You’ve certainly noticed the updated battery % symbol in the status bar if you’re using iOS 16 on your iPhone and have explored many of the new capabilities. Due to space constraints for several sensors, including the camera and microphone, Apple deleted the function with the introduction of the iPhone X. It has now been reinstated, although not everyone is pleased with it.
First, the new battery % meter wasn’t available on all iPhone models. Second, some individuals dislike the makeover. Fortunately for all parties, it appears that Apple has been paying attention.
Apple’s iOS 16.1 developer betas address two significant problems with the new battery symbol in iOS 16, despite the fact that the software upgrades haven’t yet been made available to the general public.
What you should know is as follows.
What’s up with the iPhone’s battery status meter?
The precise battery % used to be displayed in the status bar of iPhones. There wasn’t enough screen space left after the iPhone X’s debut to maintain the battery level in the status bar, so Apple removed the function. The notch is the black bar at the top of your handset that contains a speaker and camera.
You can check the exact % in the Control Center by swiping down from the top right of your iPhone, but you can’t see the battery level from any app or the home screen. Additionally, it’s difficult to determine the precise percentage from the battery symbol alone, which is bad if your iPhone is about to die.
In the status bar, inside the current battery symbol, iOS 16 reintroduces the battery percentage indicator.
Which versions of the iPhone won’t get the battery percentage function restored?
Some people find it aggravating that not all iPhone users using iOS 16 will be able to view the new battery % feature in the status bar. Although the reason for some models’ exclusion from the feature has not been officially stated, it appears that lower pixel densities for some of the devices and space constraints for others are to blame.
The following models aren’t compatible with the functionality, according to this Apple support page:
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 13 Mini
On iPhones that don’t support the new feature, the only way to see your battery % is to either add a battery widget to your lock screen or home screen, or scroll down from the top right of your iPhone to see the battery percentage next to the battery icon (instead of inside it).
However, with iOS 16.1, which was made available last week for developers, the new battery % functionality will be available for the iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and iPhone Minis. It is now only available for download here, but it will soon be made available to everyone.