Noticed Your iPhone Running Out of Juice Faster Than Usual?
It’s pretty normal for a phones battery life to degrade over time, but before you panic or start shopping for a new device, it’s worth checking your iPhone’s battery health. It only takes a few taps, gives you a percentage and tells you more about your phone’s performance than you might think.
Whether you’re buying refurbished, selling your old iPhone, or just want to know if your battery’s still got it, this guide will walk you through exactly what battery health is, how to check it, and what those numbers really mean.
What Is iPhone Battery Health?
Every iPhone comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, designed to hold a charge and deliver consistent performance over time. But like all batteries, it slowly degrades with use.
A brand-new iPhone will show 100% capacity. But over time, as you charge and use your device, that number naturally declines.
A drop in battery health is normal. In fact, most iPhones still perform brilliantly with 85–90% capacity. So don’t stress if you’re not seeing triple digits.
How to Check Battery Health on iOS
It takes 10 seconds:
- Go to Settings
- Scroll to Battery
- Tap Battery Health
Here, you’ll see:
- Battery Health
- Maximum Capacity (%)
- Cycle Count
If your iPhone shows a warning like “Battery health significantly degraded”, it might be time to consider a battery replacement (or trade-in). As you can see below, your phone will also show the date your iPhones battery was manufactured and first switched on too!
So, what battery percentage is considered good or bad?
That maximum capacity figure is the key one.
Here’s what it tells you:
| Battery Health | What It Means | |
| 100–90% | Basically like new | |
| 89–80% | Slight degradation, still solid | |
| 79–70% | Noticeable drop in life between charges | |
| Below 70% | Short battery life, possible slowdowns |
It’s worth noting that iOS may throttle performance slightly when your battery health dips too low to prevent unexpected shutdowns.
Still, even at 85–90%, your iPhone should perform like a champ for everyday tasks. If you’re charging once a day and it’s holding up, you’re fine.
When Should You Worry About Battery Health?
Battery health becomes more of a concern when:
- Your phone dies quickly even with light use
- It shuts down randomly at 20–30%
- You’re charging multiple times a day
- Apps feel sluggish or unresponsive
- You get the message: “Your battery’s health is significantly degraded”
That’s your cue to either replace the battery (Apple and many third parties offer this), or trade in and upgrade.
If you’re buying a refurbished iPhone, though, this is where it gets important and The iOutlet has you covered.
Battery Life on Refurbished iPhones: What to Expect
Let’s clear up a common worry: Are batteries worse in refurbished phones?
Our Battery Standards:
- All iPhones must have at least 80% capacity
- If it’s lower, we replace the battery before the phone is sold
- Many devices ship with batteries at 90%+ capacity sometimes even brand new
- You’ll never get a device with “Service Battery” or degradation warnings
- Every iPhone is rigorously tested for charge cycles, battery efficiency, and temperature handling
We’re up-front about our grading process, too. If you’re shopping with us, check out our Refurbished Tech Grades guide to understand what each condition means battery included.
What About Warranties?
Every iPhone from The iOutlet comes with a 12-month warranty, covering unexpected issues including battery problems. If your device suddenly underperforms, just get in touch. We’re happy to help.
Tips to Keep Your Battery Healthy
Whether your phone is new, used, or refurbished, you can extend battery life by:
- Avoiding full 0–100% charges too often (keep it between 20–80% for best results)
- Using Optimised Battery Charging (found in settings)
- Avoiding high heat or direct sunlight
- Unplugging once fully charged
- Keeping iOS up to date for battery performance tweaks
And if your current battery isn’t cutting it, don’t wait until it drives you mad. Either replace it, or trade in and grab something newer no need to overpay.
Battery health is just one piece of the puzzle. But it’s a useful one especially when buying refurbished, selling your old phone, or troubleshooting why you’re reaching for the charger too often.
Now you know how to check it, what the numbers mean, and when to take action.
And if you’re buying refurbished?
Make sure you’re buying from somewhere that takes battery health seriously. At The iOutlet, we do. That’s why we’re trusted by thousands of customers and why your next iPhone might cost less and last longer.
