iPhone 18 Pro Max Tops CNET Battery Test
Apple's iPhones lead CNET's test of 32 phones, with the 18 Pro Max taking the top spot overall.
TL;DR
- CNET tested 32 phones with video streaming and mixed-use sessions.
- iPhone 18 Pro Max won overall; iPhone Duo tied it in mixed use at 99%.
- Apple topped brand averages; efficiency beat raw battery size.
CNET ran 32 modern smartphones through a battery test. The iPhone 18 Pro Max came out on top.
The test included three hours of video streaming over Wi-Fi at full brightness plus a 45-minute mix of video calls, gaming, and social scrolling. Scores were based on battery left at the end.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max led overall. It tied for first in the mixed-use round with the iPhone Duo at 99 percent remaining. Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL reached 97 percent in that round.
In the video streaming test, the iPhone 18 Pro kept 94 percent, the best result. The iPhone 17 also scored well across both parts of the test.
Apple led when CNET averaged results by brand. OnePlus placed second among companies with multiple phones tested. The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e ranked as strong value options for battery life.
The Tea
Bigger batteries do not guarantee longer life. CNET noted that average performance across all phones stayed flat compared with last year and the year before. Efficiency from chips and software still matters more than raw size, and right now Apple is winning that game.
Sources
- 9to5Mac: iPhone is the winner of new battery test, topping all Androids
- MacRumors: iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery Test Involving 32 Smartphones
Newsletter
Sunday Chai
The week's tech charcha in one email, every Sunday. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.