An iPhone battery health is one of the most important factors in deciding how well the device is performing and how long it lasts. Apple includes a built-in tool for checking how healthy your battery is under “Settings” > “Battery” > “Battery Health & Charging.” So, how much battery health is bad? Let’s look at what those levels are and when you might want to think about replacing your iPhone battery.
Identifying the Health of iPhone Batteries
Apple uses lithium-ion batteries in iPhones, which degrade over time with regular use. Battery health is expressed as a percentage, indicating how much charge the battery can hold compared to when it was new. A new iPhone battery starts at 100% capacity and gradually decreases as the device undergoes charge cycles.
When is Battery Health Considered Bad?
While battery health depletes naturally over time, certain thresholds indicate poor battery performance:
- 90% and Above: At this stage, your iPhone battery is still in great condition. Performance issues are minimal, and you do not need to worry about replacing the battery.
- 80% – 89%: The battery is still functional, but you may begin to notice minor performance drops, especially in older models. It is still not necessary to replace the battery, but some users might see slight reductions in battery life.
- Below 80%: Apple considers this a critical threshold. When an iPhone battery reaches 79% or lower, the device may experience significant slowdowns, unexpected shutdowns, and reduced performance. At this point, iOS may enable “Battery Performance Management,” which reduces the phone’s peak performance to prevent sudden shutdowns. If your battery is below 80%, it is recommended to replace it for optimal performance.
- Below 70%: A battery at this level is highly degraded. The phone will struggle to hold a charge for long periods, and performance may be severely impacted. Many users experience frequent lags, shutdowns, and increased charging cycles. Battery replacement is strongly recommended.
- Below 60%: If your iPhone battery health is in the 50-60% range, your device is running on a heavily degraded battery. At this stage, your phone may shut down randomly, require constant charging, and struggle to run apps smoothly. Replacing the battery is a must to restore usability.
Signs Your iPhone Battery Needs Replacement
Aside from battery health percentage, here are some clear signs that indicate you need a battery replacement:
- Your iPhone dies quickly even after a full charge.
- The device shuts down unexpectedly.
- The battery takes too long to charge or drains rapidly.
- The iPhone feels sluggish and lags frequently.
- You see a warning message in “Battery Health & Charging” stating that your battery needs service.
How to Maintain iPhone Battery Health?
To extend the lifespan of your iPhone battery, follow these best practices:
- Avoid Full Discharges: Do not let your battery drain completely to 0% frequently. Instead, keep it between 20% and 80%.
- Use Optimized Charging: Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging feature helps reduce battery aging by learning your charging habits.
- Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Heat is a major enemy of battery health. Avoid exposing your iPhone to temperatures above 35°C (95°F).
- Use an Official Charger: Always use an Apple-certified charger or a trusted third-party brand.
- Reduce Background Activity: Close unnecessary apps running in the background to minimize battery strain.
- Keep Software Updated: iOS updates often include battery optimization features, so keep your device up to date.
- Enable Low Power Mode: When needed, Low Power Mode (found in Settings > Battery) can extend battery life by reducing background activity.
Conclusion
In general, if your iPhone battery health is below 80%, you will need to replace it. Below 70% is a good sign that your battery has reached the end of its useful life. Monitoring battery health can help your iPhone continue running smoothly and give you some more time to use the device. If you’re having problems, head to an authorized Apple service provider to have its battery replaced and get your device’s efficiency back.
