While our appreciation for the iPhone remains unwavering, it’s important to acknowledge that battery life has consistently surfaced as a prevailing issue in our diverse range of reviews. Nonetheless, Apple appears well-prepared to confront this challenge directly through a substantial hardware revamp in the forthcoming iPhone 15.
As suggested in a recent tweet by “RGcloudS,” the company seems to be in the process of shifting the new iPhones toward a stacked battery technology. This groundbreaking development is anticipated not only to enhance energy capacity but also to notably prolong the battery’s overall performance.
Piling it up.
We’ve previously witnessed Apple’s implementation of a stacked battery cell design, as the company arranged battery slices to conform to the shape of the previous-generation MacBook Air.
However, this approach is considerably more intricate, involving the folding of components and separators into zig-zag layers, which occupies far less space compared to the conventional method of rolling up battery elements. What’s even more advantageous is the improved distribution of heat throughout the entire battery, as opposed to it concentrating intensely in one specific region. This translates to a more uniform temperature distribution, eliminating the sensation of a pronounced hotspot and contributing to a longer lifespan for the cell.
This aligns well with the leaked information about the battery capacities for the iPhone 15 models, which indicate the following improvements compared to the iPhone 14 models:
- iPhone 15: 3,877mAh (a 15% increase)
- iPhone 15 Plus: 4,912mAh (a 12% increase)
- iPhone 15 Pro: 3,650mAh (a 12% increase)
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 4,852mAh (an 11% increase)
That represents a significant increase, and it’s certainly necessary. Although each iteration of Apple’s proprietary silicon may see improvements in power efficiency, it’s unavoidable that they also tend to become somewhat more power-hungry.
For instance, in our Laptop Mag battery test, the iPhone 14 Pro with its 3,200 mAh battery lasted for 10 hours and 13 minutes. In contrast, the iPhone 13 Pro, equipped with a smaller 3,095 mAh capacity, exhibited much slower power consumption, managing to run for 12 hours during the same test.
Fuelling up
Moreover, there are reports suggesting that Apple is currently testing significantly faster charging capabilities, with a 40W wired charging option and a 20W MagSafe option in the works. This means that not only will the battery capacity increase, but you’ll also be able to recharge it to 100% much more rapidly. However, it remains uncertain whether this enhanced charging technology will debut with the iPhone 15 or if it will be reserved for the iPhone 16.
One noticeable trend in our reviews of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models (though less so with the iPhone 14 Pro Max) has been the somewhat underwhelming battery life, leading to concerns about battery performance. It appears that Apple may need to take a more assertive approach to packing its phones with larger batteries, and this leak appears to be an acknowledgment of that issue.
The outcome of this rumored battery expansion is eagerly anticipated at the September event. Keep an eye on Laptop Mag for the most up-to-date iPhone 15 leaks leading up to the event!
