Some iPhone owners say their battery life and cellular data use increased after moving to iOS 27, and a new feature called Connectivity Assist is attracting much of the attention. The reports do not prove that the feature causes every battery problem, but they give affected users a useful setting to inspect.
A highly active Reddit discussion includes users who say battery life improved after they disabled Connectivity Assist. Apple does not document a battery penalty, although its support page confirms that the feature can use more cellular data when Wi-Fi is slow or unusable.
Connectivity Assist replaces Wi-Fi Assist and can combine cellular data with a weak Wi-Fi connection. Our earlier explanation of where Apple moved Connectivity Assist covers the basic controls, while the newer complaints focus on how aggressively it may activate on certain networks.
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What affected users can check
Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and scroll below the saved network list to find the main Connectivity Assist switch. Apple also provides a network-specific control behind the information button beside each Wi-Fi network, which is useful when one router or ad-blocking setup repeatedly triggers cellular assistance.
You can review mobile usage under Settings, Cellular and System Services, although carrier records provide the most reliable billing total. Turn the feature off temporarily, note battery and cellular usage over several comparable days, and avoid drawing conclusions from a few hours immediately after an update because background indexing can also affect battery life.
Apple says Connectivity Assist is unavailable during international roaming, when cellular Low Data Mode is enabled, and in some streaming apps. Users with limited data allowances may prefer to disable it, while people who regularly use unreliable public Wi-Fi may decide that the more consistent connection is worth the additional data use.
Anyone seeing severe drain should also review Apple’s broader iOS 27 battery guidance. Connectivity Assist is one possible factor, not a confirmed universal explanation for poor battery life.
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