Your smartphone is only as good as the charge it holds. It doesn’t matter if you have the newest flagship iPhone or Android—when the device’s battery dies, all the bells and whistles don’t mean diddly. And manufacturers know it.

For years, Apple and Google have managed to pack increasingly larger-capacity batteries into the phones they make. The larger the battery, the longer your phone can stay charged. But in recent years, both companies have also been turning to software features on their phones’ operating systems to help maximize battery life.

Apple added several software-based battery maximization enhancements in iOS 26. Google has done the same with its popular line of Pixel phones , particularly those running Android 16. Here’s how to use them.

Check your battery’s health and rem

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