Although the life of an iPhone battery can fade over time, Apple users who want to get more use on a daily basis should try turning off settings like background app refresh and location services when they are not needed. Given that Apple products can be pricey, any adjustments that can extend the battery life of an older device can save both energy and money in the process.
With each new iPhone iteration, Apple introduces various features and services that previous products may not have. With the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple focused on shrinking the size of its flagship smartphone, with the iPhone Air boasting a 5.6mm bezel on a titanium frame. The iPhone 17 lineup uses Apple's A19 and A19 Pro processors, and comes with features like Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-FI 7, and Thread mesh networking technology. The iPhone 17 series also boasts a long battery life of about six to seven hours during heavy usage, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max lasting nearly eight hours under stress. The iPhone 17 starts at $799 for the 256GB model, and the high-end iPhone 17 Pro Max with 2TB of storage will set users back a staggering $1,999.
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Try Turning Off These Three Settings On Your iPhone
- Background App Refresh
- Bluetooth
- Location Services
Given that the prices of smartphones and other devices are expected to rise due to the ongoing RAM crisis, users can improve the battery life of their current devices by turning off three particular iPhone settings. Turning off background refresh and limiting the use of Bluetooth and Location Services could double how much battery life an iPhone gets with normal usage over a day. Turning off Background App Refresh is done by going to the Settings app, selecting General, and then scrolling down to Background App Refresh. While this setting would usually allow apps to refresh content when connected to the Internet, turning it off is an easy step to preserve battery life.
Similarly, while Bluetooth is the main way to connect to portable speakers, having it turned on when an iPhone is not connected to a compatible device can waste battery life unnecessarily. Switching off Bluetooth can be done either from the main Settings menu, or via the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner on newer iPhone models. Additionally, while the Nearby Interactions feature can be handy for connecting to supported Apple devices, knowing what products use it can also give iPhone users another way to control their battery life. Permissions for Nearby Interactions can be managed via the Privacy & Security section of the Settings app.
Limiting Location Services Can Help Extend an Older iPhone's Life
The longer an iPhone lasts, the shorter its battery life can get. Even a well-maintained iPhone 14 or older device can experience a degraded battery life from normal usage. One of the largest battery-draining features of any smart device is Location Services, which allows iPhones to use GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other technologies to determine precisely where a user is at any point. Though iPhones have settings to turn on Location Services in one go, users should adjust Location Services on a per-app basis to maximize the battery life of any smartphone. From the iPhone's Privacy & Security menu in the Settings app, users can see which apps have Location Services turned on constantly, and which ones are using them only while the app is open. Ergo, users can either turn Location Settings off or limit them to only use while compatible apps are active.
While modern game consoles like the Switch 2 have options that can extend the battery life, iPhones and other smart devices that see daily usage can still have shortened life spans depending on how they are used. By carefully managing which apps and settings are active, iPhone users may save time and money by using their current devices for as long as possible before having to upgrade.
Source: MakeUseOf