iPhone users claim Apple's iOS 18.4 update has RUINED their battery life - as one vents 'it's utterly horrendous'

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Millions of Apple fans have rushed to update their iPhones with iOS 18.4, Apple's latest operating system packed with exciting new features. 

Released on Monday, iOS 18.4 includes eight hotly-anticipated emoji and new AI-powered capabilities in Apple Intelligence. 

However, several early users have taken to X (Twitter) to complain that the update is draining their battery life. 

X user @OldAppleTech called the battery life 's***' and 'utterly horrendous' on their iPhone after downloading iOS 18.4. 

Another affected user said: 'iOS 18.4 is terrible. Before updating battery health was 87% and after update became 79. This is insane.'  

Yet another posted: 'iPhone battery drains so fast, I’m basically on a three-charges-a-day plan this vacation.' 

And one vented: 'Stop updating ios. It is meant to reduce the battery life'. 

So, is your iPhone experiencing battery drain? Here's what to do.

iOS 18.4 includes eight hotly-anticipated emojis and new Apple Intelligence features - but the update appears to be draining people's phone batteries (file photo)

X user @OldAppleTech called the battery life 's***' and 'utterly horrendous' on their iPhone after downloading iOS 18.4

Battery drain is when a phone uses up more power than it usually would, meaning the device has to be charged more often or even kept plugged in.

The issue tends to happen after an iOS update because of the intensive recalibration tasks that require extra power. 

If you're one of those to have noticed battery drain after updating, the first thing to do is be patient because the change should only be temporary. 

Sometimes it can take hours and even days for software changes to finalise, which means that battery health can plummet or fluctuate. 

'If you notice that your battery life has decreased after updating your iPhone, wait a few days and then check again,' Apple says. 

'Even though you can use your iPhone immediately after an update, certain tasks related to the update continue in the background and might affect battery life and thermal performance.' 

However, if issues last for longer, it may be a good idea to check your phone battery's maximum capacity, located in the Battery tab in Settings. 

An iPhone's capacity to hold charge decreases as the battery chemically ages, which may result in fewer hours of usage and worse performance between charges. 

One person told fellow X users 'stop updating ios' on the basis that 'it is meant to reduce the battery life'

Another user posted: 'First hour of iOS 18.4 drains the battery' 

One X user called the update 'terrible', adding: 'Before updating battery health was 87% and after update became 79. This is insane' 

'Battery drain' is when a phone uses up more power than it usually would, meaning the device has to be charged more often or even kept plugged in 

If your battery needs replacing, an 'important battery message' will pop up indicating that its health has significantly degraded. 

Users should also check if Wi-Fi Assist setting is switched on, which keeps devices connected to the internet when the Wi-Fi connection is poor but can drain battery too.

If you're yet to get iOS 18.4 – and aren't deterred by the prospect of battery drain – your iPhone should alert you that the new update is available. 

iPhone users can download iOS 18.4 by going to the Settings app, clicking 'General' and then 'Software Updates' before following on-screen instructions. 

iOS 18.4, released on Monday, includes eight new emojis, as well as a new Sketch Style option in Image Playground and recipes in Apple News+. 

The new emoji are a face with bags under its eyes, paint splatter, fingerprint, root vegetable, leafless tree, harp, shovel and flag of Sark (the island in the English Channel). 

Also in iOS 18.4 are AI-powered Priority Notifications, which highlights 'important notifications that may require your immediate attention'. 

With the update, Apple Intelligence – Apple's suite of AI features – is now available in French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified), plus localised English for Singapore and India. 

If you're yet to get iOS 18.4 and aren't deterred by the prospect of battery drain your iPhone should alert you that the new update is available

iOS 18.4 includes eight new emojis - face with bags under its eyes, paint splatter, fingerprint, root vegetable, leafless tree, harp, shovel and flag of Sark (the island in the English Channel)

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Generally, Apple releases a major software update each autumn to accompany a new iPhone model (for example, iOS 18 last year) but adds incremental updates throughout the year (e.g., 18.4, 18.5). 

Apple is likely to reveal its next major update, iOS 19, at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2025), which runs from June 9 to 13.

Apple leaker Mark Gurman has said iOS 19 will mark 'one of the most dramatic software overhauls' in Apple history, 'transforming' the interface of iPhone, iPad and Mac computers 'for a new generation of users'. 

'A key goal of the overhaul is to make Apple’s different operating systems look similar and more consistent,' he wrote in a piece for Bloomberg. 

'That includes updating the style of icons, menus, apps, windows and system buttons.' 

The release of iOS 19 will coincide with iPhone 17, Apple's next flagship handset due to be unveiled in September. 

THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE

1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.

The first product was the Apple I. 

1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market. 

Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation's new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.

1981: Jobs became chairman.  

1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.

1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.

1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.  

The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone

2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.

The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.

2007: Apple unveils the iPhone. 

2010: The first iPad was unveiled.

2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.

2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones - the 6 and 6 Plus. 

2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services. 

2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.  

2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner's face.    

Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers. 

2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.

2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus. 

2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple's goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced. 

2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system. 

2023: Apple brought back its 'Home Pod' after the first generation was discontinued. The 'Home Pod' can be seen as an alternative to Amazon's Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands. 

2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once with many delayed until the following year.