iOS 5 Battery Problems: Update Does Not Fix Power Drain For Many iPhone Owners

Here we go again: Apple is still hearing many complaints about battery problems from iPhone owners using iOS 5.0.1, an update to iOS 5 that was supposed to fix the power drain.

Tech sites and Apple forums have been inundated with user complaints about battery problems on all Apple devices running the new software, especially the iPhone 4S, ever since the newest Apple smartphone was released in October.

Apple acknowledged the problems in a brief statement sent out to several technology blogs on November 2:

A small number of customers have reported lower than expected battery life on iOS 5 devices. We have found a few bugs that are affecting battery life and we will release a software update to address those in a few weeks.

It did not take a few weeks, however, as Apple released iOS 5.0.1 to users just eight days later; chief among the updates listed was one that "fixes bugs affecting battery life."

If the number of tech sites and blogs writing on persistent battery troubles on the iPhone 4S are any indication, however, reports of iOS 5.0.1 fixing battery problems have been greatly exaggerated.

AllThingsD, MacTrast, The Unofficial Apple Weblog, Boy Genius Report, PCWorld, CNet, 9to5Mac, Ars Technica, Gizmodo and The Next Web have all published trend stories detailing the litany of iPhone owners complaining on the Apple forums about persistent battery life troubles after downloading iOS 5.0.1.

A smattering of the complaints (all sic):

"I did the upgrade yesterday and now had to charge battery three times today (and that's with loads of stuff turned off)!!! Think apple need to sort this soon. Think I will have to dig out one of my old phones to use at work. Not an idea situation."

“Upgraded to 5.0.1 this morning. Still draining at the exact same rate. Unplugged with a full charge 2 1/2 hours ago, and already down to 80 percent with light usage. Just lost 2 percent during a 15 minute shower. I see no difference at all.”

Over the last week or so, I have been keeping up on the batter issue but have not had a problem with my phone. Last night I updated to 5.01. Since unplugging my phone this morning my batter life has declined by 21%. It's been unplugged for 2 hours with moderate use. This must be what people were experiencing.

there is no point having a smartphone if you have to turn everything off... update....phone has just gone from 29% down to......18% in the time that i have been on here and that is without even using it!! If i use it, it goes quicker than a stopwatch!

Apple has issued a statement on continuing battery problems. Via a statement sent to The Huffington Post:

The recent iOS software update addressed many of the battery issues that some customers experienced on their iOS 5 devices. We continue to investigate a few remaining issues.

So, have you downloaded iOS 5.0.1 (here's how to download it, if you haven't)? Are you seeing better battery life? Worse? About the same? Let us know in the comments, or head over to the Apple discussion forums to check out what others are saying.

While Apple continues to probe the ongoing issues, you can take measures into your own hands and give your battery life a boost by checking out our slideshow of power-saving tips (below).

Comments

[mike vu]

12:32 PM on 12/27/2011

Seem like this drain thing is not happen to everyone....my friend iphone deosn't drain at all but my does all the time....I don't even have any email and contact....bluethooth and wifi are OFF as well as Siri.....my friend iphone has everything on and lots emails and contacts....I think APPLE needs to do something about this SHI.T...I'll return if SHI.T...still happen after restore fresh..

[the964kid]

05:54 PM on 11/14/2011

I just ran the update, so this is crappy news. I'm starting to think this is another hardware defect. Apple is f'ing up.

[TheTek]

01:42 PM on 11/14/2011

1 - It's a phone!
2 - If you have apps running in the background that consistently talks to servers using data, BATTERY DRAIN !!
3 - It's a PHONE !!!

[Istok]

06:44 PM on 11/14/2011

1 -its a $600 phone
2 -its a $600 phone
3 -its a $600 phone

[TheTek]

07:12 PM on 11/14/2011

Then....
1 - Dont buy into the hype
2 - Don't buy into the hype
3 - Get an Android

[Mason McClellan LAc]

11:09 PM on 11/13/2011

I think my battery got worse after the update...

[Raboom1]

03:10 PM on 11/13/2011

I have no idea what you people are talking about. I have a new iPhone 4S and have had not problems with the battery whatsoever. Have had it since the weekend it came out and have no problems with anything on that phone, battery or otherwise. I love it.

[NerdyStudent]

12:44 AM on 11/14/2011

Apparently, a lot...or actually, A LOT of consumers who have purchased the very phone you speak of have in fact had problems with the battery. It's shocking you know--that your experience is so fantastic, and the world doesn't just grow a pair and be just like you--but then again, nobody's perfect.

[Istok]

06:43 PM on 11/14/2011

That is quite a large sample you took for your research and conclusion.
You should go work for Apple. I think they have an opening in their battery development department and they think like you.

[LightShadow62]

01:59 PM on 11/13/2011

In other words iOS 5.0.1 was a 'publicity update' aimed at knocking down some of the press on the problems NOT an actual patch.

[BrainRagYell]

10:03 AM on 11/13/2011

Keep in mind, you can wear down a battery by over-charging it. Bad to let it charge when you're already full. I try to keep it hovering around 95%. There are some good battery maintenance apps, too.

[Istok]

06:46 PM on 11/14/2011

You mean to tell me that the iphone does not stop charging when the battery gets to 100%? I'd say you are a bit off in your knowledge about modern technology.

[BrainRagYell]

02:13 PM on 12/03/2011

Pardon your arrogance and utter lack of information to support your obnoxia, but: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries

"Avoiding full charge has benefits, and some manufacturers set the charge threshold lower on purpose to prolong battery life."

[Steven Travis]

08:12 AM on 11/13/2011

My iPhone sat overnight with a low wireless signal and connected to wifi. It started at about 50% battery SOC and ended up with what appears to be 40% SOC. it was still getting emails etc, I just wasn't actively using it. So, again I suspect this has less to do with iOS itself and more to do with hardware.

[Charlotte Bonnie]

07:44 AM on 11/13/2011

To preserve battery, please turn off the phone when you're not using it.

[BlifCar]

10:37 AM on 11/13/2011

Since part of a phone's intended purpose is to allow you to receive calls as well as place them, I'd say that's pretty silly advice.

[Charlotte Bonnie]

08:27 AM on 11/14/2011

That was sarcasm, genius. :)

[Istok]

06:47 PM on 11/14/2011

LMAO!!!!

[gal416]

01:40 AM on 11/13/2011

Anybody else besides me having trouble listening to their Audible audiobooks on iTunes since the last update?

[onlythetruthcounts]

12:43 AM on 11/13/2011

I love my 64GB iPhone 4S. If my phone has a battery issue I'm not aware of it. I've cycled it twice and I charge it every other night unless I use it heavily during the day. I don't understand all the negativity coming from, what I assume, mature adults.

[poster1122]

02:53 PM on 11/13/2011

The people who don't have your experience have every right to be upset, especially if they shelled out hundreds of dollars and now have to charge their phones multiple times a day. I suspect I'd be fuming if that were the case for me. The issue appears not to affect every customer, but it does seem to be a serious problem for a goodly number.

[mike vu]

12:41 PM on 12/27/2011

when i first got mine...everything seem to be fine but since last week thing changes....start charging 2-3 times per day otherwise I'm gotta run out of battery. Every 5-10 MN battery does down about 3-5%.

[Michael Tauber]

08:03 PM on 11/12/2011

I have 2 phones running iOS 5 and my battery life is fine. This thing is being overblown.

[inguatu]

08:50 AM on 11/13/2011

hardly.. it's bad on my ipad2 and 5 crashes randomly, incuding BSOD (black screens of death)

[Thomas River]

03:39 PM on 11/13/2011

That says more about your inability to care for your iPad.

[Raymond Hietapakka]

07:55 PM on 11/12/2011

..."small number"? ...well then, REPLACE the "small number" of defective units.

[samba2623]

05:57 PM on 11/12/2011

IOS 5 is a joke. Just like Lion, it's full of useless improvements that only make your device burning hot. My Ipod touch isn't as fast and smooth as it used to be anymore :-(
At least with Android you get what you pay for, and you can use flash so internet is much more enjoyable !

[Cheerilee53]

09:34 PM on 11/12/2011

Haha! Adobe announced it will stop development on Flash for mobile devices. How do you like THEM apples? Mwahaha!

[samba2623]

10:12 PM on 11/12/2011

It's the end of the world next year. Who cares ?

[inguatu]

08:50 AM on 11/13/2011

not sure what that has to do with Apple fail, sheep.

[CraigR]

12:34 AM on 11/13/2011

Is Cover Flow on your touch lagging and crashing like on mine? It worked perfectly on 4.3.5, now it sucks.

[samba2623]

11:31 AM on 11/13/2011

It's going really slow and yes Safari crashes on some websites.

[wakeup804]

03:56 PM on 11/12/2011

That's what happens when you have to be the first kid on your block with the newest gadgets. You don't buy a car the first year it comes off the line, because the bugs haven't been discovered yet. So glad I didn't rush out and get that phone. My Evo 4 g workds like a charm.

[OtayPanky]

10:24 PM on 11/13/2011

That's what happens when you have to be the first kid on your block with the newest gadgets.

---

Exactly so. Anybody who upgrades to the first version of the new model is a sucker. And like Barnum said, there's a sucker born every minute.