• After more than 15 years covering everything Apple, it’s with a heavy heart we announce that we will no longer be publishing new content on iMore and the iMore forums will be closing as of November 1st, 2024.

Why does increasing brightness to the max level drain my battery so fast?

I

iMore Question

At first, increasing the brightness to the max on my iPad Air 1 (the original iPad Air which was released in 2013) didn't drain my battery, but then, after some time, whenever I set the brightness to the max, my iPad loses 1% of its charge every 1 to 2 minutes! When I decrease it to the middle, it doesn't lose charge that fast and takes about 4 to 5 minutes to lose 1%. Why is this happening?
 

Spencerdl

Apple Watch Champion
Moderator
Jan 10, 2013
41,139
207
63
Visit site
At first, increasing the brightness to the max on my iPad Air 1 (the original iPad Air which was released in 2013) didn't drain my battery, but then, after some time, whenever I set the brightness to the max, my iPad loses 1% of its charge every 1 to 2 minutes! When I decrease it to the middle, it doesn't lose charge that fast and takes about 4 to 5 minutes to lose 1%. Why is this happening?

Probably because of two reasons, your iPad battery is two years old and has gotten weaker over that time period, and with the screen brightness to the max level it takes more energy than having it at 50% level.
 

Ledsteplin

Ambassador
Oct 2, 2013
51,092
843
108
Visit site
I keep my screen brightness at around 20% inside. In the sun I up it to about 75%. I can't imagine it at Max inside.