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
We Love This Ugreen Tracker, and It’s Just $13 Right Now
These handy tags are a great way to keep track of your items without having to fork over the full price of $20 — for a limited time, at least.

Losing keys, having misplaced luggage and other items can be a major inconvenience. It takes time to recuperate your things, and replacing them can cost you money you’d rather spend on other needs. If you’ve got a few things you want to keep a closer eye on, then a tracker might be a great option for you. We’ve spotted this Ugreen FineTrack smart finder for just $13 at Amazon, which saves you $7 after you clip the on-page coupon. Amazon prices tend to fluctuate, so we suggest acting fast if this deal is of interest. Plus, it’s a great chance to save on electronic goods that might increase in cost due to impending tariffs.
This Ugreen FineTrack smart finder is compact, light and easily clips onto your keys, bags and other items. It’s compatible with Apple’s FindMy feature, which makes it a more affordable alternative to AirTags, which have a list price of $30. Once removed from the package, all have to do is use Bluetooth and sync this tracker to your FindMy app on any Apple device. The Ugreen FineTrack requires a battery that can last up to two years.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Need an extra pair of eyes? You can share the location of your tag with up to five more people. Plus, you can turn on an alarm that makes a loud sound so you can locate misplaced items. You can also set up notifications that can remind you if you’ve left something behind.
To better take advantage of these trackers, take a look at our article about the best places to use your tracker during travels.
Why this deal matters
This Ugreen FineTrack smart finder is down to just $13 for a limited time at Amazon. This saves you $7 over its usual asking price and is much more budget-friendly than other available trackers. Considering the potential for price increases due to tariffs, now is an excellent opportunity to nab this deal.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for April 28, #421
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 421 for April 28.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle has a very strange, long spangram, but the answers themselves are short and pretty easy to solve. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: My bad!
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Uh-oh!
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- NUMB, TOLE, POLE, POLES, SPIT, PITS, SOPPY, BREW, TALE, DUMB, DUMBS, ALTER, LETS, BALE, BALES.
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- SLIP, SPILL, FALTER, TOPPLE, BLUNDER, STUMBLE.
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is WHOOPSIEDAISY.To find it, start with the W that’s four letters down on the far right row, and wind across, and then down.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 28, #687
Hints and answers for Connections for April 28, #687.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
As an ’80s girl, I immediately spotted the four words in the yellow category of today’s Connections puzzle. I definitely had at least three of those products in my college apartment, so that was an easy solve. And since I read a lot of Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie, the blue category came along pretty easily, too. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.
The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Bought at Ulta, maybe.
Green group hint: Not fancy.
Blue group hint: Nancy Drew would spot these.
Purple group hint: Yawn.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Hair products.
Green group: Austere.
Blue group: Clues at a crime scene.
Purple group: Weary.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is hair products. The four answers are gel, mousse, spray and wax.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is austere. The four answers are bare, plain, simple and spare.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is clues at a crime scene. The four answers are fiber, fingerprint, hair and tire mark.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is weary. The four answers are bore, drain, exhaust and tire.
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies2 года ago
Best Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года ago
Verum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года ago
Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 года ago
Olivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies3 года ago
Black Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года ago
iPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow