Well, I have a significantly different usage pattern, so I find it difficult to judge. So what I did is very simple:This post did get buried lol
Here are some battery usage screen shots starting on day one of using the Air on Saturday. It’s been improving day on day since first setting it up.
I’ve said before I’m not one who charges to 100% then runs it down into the red to avoid deep discharges and burning through cycles.
I’m pleasantly surprised with how the battery is performing as things settle down.
I’ll do 100% charge this morning and see where the battery is this evening without topping up.
Sunday was a day where I took lots of photos.
Monday was a normal day, phones calls, emails, social media, watching YouTube, a few photos, safari browsing etc
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Well, I have a significantly different usage pattern, so I find it difficult to judge. So what I did is very simple:
I found how much battery life you got on iOS 18, and I found this post:
Post in thread 'Post your iPhone 16e impressions, pictures, etc!'
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...mpressions-pictures-etc.2450383/post-33820543
That should give us an idea. There, with the 16e’s total SOT of about 26 hours with very light, efficient use from Apple specs, you were getting about 7 hours of SOT with 55-65% battery used. Let’s take an average of 60%.
That gives you an average of 7 mins per percentage point. Extrapolating: with the 16e you were getting about 12.5 hours of SOT 100-0%.
Now I have a key question before I can compare: there is a massive difference between Monday (8.5 hours with 78% used) and Saturday (5 hours with 73% used). Since iOS 26’s new battery screen is garbage, how should I interpret that?
Did you use it while charging on Monday? Or was Saturday an unusually heavy day?
Yeah, then both Air results seem to have you hovering at the 10-hour SOT range, sometimes a little below that, sometimes a little over that.Well Saturday was the first day I activated the Air and it was restoring from an iCloud backup, hence the higher battery usage with the 5 hours of screen time which is normal when first setting up a new phone.
I’d possibly take off maybe 50 mins on Monday for some usage while charging. I try not to use it whilst charging too much.
Currently at 83% with 2 hours of screen time (not used while charging this morning) from 100% charge at 7:34am, currently 12:07pm here.
This is impressive but doing much better than mine, I’m at 3 hours SOT with 67% usage.
Restored from a backup and background app refresh is off. When did you get your Air?This is impressive but doing much better than mine, I’m at 3 hours SOT with 67% usage.
Can I ask, did you set up as new or restore? And anything like background refresh switched off?
Friday, also have background app refresh off. Running light mode though, wondering if that might be the crux for me seeing all these great SOT shots in dark mode!Restored from a backup and background app refresh is off. When did you get your Air?
Doubt it’ll make much difference? I use dark mode.Friday, also have background app refresh off. Running light mode though, wondering if that might be the crux for me seeing all these great SOT shots in dark mode!
Have you found that the battery life has improved now you have had it a few days and all the set up is completed?This is how yesterday finished when I went to bed. Gave it a quick top up charge late evening as I like to avoid the battery level going into the red which may have happened if I let it run into another day.
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Yes definitely it’s improved as the days have passed since first setting it up at the weekend.Have you found that the battery life has improved now you have had it a few days and all the set up is completed?
Thanks for the info. That’s definitely reassuring. Loving the phone but the battery life for me seems to be the deciding factor. I can live with the other trade offs compared to the pro max but I need it to last me the day without the MagSafe battery pack. If I do keep it though and the battery is good enough for my usage the I will invest in a battery pack alsoYes definitely it’s improved as the days have passed since first setting it up at the weekend.
How long have you had your Air? I’d give it a few days to settle down as there’s a lot of stuff happening in the background following the first set up and transfer etc.Thanks for the info. That’s definitely reassuring. Loving the phone but the battery life for me seems to be the deciding factor. I can live with the other trade offs compared to the pro max but I need it to last me the day without the MagSafe battery pack. If I do keep it though and the battery is good enough for my usage the I will invest in a battery pack also
I’ve heard rumours of 26.0.1 coming soon to address a few issues. Not sure how 26.1 is going, I’ll maybe check the iOS 26 forum to see what’s being said.Has 26.1 beta 1 an impact on battery life for you?
I can't hear a lot of things about the Air with 26.1 for the moment. Maybe to early.I’ve heard rumours of 26.0.1 coming soon to address a few issues. Not sure how 26.1 is going, I’ll maybe check the iOS 26 forum to see what’s being said.