Bad battery life from iOS 10.2.1 to iOS 10.3.

[Shirasaki]

Hello everyone.

Starting from iOS 10.2.1 beta 2, I notice a significantly reduced battery life. From others posts, I think this may be a software issue. Future updates could solve the problem.

Then I check the Coconut Battery. It shows I have a battery with 351 charge cycles. Maximum capacity (Design capacity times the percentage number shown in the bar right below "design capacity") fluctuates from 41% in low battery, to 79% when in full charge.

I now suspect my battery needs service but not entirely sure. However, I also see many posts from various forum members saying they have bad battery life.

While seeking for battery diagnostics, I wonder how many people noticing significantly worse battery life after upgrading to iOS 10.2.1? I remember in iOS 10.1.1 battery life was not that bad.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Hello everyone.

Starting from iOS 10.2.1 beta 2, I notice a significantly reduced battery life. From others posts, I think this may be a software issue. Future updates could solve the problem.

Then I check the Coconut Battery. It shows I have a battery with 351 charge cycles. Maximum capacity (Design capacity times the percentage number shown in the bar right below "design capacity") fluctuates from 41% in low battery, to 79% when in full charge.

I now suspect my battery needs service but not entirely sure. However, I also see many posts from various forum members saying they have bad battery life.

While seeking for battery diagnostics, I wonder how many people noticing significantly worse battery life after upgrading to iOS 10.2.1? I remember in iOS 10.1.1 battery life was not that bad.

I for sure did notice a significant difference in battery life. For convenience - not needing to charge for ~24hrs - I bought a Mophie Juice Pack for my iPhone 6 Plus. The benefit of the Mophie is pretty much compromised by the iOS 10.2.1 update! I'm still investigating this for myself.

 

[Shirasaki]

I for sure did notice a significant difference in battery life. For convenience - not needing to charge for ~24hrs - I bought a Mophie Juice Pack for my iPhone 6 Plus. The benefit of the Mophie is pretty much compromised by the iOS 10.2.1 update! I'm still investigating this for myself.

A member tells me Coconut Battery is accurate. But I am not sure.
Generally speaking, a battery should be able to hold enough charges within a year of normal use (no overheat).

 

[Mlrollin91]

A member tells me Coconut Battery is accurate. But I am not sure.
Generally speaking, a battery should be able to hold enough charges within a year of normal use (no overheat).

Not unless your battery has failed prematurely. There is plenty of research available online for diagnosing failing batteries. If you are sub-80% health, your battery has failed. Coconut Battery is 100% accurate. It is literally reading your battery in real-time, just like Apple. There is no way for it not to be accurate as its reading the battery itself. If you believe Coconut Battery is not accurate, check iBackupBot and iMazing as well. If they report the same thing, then all you can do is contact Apple. Or just contact Apple now and save yourself the time.

https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/battery-power

Apple considers a battery consumed once drops below 80%. That is why AppleCare will replace it for free (If still under warranty). Its a consumed battery, or. defective battery because you did not reach 500 cycles. Contact Apple, they will run a remote diagnostic and confirm what I am saying.
[doublepost=1486491767][/doublepost]Here is a photo of my 7Plus battery.



Once design capacity bar hits 80% or lower, the battery is consumed. In order to verify the percent, you take the Maximum Charge mAh and divide it by the design capacity. So with mine I'm at 2935/2890, or 101.55%. Once I get home this evening, I can post a screenshot of my Air 2 which is about 97% health remaining, then you can see what that bar looks like.

 

[Mlrollin91]

As promised, here is my iPad Air 2.



This is a perfect example of a battery possibly failing prematurely. iPad Air 2 is suppose to get 1000 cycles before 80%. Im already down to 96.9% at 72 cycles. Highly unlikely it will hit 1000 cycles before dropping below 80%.

 

[Shirasaki]

As promised, here is my iPad Air 2.

View attachment 687528

This is a perfect example of a battery possibly failing prematurely. iPad Air 2 is suppose to get 1000 cycles before 80%. Im already down to 96.9% at 72 cycles. Highly unlikely it will hit 1000 cycles before dropping below 80%.

Does that 96.9% of your iPad Air 2 decrease gradually? Or it is changing drastically? Do you see any device with lower than 80% of total capacity, that 96.9% number changes drastically from time to time?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Does that 96.9% of your iPad Air 2 decrease gradually? Or it is changing drastically? Do you see any device with lower than 80% of total capacity, that 96.9% number changes drastically from time to time?

The 96.9% is slowly decreasing. About .1% a month. It's not until it reaches 80% that it jumps all over the place. It's normal for a battery to jump from 2-3% in a day, but it will average out. I've seen my Air go from 96.9% to 98% then back to 96% ina matter of an hour. This was because one instance it was charging, another was cold and the last was hot. But when it all settled it was at 96.9%. So that's where it stabilized, at least for this month. The lowest I've ever seen my Air 2 was 95.4%, but the battery was below 60 degrees F, which is bad for it. Once it warmed up to room temperature, it recovered.

But 5-10% or more is a sign of a degrading battery. 30% jumps is a sign of a failed or consumed battery.

I hope this helps.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

WOW @Mlrollin91 and @Shirasaki, thank you so very much for all your additional info's. What app are you are using? After reading @Shirasaki post, I installed the Coconut Battery application. TIA

 

[Mlrollin91]

WOW @Mlrollin91 and @Shirasaki, thank you so very much for all your additional info's. What app are you are using? After reading @Shirasaki post, I installed the Coconut Battery application. TIA

Coconut battery is my go-to. It has been for several years now. The others are just as accurate, but Coconut is easy to use and easy to read.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

I must have installed the wrong app then! My sreens are so much different. Any way, I just checked the battery for the second time whilst just browsing Safari and made one 17 minutes phone call.

Before:

After:

Reducing my battery life with ~ 2 hours. Something is wrong here?

Edit: changed size of screencaps.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Yes, wrong app. No iOS app works properly on iOS 10 anymore. You need to install CoconutBattery on your Mac, or iBackupbot on Windows. You can download Battery Life for iOS 10, but its not very accurate. It only gives you rough estimates.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Thanks for the correct application names!

Houston; do we have a problem /?

Cheers

 

[Mlrollin91]

Your battery is starting to degrade, down to 86.9%, but you are at 542 cycles. iPhone batteries are rated to maintain 80% after 500 cycles. So you are doing better than your battery is rated for. Overtime you will start to see less and less usage per charge, but its not 'bad' yet. Its still stable.

At this current rate, you will probably get another 250~ cycles before your battery needs to be replaced. But that is just a rough estimate as batteries have a mind of their own.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Thanks again for your comprehensive reply, appreciated! I justed checked, my Apple Care protection plan (AC) ended in December 2016, so with my next iPhone I'll surely check the degeneration of the battery much more closely. At what percentage could I've made use of my AC to replace the battery? I know I'm too late to the party this time, so I ask just out of curiosity.

Cheers

 

[Mlrollin91]

Thanks again for your comprehensive reply, appreciated! I justed checked, my Apple Care protection plan (AC) ended in December 2016, so with my next iPhone I'll surely check the degeneration of the battery much more closely. At what percentage could I've made use of my AC to replace the battery? I know I'm too late to the party this time, so I ask just out of curiosity.

Cheers

80% is when Apple will replace the battery under AC. If you can make a good case, and if you are running out of time on AC, I've known people that got it replaced around 85%. It's rare for them to do it, but it is possible.

 

[SumYoungGai]

So on iBackupBot it says my Full charge capacity is 3000/2890, for 103.8%. Did I get lucky with this battery?

 

[Mlrollin91]

So on iBackupBot it says my Full charge capacity is 3000/2890, for 103.8%. Did I get lucky with this battery?

Yes you did. Battery science is still not 100%. It is very possible to get a battery with a max charge capacity higher than design capacity. My 7Plus above is still at 101.5% after 140+ cycles.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

80% is when Apple will replace the battery under AC. If you can make a good case, and if you are running out of time on AC, I've known people that got it replaced around 85%. It's rare for them to do it, but it is possible.

Thanks for clarifying that.

Cheers

 

[Moneoa]

....you realize you can't really judge performance when your using the betas right?

 

[Septembersrain]

My battery life is unreliable but it's a beta. I've had the weird bug where standby and usage are the same. That kills it.

I think though based on your previous posts that your battery capacity has diminished. I'd recommend a replacement.

 

[Shirasaki]

....you realize you can't really judge performance when your using the betas right?

Then what if it happens on official release iOS?
[doublepost=1486616373][/doublepost]Update: Apple remote diagnostics say there is no obvious issue regarding the battery. I have completed a restore. Waiting for further test.

 

[Moneoa]

Then what if it happens on official release iOS?

That's different but you are using a firmware that by nature is full of bugs. It would be silly to expect good battery life and smooth functioning all the way. That's why there is a big disclaimer saying "do not install on your daily device" and also why they say reviewing apps on beta software isn't really encouraged as some apps will run like crap.

The fact their betas are more stable then they used to be is beside the point. Anyone remember how buggy iOS 8 beta was?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Then what if it happens on official release iOS?
[doublepost=1486616373][/doublepost]Update: Apple remote diagnostics say there is no obvious issue regarding the battery. I have completed a restore. Waiting for further test.

Thats literally not possible. If Coconut is claiming you are at sub-80% design capacity, then your battery is at sub-80% design capacity. Coconut cannot lie. Its reading the hardware.

 

[Shirasaki]

Update: after updating to iOS 10.3 beta 2, situation becomes even interesting. I read two 88% maximum capacity and one 82% capacity while in iOS 10.3 beta 1, I only read 74% 76% capacity. Theoretically speaking, it is impossible for a consumed battery to restore capacity in such great volume (4%-12%). But it happens.
Load cycles increase one per day. This is also shocking, given that I even don't unplug my phone away from charger yesterday.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Update: after updating to iOS 10.3 beta 2, situation becomes even interesting. I read two 88% maximum capacity and one 82% capacity while in iOS 10.3 beta 1, I only read 74% 76% capacity. Theoretically speaking, it is impossible for a consumed battery to restore capacity in such great volume (4%-12%). But it happens.
Load cycles increase one per day. This is also shocking, given that I even don't unplug my phone away from charger yesterday.

Actually its not impossible. Thats the sign of the unstable battery. I had a MacBook Pro that dropped to 65% health, so it became unstable and consumed. Weeks later it was back over 80%. It is very possible for a battery to regain health. Its entirely possible that there is short-term drop that will heal after using the battery properly again. (If a battery gets too hot or too cold, it does the same exact thing).

Another example. My MBA hit 77% health 3 months ago at 990 cycles. I am now back to 82.4% health @ 1065 cycles. I thought I was going to have to replace the battery, but it recovered. This is probably why Apple is not seeing your battery as defective because the time they are scanning it is a "healthy" time but seconds later it falls back under 80%. This is all completely normal for degrading and consumed batteries. The keyword is unstable.