The iPhone 5's latest software update is hurting the phone's battery life, some customers are complaining.
The irate owners say that since installing the recently-released iOS 6.0.2 software, their mobiles are chugging on power reserves like there's no tomorrow. Apple Insider says it's seen a handful of readers getting in touch to bemoan the effect of the update, while other owners have taken to Apple's official support forums to voice their frustration.
"Mine draining like crazy too", one commentor writes. "I went to bed with it at 72 per cent idling, and it was drained by morning. It's been this way for the past two days since I updated".
Apple site TidBits has also written about the perceived drop in battery life, suggesting that an increased drop in charge could be down to the device checking more often for Wi-Fi networks.
That could make sense, as the iOS 6.0.2 update, released earlier this week, was designed to quash a Wi-Fi bug. One commenter on Apple's forums writes, "Turned off my Wi-Fi this morning and up to now five hours later no battery drain".
Unusually Apple only pushed the update out to the iPad mini and iPhone 5, so if you've got any other type of iOS gadget, it seems there's little reason to worry.
It's tough to know how widespread the reported battery issue is, as the update is recent and only present on a couple of Apple gadgets. To help us get a sense of whether the issue is affecting lots of iPhone 5 owners or not, let us know in the comments or on our Facebook wall if you've installed iOS 6.0.2, and whether you think your phone is losing charge faster than before.
Most reports and comments single out the iPhone 5 rather than the iPad mini, but if you think Apple's tiny tablet is losing charge faster than it should be, then once more head toward the comments or our Facebook wall.
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Comments 18
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Ash Wilson 21 December, 2012 18:27
I have noticed since the update I can feel the phone getting quite warm even though I have a case on it, I can feel the heat coming through!!!
anonymous 22 December, 2012 14:54
TO: Ash Wilson 21 December, 2012 18:27
Apple new way to keep you warm this winter :) hehehehehe
anonymous 22 December, 2012 18:32
Hey I update and Iam not having anything drain or warm
anonymous 22 December, 2012 22:22
I've got an iPhone 5 and I haven't noticed any difference with the battery life, or any heating either, with the IOS upgrades. I had the iphone 4s before and the 5 is a lot better for battery. It lasts me a day and a half compared to just about a day for my iphone 4s. Sadly my One X was even less:((.
One thing I have noticed though is my Note 2 does get very warm on the back just under the camera when playing videos or anything intensive- to the point where it's uncomfortable (and not it's not a good hand warmer!). I've had similar with a friends Xperia T, but the arced back helps give a bit of of an air cushion. It seems to be a trait with a few phones (though I don;t remember having that with Symbian or blackberries in the past. It always seemed a way to waste batter life. Hopefully, manufacturers will one day produce batteries that last several days!
anonymous 22 December, 2012 22:29
No problem with mine. I bet there will be one or two people without iPhones who say they have a problem. One guy contacted me determined to convince me that the iPhone 5 camera was terrible (which it's not - it's great). Turns out he not only didn't have an iPhone- but he was stating it based only on comments that other people had made, he hadn't even bothered to look for himself. A shame CNET can't get people to do their comments using their phones and at the same time check what phone is being used! Not so good though if you're one of the people who's got a bricked S3 (which oddly doesn't get mentioned on CNET, last time I looked- catch up guys and do some reporting!).
anonymous 22 December, 2012 22:34
no problem for me
CNET- you seem to have flipped from pro Apple to anti Apple- please do some proper reviews and get some facts, not just rumors. I'm going over to EGDT, TechBuffalo and TechR- bye (CNET app removed).
Matt Winston. 22 December, 2012 23:42
I agree with what anon 22.29 said, CNET really need to change their comment system.
anonymous 23 December, 2012 01:30
Any problem or any slight problem with an Apple product is good sensational news for electronics rags like this one.
Pity you don't mention more common issues with other manufacturers products, such as the Nexus 7 which is dogged with build quality problems like the screens going wrong or coming loose.
CNET, if you want some Hot bad news, check out the early problems people are finding with their Nexus 4's. As feared by some, LG's reputation for poor quality control has not gone away.
anonymous 23 December, 2012 06:01
to the comments above me implying this is fake: it's not..check the apple forums, there are hundreds of people like me saying there's a battery problem, probably because of the ios since the capacity from 4/4s to 5 is increased.
yes a lot of sites try to say bad stuff about the iphone 5, like the camera as you mentioned, but the battery problem is true since i can see it for myself..it goes from full to 1% in about 7h 20m light usage + 10h standby and on "extreme" usage (wifi or cellular with or without 3g) in about 5h with 10h standby..
i did not have the iphone 5 on 6.0.1 as i bought it recently and updated ios immediately..
i hope this gets fixed soon..
i wonder if the problem was there on 6.0.1 because that's a fail on apple for not finding a solution (in 3 months time) to the problem they already had to deal with on the 4S on some past ios.
anonymous 23 December, 2012 06:18
I have seen a significant difference in battery drainage since upgrading to ios 6.0.2. I can literally watch my phone decrease in battery life as each minute passes.
Joshua Baker 23 December, 2012 12:46
i have a completely different glitch to everyone else, it seems my iphone keeps dropping its charge, as in disconnecting and reconnecting so it beeps every few minutes which is extremely irritating when charging at night. also when i got up this morning after charging all night the iphone was at only 62% (must have dropped out and not connected again) this problem has only arose since i updated yesterday. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBEM?
anonymous 25 December, 2012 16:55
my iphone 5 battery had a seriously drained since last 3 days. the phone is very hot, 100% battery will lost in 4-5 hours in a standby mode.
anonymous 1 January, 2013 18:50
I had to downgrade my i5 back to 6.0.1 as the battery drain was so bad. It was draining up to 25% per hour with just texting and full signal. It was ridiculous!
anonymous 9 January, 2013 16:02
Since the update my phone seems to be getting rather warm and the battery life is apawling, sort it out apple!!!!!!!
anonymous 10 January, 2013 10:04
I have my iphone since end of Dec 2012. I discovered the battery drained very fast. My iphone is using IOS 6.0.2. I wonder when the new updates will release.
Please help us. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anonymous 13 January, 2013 18:52
I'm running iOS 6.0.2 on my iPhone 5 and am having severe battery problems as well. I can just make it through the day, but without using any apps, making phone calls or basically using it for what it's designed to do. It is incredibly frustrating because I'm simply not constantly near a charger and above all, it's not acceptable for a high end phone like this. I'm praying it's a software issue because the battery on my previous iPhone 4 actually lasted a lot longer. Apple should solve this ASAP.
Momma 14 January, 2013 15:02
I'm glad that I'm not the only one with this problem, but I'm not happy about the problem. I used to be able to get through 2 days on a single charge, now I'm lucky if I can get 5 hours on standby. My phone is also very hot, almost too hot to touch.
Apple, PLEASE fix this problem. I would really like to continue saying that Apple put out another great product and that they acknowledge their customers concerns.
anonymous 21 January, 2013 18:44
i had to charge it for 5 times today, still draining battery like crazy, all apps are off nothing running still on stand by mode ,the battery dies in an hour