With this generation of iPhones, Apple did something a bit different. Since they already have a staggering lead when it comes to processing power, they decided to focus on efficiency improvements in their new chip powering the entire iPhone 11 series. On top of that, they also increased the sizes of the batteries substantially by—controversially—removing 3D Touch. The end result can’t be argued with: the iPhone finally has great battery life. In fact, it even beats out top Android devices in a metered stress test!
Finally, iPhone users, you can go toe-to-toe with Android users on battery life and beat them!
A description of the testing method is below, along with a timelapse video of the test itself.
Battery Life Gauntlet
The iPhone 11 Pro Max beat out the competition, and even the “budget” iPhone 11 performed admirably. Up against the Android devices boasting about the best battery life in the business, Apple’s iPhones held their own, with the iPhone 11 Pro Max coming out on top.
The Method
To conduct this “real world” test, a few assumptions are made. Since the iPhone and Android devices can’t run identical code, this can only measure how “real world” usage will go. It doesn’t mean iPhones, by design, use less electricity, though they appear to do in regular usage. It also means any app updates could change the outcome. However, this is the closest we can get to a fair battery test between Android and iOS devices.
The screens were set to the same brightness and measured with an external light meter. This ensures that, even if brightness levels are different between screens, they’re all at the same brightness. This favors OLED screens, which consume less electricity at lower levels, and don’t light up black pixels on the screen, like LCD screens do. At full brightness, the advantage OLED displays have over LCD displays is less clear. The iPhone 11 has an LCD screen, while the Pro models have OLED.
Each phone then goes through the same apps, videos, and tasks. These are apps available on each platform, though they may be optimized differently. Still, it’s a fair representation of everyday usage. It’s not like there’s an other app you can use to browse Instagram.
The Results
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: 8 hours, 32 minutes
- Huawei Mate 30 Pro: 8 hours, 13 minutes
- iPhone 11 Pro: 6 hours, 42 minutes
- Galaxy Note 10+: 6 hours, 31 minutes
- iPhone 11: 5 hours, 2 minutes
Most of the phones considered here, with the exception of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro are extra large devices with extra large batteries. In fact, the smallest battery on the list belongs to the iPhone 11. It’s also the only phone with an LCD screen, which won’t do as well when up against phones with OLED displays. Apple’s own estimates place the iPhone 11 closer to the iPhone 11 Pro in battery life tests, especially for audio playback, which doesn’t involve the screen.
iPhone 11
Video playback (wireless): Up to 17 hours
Video streaming (wireless): Up to 10 hours
Audio playback (wireless): Up to 65 hours
iPhone 11 Pro
Video playback (wireless): Up to 18 hours
Video streaming (wireless): Up to 11 hours
Audio playback (wireless): Up to 65 hours
iPhone 11 Pro Max
Video playback (wireless): Up to 20 hours
Video streaming (wireless): Up to 12 hours
Audio playback (wireless): Up to 80 hours
Also, a factor anyone looking at battery life should consider, the iPhone 11 Pro models both come with an 18W fast charging adapter, which can charge the iPhone from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes. While the iPhone 11 can charge this fast, it comes with a 5W charger instead.
So, if battery life is your primary concern, Apple’s claim that the iPhone 11 Pro Max has its longest lasting iPhone battery ever seems to be true. Furthermore, the iPhone may have the best battery life out of any mainstream smartphone on the market today!
Source: Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac