iOS 16 beta brings back the Battery percentage feature
Apple has discreetly included a feature that some customers may find even more handy in the latest beta of iOS 16, which is expected to include customized lock screens. It’s brought back a feature that should never have been removed. As of the fifth iOS 16 beta, you’ll find a toggle that lets you display the percentage of your iPhone’s battery life in the status bar, rather than depending on a visual indicator. A function that was previously available on Apple devices has been deleted from phones with notches because the notch interfered with the display’s top edge, which meant there was less room for additional status bar information. Because of this, it’s a pleasant surprise to see it back on the scene.
Despite this, some users are complaining that the battery indicator seems to be full until it is down to 20% or less of its original capacity when the battery percentage is activated. However, at least you have the option today. Also, according to MacRumors(opens in new tab), there is no battery percentage toggle on the iPhone 11 or the iPhone XR. It’s unclear why this is the case, although smaller phones or the notch taking up more space could be to blame.
Perhaps when the final version of iOS 16 comes, this functionality will be available for those phones, and perhaps it will be altered so that the battery icon reflects the current battery level as well. This feature may or may not be included in the final product; we sincerely hope it is. It’s perplexing that Apple ever got rid of such an obvious and beneficial feature. It’s better than nothing, but you shouldn’t have to swipe to the Control Center every time you want to see how much juice is left in your phone’s battery.
If you don’t have a notch, like the iPhone SE (2022), Apple places the percentage next to the indicator, so you may get the best of both worlds. Of course, there’s no room for this implementation in phones that have one, like the iPhone 8 Plus. Even if Apple merely offered a percentage or an indicator, the former would appear to be the better choice. As a matter of fact, in this most recent beta, users have been given the option to choose between the two. Although it’s surprising that this has taken so long to come about, the fact that it’s finally here is a relief, and it might help make iOS 16 a significant improvement over iOS 15.