Best battery life phones: Handsets that value longevity above all

• Battery test score: 26:40
• Battery capacity: 7500mAh

It was the Oppo A5 Pro 5G that held this top spot for a good whilebut it only makes sense that the phone would eventually be supplanted by another device from Oppogiven how much investment the company has put into improving its battery tech. The Oppo Find X9 Pro isn’t just the company’s best battery phone to date; it’s also the best battery phone you’ll find anywhere right now.

Scoring a near outlandish duration of 26 hours and 40 minutes in the PCMark battery testthe Find X9 Pro eclipses competitors such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13. Even its immediate predecessorthe Oppo Find X8 Proonly scored a duration of 14 hours and 36 minutes in the same testwhich shows just how much of a leap forward Oppo has managed to achieve here.

It’s all thanks to the massive 7500mAh battery insidewhich uses a silicon-carbon build to prevent the phone from feeling too chunky in the hand. With that longevity at playhoweveryou can make full use of the phone’s three rear-facing cameras without ever having to worry about how much juice is left in the tank.

If you are in a bindyou can claim back 50% from just half an hour’s chargethanks to 80W speeds over a wired connection (50W if you go for a wireless charger). With all this in mindit’s a massive shame that the phone will not be making its way to the USso if you are based in the Statesthen you’ll want to look elsewhere on this list for a phone that truly lasts all day.

Who should buy the Oppo Find X9 Pro?

Anyone who values battery life above alland having great cameras to boot.

Oppo Find X9 Pro: Further considerations

The phone isunfortunatelynot available to buy in the US.

• Battery test score: 22:17
• Battery capacity: 5800mAh

While it’s true that the phone’s three-star rating makes it far from an easy recommendation for all usersthe one thing that can’t be denied about the Oppo A5 Pro 5G is that it boasts some of the best battery life you’re going to find right now. With that in mindand an affordable £229 price tagthe phone makes for an ideal work handset that’ll only be used for calls and emails.

In our testingthe 5800mAh was able to carry us through an entire day comprised of streamingsending messages and listening to audio playbackwithout ever reaching the depths that would have most people frantically searching for a nearby charger. If you’re using the phone for anything less than thatthere’s a good chance that you’ll be able to get a decent amount into a second day before needing to top it up.

The 120Hz refresh rate is a welcome additionespecially if you need to do a bit of scrolling on social mediaas it just makes the experience a lot more engagingand the official IP69 rating is impressive given the phone’s budget price tag. Having dust and water resistance onboard just means that you’re less likely to incur any durability issues with this phone over long-term use.

Where the phone falls apart is with overall performancewith the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 feeling fairly sluggish in everyday use. This isn’t helped by the low-resolution 1604 x 720 displaybut againif you just need a long-lasting work/spare phonethen the Oppo A5 Pro is still worth considering.

Who should buy the Oppo A5 Pro 5G?

Professionals who need an affordable yet long-lasting work phone.

Oppo A5 Pro 5G: Further considerations

The low-resolution display and sluggish performance hold the phone back from greatness.

• Battery test score: 19:48
• Battery capacity: 5000mAh

Samsung’s top-of-the-line flagship is known for a lot of thingsbut its battery life prowess shouldn’t be overlooked.

The 5000mAh cell can handle even the most demanding days with charge to sparewhile two days is within reach with light usage. This appears to be driven by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsetwhich also means the S25 Ultra can last longer than its predecessor for video playback.

And while expensivethere are loads of other compelling reasons to buy this phone. Performancedisplay and software are all arguably best-in-classwith useful Galaxy AI features and seven years of updates.

It’s not exactly a subtle phoneand the removal of Bluetooth means the S Pen stylus has essentially been downgraded. But if you want a great flagship phone that just happens to have very good battery lifethe S25 Ultra is for you.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

Those who want the best flagship Android aroundregardless of the cost.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Further considerations

The Galaxy S25+ also offers great battery lifebut at a cheaper price.

• Battery test score: 17:00
• Battery capacity: 5410mAh (global model)

Even on a list that features the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Maxthe Xiaomi 15 Ultra still manages to be the most expensive phone of the lot with a price tag of £1299but if you are shopping at the higher end of the marketthen you will not be displeased with all that you get with Xiaomi’s flagship.

Of coursewithin the context of this listbattery life is crucialwhich is why we’re pleased to report that the 15 Ultra’s 5410mAh cell really can go the distance. In our PCMark testingthe 15 Ultra clocked a massive 17 hours of battery which puts it ahead of almost all phones on the marketso you’ll never have to worry about subjecting it to an intensive day of use.

When you do need to give the battery some juiceyou’re pretty much spoilt for options. There’s 90W wired chargingwhich can get you 72% from a dead battery in just 30 minutesbut also 80W wireless chargingwhich is great for those who have a wireless charging pad on their desk and like to give their phone a quick top-up whilst they work.

Beyond the battery lifethe main reason why you’d want to pick up the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is for its camera array. The new 200Mp periscope telephoto in particular is able to capture jaw-dropping imagesso if you’re a photographer who wants a powerful set of sensors on their phonethis is the handset to go for.

Furthermoregrab the optional Photography Kit and which not only adds camera buttons but an additional 2000mAh power bank to keep you going for longer.

Who should buy the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?

Big-budget buyers who want a high-end camera phone and a massive battery to keep up.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Further considerations

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is just a bit cheaper and features a better software experience.

The PCMark app we use for battery testing isn’t available on iOSbut we don’t need it to recommend an iPhone if you want long battery life.

With the loss of the Plus model to make room for the iPhone Airthe 17 Pro Max is the clear winner within the latest generation.

Apple promises that it will last for 37 hours of video playback which is impressive. While we haven’t gone to those lengthsthe 17 Pro Max was a real workhorse in our testing. Long days lasting from 6am to midnight saw the phone always get through with at least 20% left in the tank.

And this is with heavier-than-usual usage due to reviewing the device. Lighter users may well get two days from it.

Apple has also improved charging to 40Wand you can get an impressive 50% in just 20 minutes with the right adapterthoughlike with most phones nowyou’ll have to buy this separately.

Who should buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

You want the latest generation of Apple phone with the best battery life (and other specs).

iPhone 17 Pro Max: Further considerations

It’s bigexpensive and possibly overkill in other areas. An iPhone 16 Plus may be a better value option.

• Battery test score: 18:17
• Battery capacity: 6000mAh

The OnePlus 13R currently stands as our top mid-range pick when it comes to battery lifenot just because it managed to clock in a massive 18 hours and 17 minutes in our PCMark battery testbut at just £679it’s easily one of the best value phones you can buy right now.

With a hefty 6000mAh battery inside the phonewhich uses silicon-carbon techit’s perfectly acceptable to get up to two days of use on a single charge. If you do plan on pushing that even further with gamingcontactless payments or real-time GPS directionsyou’ll still be able to get to the end of the day without any battery anxiety.

If you do need to top it up at the office before heading homethen you’ll be glad to know that the OnePlus 13R boasts 80W wired fast chargingwhich can get you back 73% from a dead battery in only 30 minutes. The only key problem is that there’s no fast charger included in the boxso you will need to buy one separately.

There’s also no wireless charging available on the OnePlus 13Rbut if you are concerned about maintaining the integrity of the battery over the long term then wired charging is the better way to go.

Who should buy the OnePlus 13R?

Anyone who wants great battery life and top-shelf features elsewhere for under £700.

OnePlus 13R: Further considerations

There’s no wireless chargingso you’ll want to carry a fast charger with you.

• Battery test score: 17:41
• Battery capacity: 4000mAh

We’ll be the first to admit that the standard Galaxy S phones haven’t changed all too much over the last few yearsbut whilst Samsung’s updates have been iterativeit has managed to build a far more power-efficient ecosystem in that timeculminating in the excellent Samsung Galaxy S25.

Even though the phone can easily be used one-handedwith a 6.2-inch AMOLED displayit still manages to deliver a solid battery life that can get most users safely to the end of a long day without worry.

The 4000mAh cell is able to work in tandem with the high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite to deliver high performance at all times and still have tons of power left over. For examplein spite of its sizethe Galaxy S25 still managed to reach 17 hours and 41 minutes of use when put through the reliable PCMark battery test. There are phones with larger batteries that aren’t able to reach that level of longevity.

The charging speeds could be better with 25W wired charging and 15W wireless chargingbut at least you do have the flexibility there to top up regardless of the type of charger you have to hand. When you factor in all of the other features like a triple-camera array and Galaxy AIit’s hard to argue with what the Galaxy S25 brings to the table.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25?

Anyone who wants a compact yet powerful phone to get them through each day.

Samsung Galaxy S25: Further considerations

The Galaxy S24+ is now cheapercomes with a better battery life and a larger screen.

• Battery test score: 18:47
• Battery capacity: 5000mAh

Unfortunatelythe HMD Fusion is a case of unfulfilled potential. Its modular designwhich allows you to connect a range of different ‘Outfits’ (including a ring lightrugged protection or a more casual look) is genuinely excitingeven if most of these are sold separately.

Battery life from the 5000mAh is excellent – you can expect two days of moderate usageor even longer if you only use the device occasionally. The main 108Mp camera lens is impressiveand it’s great that most parts are easily repairable.

Sadlythe combination of a dulllow-resolution display and disappointing performance during demanding workloads will put many people off. And just two years of OS updates and three years of security patches rather undermines the focus on repairability to an extent.

Stillif you’re looking for a bold budget phone with superb battery lifeit’s still worth considering the HMD Fusion.

Who should buy the HMD Fusion?

Folks who want modularity so that they can customise their phone when they please.

HMD Fusion: Further considerations

The CMF Phone 2 Pro also offers modular accessories and is a better phone overall.

• Battery test score: 18:23
• Battery capacity: 4600mAh

There are two big reasons to buy the HMD Skyline over any of the other phones on this list.

The first is built-in Qi2meaning it supports the latest MagSafe- wireless charging. On the Android sideonly the Pixel 10 series can match that right now. The other is repairabilitywith most replacement parts widely available and easy to fit at homesomething only the Fairphone 6 can rival.

The battery is one of the parts you can replacebut you might not have to for a while when battery life is this good. Even with the attractive 6.55-inch pOLED display set to 144Hz refresh rateyou’ll basically never have to worry about running out of charge before the end of the day. For many peopletwo days will be within reach.

Solid performance and an impressive main camera are other highlightsthough software support is a key drawback. For a phone that’s easily repairablea commitment to just two years of OS updates and three years of security patches is disappointing.

Howeverif you plan on upgrading by 2027 anywaythe HMD Skyline is a compelling phone with excellent battery life.

Who should buy the HMD Skyline?

Those who want Qi2 wireless charging and compatibility with MagSafe-like accessories.

HMD Skyline: Further considerations

Repairability is better on the Fairphone (Gen 6)which also boasts longer software support.

• Battery test score: 18:02
• Battery capacity: 5000mAh

The best budget phone you can buy right now just happens to have excellent battery life.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s 5000mAh cell might not sound like muchbut make no mistake: it can last two full days on a single charge for many people. Even on those incredibly demanding daysyou’ll still be fine until the end of the day.

But that’s just one of the many great things about this phone. Its eye-catching design enables you to swap out the back panel or connect accessorieswhile triple rear camerasan attractive display and solid performance ensure the day-to-day experience is great.

On the software sideparent company Nothing’s take on Android is uniqueslick and highly customisablethough just three years of OS updates (six years of security patches) is a little underwhelming.

Howeverfor the price you’re payingthere are so many reasons to buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro – including great battery life.

Who should buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro?

People shopping at the budget end of the market who still value great battery life.

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Further considerations

The Nothing Phone (3a) doesn’t cost that much moreyet features a better processor.