Apple’s latest iOS 26 beta introduces a small but practical change for iPhone users concerned about battery life. The update, now available to developers, adds a new setting called Adaptive Power Notifications, giving users the option to receive alerts tied to the system’s existing power management feature.
Adaptive Power is designed to stretch battery life when usage is heavier than normal. Instead of simply waiting until the device hits the standard Low Power Mode threshold, the system can make adjustments in the background. These changes might include lowering display brightness, slowing down certain tasks, or automatically switching on Low Power Mode once the charge dips to 20 percent.
With the new toggle, users can choose whether or not to be notified when these adjustments occur. For those who prefer to know when performance trade-offs are happening, the notifications offer transparency. For others who would rather avoid extra alerts, the option to turn them off provides a cleaner experience. The toggle is located in Settings > Battery > Power Mode, alongside other battery management tools.
The beta also carries forward another update that will interest Apple Watch owners. Support for the Blood Oxygen feature, which had previously been restricted in the United States, has been reinstated in the latest builds of iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1. That functionality is now integrated into the new beta, expanding monitoring options for users pairing their watch with iPhone.
While not a dramatic change, the addition of Adaptive Power Notifications reflects Apple’s ongoing refinement of battery management controls. iPhone users continue to look for ways to balance performance and longevity, and giving people more choice in how much they’re informed about system-level adjustments may prove to be a welcome detail in everyday use.
