The battery battle everyone knows
You know the feeling. Battery at 20% at 2 p.m. Screen brightness down, Wi-Fi off, apps closed. The daily dance to get your iPhone through the day. You've tried all the tricks: dark mode, location services off, fewer notifications. Yet, you still find yourself with your charger in your hand, day after day.
But here's what no one tells you: most battery tips you find online essentially make your phone unusable. You're disabling so many features that you might as well be using an old Nokia. The real problem isn't what you're disabling, but how your iPhone distributes power to tasks that actually matter . With the right accessories and a smartly configured refurbished iPhone, you can power through the day without compromise. No more compromises between functionality and battery life.
Useful links
- Refurbished iPhone collection - find a device with good battery condition
- Accessories for your iPhone - power banks and chargers for on the go
- iPad collection - to complement your iPhone use
The real culprits behind your dead battery
Your iPhone battery isn't drained by that one game you're playing on the train. The real energy hogs are hidden in background processes you never see. Background app refresh is enabled by default for every app you install. This means dozens of apps are constantly downloading new content, even when you're not using them.
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Turn this off for apps you don't use daily. Save it for essential apps like your email or messaging apps. This simple adjustment can extend your battery life by 20%.
Location services are another silent energy hog. Apps constantly ask for your location, even when it's completely unnecessary. A weather app doesn't need to know where you are every five minutes. Navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Location Services. Set apps to "While Using" instead of "Always."
Adjust screen brightness intelligently without being in the dark
Automatic brightness seems convenient, but the sensor that constantly measures ambient light also consumes energy. Manually set your screen brightness to around 40-50%. This is bright enough for most situations.
True Tone and Night Shift are easy on the eyes, but they require extra processing power from your processor. If you really want to conserve every last bit of battery life, disable them on days when charging is scarce.
The screen timeout is crucial. Set it to 30 seconds in Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock. This will make your phone go black faster when you're not using it. This will significantly reduce your daily battery life.
Notifications: the underestimated battery hog
Every notification activates your screen, vibrates your phone, and initiates processes. The average user receives 46 notifications per day. That's 46 times your battery is unnecessarily drained.
Turn off notifications for social media, games, and news apps. Keep notifications only for messages, phone calls, and calendar events. Do this in Settings > Notifications. Choose whether you want to receive notifications for each app.
Group notifications where possible. This prevents your screen from lighting up for each individual notification. This reduces battery drain and minimizes distractions.
Disable widgets and visual effects
Widgets on your home screen constantly update their information. A weather widget checks the forecast every hour. A stock widget refreshes every few minutes. Remove widgets you don't check daily.
Reduce Motion is a setting many users overlook. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and enable "Reduce Motion." This removes the parallax effects and zoom animations. Your phone will feel faster and save battery life.
Smart charging for longer battery life
Your charging habits determine how long your battery lasts. Charge your phone between 20% and 80%. Leaving it completely empty or constantly at 100% will shorten your battery's lifespan.
Use optimized charging. This feature learns your daily routine and charges your phone to 80%, then waits until just before you wake up to reach 100%. Enable this in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
Avoid charging in hot environments. Heat is the biggest enemy of lithium-ion batteries. Remove your phone from its case while charging if it feels warm.
Using the energy saving mode effectively
Energy saving doesn't have to wait until you reach 20% battery. Activate it manually when you know you'll be without a charger for a long time. This mode limits background activity, reduces visual effects, and slightly reduces performance.
Create a shortcut in Control Center for energy saving. This way, you can turn it on and off with a single tap. Use it strategically: on during meetings, off when you're actively using your phone.
Identifying apps that drain your battery
Check your battery usage weekly in Settings > Battery. This shows you exactly which apps are using the most energy. Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok often rank highest. Consider using the web versions instead of the apps.
Delete apps you rarely use that use a lot of battery. An app you open once a month but constantly runs in the background isn't worth it.
Optimize network connections
5G uses more battery than 4G. If you don't need a super-fast connection, disable 5G in Settings > Mobile Network > Mobile Data Options. Your phone will automatically switch to 4G, which is more energy-efficient.
Wi-Fi is more energy-efficient than mobile data. Connect to Wi-Fi networks whenever possible. Be sure to disable "Ask to Join," otherwise your phone will constantly search for networks.
Leaving Bluetooth on is no longer a problem since Bluetooth 4.0. It consumes minimal power in standby mode. Only turn it off if you absolutely need every milliamp.
Smart choices make the difference
Saving battery isn't about turning off everything that makes your iPhone special. It's about making conscious choices : limiting background processes, scaling notifications, and smart charging between 20% and 80%. With these adjustments, you can easily make it through the day without a charger.
A well-maintained refurbished iPhone with the right settings often performs better than a new phone full of power-hungry apps. For long days on the go, smart accessories like a compact power bank are ideal as a backup. This way, you stay connected without compromise.
