Apple iPhone 17 battery: iOS 26’s new feature helps spot unusual drains

iPhone 17

Apple has introduced notable improvements to the Battery section of the Settings app in iOS 26, including a feature designed to identify and reduce excessive iPhone battery drain.

The Battery menu has long offered detailed usage statistics, but users often struggled to make sense of the data. With iOS 26, Apple has redesigned the experience to provide clearer insights and practical suggestions. The new interface not only displays a graph comparing your current drain against normal usage patterns but also highlights apps or processes that consume more power than expected.

A key part of the change is the new orange highlight. Apps flagged in orange are those that appear to be using more power than they reasonably should. This is different from simply showing which apps used the most battery. For example, Instagram may consume a significant portion of your battery, but if your screen time justifies it, the app will not be highlighted. On the other hand, if an app such as Weather unexpectedly drains a few percentage points despite minimal activity, iOS 26 will mark it in orange to warn you.

This level of context is a meaningful improvement over previous versions of iOS, where users had to dig through lists of raw numbers to guess which app might be misbehaving. Now, the system offers straightforward explanations, helping you decide whether to close background apps, adjust settings, or simply keep an eye on specific behaviour.

Another addition is the integration with Apple’s new AI-powered battery mode, which builds on these insights by making real-time adjustments to balance performance and efficiency. The combination of proactive suggestions and adaptive power management means users can intervene quickly when their iPhone starts draining faster than usual.

While this feature may seem small, it can make a noticeable difference in day-to-day usage. Mystery battery drains are a frustration for many iPhone owners, especially when there is no obvious cause. By surfacing problem areas more clearly, iOS 26 helps users take control without needing to rely on guesswork or third-party apps.

Apple has made steady improvements to battery management in recent years, and this update reflects a more user-centric approach. It acknowledges that while the data has always been there, presenting it in a way that is easy to act on is what truly matters.

Have you tried iOS 26’s new battery menu yet? Do you think Apple should expand this system further, perhaps with predictive alerts or more detailed recommendations?