iOS 11.3 vs iOS 11.2.6 – Battery comparison test

Apple is touting iOS 11.3 as the best iOS 11 firmware update so far. But does it really improve upon its predecessors? Let’s find out below in the following battery comparison test.

Does iOS 11.3 improve battery life?

The general consensus is that this version improves performance but takes a toll on the battery life. Battery drain is about approximately 20% faster than other versions.

Generally, your system needs to reindex files after each major update. Once the changes even out, your device’s performance and battery life will return to normal.

YouTuber iAppleBytes decided to do an in-depth comparison between iOS 11.3 and its predecessor, iOS 11.2.6. You can watch the full test below.

If you are not satisfied with this update and want to go back to an older version, I recommend installing iOS 11.2.6 as soon as possible. You can follow this tutorial to downgrade iOS 11.3 on your Apple device.

Test Results

A lot of users who have upgraded to iOS 11.3 have reported a drastic increase in performance and smoothness. However, benchmarks seem to tell another story, with almost all devices experiencing a decline except for iPhone 6s.

• iPhone 5s – 1248 (11.2) vs 1186 (11.3)
• iPhone 6 – 1430 (11.2.6) vs 1349 (11.3)
• iPhone 6s – 1670 (11.2.6) vs 1880 (11.3)
• iPhone 7 – 1825 (11.2.6) vs 1706 (11.3)
• iPhone 8 – 1987 (11.2.6) vs 1948 (11.3) 

All the shiny new features are taking a toll on the battery life. All tested iPhone models experienced a decline in the runtime.

• iPhone 5s – 2 hours 41 minutes (11.2.6) vs 2 hours 25 minutes (11.3)
• iPhone 6 – 2 hours 35 minutes (11.2.6) vs 2 hours 20 minutes (11.3)
• iPhone 6s – 3 hours 8 minutes (11.2.6) vs 2 hours 47 minutes (11.3)
• iPhone 7 – 3 hours 3 minutes (11.2.6) vs 2 hours 51 minutes (11.3)
• iPhone 8 – 3 hours 19 minutes (11.2.6) vs 3 hours 15 minutes (11.3)

On the whole, this firmware update does more harm than good, especially if you discount the latest features and additions.

How is your experience with this version thus far? Did you experience slowdown or battery drain? Leave your comments below.

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