Overview

• The iPhone 16 Pro Max was kept at an 80% maximum charge for a full year without exceptions.
• Battery health measured 94% after 299 cycles, while a colleague’s uncapped phone registered 96% at 308 cycles.
• The limit proved inconvenient in real use, with frequent shortfalls for camera work or GPS when away from home.
• The device was charged via both MagSafe and USB-C, and MagSafe sessions often ran hot, which the tester believes may have affected results.
• A new 12‑month test has begun on an iPhone 17 Pro Max to compare outcomes, with interest in the larger battery and aluminum construction.