Apple’s Prepare to Ship Battery Cap Could Help More Android Phones in US, EU Use Larger Batteries

Under the feature, the iPhone’s battery capacity is limited while the device is being shipped. Once the phone is activated, the cap is removed, allowing for higher battery capacities in Europe, the US and other markets. Android Authority said it hopes Android OEMs will copy the option.

The report ties the feature to transport regulations that have shaped smartphone battery design. Europe, the US and international transport networks impose a 20Wh cap on a small single-cell battery, which is roughly equivalent to a maximum capacity of 5,300mAh. The limit has become more significant as phone batteries have grown.

Smartphone batteries have expanded sharply in recent years, with 6,000mAh, 7,000mAh and even 10,000mAh batteries on the market. The transport cap on individual battery cells has forced smartphone makers to adopt dual-cell battery designs or use smaller batteries, according to Android Authority.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 5,391mAh battery in global models, above the roughly 5,300mAh equivalent of the 20Wh single-cell transport cap. Apple’s Prepare to Ship feature addresses that gap by capping capacity during transport and lifting the restriction once the phone is activated, the report said. Android Authority presented the mechanism as a potential model for Android manufacturers.

If Android OEMs adopted a similar approach, the report suggests, more Android phones in the US, EU and other markets could use larger single-cell batteries without exceeding transport rules. Android Authority said it hopes Android manufacturers will follow Apple’s option.