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A roundup of the best phones for battery life, including models with the biggest batteries, most efficient processors, and fastest charging.
Written by Sneha Kashyap, Content and PR Executive | Conscious Consumption and Tech Trends
Last updated on 12 December 2025
Battery life is the most important feature of any modern mobile phone, it’s what powers it up for the day ahead. Most things nowadays have been integrated into our mobile phones, making them irreplaceable. We pay for things with our phone, play games, catch Netflix on the commute home, and even set an alarm to make sure we’re up every morning. So when this fails us, everything becomes very limited, which is why we’ve put together a list of the most battery-efficient phones.
In this updated guide for 2025, we’ve rounded up the best phones for battery life, including models with the highest battery capacity, most efficient processors, and fastest charging speeds.
Best iPhone for Battery Life: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Best Android Phone for Battery Life: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Best Battery Life for Gaming and Power Users: ZTE Nubia RedMagic 10 Pro
Best Value Phone for Battery Life: Motorola Edge 60 Pro
Best AI Battery Management: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
When looking for phones with the best battery, you’ll want to consider more than just the size of its battery (measured in mAh).
Here’s what to look out for:
Battery Capacity (mAh): Higher capacity means longer use. Aim for 4,500 mAh or more.
Processor Efficiency: Newer chips like Apple’s A18 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite balance power and efficiency.
Display Tech: OLED and adaptive refresh rates (1–120 Hz) reduce battery drain.
Charging Speed: Look for fast charging (45 W or higher) and wireless charging support.
Software Optimisation: Features like Adaptive Battery and Extreme Battery Saver can make a big difference.
Here are our top picks for the latest mobile phones with the best battery life in 2025:
Image Credits: Apple
Battery: 5,088 mAh
Battery Life: Up to 37 hours video playback
Charging: 30W wired / MagSafe wireless
Ideal for: Apple users who want long battery life and performance without compromise.
Apple’s latest flagship might just be the most battery-efficient phone on the market. Apple lists the battery capacity at 5,088 mAh (for the eSIM-only variant, which is the largest ever in an iPhone. For physical-SIM models the capacity sits slightly lower at 4,823 mAh, according to regulatory listings.
In terms of use-cases, Apple claims you’ll get up to 37 hours of video playback on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Third-party testing (for example, a continuous 5G web-browse test at 150 nits) measured around 17 hours 54 minutes of uptime.
What this means in practice is that this phone is likely to comfortably last more than a full day of heavy use, especially compared with many smaller-battery phones. That said, real-world results will vary a lot depending on screen-time, gaming/streaming mix, signal strength, brightness and other factors.
As for power-delivery behaviour, the iPhone 17 Pro Max supports “up to 50% charge in 20 minutes” when using a compatible 40W + USB-C power adapter (sold separately). On the wireless side, MagSafe/USB-C wireless options are available though Apple doesn’t emphasise ultra-high speed wireless charging in the same way some Android rivals do.
On the upside, the iPhone 17 series does benefit from Apple’s power-efficiency improvements (in the A19 Pro chip, internal battery layout with new vapour chamber cooling mechanism) which contribute to its strong endurance despite large 120 Hz display and other features.
Verdict: If you’re prioritising battery life in your next flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a very compelling choice. Its large capacity and strong real-world results make it one of the best in class. Just remember: “up to” figures (e.g., 39 hours video playback) are best-case scenarios, not what you’ll necessarily see under a full day of mixed heavy usage.
Battery: 5,000 mAh
Battery Life: 31 hours video / 2 days mixed use
Charging: 45 W wired / wireless support
Ideal for: Android users who want a phone with the strongest battery and premium features.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a powerhouse all around, and it certainly lives up to expectations when it comes to battery life. As the top model in the S25 series, it’s the only one to reach a 5,000 mAh battery capacity, compared with 4,900 mAh on the S25+ and 4,000 mAh on the base S25.
Samsung claims the S25 Ultra can deliver up to 31 hours of video playback, a small improvement over the S24 Ultra’s 30 hours. Of course, these are lab-tested figures; in real-world use, things like screen brightness, connectivity, and gaming will affect endurance significantly. A commuter who streams for hours a day will see faster drain than someone using their phone mainly for calls and messaging.
One handy feature is Samsung’s manual refresh-rate control, allowing you to lock the display at 60 Hz to save power. This makes it easier to balance smooth performance and battery longevity.
Interestingly, Samsung hasn’t increased the battery capacity since the S23 Ultra, which is still 5,000 mAh. However, the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor delivers noticeable power-efficiency gains, helping the S25 Ultra easily last through a full day of typical use.
Charging speeds are also solid. The S25 Ultra supports 45 W wired fast charging, the same as the S24 Ultra, letting you reach around 65% in roughly 30 minutes with the right charger.
Verdict:
The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers excellent endurance, smart battery-saving options, and efficient hardware that keeps it powered throughout even heavy days. While the raw capacity hasn’t changed, improved efficiency and software management make it one of the best battery performers in Samsung’s lineup.
Battery: 7,050 mAh
Battery Life: Up to 52 hours standby
Charging: 100 W wired (charger included)
Ideal for: Power users, streamers, and gamers who need the best battery life phone for performance-heavy tasks.
We’re starting strong with the ZTE Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro - a phone that might not be the most mainstream pick in a market dominated by iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel devices, but it absolutely earns its place at the top of our 2025 lineup.
The 7050 mAh battery is the standout feature here, offering up to 52 hours on standby, far beyond what most flagship phones can manage. While it can’t quite compete with the extreme Energizer Hard Case P28K and its enormous 28,000 mAh battery, the Red Magic 10 Pro strikes an impressive balance between power and practicality. It’s big on endurance without feeling overly bulky in the hand.
Designed with gamers and power users in mind, the Red Magic 10 Pro is perfect for anyone who spends hours streaming, gaming, or travelling and doesn’t have time to constantly hunt for a charger.
When it does come time to top up, the Red Magic 10 Pro supports 100W fast charging and conveniently includes a 100W GaN quick charger in the box. This allows the device to charge from 0 to 100% in under 35 minutes, which is seriously impressive for such a large battery. ZTE even includes a clear phone case as an extra touch, something that’s becoming increasingly rare.
Verdict:
With its huge battery, lightning-fast charging, and thoughtful extras, the ZTE Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro easily earns its spot as #1 in our list of phones with the best battery life for 2025. And at a starting price of £579, it delivers incredible value for anyone who prioritises endurance and all-day performance.
Battery: 5,200 mAh
Battery Life: 24 hours (100 hours with Extreme Saver)
Charging: 45 W wired / wireless
Ideal for: Android fans who value Google’s software ecosystem and long-lasting daily power.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL makes a strong impression when it comes to battery life and intelligent power management. Combining a large battery with Google’s advanced AI optimisation, it’s designed to deliver reliable all-day performance without compromise.
Inside, the Pixel 10 Pro XL houses a 5,200 mAh battery - one of the largest ever in a Pixel phone. Google claims it can last over a day of typical use, with the option to extend this dramatically using the Extreme Battery Saver mode, which pushes standby time to nearly 100 hours in ideal conditions.
Powering the phone is the Tensor G5 chip, built for greater efficiency and tighter integration with Google’s AI systems. This chip enables smarter background management, allowing the phone to learn your usage habits over time and automatically prioritise power where it’s needed most. The result? The Pixel gets better at conserving battery the longer you use it.
The display also contributes to its endurance. With an adaptive LTPO refresh rate that scales between 1Hz and 120Hz, the phone automatically adjusts its power consumption depending on what’s on screen, slowing down for static content to save energy and ramping up only when smooth motion is required.
When it’s time to recharge, the Pixel 10 Pro XL supports up to 45W wired charging and 25W wireless charging using the new Pixelsnap magnetic system. It can comfortably go from empty to 50% in around half an hour, meaning even a quick top-up keeps you going for hours.
Verdict:
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL offers the best of both worlds: a generous battery paired with smart AI-driven optimisation that actively adapts to your habits. While it may not boast the absolute biggest battery capacity in this lineup, its intelligent power management and efficient hardware make it a strong contender for anyone who values both longevity and cutting-edge AI features.
Battery: 6,00 mAh
Battery Life: 80+ hours mixed use
Charging: 90 W TurboPower wired charging and 15 W wireless charging
Ideal for: Users seeking excellent battery life without breaking the bank.
The Motorola Edge 60 Pro makes a compelling case for anyone prioritising battery life without spending ultra-premium money. With a 6 000 mAh cell, it’s the largest battery we’ve seen in the recent Edge series from Motorola, marking a clear jump over earlier models.
According to Motorola, the hardware and software synergy delivers up to 34 hours of run-time under standard usage conditions. Independent tests backs this up: in one battery test, the phone managed over 82 hours of usage in mixed real-world conditions and reached 80% charge in just 32 minutes using its 90 W wired charging.
What this means in practice: you’re likely to get well beyond a full day of heavy use (streaming, social media, gaming) without stopping to plug in. For moderate users, a second day is in reach, especially by engaging built-in battery saving features or limiting refresh rate/screen brightness.
Charging is also a highlight. The Edge 60 Pro supports 90 W TurboPower wired charging and 15 W wireless charging, meaning even when you need a top-up you’re back in action quickly.
Verdict:
If longer battery life is a priority - maybe you’re on long commutes, travel frequently, or just hate hunting for a charger - the Edge 60 Pro delivers in a way few phones do at this price-point. Between its sizable battery, fast charging, and efficient internals, it offers outstanding endurance with strong overall performance. If you’re comparing against the likes of the Edge Plus (2023) or other mid-flagships, the key advantage here is battery capacity plus real-world longevity, not just specs on paper.
When it comes to battery life, 2025 has brought a strong lineup of contenders, each catering to a slightly different type of user. From massive batteries to intelligent optimisation, every model we’ve covered proves that endurance doesn’t have to come at the cost of performance or design.
Whichever you choose, upgrading to a battery-efficient phone means fewer recharges, longer days, and a more sustainable lifestyle.
When you’re ready to upgrade, don’t let your old phone gather dust. Use our handy website to compare offers from various and sell your phone at the best price and help reduce e-waste.
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