iOS 26's New Battery Life Mode Available Only on These iPhone Models

Last week, we reported that iOS 26 introduces an opt-in Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode.

iPhone 16 Battery Life Feature
Apple says that Adaptive Power Mode can make "small performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to "take a little longer."

The full description of Adaptive Power Mode, from the first iOS 26 beta:

When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20%.

iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, but unfortunately Adaptive Power Mode is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models and newer. This is because the AI-powered feature requires an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence.

adaptive power mode
We have confirmed that Adaptive Power Mode is not available on the iPhone 14 Pro and below.

The feature is available on the following iPhone models:

  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16e
  • iPhone 16
  • iPhone 16 Plus
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

Adaptive Power Mode could end up being especially beneficial on the rumored iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to have an ultra-thin design that will limit the size of the device's battery. Still, Apple reportedly plans to release an iPhone 17 Air battery case.

Adaptive Power Mode is turned off by default. The option can be turned on continuously in the Settings app under Battery → Power Mode.

iOS 26 is currently in beta. The update will likely be released in September.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

Codeigniter Avatar
17 weeks ago
Could someone explain why this adaptive power mode is considered an “AI-powered feature?”

Is it not something coding could do? Like if iPhone temperature above a certain threshold, initiate lower brightness mode, reduce background activities. etc.?
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
UliBaer Avatar
17 weeks ago

Could someone explain why this adaptive power mode is considered an “AI-powered feature?”

Is it not something coding could do? Like if iPhone temperature above a certain threshold, initiate lower brightness mode, reduce background activities. etc.?
Marketing and shareholder value.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
17 weeks ago
Spending less time on the phone, eg less social media and you might see even more benefits …
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lfaa Avatar
17 weeks ago
An AI needed to manage the battery ‘for small adjustments ‘… apple has serious problems.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scrapesleon Avatar
17 weeks ago
this funny you need AI to manage battery performance but wait you also need a newer iPhone as well
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
17 weeks ago

They probably could, but I assume lots of extra work for a different implementation.
This shouldn’t need more than what the Neural Engine has supported for many years. It doesn’t require generative AI.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)