The iPhone 15 series is officially available, and whether you already have a device in hand or are anxiously waiting for one, a recent feature discovery should be at the top of your initial set-up agenda.
The feature is called "80% Limit" and is tucked within the deeper end of the iPhone 15's Battery settings. When toggled on, the iPhone will limit its charging capacity to 80% instead of the normal 100%.
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While Apple doesn't actually explain why this feature exists, it's safe to assume that the charging cap is a direct response to the recent comments about theiPhone 14's battery degradation. These aren't fan theories, unfortunately; it's just the nature of lithium-ion batteries found in iPhones and other devices, with the maximum capacity slowly degrading every time it completes a charge cycle.
Capping theiPhone 15's charging to 80% reduces the likelihood of battery degradation, though it may not always be in your best interest to have the feature turned on. More on that later.
What you'll need:At the time of writing, 80% Limit is only available on the iPhone 15 series, which includes the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
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The feature is clearly not processor-exclusive, as the non-Pro models operate on an A16 Bionic chip versus the A17 Pro on the more expensive iPhones. Therefore, the chances of Apple extending the feature to older models are still likely.
First, open up the Settings app and scroll down to the Battery tab. Then, tap on Battery Health & Charging.
Tip: A new iPhone 15 should be at 100% Maximum Capacity.
June Wan/Now tap into Charging Optimization and you'll be presented with three options:
Tap on 80% Limit to turn it on.
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While you're on the Battery Health & Charging screen, you'll also find the maximum battery capacity of your iPhone, which, if it's an iPhone 15, should be at 100%. If your device shows a lower value, reach out to Apple support as there may be a potential defect with your battery.
You should use 80% Limit if...
You shouldn't use 80% Limit if...