Reddit User Creates Shortcut to Estimate iPhone Charge Time

IPhone users have long been asking for a feature that provides an estimate of how much time is left until their phones are fully charged. However, Apple has yet to fulfill this request. Frustrated with the lack of progress, Reddit user u/AlxR25 took matters into their own hands, creating a solution and sharing it on the r/iPhone subreddit.

This Shortcut combines various commands to activate as soon as the iPhone is plugged into a charger. When turned on, it will display a pop-up message indicating how long it will take for the device to charge completely.

However, the process isn’t as simple as it might sound. The charging rate varies based on several factors. The Shortcut was designed using a 20W charger as a reference point, which charges the battery by 1% every 1.2 minutes up to 50%. After that, it charges at a slower rate of 1% every 1.8 minutes until reaching 100%. If the Optimized Charging feature is enabled, the charging speed significantly decreases after the battery hits 80%.

An image of the back of an iPhone 16. — Joe Maring / Digital Trends

If you’re interested in trying out this Shortcut, you can download it using the iCloud link provided in the original post.

Additionally, another user, u/HeartbreakWon, added a timer feature to the Shortcut that makes it visible in the Dynamic Island, although they did not share their version with others.

It’s essential to note that this solution might not be suitable for everyone. Users utilizing chargers with different wattages may find the estimates to be inaccurate. Additionally, some have reported unreliable estimates due to the wear of older batteries. Nevertheless, it’s inspiring to see the community step up to implement a feature that many have long desired.

With the release of iOS 18, Apple introduced numerous new charging features, including notifications for using a fast charger. However, the much-anticipated charging time estimate feature was notably absent. While it’s assumed that Apple plans to add this function in the future, no official updates have confirmed this yet.