Apple’s latest version of iOS, iOS 16.5, became available to download on May 18, but the supposedly useful update has left many iPhone users dealing with a frustrating battery issue.
“iOS 16.5 is deadly for the battery”, it reads one of the various complaints posted on social media in recent days, with users reporting that their battery drained faster than normal after downloading iOS 16.5 on their iPhones.
The severity of the problem seems to vary from case to case, but charging speeds seem to be affected across the board as well, with some unfortunate souls claiming that it takes almost three hours (three hours!) for their iPhones to reach a 100% charge. . Oh!
The good news is that this annoying battery problem is completely normal. When Apple, or any software developer, releases major operating system (OS) updates, phones often need to re-index data and recalibrate battery settings, which in turn leads to faster battery depletion. battery. Most importantly, however, this faster drainage is temporary and should resolve within a few days after it first occurs.
In addition to this recalibration, new OS updates often trigger a slew of app-specific updates that put even more strain on your iPhone’s battery. However, once these apps have been updated to the latest version of iOS, this drain subsides.
So, in all likelihood, your iPhone is experiencing an iOS 16.5-induced hangover, and there’s nothing to worry about in terms of long-term damage. If you’re still concerned about your phone’s battery health after a few more days, head to Settings, Battery, then Battery Health to check for official battery warnings.
As for the improvements that iOS 16.5 brings to your iPhone, Apple’s latest update fixes a nefarious loophole that allows, or rather allows, anyone to access your address book from the lock screen (a problem that presumably arose as a result of the company’s decision to improve lock screen customization in iOS 16 proper).
Previous versions of iOS 16 fixed similar vulnerabilities related to accessing Messages and the Wallet app via the iPhone lock screen, so iOS 16.5 appears to have fixed the final threat in this particular set of security risks.
The new update also adds a series of Pride celebration lock screen wallpapers and a dedicated Sports tab in Apple News. The latter provides easier access to histories, scores and standings for the teams and leagues you follow, with scorecards now taking you directly to the game pages.
iOS 16.5 also addresses several issues related to Spotlight, CarPlay, and Screen Time. The full list of updates can be seen on Apple’s dedicated iOS 16.5 release notes page.
Apple is expected to unveil its next major iOS revision, iOS 17, at WWDC 2023 on June 5, so keep an eye on TechRadar for the latest on that software update.
