Battery icon colours at the top of a phone: what does it mean?
The battery level. On an iPhone a yellow battery means Low Power Mode is on.
What each maker says
- iPhone (Apple) — Battery. Shows the iPhone battery level. When the icon is yellow, Low Power Mode is on.
Source: Apple Support: Learn the meaning of iPhone status icons (iPhone User Guide) (checked 2026-09-29) - iPhone (Apple) — Bluetooth battery. A second, small upright battery shows the battery level of a paired Bluetooth device.
Source: Apple Support: Learn the meaning of iPhone status icons (iPhone User Guide) (checked 2026-09-29) - Samsung Galaxy — Battery level. Shows the current battery charge level; a lower level means the phone may need charging soon.
Source: Samsung Canada support: Identify and understand the icons displayed in the top right corner of your Samsung Galaxy (checked 2026-09-29)
- What it looks like
- A battery on its side (iPhone) or standing up (Samsung), filled to the charge level.
- Shown by
- iPhone (Apple), Samsung Galaxy
Icons to compare
Sources
Each meaning above is taken from the maker’s own support page, fetched and read on the date shown. The drawing is ours; the real icon on your phone may be drawn a little differently and can change with software updates.
- iPhone (Apple) — Apple Support: Learn the meaning of iPhone status icons (iPhone User Guide). OS: iOS 27, the version the guide opened on; not dated on the page. Checked 2026-09-29.
- Samsung Galaxy — Samsung Canada support: Identify and understand the icons displayed in the top right corner of your Samsung Galaxy. OS: One UI; some icons marked One UI 7; last updated 4 September 2026. Checked 2026-09-29.