Users of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro have reported experiencing issues with unexpected battery drain. Discussions on Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and MacRumors forums highlight these concerns. While many complaints focus on the iPhone 16, similar problems are noted in older iPhones operating on iOS 18.
Battery Drain Concerns on iPhone 16 Models
The MacRumors forum hosts a long-running thread about iOS 18 battery life issues that have persisted since the beta testing phase. Following the official release of iOS 18 and the launch of the iPhone 16 series, an increasing number of users have become frustrated with excessive battery consumption.
Many iPhone 16 users report noticeable power reductions, even when their devices are idle. One MacRumors user commented:
“I own the iPhone 16 Pro, and by midday, the battery drops to 60% from a full charge with minimal usage. This definitely needs fixing—I should have kept my 15 Pro!”
Similar Complaints from 16 Pro Max Users
The frustration extends to 16 Pro Max users:
“I switched from the 15 Pro Max to the 16 Pro Max, expecting improved battery life. Sadly, I’m only achieving 50-60% of the battery performance compared to my earlier 15 Pro Max, despite optimizing all settings for maximum battery efficiency.”
Standby Mode Problems
For numerous users, the battery drain problem appears predominantly during standby mode when the phone is inactive. One user noticed that turning off features like the Always On Display (AOD) and ProMotion (which modifies the refresh rate to 120Hz) helped diminish some background activities but did not completely resolve the issue. They remarked:
“Even with AOD and ProMotion disabled, my phone’s battery dropped from 70% to 59% in just over four hours. It’s clear there’s a glitch on Apple’s part.”
Additional users have observed rapid battery depletion mere minutes after unplugging their phone, even with minimal usage.
Comparing iPhone 16 with Older Models
Comparisons have been made between the iPhone 16 Pro and older models such as the iPhone 14 Pro. A Reddit user claimed that under similar usage conditions, the iPhone 16 Pro’s battery decreased to 58% over 36 hours, while the iPhone 14 Pro stayed at 85%.
Many affected users have attempted various troubleshooting steps, such as switching off background refresh, disabling the Always On display, or even resetting their devices. While some have experienced marginal improvements, others continue to face severe battery drain issues.
Possible Solutions and Updates
Some users have reported slight improvements after upgrading to iOS 18.0.1 or trying the iOS 18.1 beta. Nevertheless, the battery problems persist for many, indicating a possible underlying bug in iOS 18 that requires further action from Apple.
Until Apple provides a more comprehensive remedy, iPhone 16 users will need to manage these battery drain challenges and await a resolution through future software updates.
