Apple has stated why the battery life can change after an update of the operating system. This is actually very logical, which is perhaps the reason that Apple has been waiting for this for so long: updating your operating system leads to higher battery consumption and more heat development in the short term.
Sometimes the battery life even seems to be reduced, this is especially the case the days after installing the software update, but it can also be permanent because the operating system adds new functions that are heavier for your device.
Performance after software update
Last Monday, Apple rolled out a new series of operating systems for all your Apple devices. If you have performed the updates, you will undoubtedly have noticed that the battery life was shorter and the performance was less than normal. As with any major update, it is important to know that this is temporary and Apple now has confirmed That this is normal.
If your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac feels slow immediately after installing iOS 26, iPados 26, Watchos 26 or MacOS 26, there are no reasons for panic. It is normal behavior and that is mainly because your devices are having a hard time after the update.
Indexing in the background
There is an enormous amount of indexing, updating and adjustments in the background. These processes can ensure that your device is a bit slower in the first few days and possibly that some bugs occur here and there. That is not serious in itself, because Apple usually dissolves Bugs quickly with performance updates that will appear in the coming weeks.
iPhone gets hot
The thermal performance will also be temporarily less. Your iPhone can get warmer than normal. You may not notice this with light tasks such as WhatsApps or checking e-mails, but with heavier activities such as gaming, watching videos or using the camera, the temperature will probably rise. The background processes influence the cooling of the system, which makes it overloaded faster and the processor has to work harder, resulting in a warmer device.
Shorter battery life
Perhaps you will have to charge your iPhone, iPad or MacBook more often in the coming days. Immediately after completing an update, especially with a large version, you can temporarily notice a reduced battery life. This is normal because your device needs time to complete the installation behind the scenes. Among other things, data and files are indexed for search functions, new elements downloaded and apps are updated.
Not all battery life reductions are temporary
Apple warns that the new software updates can influence the battery life and long-term performance. These updates are the biggest change for the iPhone since iOS 7 in 2013.
New functions are of course exciting and ensure that you get even more out of your Apple product, but some of them require extra computing power from the device. Depending on your personal use, some users can therefore experience a small influence on performance and/or battery life. Apple is constantly working on optimizing these functions in software updates, so that you can continue to enjoy an optimal battery life and a smooth user experience.