iPhone 15 Pro Max reaches 1,000 cycles with 81 per cent battery health

An Engadget writer’s iPhone 15 Pro Max has reached 1,000 charge cycles and reports 81 per cent battery health. Apple says iPhone 15 models and newer are designed to retain 80 per cent of their original capacity through that many cycles.

The writer says the phone has not triggered iOS’s battery service warning, but now needs charging at least twice a day. When new, they recall it lasting nearly two days and delivering more than 12 hours of screen-on time.

A charge cycle is cumulative use of 100 per cent of the battery’s capacity; it does not have to happen in a single charge. Battery wear and daily life can vary by device and use, and the account reflects one phone.

The writer also reports that iOS 27 feels significantly smoother than the iOS 26 versions they used. That comparison is subjective; the account provides no independent performance benchmarks.

After mostly using the phone without a case, the writer says its titanium frame and glass back have held up well, with only minor scratches on the screen. The cameras, buttons and speakers also remain in good condition, in their assessment.

The writer is considering a battery replacement to extend the phone’s useful life.