After the release of the release version of iOS 16, we hoped that Apple would no longer arrange tricks with the autonomy of iPhones. True, this lasted until the iOS 16.2 update: after installing it, the old iPhones began to work longer , and the new ones began to discharge noticeably faster. So, by the release of iOS 16.3, updating the smartphone again turned into a lottery, as it was in previous years. So, if for some reason you haven’t installed the update, take your time: we’ll tell you how iOS 16.3 affects the autonomy of the iPhone and whether it needs to be installed.
How to increase iPhone battery life
iOS 16.3 has just been released , and the author of the iAppleBytes channel has already measured the autonomy of the iPhone on iOS 16.3. Older smartphones (iPhone 8, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone SE 2020) and newer (iPhone 12 and iPhone 13) traditionally took part in testing. Let me remind you that it was for relatively fresh smartphone models that autonomy dropped noticeably last time . The test conditions are the same: connected to Wi-Fi, 100% charge and 25% brightness.
The Geekbench Battery Test was launched on smartphones and it may seem that there are no differences from the results of autonomy with iOS 16.2. But they are: looking ahead, I’ll say that Apple has worked hard on the bugs, so owners of different models will now be satisfied. Here’s what happened.
| iPhone model | iOS 16.2 | iOS 16.3 |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 8 | 2 hours 52 minutes | 2 hours 52 minutes |
| iPhone SE 2020 | 3 hours 37 minutes | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| iPhone XR | 5 hours 38 minutes | 5 hours 43 minutes |
| iPhone 11 | 5 hours 51 minutes | 6 hours 01 minutes |
| iPhone 12 | 6 hours 01 minutes | 7 hours 11 minutes |
| iPhone 13 | 8 hours 20 minutes | 9 hours 1 minute |
After the release of iOS 16.2, many attributed the decrease in iPhone autonomy to system optimization: Apple allegedly made it more productive, hence the battery. As you can see, it was nothing more than a flaw: now the battery life has increased for all iPhones, except for the iPhone 8.
But if the old models began to work 5-10 minutes longer (within the margin of error, but still nice), then the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 added 1 hour 10 minutes and 41 minutes, respectively. That is, the developers really made a mistake in the last version of iOS – now the autonomy of iPhones is higher than on iOS 16.1.
Now take a look at the results. There is a lot in common with iAppleBytes testing. The only thing is that some models were not in the last test, so it’s difficult to compare the autonomy of the iPhone 12 Pro Max . However, look what happened.
| Model | iOS 16.2 | iOS 16.3 | Battery capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 8 | 3 h 6 min | 5 o’clock | 77% |
| iPhone 8 Plus | 5 h 38 min | 5 h 46 min | 77% |
| iPhone X | 5 h 00 min | 5 h 15 min | 78% |
| iPhone XR | 5 h 01 min | 6 h 31 min | 82% |
| iPhone XS Max | 5 h 20 min | 6 h 27 min | 80% |
| iPhone 11 | 5 h 49 min | 7 h 22 min | 82% |
As you can see, this test confirms that iPhone battery life has increased since the iOS 16.3 update. In particular, the following indicators are of interest.
- The autonomy of the iPhone 8 has increased by 1 hour.
- iPhone XR began to work longer by an hour and a half.
- Even a tired iPhone XS Max battery lasts up to 6.5 hours.
- iPhone 11 is top. Its autonomy has grown by almost an hour and a half.
Of course, the results differ in the two tests, but the dynamics are clear: now all iPhones have begun to work longer . It is safe to say that there are no more discrepancies and the problems with the autonomy of iOS 16.2 were a bug, not a feature, as many thought.
Should I install iOS 16.3
If last time we recommended updating old iPhones , now everyone should do it, including owners of new models. Judging by the Dynamic Tech review, the battery life has grown noticeably even despite the maximum battery capacity. By the way, it has decreased since the previous test in almost all models.
