iOS 18 has two useful tricks to solve your iPhone charging headaches

An iPhone on a table charging
(Image credit: Shutterstock / LL_studio)

We're still picking our way through all the iOS 18 announcements Apple made at WWDC 2024, and new details are continuing to emerge about the features coming our way with the software update – including two that will help with iPhone charging.

As reported by MacRumors and 9to5Mac, the upcoming iOS 18 upgrade is going to give you more control over the charging limit on your iPhone: in addition to the current 80% setting, you'll also get 85%, 90%, and 95% as options, too.

These limits help you protect the health of the phone battery, so it should retain a higher charging capacity for longer. As Apple explains, charging up to 80% can be better for the battery than charging all the way up to 100%, depending on the scenario.

The extra flexibility with this setting means you'll be able to get more time between recharges while still looking after the health of your iPhone battery. Based on the first iOS 18 developer beta though, these extra settings are only available to iPhone 15 owners.

Slow charging

iOS 18 battery charging

Orange bars indicate a slow charger (Image credit: 9to5Mac)

Also new in iOS 18: an indication of when you've been using a charging speed that's less than the maximum supported by your iPhone. On the Battery screen in Settings, you'll see a "slow charger" message, and orange bars on the recharge graph.

As far as we can tell, this is available for all iPhone models, not just the iPhone 15. However, it's also worth mentioning that features might be both added and removed during the iOS 18 beta testing process.

iOS 18 is bringing with it a host of new features, including advanced home screen customizations, texting via satellite, the option to lock apps behind Face ID or Touch ID, and a major AI-powered upgrade for the Siri assistant.

A beta of iOS 18 is available to developers right now, with a public beta following in July. Apple hasn't said exactly when the software will roll out to everyone, but it's most likely going to be in September to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 16.

You might also like

TOPICS
David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Read more
iOS 18
iOS 18: new features, compatible devices, and everything you need to know
iOS 18 Control Center
iOS 18.4: 5 new features to expect, including Ambient Music and Photos filtering
iPhone XS
New leak says if your iPhone can run iOS 18, it should be able to run iOS 19 too
An iPhone 15 Pro wrapped in ribbon on a table
Get a new iPhone for Christmas? Activate these 3 time-saving iOS settings right now
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
Apple could give the iPhone 17 Pro a super-useful reverse wireless charging feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
The iPhone 16 is getting a neat Apple Intelligence upgrade with iOS 18.3 – here are 3 new tricks I'm excited about
Latest in iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Apple iPhone 16 Pro on sky blue background with don't miss text overlay
Verizon has just quietly debuted its best iPhone 16 Pro deal yet - get it for free alongside a plan that costs just $25/mo
Apple iPhone 16e on blue background with big savings text overlay
Total Wireless' latest iPhone 16e deal gets you $300 off plus a cheap plan for a year
The Apple iPhone 16e held at a slant at a window
From iPhone to Android and (almost) back again – the iPhone 16e failed to lure me back to iOS
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
The latest iPhone 17 Pro Max leak may have given us another look at its upcoming redesign
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over