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Has your iPhone’s battery life gone downhill since iOS 26 launched last week? Apple says there’s no cause for alarm.
Many users are finding their iPhones last less time on a single charge since updating to iOS 26 on Monday. Some iPhone owners on Reddit report as much as a 50% battery drain from only an hour and a half of normal usage.
Periods of bad battery life are often seen after major software updates. Apple insists this update will only have a “temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance.”
In a statement on its support site, Apple says, “This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps.”
In short, your iPhone is figuring out new processes for various apps, and that’s taking up more of its power. Previous iOS updates have seen battery life start to improve between one and three days after an update. Results may vary, especially between different devices.
The only way to avoid this is by delaying an upgrade to iOS 26, which you shouldn’t do for long, as you’ll miss out on new features and important security updates. If you have a busy period coming up where you need your phone’s full battery, you may want to wait until after then.
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Apple also warns that some new features “may require additional resources from the device,” meaning your iPhone might draw more power for select features. But it’s unlikely to make a dramatic change to your daily battery life.
Apple’s iOS 26 also brings new battery features. The Optimized Battery Charging feature on your home screen will tell you how long it will take to fully charge your iPhone. A new adaptive power mode also makes performance adjustments, such as limiting background activity or reducing screen brightness, to save your battery. The latter uses Apple Intelligence tech, so it requires an iPhone 15 Pro and up.
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I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.