Apple debuted its new mobile operating system, iOS 11, back in September.
The update includes a number of new features, such as a redesigned Control Centre, dedicated Files app, additional effects for Live Photos and overhauled filters in the default Photos app. iPad owners also benefited from improved multi-tasking, the ability to drag-and-drop between apps, and new Apple Pencil functionality.
Unfortunately, the move to iOS 11 appeared to impact battery life for a number of users.
iPhone and iPad owners flooded social media with complaints about a drop in battery life following the move to the new operating system.
One user reported seeing his iPhone “drop from 100 to 85 percent in probably an hour, pretty bad”.
“The iOS 11 really kills my iPhone 6s battery. #iOS11” another iPhone user tweeted.
One user shared on Twitter: “Noticed today that my battery is draining a little faster with the new iOS. Also sending messages is a little slower I think.”
Luckily, it appears Apple has been hard at work on a fix.
The Cupertino-based company is currently in the final stages of testing iOS 11.1 – the next major update to it mobile operating system.
YouTube channel iDeviceHelp has already noticed a significant improvement in battery life with the beta version of this next update.
The video creator shared a battery life comparison between iOS 11.1 beta 4 and iOS 11.0.3, running on three different devices – iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus.
When running iOS 11.03, all three iPhone models conk-out after less than five hours of continuous screen time.
Bizarrely, the iPhone 6 Plus actually offers the best battery life of the three models in this test.
However, when the same phones are upgraded to the fourth beta of iOS 11.1, the battery life dramatically improves.
Each iPhone model gains anywhere between two and four hours of batter life.
The iPhone 8 Plus manages to eke out an additional four hours of continuous screen life when running iOS 11.1, compared to iOS 11.0.3.
Unfortunately, these results won’t likely correlated exactly to your real-life usage – so don’t immediately expect an additional four hours usage from your iPhone.
However, it is a strong indicator Apple has improved battery life in the new update.