Which iPhones Will Support iOS 26 Battery Saving Mode? Find Out Now!

With iOS 26, Apple introduces a new power management feature called Adaptive Power. However, this AI-driven function won’t be available for everyone!

Smart and Proactive Power Management

This adaptive mode supplements the traditional Low Power Mode. Unlike the latter, which activates at 20% battery remaining (or can be turned on manually), this new option is designed to operate preemptively as soon as unusual power usage is detected.

According to Apple, the system can then make minor performance adjustments. These include gradually reducing screen brightness, extending the processing time for some background tasks, and selectively slowing down animation speeds or refresh rates.

The goal is to extend battery life without significantly impacting the user experience. This intelligent compromise is made possible by the contextual analysis capabilities provided by Apple Intelligence.

A Feature Exclusive to Models Equipped with Apple Intelligence

While iOS 26 is compatible with all iPhones starting from the iPhone 11, Adaptive Power can only be enabled on certain newer models. Indeed, Apple specifies that the mode requires an embedded AI, so it’s only available on models compatible with Apple Intelligence:

This option could be especially useful for future iPhones with more limited battery life, such as the rumored iPhone 17 Air, an ultra-thin model that, according to speculation, incorporates a smaller-capacity battery. Apple is also reportedly planning to pair it with a new battery case, reminiscent of the Smart Battery Case era.

How to Activate Adaptive Power Mode?

The mode is turned off by default. It can be enabled at any time by going to: Settings > Battery > Power Mode > Adaptive Power. Adaptive Power can be set to run continuously, allowing the iPhone to adjust its power consumption on the fly, and serves as a discreet yet effective complement to the existing power-saving mode introduced in iOS 9.

This feature targets both users who want to preserve their battery life and those who wish to maximize their iPhone’s performance throughout the day. We’ll soon see with this beta if the iPhones around the office fare a bit better this year!

The graphics on charging times have also been updated: the charging time is now much clearer, as well as the charging milestones or the speed of your charger.