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iPhone owners to Apple: iOS 5.0.1 doesn't fix battery drain problem

Summary: iOS 5.0.1 making the problem worse for some.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

It seems that Apple's latest iOS 5.0.1 update released yesterday isn't fixing the iPhone battery drain problem for everyone. In fact, most users are claiming that the update is a dud, and some are saying that it makes the problem worse.

Want to get more from your iPhone battery? Check out these iOS 5 battery saver tips!

Apple's support forum is still abuzz with complaints. Here's a selection.

apple4s nige:

'usage is on mine is 1%-3% a min after update, going get my  money back. usless this is ....'

ChrisDB:

'Installed the new IOS 5.0.1 two hours ago.  I started a test at 1:30 CT today.  5% battery drain in 45 minutes with WIFI and location services turned on and me not touching the Iphone 4S.  The new update doesn't seem to help much.'

geezerdave:

'5.0.1 is a bust! I was one of the lucky ones getting two days out of a charge, albeit with a lot shut off.  After updating I am seeing my power drain at a much quicker rate. Nice.'

coloradoappleuser:

'Same here.  Updated about 1.5 hours ago, battery has drained 20% since then with no usage!  This is awful!'

JohnMantooth:

'Upgraded to 5.0.1 this morning.  Still draining at the exact same rate.  Unplugged with a full charge 2 1/2 hours ago, and already down to 80% with light usage.  Just lost 2% during a 15 minute shower.  I see no difference at all.'

mshan61:

'New update is  no help at all. I opened the safari  and lost  2 % just by opening the safari browser...This really *****'

ayemerica:

'IOS 5.0.1 has fixed nothing for me.'

Rich Williamson:

'Upgrade from ios5.0 to ios 5.0.1 did nothing, in fact it made it worse.'

It's hard to find users who are happy with the new update. There are a few.

RandalllFlagg:

'I'm at 9 hours and 22 minutes, and showing 65% left. So far, it's doing much better.'

I've also heard from several developers who claimed to be getting better battery life from the iOS 5.0.1 beta that Apple made available to them earlier this week, and they claim that the release version works the same too. I've also heard mixed responses from readers about the update.

At this point it's hard to pin down here whether this is a configuration issue, a app issue, or an issue specific to certain handsets.

Stay tuned!

[poll id="709"]

Related:

Image credit: renaissancechambara

Topics: Hardware, Apple, Mobile OS

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50 comments
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  • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

    It's the usage stats that are way off... It was on 3 hrs when I went to sleep then 9 hrs usage when I woke up?
    Thesecretsquid
    Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

      @Thesecretsquid Interesting ... like something's constantly running in the background ...
      Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
      Reply Vote

      • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

        @Adrian Kingsley-Hughes Yes, I've just posted again I think! The Genius Bar diagnostics MacBook showed the same and the "genius" said I must have been using it. They said whenever the screen is on the usage stats go up, well,that's obvious. Turning off iCloud and my battery lasted for nearly 2 days.

        Update: @rhonin - My iPad 2 is exactly the same. The battery life has not been affected.
        Thesecretsquid
        Reply Vote

      • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

        @Thesecretsquid
        Have to agree - with the iCloud off my 4 is faster and has better battery use.
        But I am not seeing the same issue on my iPad2 (wifi model)
        rhonin
        Reply Vote

      • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

        it is exactly the same thing as those people from last year staring at their "wireless" signal indicator, thinking that it is an accurate snapshot of the instant in time... when in fact they simply should just try and make a call... where are those people now? it isn't like the antenna steel morphed or something.... it was just the indicator that was changed... oh hey my call went through, because my indicator changed????

        so what it is, is web bloggers thinking that the people in a "problem" forum are an accurate slice of the general population.... the people hanging out there, are the ones with the problem of course, and not just a single problem... more likely some have real issues, some have fake issues, some have inaccurate abilities of comprehension... etc......... lets see, i see what is it 20 people out of the 10,000,000 sold so far?????

        it is people actually thinking that the 1% or 2% usage stat actually is some sort of reported number from GOD that is instantly accurate.... it is meant to be used as an average, meaning you have to actually use it, instead of staring at it for 5 mins....... if they simply relax a bit, and see what it is after a day or so of usage, instead of thinking it is an accurate picture of any 5 min snapshot in time... then they will see they actually can use it for the day..... then of course there will be some who actually got a bad phone... yet some blog will make a nest around this one person with a problem...
        honkj
        Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

      @Thesecretsquid
      More than stats on mine.
      My first generation ipad became a battery hog as soon as I installed iOS5. 5.0.1 didn't fix a thing. It's still not the stellar battery consumer it once was.
      It no longer can make it from sunup to sundown.
      I'm still waiting for a fix.
      camcost@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

    if all the spying of our surfing intelligence were shut off...maybe the battery would last a little longer...mr. jobs is still collecting data into his grave
    catfishjohn
    Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

      @catfishjohn

      Apple makes its money by selling you iPhones. If you want to be spied on, get an Android phone. Google makes their money by selling advertising based on what they know about you.

      But, to get back to the point, all the new web services in iOS 5 must, inevitably, use more battery. Theoretically, Apple could get around this by building a bigger phone, like most Android devices, so they could put in a bigger battery.
      jorjitop
      Reply Vote

      • Chuckle

        @jorjitop

        Yeah, Apple is not making money from iAd in the iDevice :D
        rhonin
        Reply Vote

      • Are you trolling? Because there is no way how you could honestly not ...

        @rhonin: ... understand where Google's and Apple's main businesses are, who is interested in what, and how much.
        dderss
        Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

      @catfishjohn Actually the ONLY mobile platform that is collecting any information and sending it back to the mothership is Microsoft. But don't my word for it, check this site and other tech sites. Apple has an issue where a lot of non personally identifiable data was being saved but NOT sent back to Apple - that was corrected. Straighten up your tin foil hat.
      athynz
      Reply Vote

      • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

        @Pete "athynz" Athens
        They all are guilty, wise up!
        OhTheHumanity
        Reply Vote

      • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

        @Pete "athynz" Athens So its Microsofts fault that the Iphone has battery issues?
        adholt
        Reply Vote

  • No problem here.

    Nothing wrong here. It may have to do with the 'always connected feature' that people were whinging to have. I suggest first turn off all notification and iCloud if your using it, automatic updates for apps and software, push email, etc, yes absolutely everything. Then turn them on one by one.
    root12
    Reply Vote

  • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

    I upgraded my wife's and my own iPhone 3GS to iOS5 and the first thing I did was to follow Adrian's instructions for battery saving. No problems with batteries since then. Updated to 5.0.1 yesterday and everything is ok. Did not notice much change but if any then for better.
    I just think it is about how much services one uses. Everything has its price...
    mjablkowski
    Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

      @mjablkowski
      I am going out on a limb here and thinking there is a production problem in certain handsets that can't be fixed by a software update. Since some report no issues and others do, that would tell me there is something different about those handsets that is causing this and the fact that not all iphones are made in the same place by the same manufacturer. I also know someone that has the 4S and within 2 weeks he had to replace it because it burnt up when it overheated and he wasn't using it at all when that occurred. I think there will be more news to come and maybe even a recall.
      OhTheHumanity
      Reply Vote

      • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

        @OhTheHumanity
        All phones have different apps installed that could also be causing the issue.
        kstap
        Reply Vote

      • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

        @OhTheHumanity
        Yeah true, but this didn't occur until the new phones arrived. Most of the problems are with the 4S and not with any older hardware updated to iOS5 so to me I don't think its a software problem as it would be visible by those with older devices with the same apps. And the fact that I know someone that had one just burn up on him and he didn't have anything installed on it yet as he uses it mainly for email. The phone just sat and cooked itself so its hard for me to say there is a problem with certain apps, but its possible, just a stretch for me to believe that.
        OhTheHumanity
        Reply Vote

  • Pretty embarrassing.

    Confirms my decision to stick to iOS 4 on my 3GS. Even without the battery issue, common sense tells me the 3GS is too slow for iOS 5.

    Any correlation between handset type and battery drain?
    The Star King
    Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 5.0.1 not fixing iPhone battery problems for everyone

      @The Star King
      Wise choice, my girlfriend did the update to iOS4 on her iPhone 3G and it cooked it and made it dog slow. She didn't go back to Apple after that and after many years of being an Apple fan. Once you make the upgrade there is no turning back and no way to revert. I would be patient about it and let them work out the bugs.
      OhTheHumanity
      Reply Vote
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