An iPhone battery that drains fast is usually one of two things: cold weather, or a worn-out battery. Calgary winters make both more noticeable.
What cold does to an iPhone battery
Apple says iPhones are designed to work best between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius. Calgary regularly goes well below that. In the cold, a lithium-ion battery cannot deliver power as easily, and you may see:
- The percentage dropping quickly
- The phone shutting off suddenly, often showing 20 or 30 percent or more
- Slower charging
- A jumpy battery percentage
The sudden shutdown is the one people notice most. It happens when the cold battery cannot supply a burst of power, and the phone switches off to protect itself. Once the phone warms up, the charge usually reappears. A battery that is already worn shuts off at higher temperatures than a healthy one, so if your phone does this on a mild day, the battery is the likelier cause.
Keeping your iPhone through a Calgary winter
- Keep it in an inside pocket, close to your body, not in an outer coat pocket or a bag.
- Do not leave it in a car overnight.
- If it has gotten very cold, let it warm to room temperature before you charge it.
- If it shuts off outside, warm it up first. Pressing the power button repeatedly does not help.
Check your battery health
Go to Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health & Charging. The number that matters is Maximum Capacity, which compares the battery with when it was new.
- 90% to 100%: excellent
- 85% to 89%: normal wear, most people will not notice
- 80% to 84%: you may see shorter battery life through the day
- Below 80%: significantly worn, and replacement is usually worth it
Apple designs iPhone batteries to keep about 80% of their capacity after hundreds of full charge cycles, and newer models are rated for more.
Cut background drain
- Turn off Background App Refresh for apps that do not need it
- Limit location access for apps that do not need it
- Delete apps you no longer use
Slow down battery wear
- Turn on Optimized Battery Charging in Battery Health & Charging.
- Use good quality chargers and cables.
- Avoid regularly draining the battery to 0%.
- Keep the phone out of direct sunlight and hot cars.
When to replace the battery
Consider a replacement if your iPhone:
- Needs charging more than once a day
- Shuts off unexpectedly, in the cold or otherwise
- Shows Maximum Capacity below 80%
- Gets unusually warm
A replacement costs far less than a new phone. See https://techfixcraft.ca/iphone-repair-calgary/ Diagnosis is free for most devices, except in cases of severe damage.
Frequently asked questions
Does Calgary's cold permanently damage batteries?
A short spell in the cold usually causes only temporary problems. Repeated exposure to extreme temperatures, hot or cold, can speed up ageing over time.
How long should an iPhone battery last?
It depends on use. Check Maximum Capacity in Settings rather than going by age.