Watch out for red flags that your iPhone battery isn’t what it used to be.
While Apple’s iPhone battery tech is well integrated with iOS to provide maximum life while reporting health metrics and other important information, even the best engineering cannot overcome chemical limitations. Battery cells degrade gradually over each charge cycle, with temperature, age and daily use all playing a role.
Apple’s battery info page says, “If you know a little about how they work, they can work that much better for you.” This also applies to recognizing when a battery is starting to break on you. Some telltale signs suggest that it is time for a battery replacement, and you should be careful to avoid daily problems, poor performance or sudden shutdowns.
Fortunately, the health of your iPhone battery is much easier than it was a decade ago. Apple has added more battery performance info directly to the iPhone’s Settings app. In addition, learning about other warning signs of a dead battery will make it clear when it’s time to go to the Genius Bar.
iPhone battery warning signs you should watch out for
The easiest way to determine how your battery is performing is to navigate Settings > Battery > Battery Health. There you will find the overall status of yours Battery healthwhich can be either Normal or Significantly degraded. The latter is accompanied by a disclaimer above, suggesting that you replace the battery to restore full performance.
Below that, on an iPhone 15 or newer, you’ll see the total cycle count. The iPhone 14 and earlier are designed to achieve 80 percent battery capacity at 500 cycles; newer models up to 1,000 cycles.
Every iPhone should show the maximum battery capacity, which indicates the current capacity of your battery compared to the new one. If this drops below 80 percent, Apple considers it worn out and suggests it’s time to replace it; You will notice worse daily battery life at this point.
If your battery health is bad enough, chances are you won’t need to check the menu to realize it. If you always have to carry a power bank to keep your phone going all day (and check for excessive app battery drain), it’s time for a replacement. Other big signs include your battery percentage dropping rapidly, and unexpected shutdowns even when the battery percentage is well above single digits.
Slow performance, especially during heavier tasks like gaming, exporting large videos or streaming 4K video, may be a sign that your phone is turning itself off to avoid turning off. Another red flag is if your device heats up too quickly when it’s not turned off or barely in use; that means your iPhone battery is working overtime and may need service. And of course, if you see the battery coming out of the case, you should immediately stop using your phone and contact Apple Support, as this is a safety hazard.
When buying a new iPhone, you may have found it difficult to decide whether to include AppleCare. Your average battery usage could help you make the call. With an active subscription, you don’t pay a service fee to replace a battery that has dropped below 80 percent. For Apple service outside of an AppleCare plan, prices range from $69 for a new iPhone 6s battery to $129 to replace an iPhone 18 Pro Max battery.