Ever since upgrading to iOS 18, my iPhone’s battery life has taken a serious hit. Things only got worse with subsequent releases, and nothing has been improved by the latest 18.3.1 security patch. By lunchtime, my battery is rarely above 40%, and I’ve had to make power banks my new best friends.
I decided to investigate
For any battery drain problem, the first place I always look is under the Battery screen in Settings. This section is a treasure trove of information, not only related to the battery but also to the apps that are running and consuming power. Two charts are displayed here: Battery Level, which shows how the charge level changes at 15-minute intervals, and Activity, which uses a bar chart to illustrate which apps have been active and using battery power in hourly intervals. You can tap on the bars for a deeper dive into what’s been happening on your iPhone during that period.
I found the culprit
After more investigating, testing, tweaking settings, and a lot of frustration, I found the culprit: Apple Intelligence. With Apple Intelligence enabled (the setting can be found under Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri), I found it impossible to make it through a day without recharging. However, with it disabled, my battery life returned to its former levels, allowing me to leave the power bank at home.
Serious optimization issues
The effect is consistent across my devices. On my iPhone, MacBook Pro, and even, to a lesser extent, my iPad, the pattern is the same: turn Apple Intelligence on, and battery life drops like a rock; turn it off, and things go back to normal.
Conclusion
At this point, it’s clear that Apple Intelligence has some serious optimization issues. While it might have potential for some users, the battery tradeoff is hard to justify right now. If your iPhone’s battery life has been especially bad since upgrading to iOS 18 and you’ve enabled the Apple Intelligence feature, it might be the culprit. I say "might" because this is one of those "your mileage may vary" situations. That said, if you’re not finding Apple Intelligence all that useful, there’s no harm in turning it off to see if it helps.
FAQs
Q: What is Apple Intelligence?
A: Apple Intelligence is a feature available on iOS 18 and later that provides personalized recommendations and suggestions based on your usage habits.
Q: How do I turn off Apple Intelligence on my iPhone?
A: You can turn off Apple Intelligence by going to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggling the switch to the off position.
Q: Will turning off Apple Intelligence affect my iPhone’s performance?
A: Turning off Apple Intelligence may not have a significant impact on your iPhone’s performance, but it may affect the personalized recommendations and suggestions you receive.
Q: Can I use Apple Intelligence on my MacBook Pro?
A: Yes, Apple Intelligence is available on MacBooks, including the MacBook Pro. You can turn it on or off by going to System Preferences > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
