Apple’s latest iOS version, iOS 16.5, which was released on May 18, seems to have caused many iPhone users to encounter an annoying battery issue.
One of the few complaints posted on social media in recent days says “iOS 16.5 is deadly for batteries,” with users reporting that after downloading iOS 16.5 to their iPhone, the battery is draining faster than usual.
The severity of the problem seems to vary from phone to phone, but overall, almost everyone’s charging speed seems to be affected. Some people even claim that it takes almost three hours for their iPhone to reach 100% charge.
iPhone battery problem: It might actually be normal
However, this annoying battery issue can be completely normal most of the time. Whenever Apple (or indeed any software developer) releases a major operating system (OS) update, phones often need to re-index data and recalibrate battery settings. This causes the battery to run out faster. More importantly, this faster battery drain is temporary and should be expected to resolve itself within a few days after it first occurs.
In addition to the need for recalibration, new OS updates often trigger a bunch of app-specific updates that put more strain on your iPhone’s battery. But once these apps refresh themselves for the latest version of iOS, this consumption decreases.
So it can be guessed that your iPhone is probably experiencing post-update standard issues. If you’re still worried about your phone’s battery health after a few days, go to Settings, Battery, then Battery Health to check for any official battery warnings.
Among the many security updates that came with iOS 16.5, a vulnerability that allowed access to your contacts from the lock screen was also closed. Also, with the new update, new lock screen wallpapers and a special Sports tab are added to Apple News.
iOS 16.5 also addresses various issues with Spotlight, CarPlay, and Screen Time. The full list of updates can be viewed on Apple’s dedicated iOS 16.5 release notes page.
Apple is expected to debut iOS 17, its next major overhaul for iOS, on June 5 at WWDC 2023.