"80% Limit" Battery Charging Optimization - Limited to iPhone 15 series?

Question

"80% Limit" Battery Charging Optimization - Limited to iPhone 15 series?

I have an iPhone 13 mini. I love it very much, and one feature I have always wanted was the ability to manually limit the battery charge to 80%. I want to preserve the life of my battery as much as possible, but I don't have a consistent enough charging schedule for the "optimized battery charging" feature to pick up on, which is why I would want to enable that feature *manually*.

It has become apparent to me that this feature does indeed exist now, but it is only available on the iPhone 15 series. I'm not sure why that is the case, or what would ever be the reason for that. Older iPhones have had the capability to limit charge speeds past 80% for years now (albeit, only when it 'detects' that you might want to do that). The ability to do so manually seems like a simple software-enabled feature that shouldn't have any reason to be locked to the newest iPhones.

Will this feature be coming to older models eventually? If not, I'd like to know the reason why. Thank you.

iPhone 13 mini, iOS 17

Posted on Jan 4, 2024 1:24 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

lobsterghost1

Community+ 2026

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192,149 points

Jan 4, 2024 1:35 PM in response to loganfrenchfry

We can't answer why questions, but it appears after reading the Apple Support Article, the 80% charge limit is only available for iPhone 15 models. This in itself is not unusual. When new iPhone models are released, they often get features previous models don't. For example Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 watches now permit one to answer a phone call with the simple double tap of two fingers together, which previous models don't get. This is usually due to the processor in the phone, not the iOS version running. And iPhone 15 models have a newer process than iPhone 13 models.

This confirms the 80% charge limit is indeed limited to iPhone 15:

About 80% Limit with iPhone 15 models

With iPhone 15 models, you can choose between Optimized Battery Charging, 80% Limit, and None.

When you choose 80% Limit, your iPhone will charge up to about 80 percent and then stop charging. If the battery charge level gets down to 75 percent, charging will resume until your battery charge level reaches about 80 percent again.

With 80% Limit enabled, your iPhone will occasionally charge to 100 percent to maintain accurate battery state-of-charge estimates.

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Answer 2

Jan 4, 2024 1:46 PM in response to loganfrenchfry

Feel free to share your thoughts with Apple, but I would not expect them to release a feature which is for the newest iPhone to previous model iPhones. You can let Apple know your thoughts here --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

If this is an important feature to you, I'm sure Apple would happily sell you a new iPhone 15 and even give you trade value for your iPhone 13.

And before you shoot any messengers here, please remember this is a user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't actively participate.

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Answer 3

Jan 4, 2024 3:44 PM in response to loganfrenchfry

I'm not being passive aggressive at all. If this is a feature you want, you're very unlikely going to get one designed for the newest iPhone's retroactively to iPhones now two years out. Apple doesn't do it. Samsung doesn't do it. Google doesn't do it. No cell phone manufacturers I know of brings the newest features, which are processor driven by device to older devices.

This has nothing to do with "right to repair" at all, so let's not confuse this something completely unrelated.

You want a newer feature and somehow feel entitled to it. But it's hugely unlikely you'll get it. If you think another cell phone from a different maker would be better for you, then you should definitely buy it. But be advised that Samsung doesn't offer the ability to monitor the health of batteries on their phones nor do they offer optimized battery charging at all.

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Answer 4

Jan 4, 2024 5:15 PM in response to lobsterghost1

I suppose my confusion and frustration lies in the fact that 'older' iPhones have had the capability to limit charging speeds, they just don't give the user an option to enable it manually. You're stuck with the AI's detection of your schedule to 'guess' when you want it to slow down past 80%. I've only ever wanted to enable that manually, which has been an option on many android phones including Samsung's.

It's not a "new feature" that I'm entitled to, it's more or less just a switch that lets you manually enable a pre-existing feature. There is no feasible restriction to hardware, considering older iphones already have it, but with less options.

I would say it does tie into Right to Repair, because a software feature that lets the user take more control of their hardware, and therefore extend the life of their device, is being artificially limited to only the newest phone. It is yet another restriction to limit user's control, and incentivize them to upgrade.

I suppose we'd be continuing to argue semantics at this point, when the fact remains that they probably won't give this option to older phones. I just anticipated that it would be obvious or at least understandable why that's a strange decision. Maybe somehow it's because of USB-C? I would've accepted a valid enough reason.

For now, the reason seems to be planned obsolescence.

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Answer 5

Jan 4, 2024 1:28 PM in response to loganfrenchfry

It's a matter of iOS version:

Click on this link to read about optimized battery charging on your iPhone --> About Optimized Battery Charging - Apple Support

- With iOS 13 and later, your iPhone learns from your daily charging habits to improve the lifespan of your battery.

- Settings > Battery > Battery Health > Optimized Battery Charging

- When the feature is enabled, your iPhone will delay charging past 80% in certain situations.

- "With 80% Limit enabled, your iPhone will occasionally charge to 100 percent to maintain accurate battery state-of-charge estimates."

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Answer 6

Jan 4, 2024 1:38 PM in response to Limnos

Hi Limnos, thanks for the reply. My iPhone is on the newest iOS version as of now (17.2.1), and I don't have the option for "80% Limit", which is the reason for my post. It is a feature limited to the iPhone 15 series, and I wanted to know if that was ever going to change, and if not, the reason why.

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Answer 7

Jan 4, 2024 1:41 PM in response to lobsterghost1

In that case, I'd extend my concerns to a feature request, because it seems ridiculous and unnecessary to limit that option to the newest iPhone. Every iPhone has a battery, and every iPhone on iOS 13 and above has the capability to limit charging speeds. The ability to limit past 80% manually being locked to only the newest iPhone seems like blatant planned obsolescence, as older iphones will die faster with less options to control the battery charge.

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Answer 8

Jan 4, 2024 1:56 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Thanks for the quick replies. I can imagine you'd understand why this is frustrating, as everything I've stated seems like mere common sense. And I'm only being told "they won't do anything anyway", and to "just buy an iPhone 15", which defeats the purpose of retaining the life of my 13 mini, and plays right into Apple's apparent strategy.

I will instead hesitate to buy iPhones in the future, knowing that I may be purposefully limited in my options to retain the life of my device at any point down the road.

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Answer 9

Jan 4, 2024 1:57 PM in response to loganfrenchfry

I've had my iPhone 15 Pro Max since launch day in September. I don't use the 80% charge limit. I simply use Optimized Battery Charging and let the phone manage the charge to 100% by the time I wake up. And my battery health is still at 100%. My iPhone 14 Pro Max, just using Optimized Battery Charging also had a 100% Battery Health after one full year of use. I wouldn't personally be too concerned over the 80% charge limit and the life of the battery.

But if this will stop you from buying another iPhone, that's certainly up to you and not something which really matters to anyone else, but you. Kind of like cutting off one's nose to spite ones face, but certainly your choice entirely.

Take care

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Answer 10

Jan 4, 2024 2:14 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Passive aggression aside, I'm really not sure what you're missing. I've already stated that my charging schedule isn't consistent enough for the Optimized Battery Charging to enable automatically, which is why I want to enable it manually. And I would be danmed if I am the "only person" who cares about retaining the life of my device, which isn't even that old to begin with. I bought it new only 6 months ago. I don't buy new phones every year as you seem to, which is also your rightful choice, but with that context it makes sense that you'd miss these ongoing tactics.

This particular issue is just the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger narrative that Apple seems to have against extended use of their products. I'm sure you've heard of "Right to Repair." I suspect that topic might be a sore spot on these forums, but to be so misunderstood and gaslit for something so simple is part of the reason the movement has become so passionate and widespread.

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"80% Limit" Battery Charging Optimization - Limited to iPhone 15 series?

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