iPhones will gain a new Clean Energy Charging option later this year as a part of an iOS 16 update, Apple said Monday.
The first-of-its-kind feature will strategically time when iPhones charge, using cleaner energy and thus reducing the devices’ carbon footprint.
Use clean energy to charge your iPhone
Apple mentioned the Clean Energy Charging feature in a footnote in Monday’s iOS 16 release announcement. It says the feature “aims to decrease the carbon footprint of the iPhone by optimizing charging times for when the grid is using cleaner energy resources.”
From an individual viewpoint, you may think the feature might not make that big of a difference. But considering there are more than a billion iPhone users worldwide, the Clean Energy Charging option could have a notable impact collectively.
This is the first time a smartphone-maker will implement such a feature on their devices. Apple could also bring a similar option to iPads and MacBooks with future updates.
iPhones already have an Optimized Battery Charging feature. It reduces battery aging by tweaking the charging routine based on your usage. So, if you put your iPhone on overnight charging, it will top up the battery to 80%. The cell will charge to 100% in the morning, though, right before you pick up your phone. This helps to increase the lifespan of your iPhone’s battery.
iCloud Shared Photo Library and more coming later this year
Apple also confirmed in the announcement that iCloud Shared Photo Library, Live Activities and support for new smart home standard Matter also will arrive later this year. There are quite a few other delayed iOS 16 features in the works, too.
Apple showcased the features at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference but did not include them in the first public release of the iPhone operating system.
