Adaptive Power extends iPhone battery life: What it is, how it works, and more

Adaptive Power offers intelligent battery management
Unlike Low Power Mode, which reduces performance and disables certain functions, Adaptive Power works in the background to conserve energy without noticeably affecting your iPhone’s speed or usability. The feature can be activated via Settings → Battery → Power Mode.

When the iPhone detects unusually high power consumption, Adaptive Power automatically makes subtle adjustments. These include slightly dimming the screen or slowing background processes, extending usage time without the user needing to intervene.

Battery savings with minimal compromise
The concept behind Adaptive Power is straightforward. Rather than limiting performance continuously, it reacts only when your iPhone is under heavy load. On typical days, you are unlikely to notice its operation, but during intensive usage, it steps in to provide extra hours of battery life.

Availability limited to newer devices
Adaptive Power is not available on all iPhones. It requires Apple Intelligence support, which means it can be used only on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone Air, and the latest iPhone 17 series.

With iOS 26, Adaptive Power offers a practical and largely invisible way to extend battery life, making it particularly useful for users who often find their iPhones running low before the day ends.