Some iPhone 16 owners are experiencing massive battery drain on iOS 18

Apple needs to fix this.
By Stan Schroeder  on 
Five Apple iPhone 16 devices in different colours.
The battery life should be improved, but it's actually worse for some. Credit: Sopa Images/Getty Images

Apple's iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro boast much-improved battery life, but for some users, the opposite has been the case.

According to a pretty large number of posts on Apple's official forums and Reddit (via MacRumors), battery life has been pretty abysmal for some iPhone 16 and 16 Pro owners running iOS 18. The complaints actually started earlier, while iOS 18 was still in beta, but the issue apparently hasn't been fixed, bringing a new wave of dissatisfied users now that iOS 18 is widely available.

Most users who experienced the issue say their phones have simply drained very fast while being idle, or while doing fairly undemanding tasks like playing music. "Listened to music for the first 2.5 hours of my day (with less than 45 minutes screen time) and realized my battery was at 68 percent," said one user on Reddit. "I’m comparing my activity to my previous iPhone 14 I have to my girlfriend. She is at 78 percent while I’m at 45 percent. Something not going right here," said another.

Mashable Light Speed
Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?
Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

It's worth noting, however, that some users aren't experiencing these problems, and some (but not all) said that upgrading to the iOS 18.1 beta remedied the issue.

Fortunately, this type of bug is quite common with new iOS releases; we've seen similar issues resolved after a software update. Now it's up to Apple to look into this one and fix it.

Topics Apple iPhone

Stan Schroeder
Stan Schroeder
Senior Editor

Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.


Recommended For You
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: How are they different?
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro Max battery life will shock you — does it ever die?
iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple iOS 18 release date today: When you can download it
By Christian de Looper
A stack of iPhone 16 models in various colors lined horizontally

Replacing the battery in Apple's iPhone 16 Pro is a lot pricier than before
Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Save $400 on this powerful portable battery on Black Friday
Jackery Explorer 1000 battery

More in Tech
How to watch Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers online
The end zone on a football field

How to watch Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans online
The end zone on a football field

How to watch Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants online
An NFL football field.

How to watch New York Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars online
The end zone on a football field

How to watch Washington Commanders vs. New Orleans Saints online
A football on a field

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 15, 2024
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 15
a phone displaying Wordle



NYT Strands hints, answers for December 15
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!