How to use the new charging limits from iOS 18 and protect the battery of your iPhone

With the arrival of iOS 18, several improvements are coming aimed at optimizing battery health in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, giving more control over how and when we charge our devices. We are talking about the possibility of setting new extended charging limits, designed to prolong the lifespan of our phone batteries. Instead of the previous option that limited charging to 80%, we can now select from several options: 80%, 85%, 90%, and 95%. But, there’s more.

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A charging limit to take care of the battery in the long term

One of the main reasons why Apple has implemented this functionality is to reduce the time an iPhone spends fully charged. Keeping the battery at 100% for prolonged periods can contribute to its deterioration, especially if the device remains constantly connected.

With the new charging limits, the aim is to prevent the phone from being constantly charged to the maximum, which reduces battery wear in the long term. Adjusting the new charging limits in iOS 18 for an iPhone 15 or 16 is very simple. The steps to follow are as simple as these:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Battery section.
3. Within the battery options, tap on Charging.
4. Choose the desired charging limit.

Which limit to choose? Personalized load recommendations tell more

The choice of the appropriate percentage mainly depends on your usage habits. If you have frequent access to a charger, opting for a lower limit, such as 80% or 85%, can be a good option. If we see that this is not enough to get through the day, a higher limit is recommended.

What if you have questions? The second new feature of iOS 18 regarding battery charging is the system’s ability to offer us charging recommendations based on our usage patterns. Over time, the system will learn when and how we use our iPhone and, based on that data, will suggest a charging limit that optimizes battery longevity without compromising the experience.

These recommendations, in addition to being presented as a notification, will also be available in the phone’s charging options under Settings > Battery > Charging.

As always, we can temporarily disable the charging limit and allow the battery to reach 100%. The system will offer us two options when we tap the notification informing us that the limit has been reached: keep the setting at 100% only until the next day, or permanently.

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Without forgetting the long list of new features in iOS 18, such as the arrival of the RCS protocol, the new charging limits are an excellent way to protect our iPhone’s battery and prolong its lifespan. Adjusting the charging limit based on our daily habits, or through the system’s smart recommendations, will ensure that your devices operate optimally for a longer period.