Introduction
Battery life continues to be one of the most important features for smartphone buyers. As phones pack in more power-hungry components like bright high-res displays, advanced processors, and 5G connectivity, getting through a full day on a charge remains a challenge for many devices.
Thankfully battery technology and power management continue to advance. Many modern phones can easily last from morning to night even with heavy use. Others stretch to multiple days per charge even with long screen on times.
In this guide we detail the smartphones that offer the very best battery life spans based on their real-world usage. We’ll provide concrete stats on how long popular phones last across various tests. Keep reading to see the latest long-life champions!
Testing Methodology
Our battery life scores are derived from collating results from specialized third-party testing outlets like Tom’s Guide and GSMArena. These organizations run phones through a range of controlled usage tests to quantify endurance down to the minute.
Tests evaluate battery drain across common uses like internet browsing, GPS navigation, video playback, 3D gaming, and standby time. The most useful overall score is PCMark’s Work 3.0 battery life test which runs phones through a mix of simulated daily activities.
In addition to lab benchmarking, we also reference extensive hands-on reviews from technology experts at publications like Wired, CNET, The Verge, and others. These drive home how battery life holds up to real-world use.
The Longest Lasting Phones
Now let’s get into the devices that shine for battery life! We’ll start with the smartphone that tops all others, then highlight additional options across various prices and platforms.
1. ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate – Best Battery Life Overall
With an epic 2-day battery span, the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate stands alone when it comes to longevity. This uber-premium Android phone actually packs two 3000 mAh batteries for a total capacity of 6000 mAh.
In PCMark’s battery test, the phone lasted an incredible 16 hours and 9 minutes thanks to power efficiencies from the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset. For comparison, most high-end phones manage 6 to 10 hours on this evaluation.
Gaming drains more juice but still impresses at up to 10 hours per full charge. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has ALL the processing muscle for mobile games and even includes an attachable cooling fan to prevent thermal throttling during marathon sessions.
Beyond the battery, everything about this phone is maxed out – 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, 6.8” 165Hz AMOLED display with 1100 nits peak brightness, 50MP triple camera system, quad speakers, etc. ASUS built it for power users who need to push their phone to the limit.
If you want a phone that lasts long enough to watch the Extended Editions of all three Lord of the Rings films in one go, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate lets you indulge with hours to spare!
Key Battery Specs:
- 6000 mAh capacity
- Up to 16+ hours mixed usage
- Up to 10 hours gaming
- 65W wired charging
2. Motorola Edge Plus (2023) – Best Mainstream Phone Battery Life
While still pricey at $900, the latest Motorola Edge Plus offers battery life almost comparable to the ASUS gaming phone above without sacrificing top-level performance and features.
It lasts over 13 hours in PCMark’s Work test thanks to a large 5000 mAh battery paired with the efficient second-gen Snapdragon 8 chipset. Average mixed usage lands between 11 to 14 hours making it easy to go two days without charging.
Motorola also includes blistering fast 68W wired charging. Despite having a battery twice the size of an iPhone 14 Pro Max, the Edge Plus can charge fully in just 45 minutes! Even a short 10-minute top up provides hours of extra runtime.
The phone doesn’t skimp elsewhere either. You get a bold 6.7” 144Hz pOLED display, Snadragon 8 Gen 2 speeds, 12GB RAM, stellar 50MP main camera with Optical image stabilization (OIS), 15W wireless charging, IP52 water resistance, and 5G.
If you want incredible battery life from your everyday phone without compromises, the 2023 Motorola Edge Plus is a top option.
Key Battery Specs:
- 5000 mAh capacity
- Over 13 hours mixed usage
- 68W wired charging fully charges in 45 minutes
3. Google Pixel 7 Pro – Best Battery Life on a Pixel
Since the original model, Google’s Pixel phones reliably offer great battery spans thanks to deep Android optimization and power efficient components. The Pixel 7 Pro continues this trend with the best endurance of any Google phone yet.
It achieved nearly 12 hours in PCMMark’s rigorous battery test. For a phone with a vibrant 6.7-inch 1440p LTPO display running at 120Hz, that’s mighty impressive. The improved Tensor G2 provides excellent energy efficiency versus last year’s model.
In average mixed use, most reviewers found the Pixel 7 Pro last through a full day without issue. It may not hit the 2-day battery life of the phones above, but there is certainly enough cushion to avoid mid-day charging anxiety.
As expected with a Google device, the software is blazing fast and seamless. The new generation Tensor also brings meaningful improvements to the already excellent Pixel camera system. Add in the base $899 price for 128GB storage and you have an extremely well-rounded flagship option.
If you want amazing smartphone software paired with great battery life, the Pixel 7 Pro delivers.
Key Battery Specs
- 5000 mAh battery
- Up to 12 hours mixed usage
- 30W fast charging (50% in 30 minutes)
4. OnePlus 11 5G – Best Value Battery Life
OnePlus has always prized battery life in their value flagship phones. The latest OnePlus 11 continues that trend with exceptional endurance given its reasonable $699 starting price.
It achieved an amazing 17.5 hours in PCMMark’s Work 3.0 battery test! For context, that’s even longer than the ASUS gaming phone at #1. This superb result stems from a combination of the phone’s 5000 mAh battery, AI-enhanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and OnePlus’ battery saving software optimizations.
In the real-world you can expect the OnePlus 11 battery to last 1.5-2 days with moderate use. It charges lightning quick as well thanks to 100W wired SuperVOOC charging – hitting a 50% charge in 10 minutes flat!
If you want incredible phone battery life on a budget, nothing touches the OnePlus 11. You still get the expected flagship-level perks as well like a 120Hz 2K display, fast wireless charging, Hasselblad tuned cameras, and speedy fingerprint unlock.
Key Battery Specs:
- 5000 mAh capacity
- Over 17 hours in battery test
- 100W SuperVOOC charging (50% in 10 minutes)
5. iPhone 14 Plus – Best iPhone Battery Life
iPhones have historically trailed Android in battery capacity and longevity. But with the iPhone 14 Plus (and 14 Pro Max) Apple has started taking endurance more seriously.
The iPhone 14 Plus uses a 4323 mAh battery which delivers nearly 13.5 hours in benchmark testing. That’s a significant bump over the regular iPhone 14. Reviewers unanimously found they could easily make it through two days of mixed usage without charging.
The larger iPhone 14 Plus display lets you take full advantage of long battery life for activities like movie watching on planes or mobile gaming. It matches other iPhones with Apple’s stellar build quality and smooth iOS software.
Sure $899 still gets you “just” a 60Hz LCD display and A15 chip from last year iPhones, but if battery life trumps all get the iPhone 14 Plus. At least you have Apple’s unmatched 5 year software update guarantee to rely on.
Key Battery Specs:
- 4323 mAh battery
- Over 13 hours mixed usage
- Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes (20W adapter not included)
How to Improve Any Phone’s Battery Life
While the phones above shine for battery life spans, you can extend the runtime of any device with the right adjustments. Here are quick pro tips to try:
- Lower screen brightness
- Turn off always-on display
- Disable background app refresh
- Cut down push notification frequency
- Enable dark mode UI
- Limit location accuracy
- Disable unused radios (NFC, Bluetooth, etc)
- Stop unwanted apps from auto-starting
- Turn on battery saver mode
Small usage habit changes add up. You’ll easily get at least 20-30% more battery life from your current phone using strategies above.
Key Takeaways
Getting the most battery life from your smartphone is easier than ever. As technology marches forward, rapid power drain is no longer an inevitability even with heavy daily use.
From several day battery phones to speedy new charging tech that minimizes downtime, we have great options to stay powered up on the go.
We hope our detailed guide gives you the knowledge needed to find your perfect long-lasting phone whether that prioritizes budget, software experience, cameras, or simply sheer battery size over all else. Let us know if you have any other battery life phone recommendations!
