what's new for the iPhone with iOS 18?

An intelligent battery

According to our American colleagues who have analyzed iOS 18.2.b2, Apple seems to be working on a new function relating to battery charging. The latter would allow show users how long it would take before their iPhone reaches a full charge (which already exists on Android or via certain third-party applications). The code actually refers to BatteryIntelligencewhich will calculate the remaining charging time.

As it stands, it is unclear whether this associated feature will be included in the final version of iOS 18.2 (which will be released during the month of December) or if it will be rolled out later. At the moment, it is not visible in the Settings app.

Improved monitoring

In recent years, Apple has enriched the Settings application with new information on the iPhone's autonomy, charging and battery. So, iOS 17.4 brought additional information on battery statussuch as the percentage of maximum capacity and the number of cycles. Now iOS 18 says the name of cyclesbut only for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.

On the last two generationsthe information is clearer and is included in the Settings app > Battery > battery health status. You must then go down to the bottom of the screen to find the date of manufacture of the battery, its date of first use and its number of cycles.

But Apple had somewhat restricted information concerning other generations of iPhoneespecially if you had changed your battery with an unauthorized repairer – which was the case for me during a quick visit to the Cnit in La Défense (it's up to you to find the brand).

In the screenshots below, the first beta of iOS 18 indicated to me that it was not possible to display certain information about the battery, because the part was unknown. Likewise, I did not have access to the maximum capacity when I clicked on this tab.

With iOS 18, my iPhone 12 Pro gives me one of the missing pieces of information: that of the maximum capacity (100% because I made the change very recently). Indeed, Apple has decided to be magnanimous and to have a little more consideration for the right to repair – unless

Load limits

With iOS 18, we find new settings to improve the charging and battery life of your iPhonebut these are reserved for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 only. This is an option to activate in the Settings > Battery app. The latter will prevent newer iPhones from charging beyond 80% by introducing new options at 85%, 90% and 95%. This will improve battery life by reducing charge limit time.

New information on battery health

In the Settings app, The Battery tab shows a new feature, which indicates if you are charging your iPhone with a slow charger. Slow charging periods are indicated in orange in the graph that shows battery usage and charging over the last 24 hours or 10 days.

So in the graph below (which corresponds to one of my charges), I am using an Apple 5W slow charger. When I click on the little iI am sent to a support page which indicates: