Everyone wants longer lasting smartphones; after all, there's nothing more disappointing than your device letting you down when you need it most.
When it comes to iPhones, it's not always easy to work out which handset has the best battery. Apple tends to be a bit cryptic. Official figures refer to older devices ("iPhone A" has an hour more battery than "iPhone B") or the amount of time you can spend doing a certain activity (16 hours of video). It's a bit tricky to interpret.
To be fair, battery life isn't easy to measure. A myriad of factors will affect exactly how long an iPhone will last. If you don't use your phone much, you'll have a very different experience to someone who doesn't put it down all day.
We've tested a lot of iPhones over the years, so we've got a pretty good idea of how they fare with what you might consider typical usage - a robust (but not punishing) mix of messaging, emails, social, music, video, and more. If you're Apple-inclined and after the best battery you can get, you should consider one of these long-lasting iPhones.
We're still looking at a large number of older models to help if you're considering a refurbished iPhone. Just be aware that the refurbished device may have less battery capacity than a brand-new model, but should always have at least 80% left.
iPhone battery life compared
| Usage Time | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 1.5 - 2 days per charge | 4,685mAh |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 1.5 - 2 days per charge | 4,674mAh |
| iPhone 16e | 1.5 - 2 days per charge | 4,005mAh |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 1.5 - 2 days per charge | 4,383mAh |
| iPhone 14 Plus | 1.5 - 2 days per charge | 4,325mAh |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 1.5 - 2 days per charge | 4,532mAh |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 1.5 days per charge | 4,422mAh |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 1.5 days per charge | 4,323mAh |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 1.5 days per charge | 3,687mAh |
| iPhone 16 | 1.5 days per charge | 3,561mAh |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 1.5 days per charge | 3,582mAh |
| iPhone 15 | 1.5 days per charge | 3,349mAh |
| iPhone 14 | 1.5 days per charge | 3,279mAh |
| iPhone 13 | 1.5 days per charge | 3,227mAh |
| iPhone 13 Pro | 1.5 days per charge | 3,095mAh |
| iPhone 11 | 1.5 days per charge | 3,110mAh |
| iPhone XR | 1.5 days per charge | 2,942mAh |
| iPhone 15 Pro | 1 day per charge | 3,274mAh |
| iPhone 14 Pro | 1 day per charge | 3,200mAh |
| iPhone 12 Pro | 1 day per charge |
2,815mAh |
| iPhone 12 | 1 day per charge | 2,815mAh |
| iPhone 13 mini | 1 day per charge | 2,406mAh |
| iPhone 12 mini | 1 day per charge | 2,227mAh |
| iPhone SE (2022) | Less than a day per charge | 2,018mAh |
iPhone 16 Pro Max
The official figure: "The best battery life on iPhone ever"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 29 hours
- Video playback: Up to 33 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 105 hours
Our testing: Between a day and a half and two days per charge with standard usage
Apple says the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the "best battery life on iPhone ever", and is touting some impressive numbers, including up to 29 hours of streamed video playback. While paper doesn't always live up to reality, we were able to get as much as nine hours of screen time from the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That's the longest amount of screen time we've seen in our time testing iPhones.
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$98.69/mth
Min. cost $2,187.84
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$114.68/mth
Min. cost $2,203.48
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$124.69/mth
Min. cost $2,213.84
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Plus
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 24 hours
- Video playback: Up to 27 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 100 hours
Our testing: Between a day and a half and two days per charge with standard usage
Apple's official battery figures for the iPhone 16 Plus are a little higher than those of the iPhone 15 Plus, and that's great. The iPhone 15 Plus was the previous iPhone to beat in terms of battery, so it's hard to argue with even more. In our testing, we were able to get around eight hours of screen time per charge, which is on par with the iPhone 15 Plus.
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$83.41/mth
Min. cost $1,637.76
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$99.40/mth
Min. cost $1,653.40
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$109.41/mth
Min. cost $1,663.76
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16e
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 21 hours
- Video playback: Up to 26 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 90 hours
Our testing: Between a day and a half and two days per charge with standard usage
Despite its smaller size, Apple's official battery figures for the iPhone 16e are higher than older larger models, like the iPhone 15 Plus. In our testing, we were able to get around eight hours of screen time per charge, which matches top performing models like the iPhone 16 Plus. It's the best battery we've seen in an iPhone of this size.
iPhone 16e 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$66.75/mth
Min. cost $1,038
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$77.18/mth
Min. cost $1,053.64
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$92.75/mth
Min. cost $1,064
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 15 Plus
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 20 hours
- Video playback: Up to 26 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 100 hours
Our testing: Between a day and a half and two days with standard usage
Apple's official battery figures for the iPhone 15 Plus are identical to those it gave for the iPhone 14 Plus, and that's a good thing. That phone just wouldn't die. We saw the same thing in our testing, clocking over eight hours of screen time per charge. That could comfortably last two days for lighter users.
iPhone 15 Plus 128GB Plans
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$113.29/mth
Min. cost $1,453.96
|
iPhone 14 Plus
The official figure: "Best battery life ever in an iPhone"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 20 hours
- Video playback: Up to 26 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 100 hours
Our testing: Between a day and a half and two days per charge with standard usage
Out of the iPhone 14 series, Apple says the iPhone 14 Plus has the best battery it has ever put in a phone. While the iPhone 14 Pro Max may be able to beat it in some circumstances, the iPhone 14 Plus is your best bet for day-to-day usage. Since it doesn't have more power-demanding features like an Always On display and ProMotion, the iPhone 14 Plus will typically last longer.
iPhone 14 Plus 128GB Plans
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$107.02/mth
Min. cost $1,303.48
|
iPhone 13 Pro Max
The official figure: "Up to 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro Max"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 25 hours
- Video playback: Up to 28 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 95 hours
Our testing: Between a day and a half and two days with standard usage
Most should get at least a day and a half per charge from the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but two days isn't out of the question if your usage is a bit lighter.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 25 hours
- Video playback: Up to 29 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 95 hours
Our testing: About a day-and-a-half per charge.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comfortably lasts a day and a half per charge. In our testing, we were able to achieve around seven hours of screen time.
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$111.87/mth
Min. cost $2,087.88
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$150.37/mth
Min. cost $2,113.88
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 14 Pro Max
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 25 hours
- Video playback: Up to 29 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 95 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has pretty similar battery ratings to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but in our testing, we found the battery life a slight downgrade - presumably due to the Always On display. Despite this, we were still able to comfortably get over seven hours of screen time per charge, which is more than enough for over a full day of standard usage.
iPhone 12 Pro Max
The official figures: About the same as iPhone 11 Pro Max
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 12 hours
- Video playback: Up to 20 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max isn't quite as resilient as the iPhone 13 Pro Max in terms of battery life, but still holds up well. Most should be able to get a day-and-a-half per charge. At the very least, it will be hard to kill it in one day.
iPhone 16
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 18 hours
- Video playback: Up to 22 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge with standard usage
The standard iPhone 16 battery figures might not seem too exciting, but they're an upgrade on the iPhone 15. In our testing, we found the iPhone 16 was comfortably able to get around seven hours of screen time per charge, which is a little more than you were able to get with the iPhone 15.
iPhone 16 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$77.86/mth
Min. cost $1,437.96
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$93.86/mth
Min. cost $1,453.96
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$103.86/mth
Min. cost $1,463.96
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Pro
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 22 hours
- Video playback: Up to 27 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 85 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge with standard usage
We've always found the battery life on the smaller Pro iPhones to be a little average, so we've been pleasantly surprised by the iPhone 16 Pro. In our testing we were able to get around six hours of screen time per charge, which is more than enough for a full day of usage with a very comfortable buffer. It's a big step up from past Pro models, where we've only been able to get around 4.5 hours of screen time.
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
Editor's Pick
$49 Small Plan
$88.97/mth
Min. cost $1,837.92
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$104.96/mth
Min. cost $1,853.56
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$114.97/mth
Min. cost $1,863.92
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 15
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 16 hours
- Video playback: Up to 20 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge.
In our testing, iPhone 15 achieved at least six hours of screen time per charge, which translates to a full day of usage with a comfortable buffer.
iPhone 15 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$91.04/mth
Min. cost $1,287.96
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$107.02/mth
Min. cost $1,303.48
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$117.04/mth
Min. cost $1,313.96
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 14
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 20 hours
- Video playback: Up to 16 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge.
The iPhone 14 got a small bump in battery over the iPhone 13, but in our testing, this didn't make too much of a difference. You can still get between five and six hours of screen time per charge, which is a full day of standard usage with a comfortable buffer.
iPhone 14 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$82.70/mth
Min. cost $1,087.80
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$98.68/mth
Min. cost $1,103.32
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$108.70/mth
Min. cost $1,113.80
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 13
The official figure: "Up to 2.5 hours longer than iPhone 12"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 15 hours
- Video playback: Up to 19 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 75 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge
Apple increased battery life across the board with the iPhone 13 family and in our testing we found you should easily be able to get a full day per charge with a comfortable buffer.
iPhone 13 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$91.60/mth
Min. cost $933.40
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$101.62/mth
Min. cost $943.88
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 13 Pro
The official figure: "Up to 1.5 hours longer than iPhone 12 Pro"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 20 hours
- Video playback: Up to 22 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 75 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge.
It might not be the same kind of show-stopper as the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but the iPhone 13 Pro is a genuine upgrade from the iPhone 12 Pro. You should easily get through a day with a buffer. While Apple's official figures say the iPhone 13 Pro offers better longevity for video playback than the iPhone 13, our real-world testing showed the iPhone 13 lasts longer for day-to-day usage.
iPhone 11
The official figure: "Up to 1 hour longer than the iPhone XR"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 10 hours
- Video playback: Up to 17 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 65 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half with standard usage
The iPhone 11, while an older device, has a solid battery. A day and a half is definitely achievable, depending on your usage.
iPhone XR
The official figure: "Up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 8 Plus"
- Talk time: Up to 25 hours
- Internet use: Up to 15 hours
- Video playback: Up to 16 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 65 hours
Our testing: About a day and a half per charge
Before Apple doubled down on battery life with the iPhone 11, the iPhone XR was your best bet if you wanted a long-lasting iPhone. You'll easily get through a full day on a single charge, and in most cases, you should have a comfortable buffer for day two.
iPhone 15 Pro
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 20 hours
- Video playback: Up to 23 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 75 hours
Our testing: A full day per charge.
The iPhone 15 Pro has the worst battery out of the iPhone 15 family. When using the iPhone 15 Pro, we still got a full day per charge, but with very little buffer. As such, it's the kind of phone that might need a top-up on very busy days.
iPhone 15 Pro 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$97.29/mth
Min. cost $1,737.96
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$135.79/mth
Min. cost $1,763.96
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 14 Pro
The official figure: "All-day battery"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 23 hours
- Video playback: Up to 20 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 75 hours
Our testing: About a full day per charge
The iPhone 14 Pro is a small step back in battery compared to the iPhone 13 Pro - presumably thanks to the Always On display. While you should still get through the full day, you just won't have much of a buffer at the end of it. It's the kind of phone you'll need to charge every night.
iPhone 12 Pro
The official figures: About the same as iPhone 11 Pro
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 11 hours
- Video playback: Up to 17 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 65 hours
Our testing: A full day per charge with standard usage
Apple says the iPhone 12 Pro battery should offer similar performance to the iPhone 11 Pro, but in our testing, we found it to perform a little worse. The iPhone 12 Pro should comfortably last a full day per charge with standard usage, but we found it was definitely the kind of phone you have to charge every night. The iPhone 11 Pro offered a more comfortable buffer.
iPhone 12
The official figures: The same as iPhone 12 Pro
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 11 hours
- Video playback: Up to 17 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 65 hours
Our testing: A full day per charge with standard usage
Apple's official battery figures for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 are identical, and in our testing, we found the two to perform very similarly. This means you're looking at a full day per charge, but you'll need to top up every night. There's very little buffer.
iPhone 12 64GB Plans
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$96.61/mth
Min. cost $1,053.64
|
iPhone 13 mini
The official figure: "Up to 1.5 hours longer than iPhone 12 mini"
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 13 hours
- Video playback: Up to 17 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 55 hours
Our testing: A full day per charge with standard usage.
Battery held back the iPhone 12 mini, but the iPhone 13 mini is just a bit more reliable. You should be able to get a full day of use per charge, but don't expect much of a buffer.
iPhone 13 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$91.60/mth
Min. cost $933.40
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$101.62/mth
Min. cost $943.88
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 12 mini
The official figures: A little shorter than the iPhone 12
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 10 hours
- Video playback: Up to 15 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 50 hours
Our testing: About a full day per charge with standard usage.
Apple's official battery figures for the iPhone 12 mini are shorter than what it advertises for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, but a tad more robust than the iPhone SE. Despite this, in our testing, we found the iPhone 12 mini could still rack up about four to five hours of screen time - roughly equivalent to a day per charge. Tasks like video and hotspotting can be a tad more demanding, however, and we did find there were some days we needed to top up early.
iPhone SE (2022)
The official figure: Better than its predecessor
- Streamed video playback: Up to 10 hours
- Video playback: Up to 15 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 50 hours
Our testing: A single day, max
The latest iPhone SE has slightly better battery than the 2020 model, but getting through a full day on a single charge could still be a stretch.
iPhone SE 3rd Gen 64GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$84.94/mth
Min. cost $773.56
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$89.95/mth
Min. cost $663.80
Link not supplied
|
There are plenty of different factors that will determine exactly how long your smartphone battery will last. Some of these are obvious, some aren't. Here's a quick look at a few of the important ones.
- Screen time: Funnily enough, your phone uses a lot more battery when the display is on (as opposed to sleeping). As such, listening to music or a podcast (with your screen off) won't use anywhere near as much battery as watching a video.
- Which apps you use: Not all apps put the same kind of strain on your smartphone. For example, watching a video on your phone will use less battery than playing a game. For a phone, playing a video is a simple task. To run a game, on the other hand, the processor has to work much harder.
- Network coverage: Patchy network coverage can negatively impact your phone's battery life. Constantly searching for signal and trying to reconnect to a network can be quite a demanding task.
- GPS: GPS - and mapping apps - can be surprisingly battery-intensive. When using GPS, your device needs to communicate with three or four satellites for an extended duration of time. It doesn't help that your phone is typically running multiple tasks when using an app like Google Maps or Apple Maps. You've got your GPS connection, your phone display is on, and you're using mobile data for the maps and traffic information. There's a good chance you're also moving at the same time, so your device will need to work harder to maintain its GPS connection.
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