Apple, while introducing its new, slim iPhone Air, also announced a new software feature to boost battery life: Adaptive Power Mode. This feature, coming with iOS 26 and aimed to alleviate battery concerns in thinner models like the iPhone Air, is designed to boost iPhone Air battery life.

How the iPhone Air’s battery life is improved

According to Apple, Adaptive Power Mode analyzes the user’s device usage habits, predicts when the battery is running low, and intelligently manages power. Unlike the old Low Power Mode, which kicked in when the battery dropped below 20 percent, this is an AI-based system that constantly runs in the background.

The new mode slightly reduces screen brightness to conserve battery power, slows down unnecessary background processes, and increases processor performance only when needed. Apple claims that these small adjustments extend battery life without affecting the device’s responsiveness. Thanks to Apple Intelligence, the feature learns the user’s habits and customizes settings in real time.

Adaptive Power Mode is off by default. Users must enable this feature in Settings > Battery > Power Mode and enable Adaptive Power Notifications to receive a notification on the lock screen when power saving settings are adjusted.

This feature isn’t limited to the iPhone Air. It also works on newer-generation iPhones that support iOS 26. Supported models include the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 series, iPhone 17 series, and, of course, the iPhone Air.

iOS 26 also introduces other battery management improvements. It now offers weekly averages instead of fixed graphs, provides more detailed information about app battery usage, and displays the reasons for charging pauses (such as temperature or optimization). iOS 26 is expected to be released on September 15th.