The best power banks 2022. X cell power bank

The best power banks 2022

Choosing a power bank can be a minefield. There are cheap ones, pricey ones, and sometimes you’re paying simply for a name – but there’s a lot more to finding the perfect portable charger than looking at price alone.

Some other things you might consider include speed, both in charging your connected device and recharging the bank when it empties. Capacity is important, too: it needs to be high enough to get your through the day with juice to spare – even share – without weighing down your or bag.

Ports and connections matter, too. What are you charging? A phone, a laptop, a watch? The number and range of ports is important, and if you want to avoid carrying multiple cables then you could look for a version with built-in cables or wireless charging.

While we care about design, it’s actually much lower on our priority list than the things we mention above – unless, of course, we have need for a particularly rugged model or something that supports solar charging because we’re going to be away from mains power for an extended period. That’s not to say we won’t appreciate added extras such as an LCD screen and waterproofing – don’t you want the coolest and most convenient power bank you can get for your money?

These days, it’s even possible to rent power banks as and when you need them (check out ChargedUp). Mind blown. To ensure you get the very best power bank for your needs, whatever that looks like, read on for more detailed buying advice below our chart.

Best power bank reviews

Zendure SuperMini X3 – Best 10000mAh Power Bank

The Zendure SuperMini X3 certainly isn’t the cheapest 10000mAh power bank around, but it makes up for that in specs.

The headline is the 45W USB-C PD charging – for both input and output. That means you can re-charge the power bank itself in just an hour or so, but also that this is fast enough to meet the max charging speeds on most Apple and Samsung phones, and can even keep many laptops running.

The same port also supports the PPS standard at up to 33W speeds.

There are also two USB-A ports, one at 18W and another at 15W, and you can use all three ports simultaneously with 15W speeds from each.

Throw in the small LCD display to report battery life and the light and compact design (in a range of four colours, no less) and it’s easy to see why you might want to spend a little extra for the SuperMini X3.

Charmast 10,400mAh Power Bank – Best Value Power Bank with LCD

There was a time when power banks with LCD displays were rather expensive, but have now come down as the screens filter through to even affordable models like this.

The power bank also has three outputs, which will come in handy if you have multiple devices to charge. There are two full-size USBs, plus a USB-C PD port that can act as both input and output, and all three support 18W Quick Charge – although only one at a time.

On the side is an additional Quick Charge 2.0-compatible Micro-USB, which can also be used for charging the bank. It will charge in about 3.5 hours with a Quick Charge/PD adapter, but about 5.5 hours with a standard 10W charger.

The downside of the design is that it’s a bit bigger than many of the super-slim, similar-capacity models on the market. This Charmast is roughly the same width as a phone, but a little shorter and a fair bit chunkier. It weighs in at 228g, which you may decide is better suited to a bag than your

Charmast supplies a soft mesh carry case and a short USB-A to USB-C cable in the box, a nice touch.

Zendure SuperMini Go

• Interesting camera-inspired design
• Supports 15W wireless charging
• Strong device support
• Available only via IndieGoGo (for now)
• LCD is a little dim and can be difficult to read

The Zendure SuperMini Go is something a little different: a power bank that tries very hard not to look like one.

Zendure’s design is inspired by classic cameras, which is if nothing else a fun way to incorporate the large ring required for wireless charging – which here sits right where a camera lens would be. Instead of a viewfinder, there’s a rear LCD display to show battery percentage – though be warned that this is quite dim and hard to read.

It’s available in silver and black finishes, along with our more out there ‘Sunset Cyan’ gradient.

The SuperMini Go isn’t all about looks though, and it has some solid specs to match. The total capacity is 10,000mAh, and in addition to 15W wireless charging (with a magnet to keep phones steady) there’s 20W USB-C charging and 22.5W USB-A charging.

Compatibility is impressive too – not only will this work with both iOS and Android devices, but the ‘X-Charge’ mode is capable of topping up lower power devices like wearables and headphones, which not all power banks support.

The SuperMini Go is available now for backers on IndieGoGo with discounted launch pricing from 44 (down from an official price of 69), but with Zendure’s track record it’s very likely this will be in stores including Amazon before long.

JIGA 30,000mAh Power Bank – Most Versatile Power Bank

JIGA is a new name to us in terms of power bank tech, but its 30,000mAh power bank is interesting for a number of reasons – and not least the huge capacity, which will be some comfort on trips away from mains power.

While it’s something of a throwback to power banks from a couple of years back, with its built-in LED flash (certainly useful for camping trips) and durable but plasticky design, it also takes us back to the days where you didn’t have to sacrifice ports for portability.

It’s surprisingly small for such a high-capacity bank, but it’s more bag- rather than.friendly.

The JIGA has USB-C, Micro-USB and Lightning inputs, allowing you to fill its battery using whatever cable you have to hand. It’s a shame that the USB-C port doesn’t also work as an output, but there are three full-size USB-A outputs, each rated at 10.5W.

This isn’t the Power Delivery speeds we’re becoming increasingly familiar with today, but it’s plenty fast for charging a phone (or multiple phones).

If all you need is a healthy stream of power to keep topped up a number of mobile devices, this JIGA power bank will be a very handy device to have around.

Anker PowerCore Essential 20,000 PD – Best 20,000mAh Power Bank

Hailing from Anker, a respected brand in the power bank market, this 20,000mAh portable charger represents very good value at this capacity.

The 345.5G Essential is a black plastic brick, though relatively compact for the amount of power it can hold. It has a textured top surface that improves grip in the hand, as well as the overall appearance.

We’re pleased to find support for Power Delivery, but do note that it’s only up to 18W, and therefore not likely to be sufficient to charge a USB-C laptop. Still, for quick-charging a phone or tablet, this is a useful device.

A full-size USB output that uses Anker’s PowerIQ smarter charging algorithm is joined by a USB-C port that is both input and output. On top is a power button with four integrated LEDs that reveal remaining capacity, and you can use this to enter a trickle-charging mode suitable for smartwatches and earbuds.

A USB-C to USB-C cable and soft mesh carry case are provided in the box, which is a nice touch.

Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless – Best Wireless Power Bank

The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless is a Qi wireless charger with a special feature: you can use it as a portable power bank, too, which can be super handy.

You can use it at home or work plugged in, and carry it around with you for wired or wireless charging when you are away from a power socket. Because it’s wireless, there’s no need to carry a cable around with you.

As the name suggests, the PowerCore III 10K has a decent sized 10,000mAh battery, which should offer at least three charges from the power bank before it needs recharging itself.

The wireless charger is rated at 10W. Place your device on the centre of the circle. We didn’t find the placement too sensitive, as some wireless chargers can be. It’s not auto-start, though – as a power bank it requires you to push the button first.

You can also charge from the two USB-A ports at one end – at a total of 18W, so charging two or three (one wireless, two wired) devices will split that power output.

Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K – Best MagSafe Power Bank

This portable wireless charger is one of the best accessories you can get for your iPhone.

In essence, it’s a 5,000mAh palm-sized power bank that will charge your compatible iPhone simply by snapping it onto the back with MagSafe.

It works through some cases, charges over USB-C, comes in a range of colours and, even if you don’t have MagSafe, can be used to charge almost anything via cable.

A handy set of LEDs indicates how much charge the PowerCore has remaining.

Moshi IonGo 5K Duo – Best Design

It’s expensive, but you’ll pay out for the IonGo 5K Duo from Moshi if style is as important to you as is functionality.

Almost identical in design to the IonGo 5K before it, but here with both USB-C and Lightning cables built-in (hence the name Duo), the Moshi is an undeniably cool-looking power bank that comes tucked away inside a vegan-friendly soft leather case with a magnetic clasp and an anodised aluminium faceplate.

The additional cable means it’s now suited to Android as well as iPhone users, although as before this is Made For iPhone-certified.

This is a truly premium device with a colossal 10-year warranty going a long way to account for its higher asking price. It’s also possibly the dinkiest 5,000mAh power bank we’ve seen, suggesting there are some serious high-tech components inside.

At this capacity, expect a full charge for any Android phone, and potentially two for iPhone. Moshi claims the bank will also retain that power for up to 27 months when left unused.

Charging is up to 15W over USB-C and 12W over Lightning. Use Lightning and USB-C together and you’ll see slightly slower charging speeds, with a max total output of 3.4A (17W).

You can also use the USB-C cable for recharging the bank, again up to 15W. Better still, the Moshi supports passthrough charging, allowing you to charge both it and a connected device at once, but given that there’s no separate input here that’s going to work only with iPhone.

The Duo is currently out of stock at Amazon, but you can still pick up the iPhone model.

Chargeasap Flash Pro / Flash Pro Plus – Fastest Charging Power Bank

• Unbeatable recharging speed
• High-capacity (25,000mAh)
• Range of outputs
• 5-year lifespan
• Expensive
• Bulky and heavy
• Attracts fingerprints
• No charger or cable supplied

These graphene-composite power banks are able to charge cooler than ordinary lithium-polymer batteries, and thus can do significantly faster: you’ll get to 80% of these 25,000mAh batteries in just 45 minutes.

Down sides include an expensive price tag, and a bulky, heavy design, but for sheer performance and functionality the Chargeasap banks are among the most capable we’ve ever tested.

FAQ

What capacity power bank do I need?

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a 3,000mAh power bank will give your 3,000mAh battery smartphone a full charge, and that a 9,000mAh power bank will charge it three times. No portable charger runs at 100% efficiency. In truth, most average between 60- and 70%, with the best-performing models able to reach 80- or 90%. Wireless charging models may be less efficient still.

To work out what capacity bank you need, first check the spec of the device you want to charge to find out its battery capacity, then decide how many times you want to be able to charge it. For a rough estimate, calculate Connected device battery capacity x Number of recharges x 1.6 = Minimum power bank capacity you should look to buy.

As a rule of thumb, a 5,000mAh bank is a single-charge device, 10,000mAh hits the sweet spot between capacity and portability, and you want to look for closer to 20,000mAh for a laptop. We’ve got some of those high-capacity power banks here – just don’t try to stuff any of them in your !

How long does it take to recharge a power bank?

The time required to recharge a power bank will depend on its capacity, what you are using to recharge its battery and whether or not it’s empty.

For the fastest charging you should look to the new breed of power banks that support graphene technology and charge over a DC input (such as the Chargeasap Flash Pro – a 25,000mAh bank that can get to 80% in 45 mins and 100% in 70 mins), but these tend to be pricey.

For mainstream power banks, the fastest you’ll find is a USB-C inout/output that supports Power Delivery. This standard now goes up to a maximum of 240W, but in portable chargers you should expect to find an 18W port. Using such a port, the average 10,000mAh power bank might recharge in 2-3 hours from empty.

The cheapest models still tend to charge over Micro-USB, usually at around 10-12W. Avoid 5W power banks like the plague unless they are very low in capacity or you’re not in a rush.

What is passthrough charging?

Passthrough charging allows you to simultaneously charge devices connected to a power bank and the power bank itself. It’s a very handy solution if you are short on mains power outlets and need to get multiple devices charged up overnight, for example. However, not all power banks support it, so be sure to check the spec of your portable charger before you buy.

How do I know how much power is left in my power bank?

Assuming you know how much capacity it had when full, you can work out how much power remains either through a series of LEDs on the casing (usually activated by plugging in a device to charge or pressing a button on the side), or via the LCD if your power bank supports one. LCDs are preferrable, because they give a more accurate readout, particularly when it comes to higher-capacity power banks.

What are GaN power banks?

GaN is short for gallium nitride. It requires fewer components than traditional silicone chargers, which means power banks that use the technology can be less bulky and more efficient. If portability is your primary concern, then as well as considering the power bank’s capacity you should also look for one that uses GaN.

What charging speed should I look for in a power bank?

The first power banks on to the market ran at 5W, which is the same speed as the original iPhone chargers (aka slllllloooooowwwww). We wouldn’t recommend anything below 10W these days. This speed is known as ‘fast charging’, and it’s still rather common in cheaper models, but it’s not really the fast charging we’ve become accustomed to today. So many of the latest smartphones now support super-fast wired charging, and it seems crazy not to buy a portable charger that supports that top speed if possible.

The standard your phone uses to achieve its top charging speeds is important here. Some have proprietary technologies that work only with accessories manufactured and sold by that company. Some offer fast charging through Quick Charge or Power Delivery. Some support neither Quick Charge nor Power Delivery, but do support protocols such as PPS (Programmable Power Supply) or SCP (Super Charge Protocol). Make sure the portable charger you buy matches the fast charging standard supported by your phone.

The term Power Delivery does not in itself denote a performance rating. It could be capable of delivering anything between 18W and 240W. This is particularly important if you’re looking to charge a USB-C laptop – anything under 30W won’t cut it, many laptops will refuse to play ball below 45W or even 60W, and some larger laptops might require 90W. You will need to check the spec of your laptop to know what speed it requires.

At the other end of the scale, if you need to charge a low-power device such as a smartwatch or a pair of wireless earbuds, look out for a power bank that is certified for low-power devices. Many of those that are not will simply cut out when you try to charge these devices, because they aren’t able to detect a significant drain on the battery.

Power bank manufacturers rarely provide the speed of their outputs in watts. Instead you’ll see a rating in amps, which you multiply by the voltage rating (usually five) to get the rating in watts. So 2A x 5V = 10W.

What is Power Delivery?

USB-C and USB PD are often confused, but the important thing to remember is that USB-C is a reversible connection type, while USB PD is a power delivery specification, overseen by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and often expressed simply as ‘PD’. With version 3.1 of the specification, Power Delivery is able to carry up to 240W of power plus data over USB-C (previously limited to 100W), but devices that support Power Delivery can range from 18W right up to 240W.

What is Quick Charge?

Quick Charge is a Qualcomm fast-charging protocol that runs on the Snapdragon processors we see inside many smartphones, hence it has become commonplace in the mobile market.

The latest version is Quick Charge 5, which operates at up to 100W and supports USB PD PPS. However, while they are often seen together, Quick Charge and Power Delivery are not the same thing.

Quick Charge 5 is a massive jump up from Quick Charge 4/4, more efficient and able to run cooler and safer, and Qualcomm says it can get a device to 50% in just 5 mins. It is backwards-compatible with earlier versions of the protocol, including 18W Quick Charge 2/3, which are still very common in power banks.

Which outputs should I look for in a power bank?

The type and number of outputs you will need on a power bank depends entirely on what device or devices you want to charge. Pretty much all power banks have a full-size USB output that you can use to plug in your own cable, but it’s not always going to be the fastest way to deliver a charge to your device. You’ll also find USB-C and Lightning outputs, magnetic wireless charging pads and AC outlets if you shop around. Some power banks even have built-in cables to stop you needing to carry around your own, though you will still need one handy to recharge the power bank itself.

Why is the maximum output of a power bank important?

Some power banks have multiple outputs for charging your connected devices, but few power banks are able to simultaneously support all of them at the top advertised speed. Watch out for those that have a lower maximum output than the sum of all ports together. Also be wary of those that have multiple outputs but a very low capacity – these aren’t really designed for plugging in multiple devices, only to be versatile.

What happens when my power bank is more powerful than my connected device?

There is no need to worry about plugging devices into ports that are capable of delivering more power than the device is able to accept, since USB devices will draw only the power they need. Many power banks include technology that is able to intelligently dole out this power among ports more appropriately, depending on what devices you are attempting to charge (often known as Power IQ or similar).

Can I take a power bank on a plane?

Yes, but it must be in your hand luggage, and if it is higher in capacity than 27,000mAh (100Wh) you will need to check with the airline before flying. Make sure you take it out your bag as you pass through security. If a power bank is damaged then it will not be allowed on the plane as it could become a safety hazard. You should also ensure the specifications are clearly printed on the side of its case, as is the norm.

We’ve put together a range of articles to help you choose the best charging tech for the mobile devices you carry everywhere. You’ll also like:

• For charging away from home:Power banks for laptops | Travel adaptors
• Best Wall Desktop Chargers:For phones tablets | For laptops
• For convenience:Best wireless chargers
• Best charging cables:Micro-USB | USB-C | Lightning

What’s The Difference Between Wiring Batteries in Series Vs. Parallel?

Understanding the difference between wiring batteries in series vs. parallel is critical if you have a multiple battery system. How you connect your batteries will determine how they perform in different applications. Let’s look closer at how to wire batteries in series vs. parallel and when each method is appropriate.

What’s The Difference Between Wiring Batteries in Series Vs. Parallel?

The main difference in wiring batteries in series vs. parallel is the impact on the output voltage and the capacity of the battery system. Batteries wired in series will have their voltages added together. Batteries wired in parallel will have their capacities (measured in amp-hours) added together. However, the total available energy (measured in watt-hours) in both configurations is the same.

For example, wiring two 12-volt batteries with 100 Ah capacities in series will output 24 volts with a 100 Ah capacity. Wiring the same two batteries in parallel will output 12 volts with a 200 Ah capacity. Thus, both systems have a total available energy of 2400 watt-hours (watt-hours = volts x amp-hours).

Additionally, batteries wired in series and parallel configurations should all have the same voltage and capacity rating. Mixing and matching voltages and capacities can lead to problems that may damage your batteries.

Wiring Batteries in Series

To wire multiple batteries in series, connect the positive terminal of each battery to the negative terminal of the next. Then, measure the system’s total output voltage between the negative terminal of the first battery and the positive terminal of the last battery in series. Let’s look at two examples to make this clear.

The first example is two 100 Ah batteries wired in series. As you can see, the positive terminal on the first battery is connected to the negative terminal on the second. Thus, the total system voltage is 24 volts, and the total capacity is 100 Ah.

The second example is wired the same way but with a third battery. The voltages of all three batteries add together, resulting in a system voltage of 36 volts, but the capacity remains at 100 Ah.

Advantages

The power a device consumes is equal to its operating voltage multiplied by the current it draws. For example, a 360-watt device operating at 12 volts would draw 30 amps (12 x 30 = 360). That same device operating at 24 volts would only draw 15 amps (24 x 15 = 360).

Wiring batteries in series provides a higher system voltage which results in a lower system current. Less current means you can use thinner wiring and will suffer less voltage drop in the system.

In addition to power draw, charging works the same way. Consider an MPPT solar charge controller rated at 50amps. a 50A x 12V controller could only handle 600 watts of solar, but at 24Vx50A it could handle 1200 watts!

In general, operating larger power systems can see big benefits in running batteries in series at higher voltages.

Disadvantages

In a battery system wired in series, you cannot get lower voltages off the battery bank without using a converter. Either all equipment needs to function at the higher voltage or an additional converter is needed to use 12V appliances on the system.

Wiring Batteries in Parallel

To wire multiple batteries in parallel, you connect all of the positive terminals together and all of the negative terminals together. Since all of the positive and negative terminals are connected, you can measure the system output voltage across any two positive and negative battery terminals. Let’s look at two examples to make this clear.

The first example is two 100 Ah batteries wired in parallel. The positive terminal on the first battery is connected to the positive terminal on the second. Likewise, the negative terminals of both batteries are also connected. The total system voltage is 12 volts, and the total capacity is 200 Ah.

The second example is wired the same way but with a third battery. The capacities of all three batteries add together, resulting in a total capacity of 300 Ah at 12 volts.

Advantages

The main advantage of wiring batteries in parallel is that you increase the available runtime of your system while maintaining the voltage. Since the amp-hour capacities are additive, two batteries in parallel double your runtime, three batteries triple it, and so on.

Another advantage to wiring batteries in parallel is that if one of your batteries dies or has an issue, the remaining batteries in the system can still provide power.

Disadvantages

The main drawback to wiring batteries in parallel vs. series is that the system voltage will be lower, resulting in a higher current draw. Higher current means thicker cables and more voltage drop. Larger power appliances and generation are harder to operate and less efficient when operating at lower voltages.

How Many Batteries Can You Wire In Series?

The limit on how many batteries you can wire in series typically depends on the battery and manufacturer. For example, Battle Born allows up to four of their lithium batteries to be wired in series to create a 48-volt system. Always check with your battery manufacturer to ensure you do not exceed their recommended limit of batteries in series.

How Many Batteries Can You Wire In Parallel?

There is no limit to how many batteries you can wire in parallel. The more batteries you add in a parallel circuit, the more capacity and longer runtime you will have available. Keep in mind that the more batteries you have in parallel, the longer it will take to charge the system.

With very large parallel battery banks comes much higher current availability as well. This means the proper system fusing is critical to prevent accidental shorts that could have catastrophic consequences with so much current available.

Can You Wire Batteries in Series and Parallel?

You cannot wire the same batteries in series and parallel as you would short the system, but you can wire sets of batteries in series and parallel to create a larger battery bank at a higher voltage.

The photo below wires two batteries in series to get 24V then that set is wired in parallel to another set of 24V batteries. Think of each set of series batteries as one battery. You must “create” another set of batteries equal to the voltage of the first to wire them in parallel.

Here is another graphic of our heated lithium batteries wired in a series-parallel configuration. This setup would yield a 24V 200AH bank. While the amp hour is smaller, the power is the same because of the higher voltage.

Charging Batteries in Series Vs. Parallel

Besides making sure you have the correct voltage charger, batteries in series vs. parallel charge the same way. For batteries wired in series, connect the positive charger cable to the positive terminal on the first battery in series and the negative charger cable to the negative terminal on the last battery in the series. For even charge across a parallel bank, connect your charge in the same fashion: positive connect to first battery, and negative connected to last battery.

Optionally, a multi-bank battery charger may provide faster charge times for series and parallel battery banks. As always, refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation for the best way to charge your batteries.

➡ Also be sure to read our article on Charging Lithium Batteries: The Basics.

FAQ: Do Batteries Last Longer In Series Or Parallel?

Series connections provide a higher voltage which is slightly more efficient. This means that batteries wired in series can last marginally longer than batteries wired in parallel. However, batteries connected in series vs. parallel will provide roughly the same amount of runtime. Let’s take a look at a quick example that explains why this is true.

Two 12-volt batteries with a 100 Ah capacity are powering a 240-watt device. These two batteries wired in series will provide 24 volts and 100 Ah of capacity. The current draw of the device will be ten amps (24 x 10 = 240). The theoretical runtime of the series system is 100 Ah divided by ten amps, which is ten hours.

Conversely, the same two batteries in parallel provide 12-volts and 200 Ah of capacity. The device’s current draw in this setup is 20 amps (12 x 20 = 240). The theoretical runtime of the parallel system is 200 Ah divided by 20 amps, which is also ten hours.

Batteries in Series Vs. Parallel: Which Is For You?

Deciding between connecting your batteries in series vs. parallel is often dictated by the needs of the devices you’re powering. For general boat and RV applications wiring batteries in parallel provides the simplest wiring and common voltage, however, for large applications beyond 3000 watts of power, using higher voltage series connections might be best. Now that you understand how each wiring configuration works, you can determine the best option for your needs and proceed with confidence.

Why Is My iPhone Battery Draining So Fast? 10 Easy Fixes (2023)

Why is your iPhone battery draining so fast all of a sudden? Does the iOS 16 update drain your battery life? If your iPhone loses battery faster than you’d like it to or faster than you think is normal, we can help. We’ll answer common iPhone battery drain questions, and walk you through some simple solutions to stop your iPhone battery from dying fast.

Why Is My iPhone Dying So Fast? iOS 16 Battery Drain Other Issues

Are you wondering why your iPhone battery dies so fast? Is your iPhone losing charge after updating to iOS 16? You’re not alone. iOS update battery drain issues are extremely common and for good reason! A new iOS update drains battery because of the many big changes to your iPhone features that come with installing the most recent iOS software. The larger fall updates, like the recent iOS 16 update, often affect your iPhone battery more than the smaller updates we see throughout the year.

While some of this is unavoidable, there are certain things you can do to optimize your battery use and cut back on unnecessary iPhone battery drain. We’ll show you some iOS 16 battery-saving tips and offer guidance on how to preserve battery life on your iPhone.

How to Save Battery on iPhone

First, we’ll cover how to quickly check your battery health. Odds are, your iPhone battery is fighting fit, but is being drained by unneeded processes running in the background. We’ll cover some easy solutions to prevent battery drain from iOS 16 on your iPhone. Also, If you enjoy learning about how to use your Apple devices, be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day.

Check Your iPhone Battery Health Suggestions

This is a good first step whether you’re worried that the iPhone update is draining the battery or not. Your iPhone will recommend specific changes in Settings to preserve iPhone battery life. To see why your iPhone battery is draining faster than it should be, use these steps to check Battery Health suggestions:

• Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Battery.

On the next screen, your iPhone will suggest changes to settings that will improve battery life. You can tap on each suggestion to jump to the setting that needs changing. If you don’t want to make the change, at least you understand what’s contributing to your battery drain.

Note: If you don’t see the Battery Life Suggestions section, your iPhone doesn’t currently see any ways to improve battery life via Settings.

However, we’ll have to respectfully disagree—there’s almost always a way to fix iPhone battery drain. Continue on down the list to see how many ways you can fix an iPhone battery dying faster than it should.

Dim Your iPhone Screen If Your iPhone Keeps Losing Charge

Keeping your iPhone’s screen at full brightness is a likely culprit when your iPhone battery drains fast, but it’s easily remedied. This is actually one of the main causes of battery drain and consumes more power than you might think! Here’s how to dim the screen brightness to save battery on your iPhone:

• Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.
• Tap and drag the Brightness slider toward the bottom, or as near to the bottom as you can go and still comfortably read your display.

If you have your iPhone brightness set to a more reasonable level but your iPhone battery is draining quickly anyway, there are a lot more options for conserving battery on iPhone. Keep reading!

Turn on Auto-Brightness to Stop iPhone Battery Drain

Auto-Brightness settings adjust your screen lighting automatically based on ambient light levels. This keeps your iPhone from losing battery too quickly by wasting it on unnecessary screen brightness. To save battery on your iPhone by enabling Auto-Brightness:

Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Accessibility.

Next, we’ll take a look at some lesser-known settings to help improve iPhone battery life.

Turn Off Raise to Wake to Save iPhone Battery

All iPhone models have the Raise to Wake function enabled by default. This might be part of your problem, especially if you pick up your iPhone a lot or walk with it swinging in your hand. The iPhone screen constantly turning on will definitely drain your battery. To turn off Raise to Wake to save iPhone battery life:

Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Display Brightness.

Once you’ve disabled this feature, you just have to tap your iPhone to wake it. Now that we’ve covered brightness settings that help prevent battery drain on iPhone, we can move on to things like apps that drain iPhone battery.

Update Apps to Keep Your iPhone Battery from Dying Fast

Apps that need updates kill iPhone battery health. iOS update battery drain often has to do with apps. When new software is released, such as the iOS 16 update, developers have to play catch-up too. Apps that need updates may run inefficiently, or accidentally run operations in a way that’s counterproductive to the way it should be done on the most current iOS software. If you don’t automatically update apps on iPhone, taking the time to update all the available apps on your list could seriously help with iPhone battery drain! Here’s how to update apps to avoid battery drain on your iPhone:

• Open the App Store and tap your account icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Do iPhone widgets drain battery? We’ll take a look at that next.

Remove Widgets to Stop iPhone Battery from Draining

Do widgets drain the battery on iPhones or iPads? Yes, but not all of them cause as much iPhone battery drain as others. If your iPhone battery is dying too quickly, consider getting rid of any widgets you don’t need.

If your battery is dying fast on your iPhone, try removing unnecessary widgets with the steps below:

• Open the Today View by swiping right on the Lock screen or swiping all the way right on your Home screen, one screen past the first Home screen page.
• Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit.

Try Restarting If Your iPhone Is Dying Really Fast

Restarting your device is troubleshooting 101. If you ever have any issue with a device, Apple-made or otherwise, a simple restart almost always helps. Restarting your iPhone probably won’t fix the problem of battery drain completely, but it’s likely to give it a bit of a boost.

How to Restart Your iPhone X or Later:

• Hold down the Side button and the up or down volume button.
• Drag the Power Off slider to turn your iPhone off.

How to Restart Your iPhone 8 or Earlier, or iPod Touch

• Hold down the Top or Side button until Slide to Power Off appears on the screen.
• Slide the slider to power off the iPhone.

Turn Off Background App Refresh to Save iPhone Battery Life

Background App Refresh allows your apps to check for new content and update even when you’re not using them. This is intended to save you loading time when opening up apps, as the latest information should be ready and waiting after being refreshed in the background. However, allowing all your open apps to continually update and refresh in the background is a sure-fire way to drain your iPhone battery. Here’s how to turn off Background App Refresh to keep your iPhone from losing charge:

Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap General.

Adjust Location Services to Fight iPhone Battery Drain Issue

Location Services is another sneaky feature that could explain why your iPhone is losing charge. Lots of different apps want to know and use your location for various legitimately useful reasons, but most of them don’t need to track your location when you aren’t using the app. You can quickly go through your apps and choose whether they can use your location Always, While Using the App, Ask Next Time, or Never. If the app never needs your location, feel free to select that. For most apps, it makes the most sense to allow Location Services only while using the app. To do this:

Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Privacy.

Place Your iPhone Face Down to Stop Battery-Draining Notifications

When your iPhone is facing up, the screen illuminates whenever you receive a notification. If you receive a lot of notifications, they could easily be part of why your iPhone battery drains faster than you’d like it to, especially since notifications in iOS 16 are rich, meaning you can see conversations, images, and more directly from the Lock screen. Instead of letting the screen light up and drain iPhone battery life every time you get a notification, simply leave your phone face-down when not in use. Trust me; it works surprisingly well!

Turn On Low Power Mode to Stop the Battery Dying Fast on Your iPhone

Not everyone is aware of the iPhone battery-saving powers of Low Power Mode. Sure, we’d love our iPhone battery life to last forever without it, but when you have three more hours until you can charge your iPhone and your iPhone battery percentage is at 30 percent, Low Power Mode is an iPhone battery life saver. To turn on Low Power Mode, you can activate Siri and say, “Turn on Low Power Mode.” Alternatively, you can turn on Low Power Mode manually in the Control Center, as demonstrated below.

• Open the Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner of your screen. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.

Turn On Reduce Motion to Stop Battery Drain on Your iPhone

Another issue that can be the cause of iOS update battery drain is an increase in animations that come with new software features. If you’ve been enjoying the interesting effects (fireworks and confetti, anyone?) and reactions in the Messages app, you’re using animations that require lots of iPhone battery life. While the flashy features of the Messages app might be fun, they’re sure to cut into the amount of time your iPhone can stay alive. Beyond the Messages app, the iPhone has animations for everything. Simply switching from an app to the Home screen has its own animation. Each animation may not use much battery life, but the little bit each transition uses adds up quickly. To turn on Reduce Motion and stop iPhone battery drain from these small animations:

• Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Accessibility.

Use Airplane Mode or Wi-Fi to Stop Battery Drain in Low Reception Areas

If a secure Wi-Fi network is available, log into it rather than using your cellular data plan. Also, if you are out and about in a location with poor cellular reception, having your iPhone constantly searching for a cell signal leads to your iPhone draining battery faster than you may realize. To prevent iPhone battery drain, open the Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner of your screen. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead. Next tap on the Airplane mode icon which, logically enough, looks like an airplane. When the icon is orange, Airplane mode is enabled, and your iPhone will not continue searching for a Wi-Fi or cellular signal.

FAQ

• What kills iPhone battery the most?The factor that many experts agree has the biggest effect on iPhone battery life is screen brightness. Fortunately, this is also one of the easiest things to adjust! With a combination of keeping your phone face down when not in use, using the auto-brightness feature, and generally being okay with a dimmer screen (you may be surprised how much easier it is on your eyes), you’ll save a huge amount of battery. Another top iPhone battery drain is app activity. You can check which apps use the most battery within your iPhone Settings.
• How do I maximize battery life on my iPhone?The tips in this article are mostly geared toward short-term iPhone battery drain, but what about battery life and battery lifespan? Check out our article on how to make your iPhone battery last longer, and how to keep it functioning well for years to come.
• Is it safe to charge my iPhone overnight?Believe it or not, this is actually bad for your iPhone’s battery! There are quite a few reasons for this, but most of them have to do with how the lithium-ion batteries in our iPhones age. Fortunately, Optimized Battery Charging introduced in iOS 13 aims to mitigate battery wear to maintain its lifespan. It works by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged while connected to power during overnight charging. When the feature is enabled, your iPhone will charge to 80 percent during the night and then quickly charge the last 20 percent right before you wake up. We go into more detail about this feature below!
• What is Optimized Battery Charging?Optimized Battery Charging protects your iPhone’s battery by limiting or preventing the kind of aging that occurs when a lithium-ion battery is held at 100 percent charge. Essentially, it uses an algorithm to predict your schedule based on your use patterns. It then delays charging as needed to allow your phone to reach full charge right when you need it to. As Apple puts it, Optimized Battery Charging is designed to reduce the wear on your battery and improve its lifespan by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged. That way your iPhone doesn’t sit in a high-tension state known as trickle charging, which damages the health of your device battery!
• Should I let my iPhone completely die before charging it?No. Using up the last 20 percent of your phone’s battery will diminish its function over time, and likely shorten the overall lifespan of your battery. For the everyday user, this means it won’t take as long before the phone stops holding its charge like it’s supposed to, and the battery dies more quickly than it should. Not good!
• Why is my iPhone hot and losing battery?While this can signal a hardware issue (such as with your battery), the problem can also be a malfunctioning app or an energy-draining feature. We recommend restarting your iPhone and installing any new software updates. If your iPhone is still overheating, you’ll want to do some quick troubleshooting to pinpoint and resolve the issue.
• Does sharing location drain battery?Yes. Sharing your location (such as through the Find My Friends feature in Find My or an ETA in Apple Maps) will definitely drain your iPhone battery. If you’ve been having trouble with your iPhone battery draining too quickly, we recommend limiting your use of these features.

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Call 800-895-4999 to make a one-time payment using your checking/savings account.

Other Payment Options (Third-party fees will apply):

Call 800-895-4999 to make a one-time payment with your debit/credit card. A 1.50 transaction fee applies for residential customers and a 2.2% transaction fee applies for non-residential customers.

Please be prepared with the following information:

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Visit any of our convenient Pay Stations to pay your energy bill in person.

• Bring your account number or your bill stub
• You will need to pay a 1.50 transaction fee for each bill paid
• You may pay using cash or money order
• If you have more than one bill, you can pay them all with a single money order

How to Pay by Mail

Send your payment, along with the payment stub from your monthly bill, to:

Xcel EnergyP.O. Box 9477Minneapolis, MN 55484-9477

We include a pre-addressed return envelope with your monthly bill. To pay your bill via U.S. mail, enclose your payment and bill stub, add a stamp, and drop it in the mailbox.

Misplaced your return envelope? Simply mail your payment and bill stub to the address above.

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Pay online using your checking account with My Account.

Bank Pay from MyCheckFree is a convenient way to view and pay your bill online at your bank site.

Other Payment Options (Third-party fees will apply):

Use My Account or Kubra EZPay with your credit/debit card. Wisconsin residential customers will incur no fee, but non-residential customers will incur a 2.2% fee. Customers using their mobile device can pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Learn more about credit/debit card payments.

How to Pay on the Mobile App

Standard Payment Options (No fees apply):

Register for My Account and pay your bill on our convenient mobile app using your checking account.

Other Payment Options (Third-party fees will apply):

Use our mobile app to pay online with your debit/credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Play. A 1.50 trasaction fee for residential customers and 2.2% transaction fee for non-residential customers applies.

Learn more about credit/debit card payments.

How to Pay by Phone

Standard Payment Options (No fees apply):

Our automated phone system is a secure, hassle-free, cost-free way to pay your energy bill.

Call 800-895-4999 to make a one-time payment using your checking/savings account.

Other Payment Options (Third-party fees will apply):

Call 800-895-4999 to make a one-time payment with your debit/credit card. A 1.50 transaction fee applies for residential customers and a 2.2% transaction fee applies for non-residential customers.

Please be prepared with the following information:

• Your complete Xcel Energy account number
• If you plan to use a checking or savings account you’ll need the routing transit number (identifies your bank, credit union, or financial institution) as well as your checking or savings account number

Learn more about credit/debit card payments.

How to Pay in Person

Visit any of our convenient Pay Stations to pay your energy bill in person.

• Bring your account number or your bill stub
• You will need to pay a 1.50 transaction fee for each bill paid
• You may pay using cash or money order
• If you have more than one bill, you can pay them all with a single money order

How to Pay by Mail

Send your payment, along with the payment stub from your monthly bill, to:

Xcel EnergyP.O. Box 9477Minneapolis, MN 55484-9477

We include a pre-addressed return envelope with your monthly bill. To pay your bill via U.S. mail, enclose your payment and bill stub, add a stamp, and drop it in the mailbox.

Misplaced your return envelope? Simply mail your payment and bill stub to the address above.

View all your ways to pay