As an iPhone owner, I recently became frustrated when I noticed that my battery health was only at 75%. Knowing that this could cause my phone to not work as well as it normally does, I decided to do some research and testing to see how I could improve it. Here, I’m sharing what I learned and the solutions I found, so that anyone else who is experiencing the same issue can find the help they need.
Dropping under 80% of the original capacity might indicate that your battery is degraded and should be replaced. Yet, you can continue using your phone if you don’t mind a drop in performance.
| Step | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the risks | Know that a 75% battery health might lead to fast battery drain, shorter battery life, and unexpected shutdowns |
| 2 | Recalibrate the battery health (iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max) | Use the battery recalibration feature to adjust any inaccurate estimates of your battery health |
| 3 | Replace the battery | Opt to replace the battery if the recalibration confirms it’s degraded or if you’re unhappy with its performance |
| 4 | Continue using the iPhone with degraded battery | Use your iPhone with lower performance expectations if you don’t mind the degraded battery |
| 5 | Backup your iPhone regularly | Protect your valuable files by regularly backing up your iPhone |
Table of Contents
What Are the Risks That Come With iPhone Battery Health 75%?
According to Apple, iPhone batteries are supposed to retain 80% of their maximum capacity after approximately 500 full charge cycles.
Once the capacity drops under the suggested percentage, you might see a warning message on your phone’s settings. This message will confirm that your battery is degraded and give you the option to have it replaced by an authorized Apple service provider.
The reason why you’re advised to change your battery is that it’ll affect your device’s performance.
That said, the impact may vary for every user. So, let’s take a look at the possible risks to expect at 75% battery health.
Fast Battery Drain
Shorter battery life is inevitable due to the diminished capacity. So, if the maximum capacity lasts 12 hours, a 75% level could only last for nine hours at similar usage rates.
Since it’s not ideal to drain your battery completely, you’ll have to charge your iPhone frequently. Using the previous example, you might need to charge your iPhone every five hours or so.
Frequent Unexpected Shutdowns
When your battery is unable to provide the power your phone needs to function properly, your device might resort to shutting down. This is a normal occurrence when your phone’s battery life is low, but it’s much more inconvenient when it happens unexpectedly.
When you turn on the iPhone after an unexpected shutdown, the performance management will be automatically activated. This feature is your phone’s defense from another abrupt shutdown.
In an attempt to balance the tasks, your phone might resort to any of the following:
- Lower frame rates while scrolling
- Backlight dimming
- Delayed application launch
- Disabled camera flash
- Lower speaker volume
If your phone is just low on battery, the effects of performance management will only last for a short while. However, if the battery is degraded, these changes may last longer.
Do I Need to Replace an iPhone Battery Once It Gets to 75%?
Batteries are consumables, which means they naturally wear down. Unfortunately, there’s no way to magically restore a used battery to its original capacity.
Here’s what you can do if you’re not happy with the current battery health level:
Recalibrate the Battery Health
If you think the drop in your iPhone’s battery health is suspicious, it’s possible that the capacity percentage was miscalculated.
If you’re an owner of an iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max, you can give the battery recalibration a shot. This feature automatically recalculates your maximum capacity to adjust any inaccurate estimates previously displayed on your phone.
It could take a few weeks, though.
We suggest that you wait for the recalibration process to be over to know your battery’s actual condition. Afterward, you can decide if replacing your battery is necessary.
Replace the Battery
If, after recalibration and your battery turns out to be degraded, you can opt to replace it. Of course, you can buy batteries elsewhere, but getting services from legitimate Apple stores could be your best bet.
Apple can replace your iPhone’s battery through their repair services, which come at varying price ranges.
For users covered by warranty or consumer law, the replacement could be free of charge. The same applies to AppleCare+ users.
Can I Still Use an iPhone With a Degraded Battery?
Depending on your usage, you could still use your iPhone, even if the battery isn’t in its best shape. In fact, some users hold on to their devices until they deem them completely unproductive and uncomfortable to use.
For one, some light apps and features won’t be greatly affected by a degraded battery, including calls, emails, messaging, and light internet browsing.
On the other hand, if you typically play games or watch videos on your phone nonstop, it’s best to have your battery replaced.
After all, a degraded battery isn’t up for heavy phone usage.
Lastly, don’t forget to back up your iPhone regularly to avoid the risk of losing valuable files if your device becomes unusable.
The Takeaway
Read more: iPhone battery health 80 percent
With an iPhone battery health at 75%, you can either have your battery replaced after recalibration or keep using your iPhone with lower performance expectations.
So, you might want to start by figuring out if the phone can still hold enough power to get you through the day comfortably. When your iPhone becomes more of a burden than an aid to your productivity, you might be due for a battery replacement!
