlier this year, there are other nifty features in the UI that could be real head-turners as well. One of the lesser-known features in iOS 26 is a setting called Adaptive Power, which uses AI to extend iPhone battery life during high usage. iPhone users already have the option to lower brightness, turn off Always-On Display, or, in worst-case scenarios, switch to Low Power Mode to cut background activity and conserve power. But the new Adaptive Power feature works more intelligently. It only kicks in during high power-consuming tasks such as recording videos, editing photos, or playing games. When triggered, Adaptive Power makes small performance adjustments to stretch battery life. Apple's descripton for Adaptive Power reads: '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%.' The Adaptive Power setting isn't enabled by default. Here's how you can switch it on: Make sure you are currently running the iOS 26 Developer or Public Beta Go to Settings > Battery > Power Mode A new option for Adaptive Power should appear above Low Power Mode Turn it on to activate intelligent battery savings While Apple hasn't officially labeled Adaptive Power as part of Apple Intelligence, users on social media report that the feature only shows up on devices that support Apple Intelligence. Older iPhones don't get the option in battery settings. That means Adaptive Power is limited to newer devices starting with the iPhone 15 Pro lineup:
CNET
4 days ago
- CNET
Looking for More iPhone Battery Life? Adaptive Power in iOS 26 Should Provide a Boost
People who have installed the latest iOS 26 public beta or developer beta are discovering a simple switch that just might deliver long-term iPhone benefits -- and it's an Apple Intelligence feature of all things. Adaptive Power is an unobtrusive feature tucked a couple of layers deep into the Battery settings that uses AI to extend battery life when usage is higher than normal. 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 must 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 use AI to decide which settings and processes to adjust, the feature appears to be available only 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 doesn't 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. When the iPhone is using Adaptive Power, a notification appears. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET 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
26-07-2025
- 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.
