Apple’s major update, iOS 26, released last week for compatible iPhone models worldwide, introduced users with a new, fluid design language called Liquid Glass. However, this visual revolution also brought with it a serious problem: a noticeable decrease in battery life. Users of older iPhone models, in particular, are complaining that their phones’ battery drains much faster than before after the new update.
Why is iOS 26 draining so much battery?
According to experts, the main reason for this increase in battery consumption is the Liquid Glass interface at the heart of iOS 26. The new design includes more complex animations, transparency effects, and fluid transitions. This visual richness places greater strain on the processor and graphics unit, leading to higher than normal energy consumption. This situation becomes even more critical for iPhone models several years old, which often have chemically degraded batteries. For these devices, switching to iOS 26 can mean a significant reduction in daily usage time.
While Apple is expected to make optimization improvements in a future update, there are a number of precautions users can take to make this process easier. Here are some effective ways to regain control of battery life on your iPhone running iOS 26:
Smart Power Management: New Adaptive Power and Automatic Low Power Mode
One of the most notable innovations introduced in iOS 26 is Adaptive Power Mode. Activated under Settings > Battery > Power Mode, this feature analyzes your usage habits using on-device AI. After about a week of learning, your phone predicts when you’ll need extra power throughout the day and dynamically adjusts performance and background processes, helping your battery last the day.
Furthermore, automating the classic Low Power Mode is one of the most effective ways to extend battery life. Normally activated manually, you can set this mode to automatically activate when the battery reaches a certain percentage (for example, below 40%) using Apple’s Shortcuts app. This automation saves you time at critical moments by instantly limiting screen brightness, refresh rate, and background activity.
Optimize Display Settings: Brightness Is Your Biggest Enemy
The screen is the most power-hungry component on a smartphone. Therefore, small adjustments to the screen can make a big difference in battery life.
Turn off Always-on Display: Available on iPhone 14 Pro and later Pro models, this feature provides convenience by constantly displaying information on the lock screen, but it still uses small amounts of energy hourly. Turning it off in Settings > Display & Brightness can help save you time.
Use Auto-Brightness: Auto-Brightness uses the ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness based on environmental conditions, preventing the screen from running at full power unnecessarily. This setting is located at the bottom of the Accessibility > Display & Text Size menu.
Switch to Dark Mode: On modern iPhones with OLED displays, black pixels are completely turned off, saving energy. Permanently enabling Dark Mode from the Settings > Display & Brightness menu significantly reduces battery consumption, especially when navigating the interface and using supported apps.
Connection Management and General Tips
After the display, wireless connectivity technologies are the biggest battery drainers. Turning off Wi-Fi, Mobile Data, and Bluetooth from Control Center when not actively using them saves energy by preventing them from constantly searching for a signal in the background. While Apple has increased network efficiency with hardware improvements like the N1 chip and C1X modem in the new iPhone 17 series, these software measures are still vital for millions of users. By implementing these simple yet effective methods, you can enjoy the visual improvements brought by iOS 26 without worrying about battery drain.
