14 DAY TRIAL // Some users are reporting battery drain and overheating issues with their iPhones and iPads after updating to the latest firmware from Apple, which addresses a critical security flaw in the software.
Mostly iPhone 5s users are reporting that, ever since they updated their iDevices to iOS 7.0.6, the hardware runs hotter and the battery drains faster. Much faster, actually.
In some cases, the battery drain is so rapid that “users can basically watch the battery percentage gauge tick down,” according to OS X Daily. Indeed there are many users out there reporting this flaw, but it is by no means inherent to iOS 7.0.6.
Other firmware updates before it caused similar issues, and there’s no guarantee that these users don’t have jailbroken devices or graphics-intensive apps running in the background.
One way to address the issue is to perform a hard reset of the iPhone/iPod/iPad by simply holding down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button together for 10 seconds. The screen will flash and the device will reboot to the Apple logo we’re all so familiar with.
Before performing the forced reboot, users are encouraged to launch the multitasking tray (double tap Home button) and swipe upwards on every app to close them all.
Not surprisingly, the Apple Support Communities forum is chock full of battery drainage reports following the release of iOS 7.0.6. As many as four different threads (1,2,3,4) are actively debating whether or not this issue is widespread, which pretty much confirms it to be just that.
The number of views and the user replies on these threads also seem to indicate that iOS 7.0.6 really does affect battery life on iPhone 5s devices in particular. Even a Reddit topic has been opened to discuss the matter.
Here’s what one user has to say in a thread on Apple’s forums:
“Since I upgraded to 7.0.6 my battery drains at an alarming rate. Since 8:00 this morning I have made one call and checked email - the battery is now 51% after 2 hours! This was fine before the update. I have cloased all apps - still have exactly the same issue. Phone gets hot now when screen is on suggestiig the processor is doing a lot of work.”
Many others are reporting similar scenarios: “iPhone 5S updated to iOS 7.0.6, battery lasts as much as 6 hours VS 8 hours I usually got with iOS 7.0.4 / 7.0.5 with the exact same configurations and apps,” says Teren49 as a reply to the thread starter.
Anyone here experiencing the same problems?