By Choose one of the devices on our best phone battery life list and you’ll never need a charger again. To make this list, a phone must last around 11.5 hours on our demanding battery test, which translates to all-day battery life — and beyond — for everyday phone use.
Our best phone battery life list includes phones in a variety of price ranges. While our longest-lasting phone is a $999 handset aimed at gamers, and the runner-up is the most expensive iPhone available, phones ranging from $199 to $300 are also available. There are plenty of other midrange models to choose from that prioritize battery life over price.
Because battery life is so important to customers, phone manufacturers are using increasingly larger batteries to keep their devices running. Phones with massive 5,000 mAh battery packs are not uncommon, whether they are flagship devices or low-cost handsets. However, large batteries do not always imply long-lasting phones; good power management is required to be among the devices with the best phone battery life. (Take a look at the Galaxy S22 lineup — even with its own 5,000 mAh battery, the Galaxy S22 Ultra didn’t even make the cut.)
Every phone we review goes through our custom battery test, in which we force phones to surf the web indefinitely over LTE or 5G until their batteries die. We set the phone’s screen at 150 nits of brightness to ensure comparable results.
The average phone has a battery life of about 10 hours, but with one exception, the phones we’ve highlighted here lasted more than 11.5 hours. We’re talking about phones with enough endurance that you won’t need to rely on one of our best portable charger picks.
Our current battery champion is the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro, which exceeds 15 hours and outlasts its nearest competitor by more than two hours. In our rankings, the ROG Phone 6 Pro is joined by two other Asus phones, indicating that the phone maker places a high value on battery life. So does Motorola, whose G series phones frequently last a long time on a single charge — they certainly appear on our best phone battery life list on a regular basis. You can also add Apple to the list of phone manufacturers that provide excellent battery life — three different iPhones have made our list of the best phone battery life.
Here are the top performers from the last year and a half of testing.
Best phone battery life at a glance (hours:minutes)
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro: 15:30
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: 13:39
- Nubia RedMagic 6: 13:20
- Moto G Power (2022): 13:15
- Asus Zenfone 9: 13:13 (tie)
- Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro: 13:13 (tie)
- Moto G Stylus (2022): 12:30
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: 12:16 (tie)
- Cat S62 Pro: 12:16 (tie)
- OnePlus 10 Pro: 11:52 (tie)
- Moto G Pure: 11:52 (tie)
- TCL 30 V 5G: 11:46
- iPhone 13 Pro: 11:42
- Moto G 5G: 11:37
- OnePlus Nord N20 5G: 11:20
The best phone battery life in 2022
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro (15:30)
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
With a 6,000 mAh battery, you’d think the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro would last a long time. This gaming phone, however, outperforms our expectations by lasting 15.5 hours on our battery test. Even more impressive, it recorded that time with its adaptive refresh rate enabled, and the ROG Phone 6 Pro is capable of ramping up to 167Hz.
When the adaptive refresh rate is turned off and the phone is locked at 60Hz, the battery life is extended even further — the phone lasted nearly an hour longer on our battery test, nearly reaching the 16.5-hour mark. That’s the longest period of battery life we’ve seen in about five years.
When it comes time to charge, the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s battery will not take long to charge. With 65W wired charging, the drained gaming phone was recharged to 44% in just 15 minutes.
The Asus ROG Phone 6 is designed for gamers and will never run out of battery power, even during marathon gaming sessions. When it goes on sale in the coming months, it will have plenty of power for the rest of us as well.
iPhone 14 Pro Max (13:39)
iPhone 14 Pro Max
We’re used to Apple’s iPhone Pro Max models lasting a long time — but not this long. The iPhone 14 Pro Max lasts more than 13.5 hours on average, thanks to a large battery (the size of which Apple has not specified) and the power management features of the 4-nanometer A16 Bionic chipset. That is the longest a battery test has ever lasted on an iPhone.
To put this in context, last year’s iPhone 13 Pro Max was a long-lasting phone; in fact, it’s further down the list. And the iPhone 14 Pro Max beat it by more than an hour, despite the fact that Apple’s new phone has an always-on display, which you’d think would reduce battery life.
On the power front, Apple has decided to stick with 20W wired charging on the iPhone 14 lineup. When compared to faster-charging flagships, this means slower charge times. But, given how long the iPhone 14 Pro Max lasts on a charge, you won’t be disappointed very often.
Nubia RedMagic 6 (13:20)
Nubia RedMagic 6
We can debate whether or not you need a gaming phone, but one thing we have discovered is that gaming phones generally have excellent battery life. The Nubia RedMagic 6 is no exception, earning a Highly Recommended rating from Tom’ Guide for its excellent battery life.
As impressive as the RedMagic 6’s nearly 13.5-hour battery test result was, we were even more impressed when we enabled the gaming phone’s fast refreshing display. Yes, the time decreased because higher refresh rates use more battery power, but the RedMagic 6 still lasted 11 hours and 49 minutes at 120Hz and 11 hours and 16 minutes at 165Hz. Both of those times would have qualified for inclusion on this list.
Other features on the Nubia RedMagic 6 aren’t as impressive — look elsewhere if you want good cameras to go with your phone — but you’ll never run out of power with this gaming phone.
Moto G Power 2022 (13:15)
Moto G Power 2022
Motorola continues to release new versions of the Moto G Power, and if the results result in multi-day battery life, why not? The Moto G Power (2022), like its predecessors, lasts a long time on our battery test, though it suffers from the same slow charging as other Moto G series phones.
A sluggish processor also makes us less enthusiastic about this version of the Moto G Power than we were about last year’s Moto G Power (2021). (That phone was our previous battery champ, but because it’s been out for more than 18 months, we’ve removed it from this list of the best phone battery life.)
The Moto G Power (2022) comes with Android 11, but it will be upgraded to Android 12 in the future. At the very least, the 2022 edition comes with 64GB of storage for $199, which is double the storage offered by the 2021 Moto G Power at that price.
Asus Zenfone 9 (13:13)
Asus Zenfone 9
The Asus Zenfone 9 is a compact device, but that doesn’t mean it can’t pack a lot of battery life into its slim frame. With its adaptive refresh rate enabled, the latest Asus flagship lasted more than 13 hours on our battery test. That would be impressive enough, but the Zenfone 9 accomplished all of this without the assistance of a large battery. The 4,300 mAh battery pack isn’t small, but when compared to the 5,000 mAh cells on this best phone battery life list, it’s clear Asus has worked hard to ensure the Zenfone 9 gets the most out of every charge.
The Zenfone 9 supports 30W charging speeds, and Asus includes a charger with the phone. That should allow you to quickly recharge the phone’s battery — not that you’ll need to charge this small phone very often.
Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro (13:13)
Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro
The RedMagic 6S Pro variant, like the RedMagic 6, absolutely crushes our battery test, lasting 13 hours and 13 minutes with the screen set to 60Hz. Even better, when we enabled faster refresh rates, the 6S Pro didn’t suffer nearly as much of a drop-off as the RedMagic 6. Despite having its screen set to a power-hungry 165Hz refresh rate, the RedMagic 6S Pro lasted 12 hours and 50 minutes in our testing.
That’s fantastic news because 165Hz is an excellent refresh rate for immersive gaming. As a result, you can use the RedMagic 6S Pro’s display settings to their full potential without worrying about draining the phone’s 5,050 mAh battery prematurely. We’re still not sold on dedicated gaming phones, and the cameras on this Nubia device fall short. However, if you want a phone designed specifically for gaming, the RedMagic 6S Pro will not disappoint in terms of performance or battery life.
Moto G Stylus 2022 (12:30)
Moto G Stylus 2022
The Moto G Stylus (2022)’s long battery life is about the only thing that makes it worthwhile. The latest version of Motorola’s stylus-equipped budget phone, with a 5,000 mAh battery, lasted 12.5 hours on our battery test. And this was with the phone’s variable refresh rate turned on. Even with the refresh rate set to 90Hz, the Moto G Stylus lasted nearly 11.5 hours.
However, we would advise against purchasing the Moto G Stylus unless you really need a long-lasting phone with a stylus that isn’t too expensive. The Helio G88 chipset is sluggish, and the cameras are unimpressive. The phone also comes with Android 11 — the software from last year — with only one update to Android 12 promised.
iPhone 13 Pro Max (12:16)
iPhone 13 Pro Max
With the exception of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the battery life of the 2020 iPhone 12 models was underwhelming. Apple responded by improving battery life across the board in its new iPhone 13 lineup, though no Apple phone can outlast the iPhone 13 Pro Max..
This iPhone lasted more than 12 hours on our battery test, which is especially impressive given that it has an adaptive display, which can increase the refresh rate of the 6.7-inch screen when your task requires it. This requires more power, but the larger battery and efficient A15 Bionic chipset of the iPhone 13 Pro Max are up to the task. We just wish Apple would speed up charging on its iPhones. Keep in mind that Apple phones typically have batteries that hold their charge well over time.
Cat S62 Pro (12:16)
Cat S62 Pro
The Cat S62 Pro is a tough phone designed to last a long time on a single charge. And it does not disappoint, lasting 12 hours and 16 minutes on our battery test. It accomplishes this with only a 4,000 mAh battery, but unlike the Kyocera DuraForce Ultra 5G, the Cat S62 Pro does not connect to 5G. As a result, there is no 5G modem that consumes a lot of power.
When it comes to charging the Cat S62 Pro’s battery, you won’t get the fastest charge times. After 15 minutes of charging, the phone was back to 17% charge, eventually reaching 37% after half an hour. That’s not bad, but there are faster charging phones on this list.
OnePlus 10 Pro (11:52)
OnePlus 10 Pro
The battery life on the OnePlus 10 Pro is just one of the many features that impressed us about this new flagship. Even with a variable 120Hz refresh rate, the phone lasted just under 12 hours on our battery test. Turning off the fast refresh rate increased that time to 12 hours and 39 minutes, but we’re pleased that even with the power-hungry refresh rate feature enabled, the OnePlus 10 Pro remains on our list of best phone batteries.
But it’s not just about battery life. The OnePlus 10 Pro also recharges quickly, thanks to its 65W wired charging rate for US-released models. (Also, the OnePlus 10 Pro supports 85W charging, which is faster than US power standards.) A fully charged OnePlus 10 Pro returned to 55% charge after only 15 minutes of charging — an impressive result.
The OnePlus 10T, a new variant of this phone, also has fast charging — a drained device can be fully charged in 20 minutes. Its battery life is also impressive, though it falls short of the OnePlus 10 Pro. (On our test, the OnePlus 10T took 10:59 with the refresh rate set to 120Hz and 11:20 with the refresh rate set to 60Hz.) If you’re looking to save money on your next phone, the OnePlus 10T starts at $649, which is $250 less than the OnePlus 10 Pro.
Moto G Pure (11:52)
Moto G Pure
The Moto G Pure has two advantages: a low price and a battery that lasted nearly 12 hours in our tests. Motorola promises multiday battery life, and in regular use, we can confirm that this is true. (And that’s a good thing, because the phone’s 10W charging speed will take a while to recharge the phone’s 4,000 mAh battery.)
When you combine the long battery life with the low price of $159, the Moto G Pure appears to be a good buy, especially if you don’t need a phone with 5G connectivity. However, the Moto G Pure has other limitations, and for a little more money, you can find other Motorola phones that last even longer and offer more features.
TCL 30 V 5G (11:46)
TCL 30 V 5G
Verizon customers looking for a low-cost 5G phone will be pleased with the TCL 30 V 5G’s battery life. The phone lasted 11 hours and 46 minutes in our testing at its default 60Hz refresh rate. When we enabled a power-saving mode that allows the phone to reduce its refresh rate when necessary, it lasted more than 12 hours — an excellent result.
Because the TCL 30 V only supports 18W wired charging, don’t expect to charge the battery in record time. You’ll get a phone that can connect to Verizon’s fastest 5G network, but there are some other trade-offs typical of low-cost phones, such as mediocre cameras and sluggish performance.
iPhone 13 Pro (11:42)
iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 Pro Max isn’t the only new Apple device to make our list of the best phone batteries. The iPhone 13 Pro also outperforms its predecessor in terms of battery life, thanks to a larger battery and a more efficient A15 Bionic chip. The iPhone 13 Pro, like the iPhone 13 Pro Max, has an adaptive ProMotion display that changes the refresh rate of the screen, making its impressive battery life even more impressive.
Again, the only issue with Apple’s latest iPhones’ power is how quickly they charge. With Apple’s MagSafe accessories, wired charging is limited to 20W, while wireless charging is limited to 15W. In a world where Android phones are increasing charging speeds, Apple must do the same with the iPhone.
Moto G 5G (11:37)
Moto G 5G
One of the few advantages of the Moto G 5G is its battery life. The phone’s overall performance disappointed us, and the cameras are subpar even for a budget phone. However, you won’t have to worry about charging the Moto G 5G because its 5,000 mAh battery kept it running for more than 11.5 hours in our tests. That’s especially impressive given that the Moto G’s 90Hz display is one of its other selling points. As a result, the faster refresh rate has no effect on battery life.
It’s a good thing the Moto G 5G lasts a long time on a charge because with 10W wired charging, you’ll be topping off the battery for a long time. After thirty minutes of charging, the Moto G 5G was only 21% charged.
OnePlus Nord N20 5G (11:20)
OnePlus Nord N20 5G
Normally, we cut off the best phone battery life at 11.5 hours, but due to our 18-month limit on including phones in this round-up, some devices have dropped off the list. As a result, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G has a battery life of 11 hours and 20 minutes, which is close enough to our standard, especially for a 5G phone under $300. (In fact, the OnePlus Nord N20 received a Tom’s Guide Award in 2022 for providing a lot of value for its low price, including excellent battery life.)
With 33W charging — another nice feature for such a low-cost phone — the OnePlus Nord N20 can go from drained to more than 50% in less than a half-hour. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money but value long battery life, this is a great option.
How do we determine the best phone battery life?
Every phone we review is subjected to extensive testing in addition to regular use. Our proprietary Tom’s Guide Battery Life test is the most important in determining the best phone battery life.
In this test, we set a phone’s display to 150 nits to ensure consistent results. We then run a script on the phone that causes it to surf the web using its default browser app until the battery dies, and we time the results. Phones with the longest endurance make the best phone battery life list, though we rotate out devices older than 18 months to keep our list of the longest-lasting phones up to date.
Many smartphones, particularly premium models, now have faster refresh rate settings. Because a high refresh rate can drain a phone’s battery faster, we’ll test phones twice: once with the display set to the maximum refresh rate and once with it set to 60Hz. In our review and best phone battery life rankings, we’ll indicate which setting produced which battery life time.
Another test on smartphone batteries is to time how long it takes for a depleted phone to charge. We’ll record the percentage charge after 15 and 30 minutes of charging a dead phone. For this test, we’ll use the charger that came with the phone; if the phone didn’t come with a charger, which is becoming more common among premium handsets, we’ll use a charger capable of delivering the fastest charging speed supported by the phone, as listed in the device specs.
Battery testing is one of the procedures we use to evaluate phones. We also run benchmarks to assess a phone’s performance, measure screen brightness and color reproduction to rate its display, and take multiple photographs to assess its cameras. All of these factors assist us in assigning ratings to devices in our smartphone reviews, but for the purposes of the best phone battery life list, our battery test is the only result that influences rankings.
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