Key Takeaways
- Apple is reportedly developing an AI-powered feature for iOS 19 to enhance iPhone battery life.
- This “Apple Intelligence” system will analyze user behavior to optimize energy consumption.
- The new feature is particularly relevant for the upcoming slimmer iPhone 17, which may have a smaller battery.
- iOS 19 is also expected to introduce user interface updates and better device synchronization.
- Apple is prioritizing stability and fewer glitches in its upcoming software releases.
Apple is working on a smart solution to a common iPhone frustration: battery life. The company plans to introduce an AI-driven battery management mode in iOS 19, the iPhone software update anticipated this September.
This enhancement, part of the “Apple Intelligence” platform, will learn how you use your device and then make adjustments to conserve power. According to Moneyweb, whose sources asked to remain anonymous as the feature isn’t public, Apple is using battery data collected from user devices to understand trends and predict when to reduce power draw from certain apps or features. A new lock-screen indicator will also show the estimated time until your phone is fully charged.
A representative for Apple declined to comment on these new capabilities. This initiative continues Apple’s strategy of integrating AI deeply into its core features.
The first version of Apple Intelligence, which rolled out last year, brought tools for text editing, writing assistance, notification summaries, custom emoji generation, removing unwanted objects from photos, and creating sketches.
A significant motivation for this new battery feature is the company’s upcoming, thinner iPhone 17. This model, positioned as an alternative to the standard and Pro versions, is expected to have a smaller battery. By optimizing battery life with AI, Apple aims to offset these physical constraints. However, the AI battery function will be available for all iPhones that can run iOS 19.
The Apple Intelligence platform has faced some initial challenges. Despite heavy marketing, it arrived later than planned, and some promised features, such as a major upgrade to the Siri digital assistant, have been delayed indefinitely. This highlights Apple’s ongoing efforts to catch up with competitors like OpenAI and Google in the AI race.
Nevertheless, the Apple Intelligence brand remains crucial to the company’s AI strategy. Many features in iOS 19 will be described as “powered by” this technology. Apple even plans to use this branding for its smartwatch, although the watch itself won’t run Apple’s most demanding AI models.
The upcoming iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 software are also set for major user interface overhauls, as Bloomberg News has reported. These include a new aesthetic, internally dubbed “Solarium,” and changes to make the iPad and Mac work more cohesively.
The new operating systems will also be able to synchronize login details across devices for Wi-Fi networks that require web browser authentication, a common scenario in gyms, hotels, or offices. Apple is also preparing a revamped Health app with an AI “doctor” feature, codenamed Mulberry, but its launch isn’t expected until next year.
Beyond new features, Apple is pushing its engineers to ensure this year’s software releases are more functional and less glitchy. Past updates have faced criticism for bugs and features that didn’t always work as intended.
Apple aims to finalize a first beta version of the new operating systems by the end of May. These will then be released to developers on June 9 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The public typically gets access to the new software around September, coinciding with new iPhone and Apple Watch launches.
More recently, Apple released iOS 18.5, which fixed some bugs and added minor features. The company is also working on iOS 18.6 for release in the coming weeks. According to Bloomberg News, a key addition being tested in iOS 18.6 is support for Apple Intelligence in China.
