Apple warns wrong iPhone ‘data setting’ drains your battery life – there are two better options to use instead
YOUR iPhone battery might not last as long as you may expect it to.
Apple has a reason for that if you have an iPhone 12 or later.
5G marks the fifth iteration of mobile network technology, following the evolution from 1G through 4G.
It introduces a revolutionary global wireless standard, designed to interconnect virtually everyone and everything, including machines, objects, and devices.
And it also might be draining your battery if you’re not using it properly.
Luckily, Apple has managed to uncover a way to keep that from happening by changing one data setting.
The default settings for 5G on your iPhone are geared towards optimizing battery life and data usage based on your data plan.
However, you have the flexibility to customize these settings, specifying when to utilize 5G and how much data to allocate to specific apps.
To ascertain if your carrier supports 5G and if your cellular plan is compatible, it’s recommended to contact your carrier directly.
To access these customization options, per Apple Support, navigate to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options or Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options.
If you’re using Dual SIM, you can adjust these settings by accessing Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data and selecting the desired number to modify the options.
FIX THAT BATTERY LIFE
Apple says that you can preserve your battery life by choosing how your iPhone uses 5G.
Here’s how:
- 5G Auto: Activates Smart Data mode. If 5G speeds do not significantly enhance your experience, your iPhone seamlessly transitions to LTE, conserving battery life. The appearance of the 5G icon is determined by the carrier network’s configuration and may occasionally display even in the absence of 5G coverage.
- 5G On: Utilizes the 5G network whenever accessible. This may result in decreased battery performance.
- LTE: Exclusively utilizes the LTE network, even in the presence of available 5G.
GET MORE OUT OF 5G ON IPHONE
Not only does changing your data settings improve your battery life, but it improves your device’s overall performance.
The company suggests enabling Enhanced Data Usage on 5G, which activates advanced data-utilization features for applications and system functions.
These enhancements encompass higher-resolution FaceTime calls, high-definition content streaming on Apple TV, access to high-quality Apple Music songs and videos, cellular-based iOS updates, and automated iCloud backups.
Why do batteries get worse over time?
Here's what you need to know...
- Most gadgets run on lithium-ion batteries
- Over time, the amount of charge this type of battery can hold gets smaller
- That means you need to charge your device more often because they hold less charge
- Batteries have two electrode points – the cathode and the anode
- To charge a battery, the ions inside the battery are forced from the cathode to the anode
- When you use a battery, it moves in the reverse direction
- This process wears away at the structure of the anode, reducing its ability to function correctly
- But the process also builds up a kind of salt on the cathode when charging
- As this build-up grows, the battery will accept less charge over time
- It’s estimated that between 500 and 1,000 full charge-cycles will reduce a battery’s maximum capacity by roughly 20%
This setting empowers your iPhone to automatically switch to 5G rather than Wi-Fi in instances where Wi-Fi connectivity is sluggish or poses security concerns on sporadically visited networks.
To manage this feature for specific networks, navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi, select the desired Wi-Fi network, tap the information icon, and toggle “Use Wi-Fi for Internet.”
Furthermore, this option permits third-party applications to leverage additional cellular data for enriched user experiences.
This feature is enabled by default on certain unlimited data plans, contingent upon your carrier.
Activating this setting will result in increased cellular data consumption, Apple Support warns.