Introduction: The Display Is a Major Battery Drainer
Many iPhone users love the quality of Apple’s displays—from the crisp text to the vibrant colors. But that same high-resolution, high-refresh experience can consume more power, especially when brightness is cranked up or features like ProMotion stay on. If you’re tired of seeing the Low Battery pop-up, you don’t have to compromise on visuals. Here are five simple display settings you can adjust to extend your battery life while keeping a great viewing experience.
1) Enable Auto-Brightness or True Tone Adjustments
Auto-Brightness automatically adjusts your screen brightness based on ambient lighting, reducing energy use in darker environments. If you prefer color accuracy and warmth under different lighting, True Tone subtly adjusts white balance to match your surroundings, which can also reduce display power draw over time. Both features are available in Settings > Accessibility or Settings > Display & Brightness, depending on your iOS version. Try leaving Auto-Brightness on as a baseline, and enable True Tone if you value color realism without sacrificing battery life.
2) Lower Screen Brightness and Enable Dark Mode
Even with Auto-Brightness, brightness is a major drain. One quick fix is to lower the brightness slider in Settings > Display & Brightness or use the Control Center to tune brightness. For many users, a level around 40-60% provides a comfortable balance of readability and efficiency. If you regularly use dark wallpapers or apps that support dark mode, turning on Dark Mode (Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance) can further reduce power consumption on OLED displays by limiting bright pixels.
Why it helps
OLED screens consume less power when displaying darker content because individual pixels are turned off. Even with LCD panels, reduced brightness lowers backlight usage and extends battery life.
3) Turn Off Widget Screen and Limit Always-On Features
Widgets and home screen animations can draw power, especially on newer iPhones. If Low Battery pop-ups persist, simplify your Home Screen by removing unnecessary widgets and reducing motion. Check Settings > Accessibility > Motion and toggle Reduce Motion on. For iPhone models with Always-On Display (AOD), limited use or turning it off can save noticeable energy, especially if you frequently glance at the screen at a glance rather than in active use.
4) Optimize ProMotion and Refresh Rate Settings
ProMotion-enabled iPhones (like the iPhone 13 Pro and newer) dynamically adjust refresh rate for smooth scrolling and UI transitions. While this is great for experience, it can impact battery life if the device spends a lot of time at high refresh rates. If you’re seeking longer battery life, consider enabling a lower or variable refresh rate where possible. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, and look for options related to motion and refresh rate (exact names may vary by iOS version). Reducing motion or limiting high refresh scenarios can help conserve energy without compromising daily usability.
5) Manage Brightness on Lock Screen and Auto-Lock Timing
Lock Screen brightness and how quickly your iPhone auto-locks affect battery use. Shorter Auto-Lock times reduce the window during which the display remains awake when not in use, which translates to meaningful savings over a day. Make sure Auto-Lock is set to 30 seconds or 1 minute (Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock). Additionally, consider reducing the Force Touch and 3D touch features if your device supports them, and keep the brightness during idle periods low to minimize unnecessary power draw.
Putting It All Together
By combining these settings—Smart brightness management, color adjustments with True Tone, Dark Mode when appropriate, simplified widgets, and mindful refresh rates—you can significantly extend your iPhone’s battery life while still enjoying excellent display quality. The goal isn’t to dull the screen; it’s to optimize how the screen behaves in daily use, so you see fewer Low Battery prompts and more productive hours between charges.
Bonus Troubleshooting
If you still encounter rapid battery drain after adjusting display settings, rule out background activity. Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps are consuming energy and consider updates or alternatives. Also ensure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version, as software optimizations continually improve battery efficiency.
