Evaluate battery and performance of iOS 26.5 Beta 1 after 24 hours

Evaluating battery life and performance on iPhone 16 using iOS 26.5 Beta 1 gives contradictory results, requiring careful consideration.

iOS 26.5 Beta 1 has just been released by Apple for programmers, and many iPhone 16 users have quickly installed it to experience it. After 24 hours of use, these are honest comments about the battery, performance and new changes in this update.

iOS 26.5 Beta 1 battery life on iPhone 16

Because it is the first Beta version, it is foreseeable that iOS 26.5 Beta 1 is not stable in terms of battery life. However, after only 24 hours, the battery experience on iPhone 16 with iOS 26.5 Beta 1 is not positive. The device consumes up to 106% battery in less than 1 day. The battery graph drops rapidly, even though users only open popular applications like Instagram, Threads…

Although it still achieves about 7 hours of screen brightness, overall battery life cannot compare to iOS 26.4. Putting it on the scale with previous Beta versions (iOS 26.3 Beta 1 and 26.4 Beta 1), iOS 26.5 Beta 1 is also difficult to compare. On the other hand, longer use (about 3 days) is also necessary to provide a more accurate assessment.

iOS 26.5 Beta 1 performance on iPhone 16

In terms of performance, iOS 26.5 Beta 1 offers a more positive experience. iPhone 16 runs smoothly, without lag during daily use. Geekbench results after installing the update show:

• First run: Single point achieved 3406multi-core score reached 8667. Both are above average, indicating very good initial performance.
• Second run: Score decreased slightly (3318 – 8595). The single-core part is still a bit higher than average, and the multi-core part is at an acceptable level.

Meanwhile, the GPU score reached for the first time 28,391 – significantly higher than average. The next run decreased slightly, which is quite a strange phenomenon compared to previous versions, but the overall score is still at a good level.

Overall, the overall performance is considered to be good and smooth. iPhone 16 still maintains high smoothness, suitable for work and entertainment. However, more time and more tests are needed to have a more accurate view of long-term strength.

Experience iOS 26.4 on the most advanced iPhone 17 line, preferential price at Minh Tuan Mobile:

New features in iOS 26.5 Beta 1

iOS 26.5 Beta 1 is not a major update with many groundbreaking features. The changes are mostly minor and focused on a few applications:

• Apple Maps: Add suggestions and display ads.
• RCS Messages: Restore end-to-end encryption for enhanced security.
• Apple Intelligence & AI: No major Siri updates or Gemini integration as many expected.

Overall, iOS 26.5 Beta 1 is a bug fix, fixing some outstanding issues, not a major update. In the immediate future, iOS 27 is still the focus of many users’ attention, and it is predicted that it will focus deeply on AI.

Should I update iOS 26.5 Beta 1 on iPhone 16?

If you’re using an iPhone 16 as your primary device, the current answer – after the first 24 hours – is no. The first Beta version often contains many limitations, and battery drops are a frequent problem. Please wait for 2-3 more Beta versions later or a more stable official version. Currently, iOS 26.4 is still the best choice.