The lowdown on how to choose phones with great battery life.

When it comes to comparing phones for their battery life, it’s important to understand all the key factors that play a part. This includes:

• Understanding the mAh

• The performance of processors

• Screen technology
  

Of course, if you’re looking for a phone with great battery life, the best specification to consider first is the battery itself. The mAh (or Milliampere-hour) is a unit that is very relevant when discussing battery capacity, as it measures how much current the battery can deliver in a given interval of time. So, as an example, a battery with 1000 mAh would be able to deliver 1000 mA for an hour, 500 mA for two hours, and so on and so forth.

Considering that all usage of the phone syphons some amperage from the battery, a high mAh count usually lends itself to longer battery life between charges. Important to note, however, that the amount of time itself can vary depending on the apps and functions being used simultaneously.

You may have a phone with a large battery (i.e. a model with a high mAh) but if you have an inefficient processor, you could still experience quick battery drain. Powerful processors can result in speedier performance and smoother use, but they’re also guilty of zapping a lot more energy from your device. 

Most modern processors aim to balance efficiency and energy consumption, so you’re not saddled with poor performance just to experience great battery life, nor something speedy that drains your battery in an instant. As such, a device’s processing capabilities are something to note when seeking a phone with the longest battery life.

Thanks to Google Tensor, the custom-built chip that powers Google AI on Pixel phones, you can enjoy powerful performance. Designed with efficiency in mind, the processor behind Pixel devices is created with a combination of hardware, software, and AI to create a powerful experience that’s balanced with battery optimisation.

The screen is another important factor when doing a phone battery comparison between models. Screen technology can significantly improve your viewing experience, however great screen specs can also consume a lot of energy.

When seeking a long-lasting battery, you’ll need to consider:

• Screen size

• Display resolution

• Refresh rate

On bigger screens, the phone has to light up a larger surface area, so more power is needed. If you love to watch videos or play games on your phone, a big, bright screen is probably important to you, so consider battery size (mAh) in the context of a device’s screen specs when you’re choosing a phone. In general, it’s suggested you look for a battery capacity between 3,000mAh to 5,000mAh if a device has a large screen.

You’ll also want to consider the refresh rate. This refers to how often your screen updates what’s being displayed; the higher the rate, the more the screen refreshes, which means a smoother viewing experience for you, but more energy consumption.

Alongside understanding phone battery life specifications, it’s also important to understand what you can do to reduce your device’s power consumption. Extend your Android-powered phone’s battery performance with the following:

• Enable power saving mode

• Optimise your apps

• Utilise fast charging

• Look for variable display resolution and refresh rate
  

A key battery saving feature is the presence of a battery saver mode. Its sole purpose is to conserve as much of the battery as possible by reducing power consumption where possible.

Key power saving features:

• Adaptive brightness: your phone will automatically detect when it’s in lower or brighter light, and your screen will adjust to deliver you the most comfortable viewing experience.
  

• Screen timeout: your screen will turn off after a certain period of inactivity to conserve battery.
  

• Reduced screen refresh rate: if your device has adaptive refresh rates, it may reduce to a lower rate when in power saving mode.

• Disabled apps: certain apps may be prevented from running in the background to save energy.
  

• Turned off 5G: your phone may turn off 5G cellular data and switch to 4G to conserve power.

Having multiple apps working in the background can consume a lot of energy. Although your device’s power saving mode will likely restrict features in some apps, it’s also helpful to know how to optimise your apps to help conserve battery in general.

• Limit background data: change background usage in your app settings to restrict data usage when the app isn’t actively being used
  

• Turn off background processes: some apps have features and processes that continue running when the app isn’t in use. Disable these to conserve energy.
  

• Restrict location services: limit an app’s background location usage to save power.
  

Why would charging speed be a factor when you’re seeking a phone with the longest battery life? Your phone should match your lifestyle and work just how you like to use it.

If your device has fast or super fast charging capabilities, it allows you to top-up energy with speed when you need to. Being able to quickly refuel your phone allows you to enjoy a long-lasting battery. 

However, if you’re always surrounded by fast chargers and wireless charging docks, you simply may not require a phone with the longest battery life. Perhaps a device with fast and wireless charging capabilities would be more important to you.

As previously mentioned, screen technology can have quite an impact on phone batteries. This is where variable displays and adaptive refresh rates are useful features on a device. 

With variable refresh rates, static content (like pictures), will be refreshed less frequently to save you valuable battery life. When you’re watching videos or gaming, it boosts the refresh rate for a silky smooth viewing experience.

There are plenty of Pixel devices to choose from, but for those who are seeking a phone with great battery life, there are a few Pixel options that are a strong contender.

• Pixel 9 Pro XL:

Alongside boasting the largest screen in the Pixel 9 family and the most advanced AI features, the battery, with 5060mAh, lasts over 24 hours¹ and can even be prolonged up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver.² Plus, enjoy fast charging and reach 70% in just 30 minutes.³ Average 5060mAh.

• Pixel 9 Pro:

Built for AI, Pixel 9 Pro is a perfect daily companion with a 6.3” display and fast charge that’s designed to last all day with its 4700mAh battery. Enjoy 24 hours of battery life¹ or up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver. ²

• Pixel 9:

Enjoy long battery life that can last over 24 hours.¹ With Extreme Battery Saver, you can even expect a single charge to endure up to 100 hours², plus it’ll reach 55% charge in only 30 minutes.³ Similarly to the Pixel 9 Pro, this device also has a 4700mAh battery.

Smartphones are constantly getting faster and being designed with more exciting features, so what’s next for the batteries that keep them powered? Although lithium-ion batteries work well and you can enjoy a charge that lasts up to 24 hours on some devices, researchers are working on next-generation ideas to change the game.

Possible developments in the future may include:

• Solid-state batteries:

This type of battery uses solid material to power devices, unlike lithium-ion batteries that use liquid electrolytes. This means that batteries could become more compact, faster to charge and may have longer endurance throughout the day.

• Graphene batteries:

Graphene is a material that conducts electricity impressively well. Using this material to create phone batteries could potentially pave the way for faster charging and longer battery life.

• Software developments:

It’s not just hardware that can have an impact on future batteries, but software too. Smart optimisation features can help manage battery life. Lots of devices are already harnessing features such as pausing power-hungry apps and restricting overnight charging to protect your phone’s battery. Keep an eye out for even more updates in the future.