8 things we learned from the iPhone energy labels Apple was forced to add in Europe

8 things we learned from the iPhone energy labels Apple was forced to add
in Europe
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We've known for a while that Apple would be adding energy and battery
labels to the iPhone and iPad in Europe, and that moment is finally here.
As a European who isn't a fan of the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) ruining
the iPhone in the region, I actually don't mind this particular initiative.

It's not that I necessarily need to know how much electricity my iPhone and
iPad consume, or how energy efficient they might be. Buy a fridge, washing
machine, or big-screen TV, and that information matters. The iPhone and
iPad's energy consumption is negligible.

Still, the new energy and battery labels Apple started placing on its
product pages for the iPhone and iPad in Europe reveal a few other
interesting details about these devices.

The new labels are visible on Apple's iPhone and iPad product pages, as
seen below. Tap the label and you get a PDF page for each product that
reveals plenty of additional details. It's not just about how
energy-efficient the iPhone and iPad are. You'll get actual figures for
battery life, battery capacity, and even years of software support.

Apple explained in an accompanying document how it tested the iPhone and
iPad. The company notes that it decided to downgrade the iPhone's energy
efficiency from an "A" to a "B" since some of the testing methods the EU
offers are ambiguous.

Most iPads get a "G" rating, while the iPad mini is slightly more efficient
with its "E" label.

Real battery life

Energy and battery labels appear right under the product name.
Energy and battery labels appear right under the product name. Image
source: Apple Inc.
Whenever Apple announces a new iPhone, it makes sure to give us battery
estimates for specific activities to show that the newest iPhone can last
longer than previous models. The figures aren't necessarily accurate for
real-life usage.

The new energy and battery labels finally give us better figures. Here are
the battery estimates for the iPhones Apple currently sells in the EU:

iPhone 16 Pro Max - 48 hours 0 minutes
iPhone 16 Pro - 37 hours 0 minutes
iPhone 16 Plus - 48 hours 0 minutes
iPhone 16 - 37 hours 0 minutes
iPhone 16e - 41 hours 0 minutes
iPhone 15 Plus - 45 hours 0 minutes
iPhone 15 - 34 hours 0 minutes
You'll get similar figures for all the iPads in the region.

Real battery capacity

As is the case with battery life, Apple never lists the battery capacities
for its iPhones. That changes in Europe, where it's forced to show the
battery capacities in the same document. They match teardowns and leaks,
which is how we used to find battery capacity for each new iPhone model.

iPhone 16 Pro Max - 4,685 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro - 3,582 mAh
iPhone 16 Plus - 4,674 mAh
iPhone 16 - 3,561 mAh
iPhone 16e - 4,005 mAh
iPhone 15 Plus - 4,383 mAh
iPhone 15 - 3,349 mAh

How many battery cycles are safe?
We don't want just long battery life from the iPhone and iPad. We want the
battery to last as long as possible without degrading to the point it needs
replacing.

Apple's new documents say the iPhone 16 models have a battery endurance of
over 1,000 cycles. That means the battery will hold at least 80% charge for
1,000 cycles. Recharge the phone every day, and you'll get about three
years of use.

How many years of software updates does it get?
Apple routinely supports its iPhones and iPads with at least five years of
new iOS updates, though it doesn't always spell that out. The EU's energy
and battery labels now explicitly mention it. iPhones get at least five
years of "operating system security updates, corrective updates and
functionality updates."

How likely is it to survive drops?

A label example for the iPhone 16 Pro.
A label example for the iPhone 16 Pro. Image source: Apple Inc.
The energy and battery labels also cover durability. For example, iPhones
get a "C" grade for surviving drops. "A" is best, "E" is worst. Larger
iPads get an "E" rating, so try not to drop them.

How easy is it to scratch the screen?

Remember those popular durability videos that YouTube channel
JerryRigEverything puts out after each new smartphone launch? One of the
tests is screen hardness. The YouTuber uses various picks to see how easily
the iPhone will scratch.

Now, Apple finally provides that figure. The iPhone scores a 4 on the Mohs
hardness scale, which shows how scratch-resistant the display is.

What submersion depth will it survive?

Drop the iPhone in water, and it's likely to survive. The handsets come
with IP68 ratings, which means they're resistant to drops and dust.

Apple usually highlights this during product launches, especially when it
improves immersion specs. The new label documents mention the maximum
immersion depth for each device. For the iPhone 16, that's 6 meters, or
about 18 feet.

The iPad doesn't get the same IP68 rating, so don't take it underwater.

How easy is it to repair?

Finally, the iPhone and iPad energy and battery labels confirm what we've
long suspected. iPhones aren't that easy to repair, with a "C" rating on
the A-to-E scale. The iPad fares slightly better with a "B."

You'll find these new documents on all iPhone and iPad pages across Apple's
EU websites. Ireland's Apple online store is your best bet for
documentation in English, which could be handy for buyers from other
markets.