How to Improve iPhone Battery Life Without Closing Apps
Closing unused apps does not reduce iPhone power use, but display, power and charging settings can help. Engadget outlines the main Apple settings that make a difference.
Technology site Engadget has compiled tips for extending the battery life of Apple's iPhone. The article notes that closing apps you are not using does not cut power consumption, but a number of other settings do. This matters to nearly every user, since batteries degrade over time and the way a phone is used affects how long it holds a charge.
Background activity and location
The Background App Refresh setting lets apps pull data from the internet and update themselves even while suspended. Turning it off reduces power use. Individual apps can also be limited to using location services only while they are in use.
Display settings
Apple recommends managing brightness as a first step: either set it manually to the lowest level or enable auto-brightness. The article suggests trying auto-brightness first, so you do not have to keep adjusting the setting. Apple also advises keeping Wi-Fi on, because a cellular connection uses more power.
Other options include disabling Always-On Display, which constantly strains the battery. Dark Mode saves power on phones with an OLED screen, because OLED switches off the areas where black pixels appear. Limit Frame Rate lowers the refresh rate from ProMotion's 120 Hz to 60 Hz, but most people may not notice the savings, and the change can feel jarring to those used to 120 Hz.
Power and charging settings
Adaptive Power analyzes usage patterns and adjusts things such as brightness and background data to reduce drain when full performance is not typically needed. Low Power Mode makes similar changes but has a heavier effect on performance, so it is best used only when necessary. With Adaptive Power on, Low Power Mode engages automatically when the battery falls to 20 percent.
Optimized Charging limits wear by pausing a charge at 80 percent until the phone is needed. Users can also set their own charge limit so the battery never reaches 100 percent. Keeping the charge between 20 and 80 percent can noticeably extend battery life.
