Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Your current iPhone battery could last longer with iOS 19, thanks to AI

iOS 19 leak renders with squircle icons.
FPT.
Promotional logo for WWDC 2023.
This story is part of our complete Apple WWDC coverage

Imagine downloading a software update for your current iPhone and the battery life getting extended. That could be a reality thanks to iOS 19 .

According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, we can expect iOS 19 to leverage AI in such a way as to actually improve battery life efficiency on iPhone.

Recommended Videos

This will apparently be classed as an Apple Intelligence feature that’s called battery management.

Possibly the best part is that this new battery life extension could arrive as soon as this September, when iOS 19 is expected to roll out following its announcement at WWDC 2025 in June.

What is iOS 19 battery management?

According to the report, Apple is planning an AI battery management system with the next software update. But how does it work?

Allegedly the AI will work to analyze just how a person uses their iPhone and will then make adjustments to best conserve power.

Gurman writes: “To create the technology — part of the Apple Intelligence platform — the company is using battery data it has collected from users’ devices to understand trends and make predictions for when it should lower the power draw of certain applications or features.”

He goes on to say that the “people with knowledge of the matter” spoke about a lock-screen indicator. This should intelligently be able to show just how long it will take to charge up the device back to full.

This all makes sense following rumours of the iPhone 17 Air potentially having battery life issues due to its slimmer form.

Gurman points this out directing saying: “The driving force behind the battery feature is the company’s upcoming slimmed-down iPhone 17, which will be offered as an alternative to the standard and Pro models. Because of its thinner design, the new iPhone will have a much smaller battery — and fewer hours of life than other models.”

Since this is an iOS 19 feature it may well apply to iPads too, as well as older iPhones. Although since this is part of Apple Intelligence, it will only work on devices capable of supporting that – so iPhone 15 Pro Max or newer.

Luke Edwards
Luke has over two decades of experience covering tech, science and health. Among many others, Luke writes about health tech…
This impressive case adds USB-C to your old iPhone
Upgrade your connection without upgrading your iPhone
The iPh0n3 USB C case

What's happened? Swiss engineer Ken Pillonel has created an iPhone case which brings USB-C connectivity to older iPhones with Lightning ports. As well as providing fast charging (9V), data transfers and Apple CarPlay compatibility, the case also supports wireless and MagSafe charging.

This is important because: Pillonel says "the goal is to give some extra life to those older devices by making them feel less obsolete." It means owners of older iPhones can potentially eke out a few more years of use with their current handset thanks to the convenience of the industry-standard USB-C port.

Read more
Want to try the first iOS 26 public beta? Here’s what to know before you do
The Liquid Design lock screen on the iOS 26 developer beta 1 running on the iPhone 16 Pro

Apple has just released the latest developer beta of iOS 26, and many are expecting the first public beta to appear as early as this Wednesday.

The update to Apple’s iPhone operating system will be officially released in the fall, bringing with it a slew of new features that include its striking new Liquid Glass design, deeper integration of AI features via Apple Intelligence, real-time translation in the Messages and Phone apps, improved multi-tasking options, and more.

Read more
Google Chrome makes it easier for iPhone users to separate work and play
Profile switching in Chrome for iOS.

Unless you work in a government agency or deal with extremely sensitive corporate stuff, chances are high that your company allows you to use a personal phone for handling professional stuff. Some companies require an internal VPN or a separate work profile to access internet-based material.

For desktop, it’s easier to switch between different users in Chrome. On Android devices, users can create a work profile that keeps their work data discrete and secure. No such convenience has existed for iPhone so far. That is finally changing in 2025, as after a long wait, Google is finally turning its attention to iPhone users.

Read more