iOS 26: Battery and Charging Features, Estimated Arrival, and Speed Insights

Apple is enhancing its battery protection features with the forthcoming iOS 26. This update aims to extend battery life and overall device health, recognizing that batteries naturally degrade over time and may eventually need replacement.

For many years, Apple has prioritized battery longevity through various built-in features. The latest iOS 26 takes this commitment further, with new capabilities being tested in the developer beta phase.

Here are some noteworthy features discovered so far. One of the prominent new features is the Battery ETA.

When you connect your device to power or a MagSafe charger, a notification appears above the time displaying the current battery percentage and the estimated time remaining until a full charge. If the charging time is under an hour, it will show in minutes; otherwise, it simply indicates “more than an hour.”

Additionally, if you set a charging limit, for instance to 80%, the device will inform you of this target. This information is also available in the Battery section of the Settings app.

It would be beneficial if Apple included this feature in widgets for easier access while in Stand By mode. Beyond estimating charging time, Apple is introducing a new battery icon that indicates when charging is paused.

Rather than the typical green icon with a lightning bolt, it will now display a grey battery icon when charging is on hold, usually due to overheating. More details can be found in the battery settings.

Another significant addition is Adaptive Power mode. This feature allows automatic adjustments to your phone’s settings to prolong battery life.

You can enable it via **Settings** > **Battery** > **Power Mode**. This mode aims to balance performance with battery conservation, lowering display brightness and extending task completion times as necessary, especially when the battery falls to 20%.

These innovations, alongside existing features such as Battery Health settings and Low Power mode, will be available with the official release of iOS 26 in the fall of 2025, coinciding with the introduction of the iPhone 17. A public beta is anticipated to launch in July.