iPhone Battery Health: How to Check It and What Is Normal
iPhone battery health shows how much charge the battery can hold compared with when it was new. You can see it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health. A new iPhone shows 100%, and Apple designs batteries to keep about 80% capacity after 500 full cycles on older models and after 1,000 cycles on iPhone 15 and newer. Below 80%, iOS recommends a battery service.
Updated 21 October 2026
How to check battery health on iPhone
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health (on some iOS versions it is called Battery Health and Charging). You will see: - Maximum Capacity: the battery's capacity compared with new - Peak Performance Capability: whether iOS is limiting performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns
On iPhone 15 and newer models, Settings > General > About also shows the cycle count, the manufacture date and the first use date of the battery. This is the easiest way to see how much a phone has been used.
What is a good battery health percentage?
As a rough guide: - 100%: new phone - 95–99%: lightly used, normal after a few months - 85–94%: normal for a phone that is a year or two old - 80–84%: getting close to the point where Apple suggests service - Below 80%: iOS shows a service message and you will notice shorter battery life
The percentage is an estimate and can move by a point or two after updates or recalibration.
Cycle count explained
One charge cycle means using 100% of the battery's capacity, but not necessarily in one go. Using 50% today and 50% tomorrow counts as one cycle. Apple says iPhone 14 and earlier models keep about 80% of their original capacity at 500 complete cycles, while iPhone 15 and newer models are designed to keep about 80% at 1,000 cycles under ideal conditions.
So a used iPhone 15 Pro with 300 cycles is in a much better position than an iPhone 13 with the same count.
What 'Unknown Part' and service messages mean
If the battery has been replaced, Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History shows it. A genuine Apple battery is marked 'Genuine Apple Part'. A non-genuine battery shows 'Unknown Part', and battery health may not be shown at all. Many cheap replacements in local markets fall into this category.
If you see 'Service' or 'Important Battery Message' in the Battery Health screen, the battery has worn out or cannot be verified. Read how to check iPhone original (How to Check if an iPhone Is Original or Fake) for other parts checks.
Battery health on a new box pack iPhone
A new iPhone should show 100% maximum capacity. On iPhone 15 and newer, the cycle count should be zero or very low, as a few cycles can come from factory testing. If a 'new' phone shows 95% or dozens of cycles, it has been used. Our guide on how to check a new or used phone (How to Check if a Mobile Phone Is New or Used) covers more checks.
Charging habits that help
Heat is the biggest enemy of lithium-ion batteries. In Pakistan's summer this matters a lot: - Do not leave the phone in a hot car or in direct sun - Avoid heavy gaming while charging, as both create heat - Remove thick cases if the phone gets hot while charging - Turn on Optimized Battery Charging, which learns your routine and delays charging past 80% overnight - On iPhone 15 and newer, you can set a charging limit, such as 80%, in the charging settings - Use a good quality USB-C power adapter; cheap chargers can run hot
You do not need to drain the battery to zero. Partial charges are fine.
When to replace the battery
Consider a replacement when: - Maximum capacity is below 80% - The phone shuts down unexpectedly or feels slow, and Peak Performance shows throttling - The battery looks swollen or the screen is lifting; stop using the phone and get it checked
Choose a trusted repair service. A genuine battery keeps the battery health reading and avoids the 'Unknown Part' message.
Checking battery health before buying a used iPhone
Battery health is one of the best clues to how a used iPhone was treated. When checking one: - Look at Maximum Capacity and compare it with the phone's age; a two-year-old phone at 98% may have had its battery replaced - On iPhone 15 and newer, check the cycle count and the battery's first use date in Settings > General > About - Look at Parts and Service History for a battery replacement and whether it is genuine - Watch the battery percentage during a few minutes of video recording; a fast drop is a warning sign - Feel the back while charging; it can get warm, but it should not get very hot
Price the phone with the battery in mind. A phone below 80% will soon need a new battery, so factor that cost in before you agree a deal.
Common battery myths
- Closing apps saves battery: usually not. iOS manages background apps, and reopening them from scratch can use more power
- You must charge to 100% every time: no, partial charging is fine and may even be gentler
- Overnight charging ruins the battery: Optimized Battery Charging is designed for this
- Low Power Mode harms the phone: no, it simply reduces background activity and some visual effects to save power
Which iPhones have the best battery life
Bigger models generally last longest. The iPhone 16 Pro Max (iPhone 16 Pro Max) and iPhone 17 Pro Max (iPhone 17 Pro Max) are among the longest-lasting iPhones, and the Plus models such as the iPhone 16 Plus (iPhone 16 Plus) also do well. Newer chips are more efficient, so a newer standard iPhone can last longer than an older Pro. Our iPhone 16 and 17 series are box pack, while our iPhone 11 to 15 series are used Non PTA units with 95–99% battery health, which you can confirm in Settings when the phone arrives. See all models in Non PTA iPhone (Non PTA iPhone); prices are on each model page.
