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01Reading your number
A good iPhone battery health percentage is anything from 80% up. The figure is your battery's current maximum capacity compared with when it was new, so 87% means a full charge now holds about 87% of the energy it once did.
| Battery health | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 95-100% | Close to new | Nothing. Enjoy it |
| 85-94% | Normal wear for a phone a year or more old | Nothing. Good charging habits keep it here longer |
| 80-84% | Still within Apple's design target | Watch for evening battery anxiety; a power bank helps |
| Below 80% | Noticeably shorter battery life, possible slowdowns | Consider a battery replacement |
Two phones at the same percentage can feel very different. A heavy user with 88% might struggle by dinner; a light user at 81% might not notice. Judge the number against your own day.
The number matters more if you plan to sell. Buyers and trade-in checks look at battery health early, and a phone under 80% usually fetches less. If you're close to the line and want top resale value, a genuine battery replacement before you sell can be worth pricing out.
02Why Apple draws the line at 80%
Apple designs iPhone batteries to keep 80% of original capacity after a set number of complete charge cycles under ideal conditions. It's the benchmark behind every "is my battery OK" question.
- iPhone 15 and later
- 80% at 1,000 complete charge cycles
- iPhone 14 and earlier
- 80% at 500 complete charge cycles
- One charge cycle
- Using 100% of capacity in total, e.g. 50% today and 50% tomorrow
So a newer iPhone at 85% after two years and roughly 700 cycles is right on track. A three-year-old iPhone 13 at 79% is also normal; it simply reached the end of its design window.
Below 80%, two things can happen. iOS may show a message that the battery is significantly degraded and recommend service. And if the phone has had an unexpected shutdown, iOS can apply performance management, which slows peak speed to stop it switching off under load. You'll see that noted under Peak Performance Capability on the Battery Health screen.
03Find your battery health and cycle count
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iPhone 15 and later
Open Settings > Battery > Battery Health for Maximum Capacity. For cycle count, manufacture date and first use, go to Settings > General > About and scroll to the battery section.
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iPhone 14 and earlier
Open Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Cycle count isn't shown in Settings on these models.
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Samsung Galaxy
Open the Samsung Members app, go to diagnostics and run the battery status check. It reports a rating rather than an exact percentage on most models.
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Google Pixel
On Pixel 8a and later running Android 16, go to Settings > Battery > Battery health for an estimated capacity percentage. Older Pixels don't show a percentage.
Android readings aren't directly comparable with an iPhone's. Each maker estimates capacity its own way, and a Galaxy's "Good" or "Normal" rating covers a wider band than a single percentage. Use the same rule of thumb anyway: if the phone no longer lasts the day you need it to, the battery is due, whatever the label says. Want a deeper walkthrough? See how to check iPhone battery health or how to check Samsung battery health.
04Replace the battery, or work around it?
Replace the battery
- Restores full-day battery life
- Removes performance management
- Use Apple or an authorized provider for a genuine part
Carry a power bank
- Cheap and immediate
- Covers long days and travel
- Doesn't fix slowdowns
Upgrade the phone
- Makes sense on an older model
- Trade-in values drop with poor battery health
- Overkill if battery is the only issue
Our honest take: a battery swap is one of the best-value repairs you can do on a phone that otherwise works well. Check Apple's own pricing for your model before deciding. Third-party batteries can trigger an "Unknown Part" notice in Settings and may not report health accurately.
A slim magnetic bank for daily carry, or a bigger one with a display for travel days.
05Slowing the decline from here
- Keep it cool. Heat is the biggest factor. Don't leave the phone on a dashboard or charge it under a pillow.
- Turn on Optimized Battery Charging or a Charge Limit so it spends less time at 100%. The 20-80 charging rule explains why.
- Fast charging is fine when the phone stays cool. More in is fast charging bad for your battery.
- Storing a phone? Leave it around half charged, not full or empty.
iOS sometimes recalibrates the battery health reading after an update. A sudden few-point drop can settle over the following weeks. If it keeps falling quickly, contact Apple Support.
Questions people ask
Is 85% battery health good?
Yes. 85% is normal wear and well above the 80% level Apple designs for. Most people won't notice much difference from new beyond slightly earlier evening charging.
At what battery health should I replace my iPhone battery?
Below 80% is the usual point, especially if you see unexpected shutdowns, a service message, or performance management under Peak Performance Capability. If the phone still lasts your day, there's no rush.
How fast does iPhone battery health drop?
It depends on heat, usage and charge cycles. Apple rates iPhone 15 and later for 80% at 1,000 cycles and earlier models for 80% at 500 cycles. Heavy users and phones that run hot drop faster.
Does battery health go back up?
Not in a real sense. Lost capacity doesn't return. The reading can shift slightly after an iOS update recalibrates it, but the only way to get back to 100% is a new battery.
Is 100% battery health after a year normal?
It can be. Some batteries ship slightly above rated capacity and show 100% for months. Light use, cool conditions and optimized charging also help. It will start dropping eventually.