Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max has secured the top spot in a battery comparison of 32 smartphones. The test also placed several other iPhone models among the strongest performers. According to CNET, the comparison used two tests lasting a combined three hours and 45 minutes. The first measured battery drain during three hours of Wi-Fi video streaming at maximum screen brightness. The second simulated everyday use through video playback, video calls, gaming, and social media for 45 minutes.
Both tests started with a full 100% charge. CNET then averaged the remaining battery percentages to determine the overall rankings. The iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, delivered the strongest mixed-use results. Both finished with 99% battery remaining. Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL followed with 97%, improving on the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s 93% result.
Meanwhile, the smaller iPhone 18 Pro led the video streaming test. It retained 94% battery after three hours of continuous playback. The iPhone 17 also delivered strong results across both tests, alongside Motorola’s Razr and Razr Ultra.
CNET attributed the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s overall performance to its larger battery compared with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The A20 Pro chip’s improved efficiency and iOS 27 optimizations also contributed to its lead.
Despite matching the iPhone 18 Pro Max in the mixed-use test, the $1,999 iPhone Duo finished fourth overall. Its combined results matched the $699 iPhone 17e and $1,400 Motorola Razr Ultra. This puts Apple’s foldable alongside two considerably less expensive devices in the rankings.
Apple also topped CNET’s manufacturer rankings for average battery performance for the second consecutive year. The comparison included brands with multiple tested models. OnePlus secured second place.
However, the broader results suggest smartphone battery life has changed little in recent years. CNET found that phones tested in 2026 delivered nearly the same average performance as models tested in 2025 and 2024.
Larger batteries do not always guarantee longer battery life. Display technology, processors, and other hardware features also affect power consumption. As a result, battery capacity alone does not determine how long a phone lasts between charges.
CNET also highlighted the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e as strong options for buyers seeking better battery life at lower prices. Outside Apple’s lineup, the $500 Motorola Moto G Stylus and $600 Motorola Edge also secured places in the overall top 10.
