iOS 26 includes an AI-powered feature that extends iPhone battery life. This new feature, however, is reserved for a shortlist of recent models.
iOS 26 is clearly one of the most significant major updates since iOS 7. The new iPhone operating system offers, in addition to a new (debatable?) design, a fairly long series of interesting new features for users. For example, there's the case of Screen Call, which should save you from most cold calling.
But during the iOS 26 presentation, another announcement also caught the eye. Apple is implementing a new battery management mode in its update. This one, called Adaptive Power, uses AI to dynamically adjust power allocation over time. The result? In concrete terms, with a simple update, some iPhones are entitled to significantly increased battery life.
Is your iPhone entitled to this iOS 26 option to extend its battery life?
Since iOS 26 has been compatible with all iPhones since the iPhone 11, we've been wondering since the announcement whether Apple would offer this new feature on all models. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a shock: only a handful of particularly recent iPhones are part of this club, which is currently quite exclusive. Here's the full list of devices compatible with the new Adaptive Power mode:
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
From what we understand, the feature runs locally and depends on a silicon design specific to the A17 Pro and A18 Series chips. The A17 Pro chip is already known to be significantly more powerful and comprehensive than the A16 Bionic chip in the more basic iPhone 15s. As for the exact battery life gains for each model on the list, it's still unknown. Although we imagine that early adopters of iOS 26, still in beta, should quickly determine this point.
If your iPhone is on the list of models compatible with the new “Adaptive Power” mode – and you're not afraid to install the iOS 26 beta now – you'll need to activate it yourself. To do this, simply go to Settings and then go to Battery where you'll find the option to activate.
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