Millions of iPhone users have rushed to install Apple’s new iOS 18.1 update – one of the most hotly anticipated in recent years.
Released last night, iOS 18.1 finally brings the world Apple Intelligence, Apple’s fancy suite of AI features that make your device faster and easier to use.
However, several early users have taken to X (Twitter) to complain that the ‘disappointing’ update is draining their battery life.
One person said: ‘I’ve had iOS 18.1 installed for less than an hour and have noticed battery drain from checking email and scrolling.’
Someone else said: ‘Too much battery drain if you switch on apple intelligence.’
Another posted: ‘also @Apple i swear to GODDDDDDD if iOS 18.1 doesn’t sort out this RIDICULOUS BATTERY DRAIN.’
iOS 18 also contains urgent security fixes that could stop your iPhone from being hacked.
So if you’ve just updated and have noticed battery drain, here’s what you can do.
Since Apple launched its eagerly anticipated iOS 18.1 update on Monday, millions of eager iPhone users have rushed to download it to try out Apple Intelligence (file photo)
But one X, several people have complained that iOS 18.1 is draining their device’s battery life
One user said there’s ‘too much battery drain’ if you switch on Apple Intelligence, Apple’s fancy new suite of AI features
Battery drain is when a phone uses up more power than it usually would, meaning the device has to be charged more often or even kept plugged in.
Although Apple is yet to comment on this issue, it is actually normal to experience battery drain in the aftermath of a power-intensive update, so the first step is to be patient.
Sometimes it can take hours and even days for software changes to finalise, which means that battery health can plummet or fluctuate.
‘Installing a new OS on an iPhone triggers a lot of stuff to go on in the background, from indexing to recalibrating the battery, and this can go on for hours or even days,’ Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, a researcher at ZDNet, previously explained.
‘Not only does this consume power, but the battery recalibration can give the impression that the battery is draining more rapidly when in fact it isn’t.’
However, if issues last for longer, it may be a good idea to check your phone battery’s maximum capacity, located in the Battery tab in Settings.
An iPhone’s capacity to hold charge lowers as the battery chemically ages, which may result in fewer hours of usage and worse performance between charges.
If your battery needs replacing, an ‘important battery message’ will pop up indicating that its health has significantly degraded.
Someone else posted to say the update is ‘killing’ the battery on their iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS 18 also contains urgent security fixes that could stop your smartphone from being hacked
One user simply said that the battery life on iOS 18.1 is ‘disappointing’. Released last night , iOS 18.1 finally brings the world Apple Intelligence
Another posted: ‘also @Apple i swear to GODDDDDDD if iOS 18.1 doesn’t sort out this RIDICULOUS BATTERY DRAIN’
Apple’s iOS 18.1 update launched on Monday, and some iPhone users will get their first taste of the new Apple Intelligence features – although more features will come with later updates
Users should also check if Wi-Fi Assist setting is switched on, which keeps devices connected to the internet when the Wi-Fi connection is poor but can drain battery too.
Not everyone who has downloaded iOS 18.1 has been experiencing problems for long – one user who experienced battery drain overnight said it had since subsided, calling the software update ‘amazing’.
Someone else said: ‘iOS 18.1 battery usage is insanely efficient. 8-12 hours easy.’
iPhone users can download iOS 18.1 by going to the Settings app, clicking ‘General’ and then ‘Software Updates’ before following on-screen instructions.
iOS 18.1 is available on iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, as well as iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and the new iPhone 16, plus the iPhone SE 2 and 3 and some iPads and Mac computers.
However, only the newest iPhone models – 15 and 16 – can run Apple Intelligence, meaning the others get a version of iOS 18.1 without Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence was announced back in June and is being released as part of iOS 18.1 – although not in its complete form.
More Apple Intelligence features will arrive with upcoming software updates, but this early version includes text-rewriting tools, smart replies in Messages and Mail apps, and Clean Up tool, which makes ultra-clean edits to photos.
The new Clean Up tool in Apple’s Photos app can identify and remove ‘distracting objects’ in the background of a photo
However, getting Apple Intelligence is a separate process to installing the software update.
To request activation of Apple Intelligence after you update to iOS 18.1, go to Settings, tap ‘Apple Intelligence & Siri’, then tap ‘Join the Apple Intelligence Waiting List’.
According to the tech giant, Apple Intelligence is officially available in US English, but other languages – English (Australia), English (Canada), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa) and English (UK) – will arrive in December.
However, Brits may be able to use Apple Intelligence before then – by changing their phone’s device language to US English.
Users can do this by going into Settings and selecting General, followed by Language & Region, Add Language and Select English (US).
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, has said that Apple Intelligence marks a a new era for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
‘Apple Intelligence builds on years of innovation in AI and machine learning to put Apple’s generative models at the core of our devices, giving our users a personal intelligence system that is easy to use all while protecting their privacy,’ he said.
‘Apple Intelligence is generative AI in a way that only Apple can deliver, and we’re incredibly excited about its ability to enrich our users’ lives.’