iPhone users say Apple’s new iOS 16.4.1a update is RUINING their battery life, with reports of charge draining within a few hours – here’s what to do if your smartphone is affected
- Battery life complaints have flooded Twitter since the launch of iOS 16.4.1(a)
- Others also claim that their devices are overheating as a result of the update
- But a researcher claims that temporary issues can be normal following an update
iPhone users have slammed Apple’s latest update following claims that a bug is rapidly draining their battery life.
Twitter has been flooded with complaints over the past few days as users allege that the latest iOS 16.4.1(a) update has diminished their device’s ability to hold charge.
One social media user claimed their iPhone battery had plummeted by 22 per cent in just 46 minutes, while another said they had lost 30 per cent in half an hour.
Now, some users are thinking about ditching their iPhones altogether, with devices also allegedly suffering overheating issues.
‘Bro this last IOS update is actually BLEEDING my battery,’ a Twitter user wrote.
Battery life complaints have flooded Twitter since the launch of iOS 16.4.1(a) (file image)
One social media user claimed their iPhone battery had plummeted by 22 per cent in just 46 minutes , while another said they had lost 30 per cent in half an hour
‘I’ve lost 30 per cent in the last 30 minutes just by having Spotify on and looking at Twitter for 5 minutes. I might have to actually move on from the iPhone 6 after all this time.’
Meanwhile, another asked: ‘This new iPhone update is just crushing my battery life. Anyone else?’
They later added: ‘It is taking several hours to charge. Ridiculous.’
iOS 16.4.1(a) – also known as a Rapid Security Response update – was suddenly released by Apple last week in an effort to fix security problems.
This was a new type of ‘mini’ software release to come in between larger updates for iPhones, iPads and Macs running on iOS 16.4.1.
Yet one Twitter user claimed there is a known problem with these latest updates, with devices overheating and experiencing ‘severe battery drain’.
They wrote: ‘@AppleSupport Since the release of ios 16.0.1 and until the last update ios 16.4.1, there is severe battery drain and device heating, although you know about this matter, but you did not solve this problem This problem must be resolved.’
Another similarly tweeted: ‘My iPhone 13 mini feels like overheating after the update.’
iOS 16.4.1(a) – also known as the Rapid Security Response updates – were suddenly released by Apple just last week in an effort to fix security problems
These complaints come after a string of lawsuits against Apple over ‘throttling’ the performance of its devices to get users to buy a newer model.
The tech giant has already paid a $113 million fine in the US relating to battery issues which date back to 2017.
Apple was also fined €10million in Italy, while consumer champion Justin Gutmann launched a class action lawsuit against the firm in June last year.
Yet, Apple experts claim its updates do help to preserve the battery life of older devices, and is not just a cynical trick to get customers to buy new phones.
Following recent battery life complaints, Apple Support was seen to invite some affected users to private Twitter discussions.
To one user, they said: ‘Hey there. Thanks for reaching out to us about this. We are always happy to help where we can. Is the Twitter app up-to-date as well? Send us a DM so we can work with you there.’
One Twitter user claimed that there is a known problem with these latest updates, with device overheating in addition to ‘severe battery drain’
Although Apple has not commented on these issues, some issues that users face can actually be quite normal following software updates such as these.
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The changes triggered by power-intensive updates can take hours and even days to finalise, according to ZDNET.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, a researcher at ZDNet, previously explained: ‘Installing a new OS on an iPhone triggers a lot of stuff to go on in the background, from indexing to recalibrating the battery, and this can go on for hours or even days.
‘Not only does this consume power, but the battery recalibration can give the impression that the battery is draining more rapidly when in fact it isn’t.
‘Add to this the dual factor of a lot of app updates happening following a new release, combined with a lot of new features available that may put more drain on an older handset.’
If issues continue for weeks after the iPhone update takes place, it could be worth checking your battery’s maximum capacity.
Apple explains that an iPhone’s capacity lowers as a battery chemically ages, which may result in less hours of usage and worse performance between charges.
To check this, users should head to their Settings menu before scrolling down to the Battery tab and tapping it.
If your battery needs replacing an ‘important battery message’ will pop up indicating that its health has significantly degraded.
Pictured: If you’ve swapped out your battery before at a phone shop that is not Apple-owned, you may not be able to view this information
However, if you’ve previously swapped out your battery at a phone shop that is not Apple-owned, you may not be able to view this information.
Instead, an ‘unknown part’ pop-up may appear. When clicked on, this may read: ‘Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery. Health information not available for this battery.’
On its website, Apple also advises that users can maximise battery life by following a number of tips.
This includes keeping your device away from extreme temperatures higher than 35°C which can permanently degrade battery life.
Certain cases should also be removed while charging a device if they generate excess heat, to avoid unexpected device shutdowns.
For long-term health, Apple recommends that users avoid ‘storing’ their phone at 100 per cent or allowing it to completely run out.
Keeping a device fully charged for an extended period of time can actually worsen the capacity of a battery, which is why charging it to 50 per cent may actually be better most of the time.
MailOnline has approached Apple for comment.
HOW TO MAXIMISE iPHONE BATTERY HEALTH
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