Technologies
Does the iPhone Have a Battery Aging Problem?
As another round of new iPhones nears, it’s time to take a closer look at how Apple’s batteries have withstood the test of time.
As happens nearly every year, September seems poised to bring about Apple’s latest batch of iPhones. The expansion of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max’s «Dynamic Island» cutout seems like a near lock for the entire iPhone 15 line, as does the long-anticipated switch from Lightning to USB-C for wired charging.
When trying to figure out if Apple’s latest and greatest is worth the upgrade, an easy check is to see if you need a new battery. As we learned not too long ago, Apple will slow down the performance of iPhones with weaker battery health in order to preserve battery life. The 2017 «batterygate» scandal led to the company paying a $113 million settlement back in 2020 after an investigation was launched by 34 states and Washington, DC.
This month, a different $500 million settlement from a class action lawsuit stemming from the same issue was cleared by a judge.
Assuming you don’t pay for the AppleCare Plus insurance program, replacing a battery on most recent iPhones dating back to 2017’s iPhone X, will run $89 from Apple (not including tax or shipping if you’re sending your phone in).
Those who pay for AppleCare Plus, which ranges from $149 for two years of coverage on a third-generation iPhone SE all the way up to $269 for two years of coverage on an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, can get a battery replacement from Apple for no cost if their battery’s maximum capacity falls below 80%.
Given the myriad of trade-in deals offered by Apple and wireless carriers, it may make sense to roll that money into what you’d spend on a new phone. Others, however, may be happy just replacing the battery and holding on for another year or two. Even if you don’t plan to upgrade this cycle, it is interesting to see how well recent iPhone batteries have lasted.
What is ‘battery health’ and a ‘maximum capacity’?

Lithium-ion batteries, like the ones found in most modern electronics, are finite resources that naturally degrade over time. As Apple describes on its website, these batteries work on what is known as «charge cycles» with one «cycle» taking place when you’ve discharged «an amount that equals 100% of your battery’s capacity.»
This doesn’t mean going from 100% to empty either. As Apple notes, «you might use 75% of your battery’s capacity one day, then recharge it fully overnight. If you use 25% the next day, you will have discharged a total of 100%, and the two days will add up to one charge cycle.»
As you use up cycles by using your phone, the amount it has diminishes. On a different support page, Apple says that the iPhone is designed to hold «up to 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions.»
While iOS doesn’t show how many charge cycles you’ve used, its «Maximum Capacity» section gives a peak into this metric.
Apple directed CNET to its various battery support pages when contacted for comment.
How you can check your battery health

Apple gives steps for checking your battery health, and on most iPhones it can be done by going into Settings, then Battery and finally, Battery Health (or Battery Health & Charging). A «Maximum Capacity» section shows how much of your battery’s original capacity remains relative to when it was new.
If your battery is still operating normally, you’ll see that it has «peak performance capability» with small text underneath confirming that it’s «normal.»
If you’ve had a battery-related unexpected shutdown, you still may see peak performance but also a note that says Apple is using «performance management» to avoid future shutdowns. You can disable this setting if you want, though it will turn back on if another battery-related shutdown happens.
If your battery isn’t healthy, you may see a message alerting you that a replacement is needed if you want to get back to full performance or battery life. If your phone is otherwise fine for your needs, that $89 upgrade could be enough to get you back to running at full strength for a few more years.
What we learned: Your mileage will vary

While by no means a scientific test, I polled 20 CNET staffers on Aug. 2 about their iPhones, looking at which model they used, when they purchased it and what its battery health was.
Nine CNET staffers were rocking the iPhone 12 line (either an iPhone 12, 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max), with most having purchased their phones at least 30 months ago. Battery max capacity across the line was surprisingly consistent: Even the oldest devices still were displaying a maximum battery capacity of at least 85%.
My colleague Bridget Carey also polled her followers on Instagram.
Two staffers were using iPhone 13 Pros, and their experiences couldn’t be more different. CNET computer expert Lori Grunin has had her iPhone for nearly 20 months and her battery’s maximum capacity was an impressive 95%. Commerce editor Russell Holly was not as lucky, with his iPhone 13 Pro showing just 73% max capacity nearly two years after purchasing it.
Results were similarly mixed for the nine CNET users who have upgraded their devices to the iPhone 14 line. Some, like CNET’s iPhone reviewer Patrick Holland, still have 100% max capacity on his iPhone 14 Pro Max nearly 11 months later. My own iPhone 14 Pro Max, meanwhile, shows a battery max capacity of 88% over roughly the same period.
I don’t seem to be alone, either, as Wall Street Journal reporter Joanna Stern tweeted out on Aug. 11 that her iPhone 14 Pro battery was at a similar level. Comments to the tweet showed some other iPhone 14 users getting similar results.
My iPhone 14 Pro is down to 88% battery capacity after less than a year.
Is it because I use my phone too much and have already hit 450 charge cycles?! (That’s what Apple Store says.) Is it from heat from fast charging? Is there something up with the battery?
My newsletter…— Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) August 11, 2023
Most of CNET staff’s iPhone 14 models were the iPhone 14 Pro, with the battery’s maximum capacity generally 92% or better over a time period ranging from 9 to 11 months.
As Apple notes on that support page, rechargeable batteries are made up of «consumable components that become less effective as they chemically age.»
To help prevent random shutdowns, as the battery degrades, the iPhone’s iOS software will automatically take steps including slowing down the processor when opening apps, limiting screen refresh rates and brightness and even preventing you from using the camera’s flash.
As for what you can do if your iPhone’s battery is weak, disabling some iOS features could help give you a boost. And if you don’t want to trade it in for a new model or head to a store to replace the battery, Apple has even added the ability for people to replace iPhone batteries at home.
Technologies
The Clicks Communicator Will Have Keyboard Layouts in Arabic, French, German, Korean
After debuting it at CES, Clicks is expanding the BlackBerry-like Communicator phone with localized options ahead of MWC 2026.
The Clicks Communicator created a buzz after its CES reveal, with its focus on offering a communications-forward Android phone that looks like a BlackBerry, complete with a physical keyboard, prioritizing messaging and typing over everything else. It turns out the keyboard phone may have made a bigger splash than anyone realized. Clicks will offer multiple versions of the Communicator, each with a keyboard that supports a different language, in response to the overwhelming demand for the unreleased phone.
The company is expanding the Communicator to include models with keyboard layouts for Arabic, French (AZERTY), German (QWERTZ) and Korean. Clicks said interest in the Communicator was higher than the company expected, especially globally.
It’s clear there are still plenty of people who yearn for compelling, straightforward devices with smartly designed hardware that aim to make texting and writing easier. The timing of Click’s news strikes a stark juxtaposition, coming just days after Samsung launched its Galaxy S26 series, which features updates heavily steeped in AI.
«The response from customers around the world sends a strong signal that Communicator fills a gap for a phone purpose-built for communicating and taking action,» Clicks CEO Adrian Li Mow Ching said in a press release.
But there’s more good news ahead of MWC if you’re interested in getting a Clicks Communicator. The early-bird window to reserve one now runs through March 15. The phone costs $499, but an early reservation gets you a $100 discount and, when paid in full, a bundle of the phone and two additional back covers.
Clicks also shared that the phone will have a Dimensity 8300 chip (MT8883), which is in phones like the Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro. The MT8883 lets the company offer OS updates to the Communicator through Android 20 and five years of security updates.
I’m definitely excited to see where Clicks is headed with the Communicator, but should note that we’ve yet to see a working version of the phone. The Clicks Communicator will be available in Smoke, Clover and Onyx. Reservations are open, and people can select their preferred keyboard layout closer to when the phone ships later this year.
Technologies
I Tested the New Circle to Search on the Galaxy S26 and It Nailed My Outfit
Samsung’s AI-powered visual search tool on its new phones is now dangerously good at helping me shop. RIP my bank account.
As a fashion lover who’s always hunting for outfit inspo, I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit trying to track down the exact pieces from a TV scene or red carpet look. So when Samsung unveiled an upgraded version of Circle to Search at its Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco that can identify multiple items from a single image, I made a beeline for the Galaxy S26 demo area to try it myself.
Circle to Search, which first appeared on the Galaxy S24 phones and then expanded to other devices as Google Lens, felt like magic: Circle anything on your screen and get instant results. The AI-powered visual search tool can identify objects, translate text and surface contextual results without ever leaving the app you’re on.
Now it’s gotten even smarter, and broader: Google says it’s now also on Pixel 10 devices.
Instead of just identifying a single item, it can recognize and surface information about multiple things you’ve presented it with, including an entire outfit. The feature can be used for just about everything, from identifying bird species to translating text, but Samsung says fashion and shopping are hands-down the most popular use case.
So of course I had to put it to the test by having it scan my outfit — and I was genuinely floored. In the crowded event space under harsh lighting, I was skeptical it could deliver. It did.
First, it pulled up an AI summary describing the scene: «The look features a vibrant blue structured blazer, white top, dark fitted leggings and classic black leather boots.» Right below that, I pressed the «Find the look» button and watched it do its magic.
Within seconds, I was staring at the exact same in-your-face cerulean blazer I was wearing, with a link to the online store I’d bought it from, along with a slew of strikingly similar shopping options ranging from upscale alternatives to budget-friendly picks. This level of stalking would’ve taken me at least 20 minutes to lock down.
Scrolling down revealed the same for my glossy black leggings. Despite being from many seasons ago and not available anymore, it returned convincing dupes from different retailers. It did the same for my decade-old knee-high boots and even pulled up a used pair from Postmark; a nod at the fact that mine are old AF. The only thing it failed to surface was the shirt I was wearing under the blazer that was clearly visible in the shot. Maybe layers is the next frontier for Circle to Search.
Surprisingly, the hardest part of the process was figuring out how to use the feature. I had to ask a Samsung employee to take a full-body picture of me. Once I had it on the screen, I long-pressed on the home button at the bottom of the screen, which triggered a Google overlay. I then had to circle myself from head to toe. It’s the kind of feature I’d program on an action button if I could — although my wallet would likely suffer the consequences.
In doing this, Samsung and Google have virtually removed the friction between liking someone’s outfit, and pressing the trigger on buying it. It wasn’t that long ago that the closest alternative involved screenshotting a look, posting it to Pinterest and attempting to track down similar pieces. This is faster, cleaner and almost dangerously good for fashion lovers like me.
If this gets any better, Samsung may need to add a few guardrails for those of us prone to a little too much impulse shopping.
Technologies
A New Mini Game Boy Collectible That Just Plays Pokemon Music? What a Tease
A surprise collectible on Pokemon Day looks just like a tiny Game Boy and plays music on swappable cartridges. Give us the real Game Boy again, come on.
Nintendo sure does love teasing us with Game Boy things. First, a collectible Lego Game Boy model last year that almost looked like a real Game Boy (but wasn’t). Now, for the 30th anniversary of Pokemon, Nintendo and the Pokemon Group are selling a collectible music player that looks like a tiny Game Boy and plays authentic original Pokemon Red/Blue songs on swappable cartridges, one per song. The Game Boy Jukebox is being sold on the Pokemon Center site later today, for a price that hasn’t yet been listed.
This level of absurdity is standard issue for Nintendo: Just in the last 18 months we’ve had Alarmo, a talking Super Mario flower and a Virtual Boy recreation. This new collectible is so tempting precisely because it looks like a little, even more pocketable Game Boy. Except it isn’t a Game Boy at all. It’s just a music player. Even the dot-matrix «screen» is fake — it’s just an overlay that the cartridges display when they’re slotted in.
The music this thing plays is Game Boy-accurate, down to the little boot-up ping. It just makes my skin itch for a new Game Boy (that isn’t one already made by several other companies).
But come on. Make a real Game Boy collectible, with actual preloaded games on it. You know you want to, Nintendo. It’s only a matter of time.
In the meantime, if you’re desperate for all 45 Pokemon Red and Blue songs on a little Game Boy music player, now’s your chance.
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