Picture this: youāre out in public listening to your favorite tunes in order to avoid every human being on earth. The best part of the song is coming up, until suddenlyā¦it canāt be! Your phone has died and youāre stuck in the middle of nowhere without music or the will to live. The worst part? You charged your phone a mere hour ago. It sucks, doesnāt it? But donāt worry, weāve all been there.
Luckily, there are some smartphones that last a healthy amount of timeāphones that certainly wonāt let you down. On average, a smartphone should last anywhere between 5- to 7-hours depending on many different factors, yet we believe a modern mobile should last longer.
No longer will you have to harass your friends for a phone charger that doesnāt fit your smartphone. Instead, theyāll be asking to borrow your phone. With that said, here are some phones with the best battery life.
Top 6 Smartphones With the Best Battery Life
Here are the top 6 smartphones with the best battery life listed from the longest to shortest life in hours:
Best Choice: Motorola Moto G7 Power
Pros & Cons
- Fast Charging
- Powerful CPU
- Excellent Rear Camera
- Front Camera is Gimmicky
Specifications:
- Average Battery Life: 15 Hours
- Battery Size: 5000mAh
- OS: Android
- CPU: Octa-core (4×1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Silver)
- RAM: 4GB
- GPU: Adreno 506
- Storage: 32GB
- Screen Size: 6.2 inches
- Resolution: 720 x 1570 pixels
- Dimensions: 6.28 x 2.99 x 0.37 inches
- Rear Camera: 12 MP, f/2.0, 1.25Āµm, PDAF
- Rear Camera Video: 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30fps
- Front Camera: 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12Āµm
- Weight: 0.42 lbs
Motorola Moto G7 Power Review
Fittingly, the Motorola Moto G7 Power is a powerful smartphone that’ll actually last throughout the day. Not only is it only of the best budget smartphones to buy in 2020, but it also boasts the longest battery life on our list.
As it comes armed with a massive 5,000mAh battery and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 CPU, the Moto G7 Power is said to last around 15 hours. This, of course, depends entirely on what you intend to do on the phone.
Furthermore, Motorola suggested that the battery will last around 60 hours of mixed-use, so if you don’t use your phone throughout the day, it’ll last much longer. Plenty of consumers have reported that it is one of, if not the, best smartphone for battery life on the marketāand we couldn’t agree more.
Additionally, fast charging means that the G7 Power can go from 0 to 100 in just over an hour, so you won’t have to wait around for it to charge, either.
Premium Pick: Huawei P30 Pro
Pros & Cons
- Best Camera on the Market
- Tons of RAM
- FHD+ Resolution
- Expensive
Specifications:
- Average Battery Life: 12 Hours
- Battery Size: 4200mAh
- OS: Android
- CPU: HUAWEI Kirin 980 Octa-core 2.6GHz
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: ARM Mali-G76 MP10
- Storage: 246GB
- Screen Size: 6.47 inches
- Resolution: FHD+ 2340 x 1080
- Dimensions: 2.6 x 1.65 x 0.59 inches
- Rear Camera: 40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide) + 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide) + Periscope 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (telephoto)
- Rear Camera Video: 2160p@30fps
- Front Camera: 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
- Weight: 1.1 lbs
Huawei P30 Pro Review
In our Huawei P30 Pro review, we’ve established that this amazing phone comes equipped with four cameras, a high-end chipset and a 6.47-inch screen (1080 x 2340), it will last around 12 hours. Since it has a 4,200mAh battery, a 6.47-inch screen and a 1080 x 2340 display, the resolution is slightly lower than the S10 plus.
The difference in battery life between the two isn’t huge, though the S10 may allow you to watch a few more episodes of your favorite show. What’s more, thanks to 40-watt SuperCharge Technology, you can go from 0 to 100 in around an hour when charging the P30 Pro.
Huawei specifically mentions that you can go from 0 to 70% in 30 minutes thanks to such technologyāa very handy feature suitable for moments when you forget to charge your phone overnight.
If you’re one to browse social media on your lunch break or simply play someĀ excellent Android games inĀ the afternoon, the P30 Pro may even last longer. Sure, itās a very pricey phone, but itās a smartphone thatāll last you throughout the day.
Best Value: Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
Pros & Cons
- Affordable
- Excellent Front Camera
- Slim & Lightweight
- Takes a While to Charge Up
- Battery mAh Could Be Higher
Specifications:
- Average Battery Life: 12 Hours
- Battery Size: 3580mAh
- OS: Android
- CPU: Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630
- RAM: 4GB
- GPU: Adreno 510
- Storage: 64GB
- Screen Size: 6 inches
- Resolution: FHD HD 1080p
- Dimensions: 3.15 x 6.42 x 0.37 inches
- Rear Camera: 23MP, 1/2.3ā Exmor RSā¢ for mobile image sensor
- Rear Camera Video:
- Front Camera: 16MP OIS + 8MP 120Ā° super wide-angle + 16MP with OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer)
- Weight: 0.48 lbs
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra Review
The Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra is a 6-inch smartphone that packs a huge 3,580mAh battery, meaning it will last around 12 hours. That’s almost a whole day of watching your favourite YouTubers, streaming music on Spotify and taking pictures of every single dog in sight.
The battery life largely comes down to the efficient CPU, the OS (Android Oreo) as well as the 1080p display. At 3.15 x 6.42 x 0.37 inches, the phone itself is fairly large, though if you prioritize battery life over dimensions, the Xperia XA2 Ultra may just be for you.
One of the main issues we have with the XA2 Ultra is that, although it comes armed with Qualcomm Quick Charge (2.0/3.0) and MediaTek Pump Express Plus technology, it takes a while to charge up. Albeit, since the Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra is capable of lasting up to a day of general use, charging time can be overlooked.
Especially considering it will last you an entire day depending on what you’re doing on the Samsung Xperia XA2 Ultra.
Best Large: Google Pixel 3a XL
Pros & Cons
- Extra-Large Battery
- Tremendous Display Quality
- Supercharging
- Less Than 4000 mAh
- Expensive
Specifications:
- Average Battery Life: 11 Hours
- Battery Size: 3700mAh
- OS: Android
- CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz 360 Gold & 6×1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver)
- RAM: 4GB
- GPU: Adreno 615
- Storage: 64GB
- Screen Size: 6 inches
- Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels
- Dimensions: 6.30 x 3.00 x 0.32 inches
- Rear Camera: 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4Āµm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
- Rear Camera Video: 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps
- Front Camera: 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12Āµm
- Weight: 0.36 lbs
Google Pixel 3a XL Review
The Google Pixel 3a XL is an extra-large smartphone that comes with an extra-large 3,700mAh battery. As such, the Pixel 3a XL can deliver an impressive 10- to 11-hours worth of use. According to Google, a 15-minute charge using the 18W fast charger will provide around 7 hours of battery life, whereas 100% battery life will take around 30 minutes.
As a Google Pixel owner, I have to say that although charging is fast, 15 minutes is a slight exaggeration. The Google Pixel 3a XL is certainly more expensive than the Google Pixel 3a, but thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 Octa-core Processor and 4GB RAM, it’s certainly worth spending some extra cash on.
What’s more, the camera is fantastic, the headphone jack is back and the durable plastic allows for a premium feel. So, if you’re after an affordable phone that’ll last you through the day, as well as the years, the Google Pixel 3a XL is a go-to smartphone.
Best Screen: Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Pros & Cons
- QHD Resolution
- Tons of Storage
- 8 GB of RAM
- Consumes Battery Life Extensively
Specifications:
- Average Battery Life: 11 Hours
- Battery Size: 4,000mAh
- OS: Android
- CPU: Octa-core (4×2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) – EMEA
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: Mali-G72 MP18 – EMEA
- Storage: 512GB
- Screen Size: 6.4 inches
- Resolution: 1440 x 2960 pixels
- Dimensions: 6.37 x 3.01 x 0.35 inches
- Rear Camera: 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4Āµm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS + 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0Āµm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
- Rear Camera Video: 2160p@60fps (no OIS/EIS), 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps
- Front Camera: 8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6″, 1.22Āµm, AF
- Weight: 0.44 lbs
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is a smartphone that packs a 4000mAh battery inside a 6.37 x 3.01 x 0.35 inch shell. When it comes to battery life, it lasts around 11 hours, though we’d say it struggles with intensive tasks.
Don’t get me wrong, the Note 9 performs extremely well and doesn’t lose too much battery life while watching Netflix or listening to music. But compared to other phones, it eats through a lot of battery life.
If you don’t go on your smartphone that often, you’ll likely end the day with a sufficient amount of battery remaining. Although let’s be real here, everyone has their phone in their hands in 2020. One of the best things about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is that it supports both fast charging and wireless charging.
Even though the battery will last all day, the Galaxy Note 9 is a fantastic phone that boasts a high-end Exynos 9810 chipset and a sleek 1440 x 2960 Super AMOLED screen.
Most Reliable: iPhone XR
Pros & Cons
- It’s an iPhone
- Top-Notch Camera
- Powerful Chipset
- It’s an iPhone
- Less than FHD Resolution
Specifications:
- Average Battery Life: 11 Hours
- Battery Size: 2,942mAh
- OS: iOS
- CPU: Hexa-core (2×2.5 GHz Vortex + 4×1.6 GHz Tempest)
- RAM: 3GB RAM
- GPU: Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
- Storage: 256GB
- Screen Size: 6.1 inches
- Resolution: 828 x 1792 pixels
- Dimensions: 5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches
- Rear Camera: 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4Āµm, PDAF, OIS
- Rear Camera Video: 2160p@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
- Front Camera: 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard)
- Weight: 0.42 lbs
iPhone XR Review
As an ‘ex-iPhone user’, I have to say I was pretty surprised to discover that the iPhone XR has great battery life. Every iPhone I owned seemed to run out of battery after a mere couple hours of use.
So when I found out that the XR has an average Battery Life of 11 hours, I was fairly stunned. This is all thanks to the 2,942mAh battery used to keep things running throughout the day, although saying that, there are some other features that keep the iPhone XR alive.
When you look at the specs, you’ll notice the XR has a resolution of 828 x 1792 pixels as well as a highly efficient Hexa-core chipset. The Vortex cores are also said to consume 40% less power, while the Tempest cores are said to consume around 50% less power than other IPhone’s.
Despite the fact that the upgraded Apple quad-core GPU is 50% faster than its predecessor, the CPU and GPU provide the best performance and efficiency. Therefore, the iPhone XR is a phone that you can certainly rely on.
Phones with the Best Battery Life: Buying Guide
Battery Capacity: Milliamp Hours
As you may have noticed, battery capacity in a smartphone is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh). The higher the milliamp hours of a battery, the better the battery life.
Albeit, this actually isn’t always the case. Battery life can completely depend on many different factors, such as how efficient the processor (CPU) is, how much you use the phone, screen size, resolution, as well as the brightness. But what can you do to preserve battery life?
Preserving Battery Life: What to Look out For
One of the best things you can do to preserve battery life is to turn your screen brightness down. You’ve probably heard this a million times, but it actually works. Saying that there are more things you can do to preserve battery life. One of the first things you can do is check battery usage in order to pinpoint exactly what’s making your phone die quickly.
Next, turn off location services, auto-downloads, vibrations, and turn on lower power mode. Another small thing you can do to increase battery life is to uninstall unnecessary applications that use up your battery throughout the day. That would help youĀ speed up your phone as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fast Charging Bad for Battery?
Fast charging is a fantastic feature that most modern smartphones in 2020 come armed with. It’s a great way to keep your battery life above 0% during the day that surprisingly doesn’t harm your battery. Sure, it may degrade it after a while, but truthfully, it isn’t exactly noticeable. In fact, heat is the main culprit when it comes to the degradation of a smartphone battery, so I wouldnāt worry too much about fast charging
How Long Should a 4000mAh Battery Last?
A 4000mAh (milliamp) battery should provide around 6 hours of on-screen time. However, as we have previously mentioned, the battery life of a smartphone totally depends on a number of factors, including:
- Processor (Chip Set/CPU)
- Screen Resolution
- Screen Size
- Screen Brightness
- Background Tasks
Which Is the Best iPhone for Battery Life?
The best iPhone for battery life is most definitely the iPhone XRāa smartphone that comes with a 2,942mAh battery, a 6.1-inch screen, an 828 x 1792p display, and a fantastic camera. If you’d like to check out some of the best iOS smartphones in general, we think you’ll enjoy our guide to the best iPhones on the market.
How Long Should a Smartphone Last?
The lifespan of a smartphone is anywhere between 2- to 3-years depending on how you handle the device. The average smartphone can certainly last longer than 3-years, though, after a certain period of time, your phone will begin to slow down. This can definitely be frustrating, especially considering how expensive modern smartphones are.
Luckily for you, if you’re in the market for a new smartphone but your budget is fairly low, you may enjoy our guide to theĀ best budget smartphones to buy in 2020.
Conclusion
Today, decent battery life is absolutely necessary and is often seen as a priority when looking to purchase a new smartphone. I mean, thereās no denying that people across the globe tend to depend on their smartphones for music, maps and everything else conveniently at their fingertips. So itās no wonder people require a phone with good battery life.
For this exact reason, we decided to create a list of 6 phones with the best battery lifeāfrom budget-friendly options to some bank-breakers. If you’re in the market for a new Android device that’ll last you for the coming years, we think you’ll enjoy our guide to theĀ best Android smartphones. Psst, we’ve even included the Moto G7 Power, why not see how it compares to some other Android phones?