Apple is gearing up to deliver a long-awaited feature for iPhone users: improved battery life with the help of artificial intelligence.
According to reports, the tech giant plans to introduce a new AI-powered battery management feature in iOS 19, the next major update for the iPhone operating system. This new feature is part of the broader Apple Intelligence platform that analyzes how each individual uses their iPhone and automatically adjusts settings to conserve power.
"This enhanced feature will analyze how users interact with their devices and make adjustments to save energy."
By collecting battery data from millions of iPhones, the AI system will learn patterns and identify the best times to reduce power consumption for specific apps and functions. This could mean background apps being paused earlier or screen brightness being lowered more intelligently, all without requiring users to manually tweak any settings.
The update will also include a new lock screen indicator that informs users how long it will take to fully charge their iPhone.
Why Now? A Thinner iPhone Is on the Horizon
The push for better battery management appears to be partly driven by Apple's upcoming thinner iPhone 17, which reportedly has a smaller battery due to its sleek design. The AI-powered system is expected to help compensate for this limitation.
However, this feature won't be limited to the iPhone 17; the battery optimization tools will be available for all iPhones that support iOS 19.
Apple Intelligence Continues to Expand
This battery feature is part of Apple’s broader effort to integrate AI into the core of its devices under the Apple Intelligence brand. Launched last year, the initiative already includes text editing tools, custom emoji creation, image cleanup, and notification summaries.
But not all AI rollouts have gone smoothly. Bloomberg notes that some promised tools, like the upgraded Siri, have been postponed indefinitely. Despite this, Apple continues to lean heavily into the Apple Intelligence branding. Even some features on devices like the Apple Watch are labeled as "powered by Apple Intelligence," even if the AI models don’t run directly on the watch.
What About Older iPhones?
As Apple looks ahead to iOS 19, some older iPhone models may be left behind. I reported last month that devices like the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max might not be able to run iOS 19, although this hasn’t been confirmed yet. If true, it would follow Apple's typical pattern of providing around six years of software support.
In any case, Apple usually continues to provide security patches for older devices even after they stop receiving major updates.
iOS 19 Will Bring More Changes
Beyond battery improvements, iOS 19 is rumored to bring a redesign of the visual interface. Internally, Apple refers to the new interface style as “Solarium,” inspired by glass-walled sunrooms. Apple aims to make the iPad and Mac more similar to each other and improve how devices connect to Wi-Fi in public spaces like hotels and offices.
Apple is also working on an AI-driven health feature called Mulberry within the Health app, though it’s not expected to launch until next year.
In the meantime, the developer beta version of iOS 19 is expected to debut at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, with the public release likely coming in September.
