Why does iOS 18.4.1 on iPhone 15 Pro drastically reduce battery life?

I'm extremely frustrated with my new iPhone 15 Pro. It came with iOS 18.4, but after the latest update to 18.4.1, my battery life has taken a nosedive. Despite making all the necessary tweaks to optimise performance, I'm still forced to use ridiculous settings like lowest brightness, reduced white point, reduced motion, and turned off transparency just to get 5-6 hrs of battery.


It's infuriating to spend a fortune on a device and then have to cripple it with workarounds to prevent it from draining the battery.


Can someone please explain why Apple can't deliver a more battery-friendly iOS?


[Re-Titled By Moderator]


iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Apr 21, 2025 01:03 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 21, 2025 01:14 AM

"Why does iOS 18.4.1 on iPhone 15 Pro drastically reduce battery life?: [...]Can someone please explain why Apple can't deliver a more battery-friendly iOS?"

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It could be a bug in the update, or a significant drop in the Battery Health.


Troubleshooting iPhone Battery Draining After an Update:


A. Battery Drain Info:

The iPhone battery will drain, unless it is plugged in and charging. With lots installed, the charge would be slower. As for how fast it would drain the battery, that would depend on the battery health and the volume (sound) you use. Apple recommends you get a new battery when the Battery Health reaches below 89%. So, see if it’s time for a new battery.

  1. Go Here: iPhone Battery and Performance - Apple Support
  2. Scroll Down: to "Your battery's maximum capacity"



B. Verify the Battery Health Percentage:

Apple recommends you get a new battery, once the Battery Health reaches 80% or lower. When the Battery Health is 80% or lower, it is time for a new battery. Unfortunately, these if no way to know how, nor when, then percentage decrease occurred. So see if it tine for a new battery...

  1. Go To: Settings
  2. Tap: Battery
  3. Tap: Battery Health
  4. View: [the percentage]
  5. Is it 80% or less?  If so, it is time for a new battery.



C. Troubleshooting the Battery:








D. Report this to Apple:

Do your Part: This seems to be a commonly reported bug in these forums. Question is: "How many people have let Apple know about this bug?"  Apple wont get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what bugs are occurring, and what needs to be fixed. Apple will know nothing of your issue, if you don’t report it to them.

Giving Feedback:

  1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
  2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
  3. Comment on: That this all started after installing an update. Include the URL of this thread.
  4. Proceed From there as necessary
7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 21, 2025 01:14 AM in response to chowdri.shivam

"Why does iOS 18.4.1 on iPhone 15 Pro drastically reduce battery life?: [...]Can someone please explain why Apple can't deliver a more battery-friendly iOS?"

-------


It could be a bug in the update, or a significant drop in the Battery Health.


Troubleshooting iPhone Battery Draining After an Update:


A. Battery Drain Info:

The iPhone battery will drain, unless it is plugged in and charging. With lots installed, the charge would be slower. As for how fast it would drain the battery, that would depend on the battery health and the volume (sound) you use. Apple recommends you get a new battery when the Battery Health reaches below 89%. So, see if it’s time for a new battery.

  1. Go Here: iPhone Battery and Performance - Apple Support
  2. Scroll Down: to "Your battery's maximum capacity"



B. Verify the Battery Health Percentage:

Apple recommends you get a new battery, once the Battery Health reaches 80% or lower. When the Battery Health is 80% or lower, it is time for a new battery. Unfortunately, these if no way to know how, nor when, then percentage decrease occurred. So see if it tine for a new battery...

  1. Go To: Settings
  2. Tap: Battery
  3. Tap: Battery Health
  4. View: [the percentage]
  5. Is it 80% or less?  If so, it is time for a new battery.



C. Troubleshooting the Battery:








D. Report this to Apple:

Do your Part: This seems to be a commonly reported bug in these forums. Question is: "How many people have let Apple know about this bug?"  Apple wont get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what bugs are occurring, and what needs to be fixed. Apple will know nothing of your issue, if you don’t report it to them.

Giving Feedback:

  1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
  2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
  3. Comment on: That this all started after installing an update. Include the URL of this thread.
  4. Proceed From there as necessary

Apr 21, 2025 03:37 PM in response to chowdri.shivam

Its a newly bought device, so currently battery health is 100%. I checked the feedback page that you provided they don't have iOS 18.4.1 listed there yet. Wish I could downgrade to 18.4, it was better for iphone 15 pro. I can only hope for next update, I felt bad after spending so much and then turning everything off and still suffering.

———-


Well, then mention to which update release this feedback pertains.

Apr 21, 2025 09:12 PM in response to chowdri.shivam

"Out of the box it was at iOS 17.3, then I updated it to iOS 18.4, for me it was ok I was kind of happy seeing the overall stability in battery and in the OS, after updating it to 18.4.1, it has worsen, finding more tweaks online and doing all that to get max out of it."

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Thank you for the followup reply.


Get this Serviced:

Having perform all that has been suggested (including reporting this), get this iPhone serviced, You can take this in for a Genius Bar Appointment at your local Apple Store. Another other option would be to take this to an AASP (Apple Authorized Service provider), asking for assistance.

Locating an AASP:

  1. Go Here: Find Locations - Apple Authorized Reseller
  2. Click: Service & Support
  3. Enter: your location information
  4. See: if there is an AASP nearby
  5. Contact: an AASP that shows up, and find out more about the services that they offer to fix the iPhone


IMPORTANT:

Before bringing this information service, Mac a backup or your iPhone That way, you can have something to restore your iPhone from, should anything go wrong afterwards.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Why does iOS 18.4.1 on iPhone 15 Pro drastically reduce battery life?

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