battery - page 2

Is iPhone XS battery life really better?

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iPhone XS gaming
The first iPhone with ProMotion?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple promises that you’ll get better battery life if you upgrade to the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max. Their cutting-edge A12 Bionic chips and power-efficient Super Retina displays should mean that they last longer than any other iPhone in between charges.

But is that really the case? One battery test has found that last year’s iPhone X actually has more stamina than its successor.

iPhone XS, XR battery and RAM details spilled by regulator

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iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
Here’s some things you didn’t know about Apple’s new iPhone lineup.
Photo: Apple

There are some things Apple never tells us about its iOS devices, so we have to wait until they go on sale and find out more for ourselves. But thanks to one regulator, we now know some important details about the new iPhone lineup.

Here are the battery sizes and RAM capacities of iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

How to understand the amazing new battery info in iOS 12

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Slice and dice the battery info however you like.
Slice and dice the battery info however you like.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The new iOS 12 Battery information section brings a massive improvement over the previous version. Whereas before you could see which apps used how much battery, and for how long, now you can see the charts that look like the Tim Cook section of an Apple Keynote. You can see your battery use in incredible detail, broken down by such categories as Screen On Usage and Screen Off Usage.

But that’s not all. You can see how fast the battery ran down, how the levels were at any time during the last 24 hours, and also a longer-term overview that shows your usage over time.

It’s so detailed that it can be a bit intimidating, so today we’ll take a look at how to read those charts, and how to get the best out of them.

How Apple Watch Series 4 will raise the bar for wearables [UPDATED]

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Apple Watch Series 4
Somehow, this official photo of Apple Watch Series 4 leaked out early.
Photo: 9to5Mac

Apple’s biggest keynote of the year is just days away and while the iPhone XS will be the main attraction of the event, Apple Watch Series 4 could steal the show with a bevy of new features.

Rumors about the Apple Watch Series 4 have been heating up leading up to next week’s event. Leaked images of the new wearable have already surfaced online, but there’s still a bit of mystery surrounding the new gadget.

Here’s everything we know about Apple Watch Series 4:

Looks like iOS 11.4.1 really did fix iPhone battery drain

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iPhone 6 with a dead battery
Worry no more! It seems the latest iOS update repaired the battery woes of some iPhone users. Well, probably.
Photo: Apple

Many iPhone user experienced quick battery drain problems with iOS 11.4. This week, Apple introduced an operating system update designed to fix bugs with its predecessor. Did that take care of the complaints?

Comments posted online generally seem to show that iOS 11.4.1 squashed this battery bug. Not everyone agrees, though.

iOS 11.4 is killing battery life on some iPhones

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iPhone X Notch
How's battery life on your iPhone with iOS 11.4?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple rolled out iOS 11.4 in late May, finally delivering AirPlay 2 and stereo support for HomePod. If you haven’t already updated, you might want to avoid it for now.

Some iPhone users are reporting battery life problems after installing Apple’s latest release. It seems the issue affects everything from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone X.

Apple can finally replace batteries in older MacBook Pro models

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MacBook Pro
Replacements for a 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro battery from five years ago are available with no waiting.
Photo: Apple

Apple ran short on a very vital part of the Mid 2012 and Early 2013 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display for over a year. But it now reportedly has plenty of batteries for these models in stock once again.

For months, Apple had been forced to waive the fee on battery replacements on these older models because customers were having to wait so long for the part to become available. 

Apple could be using shady tactics to cash in on iPhone battery replacements

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iPhone battery
Find new ways to make money? That doesn't sound like the world's most profitable company.
Photo: iFixit

Apple’s iPhone battery replacement initiative was supposed to be a way of Apple getting out of trouble, after news about its iPhone battery throttling was released last year.

But according to a new report, Apple is being a bit shady about its replacement policy by finding minor faults with iPhones that it charges users to correct before giving them their replacement batteries.

Apple seeds first beta of iOS 11.4 to developers

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iphone x
The next big iOS beta is already here!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Developers received the first beta build of Apple’s new iOS 11.4 software update, bringing a ton of bug changes and performance improvements to go with a couple of new features.

iOS 11.4 beta 1 can be downloaded directly from Apple’s developer center. You can install it as an over-the-air update once you install the proper profile to your iOS device. The first beta builds of tvOS 11.4 and watchOS 4.3.1 were also released to developers this morning.

iOS 11.3 arrives with new battery features and more

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Animoji
iOS 11.3 comes with four new Animoji.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The first major iOS update of 2018 has finally arrived, bringing a host of new features and improvements to the iPhone and iPad.

Apple initially released iOS 11.3 yesterday just for the only available to download on the new 9.7-inch iPad Apple. Now the software update is finally available to all users worldwide.

You should stop using your AmazonBasics battery packs now

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AmazonBasics battery pack
Steer well clear of AmazonBasics battery packs
Photo: Amazon

If you own an AmazonBasics portable battery pack, you should stop using it now. Amazon has recalled more than 260,000 units following 53 reports of overheating in the U.S. alone.

Six different models, sold between December 2014 and July 2017, have been condemned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this week.

Here’s how much a new iPhone battery boosts performance

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iPhone
A battery replacement can make a big difference.
Photo: Apple

Want to know how much difference replacing the battery in an old iPhone makes to the overall speed of the handset? A new video posted online by Bennett Sorbo compares an iPhone 6s with depleted battery against one with a fresh battery.

The two iPhones are then put head to head as they run through a variety of CPU-intensive tasks, including opening apps, using the internet, playing games and videos, and more. Check out the video below.

Apple wants to buy crucial iPhone battery metal direct from miners

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iPhone X laying down
Apple has a plan to help it sidestep a potential shortage of cobalt.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly in talks to buy the cobalt used in its iPhone batteries directly from miners for the first time.

This would mark a major change since Apple, one of the world’s largest end users of cobalt supplies, has previously left the purchasing of the metal down to the companies which build its batteries. It’s a smart move that could help prioritize Apple in the event of a major cobalt shortage.

Apple investigates AirPods explosion

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AirPod explodes
What happened to this poor AirPod?
Photo: WFLA

Apple is investigating how an AirPod exploded and very nearly injured its owner. A Tampa, Florida man was listening to music at the gym when he noticed smoke billowing out of his ear. Fortunately for him, he took the AirPod out before it ended up in tiny pieces.

This cheap iPhone X clone comes with a massive battery

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U18
It looks just like the iPhone X.
Photo: Oukitel

Battery life on the iPhone X got you down? Consider downgrading to an iPhone X knock-off fresh out of China.

The Chinese company Oukitel unveiled its newest iPhone copycat this week that comes with a lot of the same features for a fraction of the cost, including a vertically stacked dual-lens camera and face unlocking.

Apple faces DoJ probe over throttled iPhones

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iphone battery
$29 for a battery replacement isn't too bad.
Photo: iFixit

Investigators at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are looking into whether or not Apple violated securities laws when it disclosed that it throttles CPU speeds on some iPhones.

Apple revealed at the beginning of the year that it intentionally lowers the speed on iPhones with older batteries to prevent unwanted crashes. Customers in numerous counties have filed lawsuits against the iPhone maker. Now it appears that the feds are getting ready to weigh in.

Apple teases iOS 11.3 with new Animoji, big improvements

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iOS 11.3 ARKit
Augmented reality will be even better with glasses.
Photo: Apple

Apple today offered fans a preview of a big iOS 11.3 update coming this spring.

Alongside 16 new Animoji characters for iPhone X owners, the update will bring big improvements to ARKit and Messages, the ability to view battery health on all iOS devices, music videos for Apple Music, and lots more.

iPhone slowdown lawsuit wants to examine Apple’s battery data

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iPhone
iPhone slowdown case has caused multiple lawsuits around the world.
Photo: Apple

Apple has said that it will reduce the cost of replacement batteries as a result of its iPhone slowdown controversy. However, according to a new lawsuit leveled against Apple this practice could wind up destroying valuable evidence.

In a motion filed in Los Angeles by lawyer Adam Levitt of DiCello Levitt & Casey, the claimant says that it is important to, “maintain and preserve any data [Apple] collects through diagnostic testing in order to protect the claims of all affected consumers.” In other words, stop throwing away batteries!

U.S. officials probe Apple over iPhone throttling

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iPhone
Don’t miss out on iOS 13. Ditch your old iPhone now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

U.S. officials are questioning Apple after the company admitted to throttling the performance of older iPhones.

Apple has already apologized for the practice and set up a battery replacement program in an effort to fix affected units. But that hasn’t saved the company from getting into hot water with authorities in a number of countries.

Zurich Apple Store evacuated after iPhone battery overheats

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Zurich Apple Store
50 people were forced to leave the Zurich Apple Store
Photo: Apple

The Zurich Apple Store evacuated workers and fans on Tuesday after an iPhone battery overheated.

The handset was being repaired when its battery malfunctioned, leaving one employee with minor burns and forcing around 50 people to leave the store, according to Swiss police.

France is investigating Apple over throttling iPhone speeds

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iphone 8
Apple is accused of purposely slowing older iPhones to push customers to upgrade.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

French consumer watchdog DGCCRF, part of the country’s economy ministry, is investigating Apple over its alleged deception concerning the “throttling” of older iPhone models.

French law makes it a crime to purposely shorten the lifespan of a product in order to force customers to replace it. In the event that a company is found guilty of this, it can face fines of up to five percent of its annual sales.

DJI’s new Osmo 2 gimbal makes smooth iPhone footage cheap

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Osmo 2
The Osmo 2 is insanely cheap!
Photo: DJI

CES 2018 bug Capturing super-smooth video on your iPhone is about to get a lot easier (AND cheaper) thanks to the folks at DJI.

Ahead of the opening day of CES 2018, DJI unveiled its newest handheld smartphone gimbal today called the Osmo 2. The new gimbal packs simplified controls to allow anyone to record shake-free video from their iPhone, and it’s got some new tricks you won’t find on its predecessor.