Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 16: Enable charging limits in iOS 18
Apple has introduced expanded charging limit options for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models in iOS 18 to give users more control over their device’s battery health. Previously, you could only limit charging to 80%, but now new 85%, 90% and 95% options are being added.
The system used by Apple aims to improve battery life by reducing the time your iPhone is fully charged. According to Apple, the iOS 18 feature offers benefits especially for users who frequently leave their devices plugged in for long periods of time.
The following new settings in iOS 18 can extend the battery life of your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Battery.
- Select Charging.
- Choose your preferred charging limit from the available options: 80%, 85%, 90% and 95%.
When setting a charging limit, consider your daily usage habits. If you have frequent access to charging throughout the day, a lower limit like 80% or 85% may be sufficient. For those who need longer battery life between charges, the 90% or 95% options might be more suitable.
Remember, you can always adjust these settings as your needs change. If you plan on having a long day without power sources, you can temporarily disable the limit to get a full charge. In this case, iOS 18 offers the option to keep the 100% setting until tomorrow or permanently.
Charging recommendations in iOS 18 and slow charging warnings
But beyond that, iOS 18 takes this feature a step further by proactively recommending a specific charging limit based on your usage habits. On both the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, a notification will pop up after a while suggesting an optimal charging limit for your device. The recommendation will also appear in the Settings app under Battery -> Charging.
It’s worth noting that this feature will remain exclusive to the Apple iPhone 15 lineup and the iPhone 16. On an iPhone 14 Pro or older models, you won’t find these options in their settings.
Apple iOS 18 will also warn you if you’ve been using a slow charger. In the Settings -> Battery menu, the battery level graph will now display an orange color if slow charging has occurred in the past 24 hours. When the charging time reaches a certain threshold, a “Slow Charging” warning will appear above the graph. Apple hasn’t yet explained what charging speed triggers the warning. Still, it’s a useful feature for users who may still be using older chargers.
Many wireless chargers advertise MagSafe compatibility but only offer Qi speeds or other, slower standards. This feature in iOS 18 could help iPhone users figure out why their devices aren’t charging at full speed. However, there’s no option to get a notification when a slower charger is being used. That would have been the most obvious feature, since the battery settings are hidden in the menu.
