How to Check Battery Health on a New iPhone You Just Unwrapped

Before your photos, apps and messages come over, one screen on a new iPhone deserves a look. It tells you how much charge the battery can hold compared with when it was new, and on a Plug Certified phone it's where you confirm the battery promise that came with it.

To check battery health on a new iPhone, open the Settings app, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health (iPhone 15 and later) or Battery Health & Charging (iPhone 11 through 14). The Maximum Capacity percentage shows how much charge the battery holds relative to when it was new. Apple designs iPhone batteries to keep 80% of their original capacity after 500 or 1,000 complete charge cycles, depending on the model, and Plug Certified iPhones ship with battery health of 80% or higher.

Where to Find Battery Health: Two Paths by Model

The Battery Health screen sits under Settings > Battery on iPhone 11 and later, but its name and what it shows depend on the model. Here is how to get there on each, per Apple Support (not hands-on testing by Plug):

1. iPhone 15 and Later (iOS 17.4 and Later)

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Battery.
3. Tap Battery Health.

Written as one line, that's Settings, Battery, Battery Health. This screen shows battery health, Maximum Capacity, cycle count, manufacture date and first use date. An iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 follows the same path, since Apple groups them under "iPhone 15 models and later."

2. iPhone 11, 12, 13 and 14

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Battery.
3. Tap Battery Health & Charging.

The full path is Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Here you'll see Maximum Capacity and Peak Performance Capability. Cycle count, manufacture date and first use date aren't listed on these models, so Maximum Capacity is the number to read.

What Maximum Capacity Actually Means

Maximum Capacity is the size of your battery's tank today, measured against the tank it had when new. Apple puts it this way: "Maximum battery capacity measures the device battery capacity relative to when it was new."

Think of a reusable water bottle that shrinks a little each time you refill it over the years. It still fills to the brim, but the brim holds a bit less. A battery reading 90% holds about 90% of the charge it held when new.

This means the iPhone battery health percentage measures capacity, not hours. How long a charge lasts on a given day is a separate thing.

The figure is also an estimate the phone works out as you use it, not a reading off a meter.

What Number Should You See? Good Battery Health on a New iPhone

On a Plug Certified iPhone, you should see 80% or higher. That's the battery line Plug Certified iPhones ship with, alongside Plug's 90+ Point Inspection.

The 80% figure comes from Apple's own design target. In Apple's words: "Batteries of iPhone 14 models and earlier are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions. Batteries of iPhone 15 models and later are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions." Apple adds that the exact percentage "depends on how the devices are regularly used and charged."

So the 80% threshold is the point Apple builds toward after hundreds of cycles, not the edge of a cliff. A reading in the 90s means the battery is close to its starting capacity. A reading in the low 80s still meets Plug's battery promise, and how Plug tests a refurbished iPhone 13 battery shows what "good" looks like on a real model.

If your phone came factory-sealed in Apple's box, the battery is new, and Apple measures against the battery "when it was new," so that new battery is your starting point. The exact first reading can vary.

Here's how to read what you see:

What Settings shows	What it means	What to do
80% or higher	Meets Plug's battery promise	Nothing; enjoy the phone
Below 80%	Under Plug's battery line	On a Plug Certified phone, contact Plug
No reading, or a warning message	The phone can't show a reliable figure	Check Parts and Service History, then contact Plug

This is where certified and private-sale phones part ways. Buy from a private seller and the battery usually comes as-is, whatever the figure reads on day one. Buy a Plug Certified iPhone and the 80% line is part of what you were promised, with Plug's 12-Month Warranty behind the phone, so a reading that falls short is something to raise with Plug.

Extra Details on iPhone 15 and Later

iPhone 15 and later models add three lines under the Maximum Capacity figure, and together they tell you more about the battery you got:

• Cycle Count: How many complete charge cycles the battery has been through. Apple says a complete cycle "is normalized between 80 percent and 100 percent of original capacity," so it isn't simply one trip from empty to full.
• Manufacture Date: When the battery was made, which can be some time before the day you open the box.
• First Use Date: When the battery first went into use.

A Plug Certified phone had an owner before you, so a cycle count above zero is expected (you can also check Activation Lock on the iPhone as part of your first look). The number to judge it by is still Maximum Capacity and the 80% line, with the cycle count as context: Apple's design target is 80% after 1,000 complete cycles on these models.

If the Number Is Below 80% (or Missing)

If the reading is below 80%, or the screen shows a warning, the phone needs a second look, and on a Plug Certified iPhone that look starts with Plug. Here is what each case means:

• Below 80% on a Plug Certified iPhone: That's under the battery promise your phone shipped with. Contact Plug about the 12-Month Plug Warranty, which covers hardware and software faults under normal use (full terms are on Plug's guarantee page). Plug's 30-day returns also apply to your order.
• A message that the battery can't be verified: If iOS can't verify a genuine Apple battery, Apple says you'll see "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery," and "the battery-health information might not be accurate." Treat the percentage on that screen as unreliable.
• Checking the part itself: Go to Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History. Apple lists the battery as Genuine, Unknown (not a genuine Apple part, not functioning as expected, or not verified after a repair) or "Used" (on iPhone 15 and later with iOS 18, a genuine Apple battery that was installed in another iPhone before). This section applies to iPhone XR, XS and later, and on some models it only appears if a part has been replaced.

If a Plug Certified phone shows Unknown or a verification message, contact Plug with what the screen says.

Does the Number Match Other Tools?

Not always, and Settings is the reading that counts. The iPhone's figure is Apple's own estimate. Apple explains that "a set of algorithms and measurements taken during use determine maximum battery capacity," and that "over time, these algorithms might be updated."

Other apps and computer tools use their own methods, so their figure can differ from the one in Settings. Use an outside tool as a cross-check if you like, and go by Settings when you need a number to act on.

One model-specific case: on iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max running iOS 14.5 or later, Apple says recalibration of battery health reporting "might take a few weeks," and the displayed percentage "won't change during recalibration."

Keep It Healthy After Day One

You don't need a long routine to look after a battery, and Plug's longevity tips for a refurbished iPhone 15 go deeper. These are the points Apple's own pages back:

• Set a Charge Limit: On iPhone 15 and later, Apple's guide places a charge limit under Settings > Battery > Charging. Turn it on if you want the phone to stop short of full most of the time (Apple notes it may still charge to 100% now and then).
• Keep It Out of High Heat: Apple's battery advice includes keeping the phone away from high temperatures.
• Try Adaptive Power: iOS 26 adds Adaptive Power on supported models, which Apple describes as a way to extend the battery life of your iPhone.

Read Maximum Capacity once when the phone arrives and keep 80% in mind. While you're looking the phone over, it's also worth learning how to check if an iPhone is unlocked. If you still have an old phone to move from, back up your old iPhone first. Checking it again every few months shows you how the battery is wearing over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you check iPhone battery health without setting up the phone?

No. Apple says a phone sitting on the Hello screen "has been erased," and you can't test it in that state. Finish activating the phone first, then open Settings and go to Battery. On a gift, that means checking after the person it's for has set it up, and the guide to setting up an iPhone you got as a Christmas gift covers that part.

Why is there no battery health on my iPhone?

Apple says that for iPhone 6 and later, iOS 11.3 and later "shows battery health and recommends if you need to replace the battery." A phone on an older iOS version, or older than iPhone 6, won't have the screen. If it's still missing on a Plug Certified phone, contact Plug.

At what percentage does an iPhone need a new battery?

Apple's own signal is the Battery Health screen, which says when it recommends replacing the battery. Apple's one-year warranty "includes service coverage for a defective battery," and "if it is out of warranty, Apple offers battery service for a charge." For the price on your model, see Apple's battery service page. If a Plug Certified phone gets that recommendation months after you bought it, check whether you're still inside the 12-Month Plug Warranty and talk to Plug before paying Apple.

Is battery health the same as battery life?

No. Battery life is how long the phone runs between charges, and it moves with what you do that day: navigation, video and a weak signal all drain a charge faster.