iPhone users say 'horrific' Apple iOS 14.6 update is draining their battery

iPhone users who have installed Apple’s new software update, iOS 14.6, are complaining that it’s draining their entire battery within hours. 

Apple’s Community Forum is littered with complaints about the update, which Apple released to users on May 24. 

One user on the forum posted the message: ‘My battery life on iOS 14.6 is terrible what can be done to fix?’

Another said: ‘I’ve never seen this battery drain before. This is really serious issue!’ 

Shockingly, some iPhone models are reportedly draining completely in as little as two hours, users reveal. 

Apple released iOS 14.6 at the end of May. It includes support for Apple Card Family, allowing Apple Card (the firm's own credit card) to be shared with up to five people, as well as Podcast subscription options and added capabilities for people using AirTag, its new tracking device

Apple released iOS 14.6 at the end of May. It includes support for Apple Card Family, allowing Apple Card (the firm’s own credit card) to be shared with up to five people, as well as Podcast subscription options and added capabilities for people using AirTag, its new tracking device 

iOS 14.6 FEATURES 

– Apple Card can be shared with up to five people.

– Subscription support for channels and individual shows in Podcasts.

– Lost mode option to add an email address instead of a phone number for AirTag and Find My network accessories.

– Voice Control users can unlock their iPhone for the first time after a restart using only their voice.  

Read more on Apple’s website 

Another person with an iPhone 7 said: ‘The situation is so bad that I can not work with the iPhone 7 for 2 hours and it runs out of charge.’ 

An owner of Apple’s latest flagship model said: ‘My iPhone 12 battery health is at 96% and chargers [sic] fine until I updated to iOS 14.6. 

‘My phone charged over night and the battery % is only at 30% and keeps on draining. Is anyone having the same issue after updating to iOS 14.6?’

Users also took to Twitter to register their disgruntlement. One user told Apple: ‘After updating 14.6 iphone SE Battery is draining very fast. Please try to solve this Battery problem.’ 

Another user, @andymanuel, said: ‘I noticed that after updating to iOS 14.6, my battery gets stuck at 80% when charging.’   

Another told @AppleSupport: ‘I installed iOS 14.6 & now my battery drains in a few hours and the phone gets hot. What gives?’

MailOnline has contacted Apple for comment regarding the issue and any official advice for iOS 14.6 users. 

iPhone users took to Twitter to complain about the issue. Problems ranged from batteries draining quicker than usual to not charging to full capacity

iPhone users took to Twitter to complain about the issue. Problems ranged from batteries draining quicker than usual to not charging to full capacity 

YouTube channel iAppleBytes also found ‘horrific results’ in battery performance with iOS 14.6, as shown in its video review.

The video shows seven iPhone models running iOS 14.6 as they lose battery power – and all but one all conk out within five hours. 

This problem was especially pronounced on older models iPhone SE and iPhone 6S, as well as the iPhone SE 2, which isn’t even old – it was only released last year.  

‘I have seen many comments that it takes about a week for battery performance to optimise itself after an iOS update,’ iAppleBytes says. 

‘[But] this video was shot three days after iOS 14.6 was installed, so it had time to settle in.’ 

This seems to contradict advice from another Apple forum user, who suggested the battery needs time to recalibrate after an update.  

‘Typically, when upgrading to a new iOS release, there is a number of activities that need to complete in the background even after the install finishes, they said. 

‘It is best to wait a day or two, using the phone as you normally would, before you can get a more accurate picture of any excessive battery draining issues.’ 

The issue seems to be affecting multiple iPhone models, including its latest flagship, the iPhone 12, released last year (pictured)

The issue seems to be affecting multiple iPhone models, including its latest flagship, the iPhone 12, released last year (pictured) 

iOS 14.6 includes support for Apple Card Family, allowing Apple Card (the firm’s own credit card) to be shared with up to five people, as well as Podcast subscription options and added capabilities for people using AirTag, its new tracking device. 

Apple released iOS 14.6 only a month after it released iOS 14.5, which came with some big updates. 

iOS 14.5 includes support for unlocking an iPhone with Apple Watch while wearing a face mask, as well as a controversial feature called App Tracking Transparency. 

Generally, Apple releases a major software update each autumn to accompany a new iPhone model (for example, iOS 14 last year) but adds incremental updates throughout the year (e.g., 14.5, 14.6). 

Apple is likely to reveal its next major update, iOS 15, at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2021), which runs from June 7 to 11.  

According to Bloomberg, Apple is ‘readying a major revamp of its mobile software’ for iOS 15, which would be released in time for Apple’s next flagship iPhone (likely to be called iPhone 13).

Prominent changes for iOS 15 will be an updated Lock Screen and ‘additional privacy protections’, Bloomberg said, citing ‘people with knowledge of the matter’.     

Apple is set to reveal its next major software version, iOS 15, at its Worldwide Developers Conference later in June

Apple is set to reveal its next major software version, iOS 15, at its Worldwide Developers Conference later in June

Although WWDC is scheduled to last four days, the first day is the one to watch.

This is when Apple CEO Tim Cook will take the stage to share the latest and greatest Apple devices and software to-date.

The other days are designed for developers to participate and learn about software and other technologies.

‘We are working to make WWDC 21 our biggest and best yet, and are excited to offer Apple developers new tools to support them as they create apps that change the way we live, work, and play,’ said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of worldwide developer relations. 

Apple is set to reveal iPhone 13 in September or October. According to rumours, it could see the end of the black ‘notch’ at the top of the screen. 

Killing off the notch for good would be welcome news for the thousands of Apple fans who have considered it an unsightly blemish. 

iPHONE 13 RUMOURS 

NO NOTCH? 

Apple is considering ditching the black ‘notch’ at the top of the iPhone for its next flagship model, the iPhone 13, according to an online tipster. 

The rectangular black notch, which has featured on flagship iPhone models since 2017, conceals the phone’s front-facing camera components and sensors.   

Pictured, the iPhone 12 marking out the notch and the bezel. Zero bezel effectively means the device's screen blends seamlessly into the edges of the device. The notch's days may soon be numbered on the iPhone, according to Mauri QHD, an Apple tipster on Twitter

Pictured, the iPhone 12 marking out the notch and the bezel. Zero bezel effectively means the device’s screen blends seamlessly into the edges of the device. The notch’s days may soon be numbered on the iPhone, according to Mauri QHD, an Apple tipster on Twitter

But according to the tipster, who goes by the name Mauri QHD on Twitter, Apple has created an iPhone 13 prototype with no notch at all. 

The prototype instead puts these important components at the top of the bezel, the border between a screen and a phone’s frame. 

‘There’s a prototype with no notch at all, but – a bit – bigger bezels,’ Mauri QHD tweeted.   

All four sides of bezel on the prototype ‘are equally bigger’, he added, meaning the top part of the bezel won’t stick out further than the others. 

The sensor-housing notch was first introduced to the iPhone with 2017’s iPhone X – but was mercilessly lambasted by critics and fans alike as a terrible design flaw. 

Apple’s phone-making rival Samsung even mocked the notch in an ad for its Galaxy Note 8 smartphone at the time, featuring a man with a notch-shaped haircut. 

RETURN OF TOUCH ID

A report in January indicated that iPhone 13 would see the return of its Touch ID technology, in the form of an in-screen fingerprint reader.

This would help users unlock their smartphones without having to remove their face masks during the current pandemic. 

According to Bloomberg, instead of reintroducing a Home button, the Touch ID technology would be embedded within the new iPhone screen

According to Bloomberg, instead of reintroducing a Home button, the Touch ID technology would be embedded within the new iPhone screen 

Apple first introduced Touch ID in 2013 with the iPhone 5S, in the form of a fingerprint reader integrated into the iPhone’s home button.

However, Apple started to move away from this technology in 2017, with the introduction of Face ID in the iPhone X.

According to Bloomberg, instead of reintroducing a Home button, the Touch ID technology would be embedded within the iPhone 13 screen.   

Rather than being a replacement for Face ID, Touch ID would be an additional method of unlocking the iPhone, according to the report. 

CAMERA UPGRADES 

iPhone 13 models will feature an upgraded Ultra Wide camera lens with a wider ƒ/1.8 aperture, compared to ƒ/2.4 on iPhone 12 models, according to an investor note shared with MacRumors. 

The site said in February: ‘A wider aperture would allow for more light to pass through the lens.

‘The move from a ƒ/2.4 to ƒ/1.8 aperture [will] likely to result in significantly improved low-light performance when shooting in Ultra Wide mode on iPhone 13 models.’

source: dailymail.co.uk