Study shows new iPhone system update can cut battery life by half

Reduced battery life has been a common gripe of Apple users installing the latest iOS software as experts claim devices could run out of power in half the time in some cases.

Technology analysts at Wandera studied the use of 50,000 iPhone and iPad users running the latest software to see how long devices lasted for before running out of juice.

The experts found heavy users running the older software, iOS 10 were able to run their devices for about 144 minutes longer than those who had downloaded the latest version, iOS11.

Battery life dropped from 240 minutes to 96 minutes over a three-day period, but a further emergency software update available is looking to address the issue.

Mobile security experts at Wandera have taken a second look at the latest software, to test its performance and see what improvements have been made.

Device ‘decay rate’ from 100 per cent to 0 per cent has since improved to 159 minutes, meaning heavy users can now enjoy battery life of an extra 63 minutes when running the latest version of iOS.

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“We wanted to look at this analysis again because we expected to see a positive change for a couple of reasons,” said David Pryce, PhD, head of data science at Wandera.

“We know from previous experience that Apple offers sub-version updates just after big releases to offer bug fixes for such issues.

“We also know humans love to play with new things so the excitement of new features may have worn off.”

Just a week after Apple issued the much anticipated iOS 11, and further update 11.0.1 to address bug fixes and performance improvements, 11.0.2 is now available to improve battery life and make devices run smoother.

Analysts said the improved software is allowing users to run more advanced apps on their devices, and with improvements also made to overall phone functions, the battery life was being drained faster.

Animoji and iPhone X's FaceID hardware use face-scanning technology are relying heavily on the camera which is a notorious drain on the battery.

Other fixes include improve e-mail function via Microsoft Outlook and clearer audio for iPhone 8 users who had reported interference on calls.

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How I connect with my kids when working or travelling

Little notes: My girls often find a letter from me, with a joke, task or some instructions for the afternoon, and saying what I’m excited for when I get home.
Phone call check-in: My kids know that at 3.30pm I’ll be free for a quick chat.
Highs and lows: Instead of a “how was your day?”, at dinner or at bathtime we share three highlights; one thing that didn’t go so well; and something we’re looking forward to.
I start, you next: In the morning, I often start a little Lego project or drawing, and ask them to work on it while I’m gone, then we’ll finish it together.
Bedtime connection: Wake up and sleep time are important moments. A snuggle, some proud words, listening, a story. I can’t be there every night, but I can start the day with them.
Undivided attention: Putting the phone away when I get home often means sitting in the car to send a last email, but leaving it out of sight between home time and bedtime means you can connect properly.
Demystify, don’t demonise your job: Help them understand what you do, where and why. Show them your workplace if you can, then it’s not so abstract when you’re away - they’ll picture you there. Invite them into your “other” world so they know more about the different roles you have.