The best phones for battery life

We’ve all been there. The dreaded low battery notification pops up on your phone just as you want to take a video of the perfect moment, listen to music on your way home from work, or book that Uber.

So how do you ensure you always have battery life when you need it? 

You could make sure you take your charger with you everywhere, but that’s not going to be practical. Phone battery life is largely dependent on the individual user and usage, but some phones have better batteries than others. Choosing one of these would minimise the chance of your mobile running low or conking out when you need it most.

The key features to look for in a phone with excellent battery life include:

• Battery capacity
  Measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), a larger capacity generally means longer battery life. Most top phones these days will have an mAh of at least 4,500.
• Charging speed
  Fast charging capabilities, such as 25W or higher, can quickly replenish your battery to its full capacity.
• Power efficiency
  Optimised processors and software ensure minimal power wastage.
• Adaptive features
  Features like adaptive refresh rates and dark mode help conserve energy.

When it comes to finding the best battery life phones, you’ll want to ensure you get long-lasting battery without sacrificing overall performance - so here are four options which combine the best of both.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is perfect for users who demand premium user experience with robust battery life. With an incredible quad camera and Galaxy AI, the S25 Ultra would be forgiven for fading fast. But in fact, the opposite is true. The phone’s AI-enhanced power management optimises energy consumption based on usage, while its advanced cooling systems reduce energy loss during heavy use.

• Battery capacity 
  5,000mAh
• Charging 
  45W super-fast charging
• Display
  6.9-inch QHD+ dynamic AMOLED screen
• Processor
  Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite 8

With a focus on efficiency and performance, the Pixel 9 Pro delivers reliable battery life alongside cutting-edge AI features. Its adaptive battery technology learns usage patterns to extend battery life, while it also provides a clean, optimised Android experience for efficient power usage.

• Battery capacity 
  Around 4,700mAh
• Charging 
  30W wired, 23W wireless
• Display 
  6.7-inch LTPO OLED with 120Hz refresh rate
• Processor 
  Google Tensor G3

Apple’s innovative integration of hardware and software ensures the iPhone 16 Pro Max lasts all day and beyond. It provides industry-leading power efficiency with the A18 Bionic chip, while its intelligent battery management in iOS ensures optimal longevity.

• Battery capacity 
  Around 4,500mAh (Apple do not confirm exact capacity)
• Charging
  30W wired, 15W MagSafe wireless
• Display
  6.7-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion
• Processor
  Apple A18 Bionic

The Galaxy A54 5G provides exceptional battery life at a budget-friendly price, perfect for casual users. It’s an affordable mid-range option with excellent battery capacity, durable build and reliable performance for everyday tasks. It offers great value for users who prioritise battery over premium features.

• Battery capacity 
  5,000mAh
• Charging
  25W Fast Charging
• Display
  6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED
• Processor
  Exynos 1380

In addition to selecting from the best battery life phones, you can also employ a range of daily techniques to ensure you conserve battery life for when you need it most. These include:

• Lower screen brightness 
  Reduce your screen brightness manually or enable adaptive brightness to adjust automatically to your environment.
• Shorten screen timeout 
  Set your screen timeout and lock duration to the shortest comfortable duration (such as 30 seconds when on normal battery mode).
• Close unused apps 
  Close apps running in the background that you don’t need open.
• Restrict background data 
  Use settings to limit apps from refreshing data in the background, especially for non-essential apps.
• Disable push notifications 
  Turn off notifications for apps that aren't critical.

• Disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS 
  Turn off these features when they are not in use.
• Use airplane mode
  If you're in an area with poor reception, enabling airplane mode prevents your phone from constantly searching for a signal.
• Turn off vibration
  Vibration uses more power than ringtones or silent mode

There are many different phones on the market to choose from, and all of them have good batteries. But some are better than others. So, if you’re the type of person who uses your phone a lot and you’re always on the go, why not consider one of the handsets we’ve highlighted?

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