Apple is getting ready to give iPhone users something they’ve long been asking for: better battery life, with the help of artificial intelligence.
According to a Bloomberg report, the tech giant plans to introduce a new AI-powered battery management feature in iOS 19, the next major update to the iPhone’s operating system. The new feature, part of the broader Apple Intelligence platform, analyzes how each person uses their iPhone and automatically adjusts settings to save power.
“The enhancement will analyze how a person uses their device and make adjustments to conserve energy,” Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote.
Using battery data collected from millions of iPhones, the AI system will learn patterns and figure out the best times to reduce the power usage of specific apps and features. This could mean background apps getting paused sooner or screen brightness being lowered more intelligently, without users needing to tweak any settings manually.
The update will also include a new lock screen indicator, which tells users how long it will take to charge their iPhone fully.
Why now? A thinner iPhone is on the way
The push for better battery management appears partly motivated by Apple’s upcoming, slimmer iPhone 17, which reportedly has a smaller battery due to its thin design. The AI-powered system is expected to help offset that limitation.
Still, this feature won’t be limited to just the iPhone 17; the battery optimization tool will be available to all iPhones that support iOS 19.
SEE: iPhone 17 Air Rumours: Price, Width, Battery Life of Apple’s Thinnest Ever Smartphone
Apple Intelligence continues to expand
This battery feature is part of Apple’s larger push to weave AI into the core of its devices under the Apple Intelligence brand. The initiative, launched last year, already includes features like text editing tools, custom emoji creation, image clean-up, and notification summaries.
But not all of the AI rollout has gone smoothly. Bloomberg notes that some promised tools, like a revamped Siri, have been delayed indefinitely. Despite this, Apple continues to lean towards the Apple Intelligence branding. Even some features on devices like the Apple Watch will be labeled “powered by Apple Intelligence,” even if the AI models aren’t running directly on the watch.
What about older iPhones?
As Apple looks forward to iOS 19, some older iPhones may be left behind. I reported last month that models like the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max might not be able to run iOS 19, though this is still unconfirmed. If true, it would follow Apple’s usual pattern of offering around six years of software support.
Regardless, Apple typically delivers security patches for older devices even after they stop receiving major updates.
More changes are coming with iOS 19
Besides battery improvements, iOS 19 is rumored to bring a visual redesign. Internally, Apple is calling the new interface style “Solarium,” inspired by glass-walled sunrooms. Bloomberg says Apple aims to make iPads and Macs work more like each other and improve how devices connect to Wi-Fi in public places like hotels and offices.
Apple is also developing an AI-powered doctor feature called Mulberry within the Health app, although that’s not expected until next year.
Meanwhile, a developer beta version of iOS 19 is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, with a public release likely in September.