A journalist tested how limiting the battery charge to 80 percent affects the long-term health of Apple's iPhone Pro Max models across three generations, from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. By restricting the charge, she aimed to see if this practice could help preserve battery capacity over time. The iPhone 17 Pro Max showed a maximum battery capacity of 97 percent after 277 charge cycles over 12 months of use, which is an improvement compared to the 94 percent of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max. This improvement may be due to the inclusion of a vapor chamber, a cooling system that helps manage heat, and the journalist's decision to avoid using MagSafe wireless charging in favor of the USB-C port. The iPhone 15 Pro Max retained 88 percent of its battery health after 36 months and 369 charge cycles, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max reached 93 percent after 24 months and 343 cycles, losing only one percent of capacity during its second year of use. Despite these improvements, the journalist expressed skepticism about the real benefits of limiting the charge. She noted that for her older models, "sacrificing a fifth of the battery was not worth the final capacity achieved, and it still largely holds true today." She also pointed out that the difference between using a charge limit and not using one remains unclear, and she believes her "97 percent capacity is not so far from the health readings observed on iPhones that had not activated the limit." The journalist suggests that users might find more practical alternatives to the strict 80 percent charge limit. For example, Apple's optimized charging feature, which learns a user's daily habits and charges the phone just before they wake up, can help reduce battery wear without severely limiting capacity. Additionally, iOS 18 introduced new options that allow users to set thresholds at 90 or 95 percent, which provide a more comfortable balance between battery preservation and usability. These features may be more user-friendly than the strict 80 percent limit, which can force users to carry a charger or an external battery during long days. The iPhone Pro Max models, even with a reduced battery capacity, are still capable of lasting through a full day on a 100 percent charge. The journalist argues that the strict 80 percent limit may not be the best approach for most users, as it can inconvenience them without offering a clearly superior benefit in battery health. Instead, she recommends using Apple's optimized charging settings or the new thresholds introduced in iOS 18, which offer a more flexible and practical way to manage battery life.