Adaptive Power Could Be the Best Low-Key iOS 26 Feature for Your iPhone's Battery

Jeff Carlson writes about mobile technology for CNET. He is also the author of dozens of how-to books covering a wide spectrum ranging from Apple devices and cameras to photo editing software and PalmPilots. He drinks a lot of coffee in Seattle.

If you've installed the newest iOS 26 public beta or developer beta, you may be able to get a jump on an upcoming feature that might deliver long-term benefits. Adaptive Power is a setting designed to extend battery power by selectively saving energy in small ways that add up. In fact, I'm looking forward to turning it on and forgetting about it. If you're (rightly) cautious about installing betas, it's something to anticipate when iOS 26 comes out in the fall. Let's look closer at how this tiny preference could extend your iPhone's battery life.