Losing a few percent in the first year is normal. Heat, frequent fast charging to 100% and heavy use speed it up. Recent iPhones are designed to keep 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles. Below 80% is covered by AppleCare+.
Maximum Capacity in Settings › Battery › Battery Health is one of the most-watched numbers on an iPhone. Here's how to read it calmly.
What's normal
These are typical ranges, not guarantees. Apple designs recent iPhones to keep 80% of original capacity after 1,000 complete charge cycles. Check the cycle count in Settings › General › About.
| Age | Typical maximum capacity |
|---|---|
| New | 100% |
| 1 year | Roughly 90–100%, depending on use |
| 2 years | Roughly 85–92% |
| 3 years | Often in the low-to-mid 80s |
What speeds up battery ageing
- Heat — the biggest factor, especially charging in a hot car.
- Spending long periods at 100% charge.
- Frequent deep discharges to 0%.
- Heavy gaming or navigation while charging.
How to slow it down
- Turn on the 80% charge limit or Optimised Charging (Settings › Battery › Charging).
- Charge somewhere cool.
- Avoid letting the phone run flat regularly.
- Remove thick cases when charging overnight.
When to replace the battery
- Battery Health shows 'Service'.
- Unexpected shutdowns.
- Capacity below 80% and the day's use no longer fits.
- Swelling — stop using and charging the phone immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Is battery replacement free under warranty?
Only for a defect. AppleCare+ covers batteries that drop below 80% of original capacity.
Sources
Find Next Phone is an independent retailer. Apple, iPhone and iOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. Illustrations are our own and are not Apple product images.