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A Message from Apple to Our Customers about iPhone Batteries & Performance
We've been hearing feedback from our customers about the way we handle
performance for iPhones with older batteries and how we have communicated
that process. We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We
apologize. There's been a lot of misunderstanding about this issue, so we
would like to clarify and let you know about some changes we're making.
First and foremost, we have never - and would never - do anything to
intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user
experience to drive customer upgrades. Our goal has always been to create
products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as
possible is an important part of that.
How batteries age
All rechargeable batteries are consumable components that become less
effective as they chemically age and their ability to hold a charge
diminishes. Time and the number of times a battery has been charged are not
the only factors in this chemical
aging process.
Device use also affects the performance of a battery over its lifespan. For
example, leaving or charging a battery in a hot environment can cause a
battery to age faster. These are characteristics of battery chemistry,
common to lithium-ion batteries across the industry.
A chemically aged battery also becomes less capable of delivering peak
energy loads, especially in a low state of charge, which may result in a
device unexpectedly shutting itself down in some situations.
To help customers learn more about iPhone's rechargeable battery and the
factors affecting its performance, we've posted a new support article,
iPhone Battery and <https://support.apple.com/HT208387> Performance.
It should go without saying that we think sudden, unexpected shutdowns are
unacceptable. We don't want any of our users to lose a call, miss taking a
picture or have any other part of their iPhone experience interrupted if we
can avoid it.
Preventing unexpected shutdowns
About a year ago in iOS 10.2.1, we delivered a software update that improves
power management during peak workloads to avoid unexpected shutdowns on
iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE. With the
update, iOS dynamically manages the maximum performance of some system
components when needed to prevent a shutdown. While these changes may go
unnoticed, in some cases users may experience longer launch times for apps
and other reductions in performance.
Customer response to iOS 10.2.1 was positive, as it successfully reduced the
occurrence of unexpected shutdowns. We recently extended the same support
for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in iOS 11.2.
Of course, when a chemically aged battery is replaced with a new one, iPhone
performance returns to normal when operated in standard conditions.
Recent user feedback
Over the course of this fall, we began to receive feedback from some users
who were seeing slower performance in certain situations. Based on our
experience, we initially thought this was due to a combination of two
factors: a normal, temporary performance impact when upgrading the operating
system as iPhone installs new software and updates apps, and minor bugs in
the initial release which have since been fixed.
We now believe that another contributor to these user experiences is the
continued chemical aging of the batteries in older iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s
devices, many of which are still running on their original batteries.
Addressing customer concerns
We've always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as
possible. We're proud that Apple products are known for their durability,
and for holding their value longer than our competitors' devices.
To address our customers' concerns, to recognize their loyalty and to regain
the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple's intentions, we've decided
to take the following steps:
* Apple is reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery
replacement by $50 - from $79 to $29 - for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later
whose battery needs to be replaced, available worldwide through December
2018. Details will be provided soon on:
www.apple.com <https://www.apple.com/> .
* Early in 2018, we will issue an iOS software update with new
features that give users more visibility into the health of their iPhone's
battery, so they can see for themselves if its condition is affecting
performance.
* As always, our team is working on ways to make the user experience
even better, including improving how we manage performance and avoid
unexpected shutdowns as batteries age.
At Apple, our customers' trust means everything to us. We will never stop
working to earn and maintain it. We are able to do the work we love only
because of your faith and support - and we will never forget that or take it
for granted.
iPhone Battery & Performance
Understand iPhone performance and its relation to your battery.
Your iPhone is designed to deliver an experience that is simple and easy to
use. This is only possible through a combination of advanced technologies
and sophisticated engineering. One important technology area is battery and
performance. Batteries are a complex technology, and a number of variables
contribute to battery performance and related iPhone performance. All
rechargeable batteries are consumables and have a limited
lifespan-eventually their capacity and performance decline so that they need
to be replaced. As batteries age, it can contribute to changes in iPhone
performance. We created this information for those who would like to learn
more.
About lithium-ion batteries
iPhone batteries use lithium-ion technology. Compared with older generations
of battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer, and
have a higher power density for more battery life in a lighter package.
Rechargeable lithium-ion technology currently provides the best technology
for your device. Learn more about lithium-ion batteries
<https://www.apple.com/batteries/why-lithium-ion/> .
How to maximize battery performance
"Battery life" is the amount of time a device runs before it needs to be
recharged. "Battery lifespan" is the amount of time a battery lasts until it
needs to be replaced. One factor affecting battery life and lifespan is the
mix of things you do with your device. No matter how you use it, there are
ways to help. A battery's lifespan is related to its "chemical age," which
is more than just the passage of time. It includes different factors, such
as the number of charge cycles and how it was cared for. Follow these tips
<https://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/> to maximize
battery performance and help extend battery lifespan. For example, keep
iPhone half-charged when it's stored for the long term. Also avoid charging
or leaving iPhone in hot environments, including direct sun exposure, for
extended periods of time.
When batteries chemically age
All rechargeable batteries are consumable components that become less
effective as they chemically age.
As lithium-ion batteries chemically age, the amount of charge they can hold
diminishes, resulting in shorter amounts of time before a device needs to be
recharged. This can be referred to as the battery's maximum capacity-the
measure of battery capacity relative to when it was new. In addition, a
battery's ability to deliver maximum instantaneous performance, or "peak
power," may decrease. In order for a phone to function properly, the
electronics must be able to draw upon instantaneous power from the battery.
One attribute that affects this instantaneous power delivery is the
battery's impedance. A battery with a high impedance may be unable to
provide sufficient power to the system that needs it. A battery's impedance
can increase if a battery has a higher chemical age. A battery's impedance
will temporarily increase at a low state of charge and in a cold temperature
environment. When coupled with a higher chemical age, the impedance increase
will be more significant. These are characteristics of battery chemistry
that are common to all lithium-ion batteries in the industry.
When power is pulled from a battery with a higher level of impedance, the
battery's voltage will drop to a greater degree. Electronic components
require a minimum voltage to properly operate. This includes the device's
internal storage, power circuits, and the battery itself. The power
management system determines the capability of the battery to supply this
power, and manages the loads in order to maintain operations. When the
operations can no longer be supported with the full capabilities of the
power management system, the system will perform a shutdown to preserve
these electronic components. While this shutdown is intentional from the
device perspective, it may be unexpected by the user.
Preventing unexpected shutdowns
With a low battery state of charge, a higher chemical age, or colder
temperatures, users are more likely to experience unexpected shutdowns. In
extreme cases, shutdowns can occur more frequently, thereby rendering the
device unreliable or unusable. For iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s,
iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus, iOS dynamically
manages performance peaks to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting
down so that the iPhone can still be used. This performance management
feature is specific to iPhone and does not apply to any other Apple
products.
This performance management works by looking at a combination of the device
temperature, battery state of charge, and battery impedance. Only if these
variables require it, iOS will dynamically manage the maximum performance of
some system components, such as the CPU and GPU, in order to prevent
unexpected shutdowns. As a result, the device workloads will self-balance,
allowing a smoother distribution of system tasks, rather than larger, quick
spikes of performance all at once. In some cases, a user may not notice any
differences in daily device performance. The level of perceived change
depends on how much performance management is required for a particular
device.
In cases that require more extreme forms of this performance management, the
user may notice effects such as:
* Longer app launch times
* Lower frame rates while scrolling
* Backlight dimming (which can be overridden in Control Center)
* Lower speaker volume by up to -3dB
* Gradual frame rate reductions in some apps
* During the most extreme cases, the camera flash will be disabled
as visible in the camera UI
* Apps refreshing in background may require reloading upon launch
Many key areas are not impacted by this performance management feature. Some
of these include:
* Cellular call quality and networking throughput performance
* Captured photo and video quality
* GPS performance
* Location accuracy
* Sensors like gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer
* Apple Pay
For a low battery state of charge and colder temperatures, performance
management changes are temporary. If a device battery has chemically aged
far enough, performance management changes may be more lasting. This is
because all rechargeable batteries are consumables and have a limited
lifespan, eventually needing to be replaced. If you are impacted by this and
would like to improve your device performance, replacing your device battery
can help.
For iOS 11.3 Beta
iOS 11.3 improves this performance management feature by periodically
assessing the level of performance management necessary to avoid unexpected
shutdowns. If the battery health is able to support the observed peak power
requirements, the amount of performance management will be lowered. If an
unexpected shutdown occurs again, then performance management will increase.
This assessment is ongoing, allowing more adaptive performance management.
iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models use a more advanced hardware
and software design that provides a more accurate estimation of both power
needs and the battery's power capability to maximize overall system
performance. This allows a different performance management system that more
precisely allows iOS to anticipate and avoid an unexpected shutdown. As a
result, the impacts of performance management may be less noticeable on
iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. Over time, the rechargeable batteries
in all iPhone models will diminish in their capacity and peak performance
and will eventually need to be replaced.
Battery Health
For iPhone 6 and later, iOS 11.3 adds new features to show battery health
and recommend if a battery needs to be replaced. These can be found in
Settings > Battery > Battery Health (Beta).
Additionally, users can see if the performance management feature that
dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns is
on and can choose to turn it off. This feature is enabled only after an
unexpected shutdown first occurs on a device with a battery that has
diminished ability to deliver maximum instantaneous power. This feature
applies to iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE,
iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus.
(Note: Devices updating to iOS 11.3 will initially have performance
management disabled; it will be reenabled if the device subsequently
experiences an unexpected shutdown.)
All iPhone models include fundamental performance management to ensure that
the battery and overall system operates as designed and internal components
are protected. This includes behavior in hot or cold temperatures, as well
as internal voltage management. This type of performance management is
required for safety and expected function, and cannot be turned off.
Your battery's maximum capacity
The Battery Health screen includes information on maximum battery capacity
and peak performance capability.
Maximum battery capacity measures the device battery capacity relative to
when it was new. Batteries will start at 100% when first activated and will
have lower capacity as the battery chemically ages which may result in fewer
hours of usage between charges.
A normal battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at
500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions. The
one-year warranty includes service coverage for a defective battery. If it
is out of warranty, Apple offers battery service for a charge. Learn more
about charge cycles. <https://www.apple.com/batteries/why-lithium-ion/>
As your battery health degrades, so can its ability to deliver peak
performance. The Battery Health screen includes a section for Peak
Performance Capability where the following messages may appear.
Performance is normal
When the battery condition can support normal peak performance and does not
have the performance management features applied, you'll see this message:
Your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance.
Performance management applied
When the performance management features have been applied, you'll see this
message:
This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was
unable to deliver the necessary peak power. Performance management has been
applied to help prevent this from happening again. Disable.
Note that if you disable performance management, you can't turn it back on.
It will be turned on again automatically if an unexpected shutdown occurs.
The option to disable will also be available.
Battery health unknown
If iOS is unable to determine the device battery health, you'll see this
message:
This iPhone is unable to determine battery health. An Apple Authorized
Service Provider can service the battery. More about service options.
This may be due to having an improperly installed battery or an unknown
battery part.
Performance management turned off
If you disable the applied performance management feature, you'll see this
message:
This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was
unable to deliver the necessary peak power. You have manually disabled
performance management protections.
If the device experiences another unexpected shutdown, the performance
management features will be re-applied. The option to disable will also be
available.
Battery health degraded
If battery health has degraded significantly, the below message will also
appear:
Your battery's health is significantly degraded. An Apple Authorized Service
Provider can replace the battery to restore full performance and capacity.
More about service options.
This message does not indicate a safety issue. Your battery can still be
used. However, you may be experiencing more noticeable battery and
performance issues. A new replacement battery will improve your experience.
Getting further assistance
If your device performance has been impacted by an aged battery and you
would like to get help with a battery replacement, contact Apple Support
<https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=kbase&SG=SG003&category_id=SC0105&symp
tom_id=23306> for service options.
Learn more about battery service and recycling
<https://www.apple.com/batteries/service-and-recycling/> .
Why Lithium-ion?
Compared with traditional battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge
faster, last longer, and have a higher power density for more battery life
in a lighter package. When you know a little about how they work, they can
work that much better for you.
It charges fast for convenience and slow for longevity.
Your Apple lithium-ion battery uses fast charging to quickly reach 80% of
its capacity, then switches to slower trickle charging. The amount of time
it takes to reach that first 80% will vary depending on your settings and
which device you're charging. Software may limit charging above 80% when the
recommended battery temperatures are exceeded. This combined process not
only lets you get out and about sooner, it also extends the lifespan of your
battery.
Stage 1: Fast Charge
Gives you more power more quickly.
0%
80%
100%
Stage 2: Trickle Charge
Eases the electrical current to extend battery lifespan.
It makes charging easier.
Charge your Apple lithium-ion battery whenever you want. There's no need to
let it discharge 100% before recharging. Apple lithium-ion batteries work in
charge cycles. You complete one charge cycle when you've used (discharged)
an amount that equals 100% of your battery's capacity - but not necessarily
all from one charge. For instance, you might use 75% of your battery's
capacity one day, then recharge it fully overnight. If you use 25% the next
day, you will have discharged a total of 100%, and the two days will add up
to one charge cycle. It could take several days to complete a cycle. The
capacity of any type of battery will diminish after a certain amount of
recharging. With lithium-ion batteries, the capacity diminishes slightly
with each complete charge cycle. Apple lithium-ion batteries are designed to
hold at least 80% of their original capacity for a high number of charge
cycles, which varies depending on the product.
One Cycle
Charges
+100%
Discharges
-75%
+75%
-25%
+25%
One charge cycle is completed after you've discharged 100% of your battery's
capacity.
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