The Best Smartphones of 2025: Unmatched Battery Life Ratings

In 2025, battery performance emerged as a critical battleground in the smartphone industry. This year saw a significant increase in the adoption of silicon-carbon (Si/C) batteries, allowing manufacturers to incorporate capacities exceeding 7,000 mAh in standard smartphone models.

Remarkably, our all-time battery life rankings are now heavily influenced by smartphones released in 2025, with the exception of the iPhone 16 Plus. Notable contenders included several devices that surpassed the 20-hour threshold in our Active Use Score, led by the OnePlus 15 with an impressive score of 23:07 hours. The Oppo Find X9 Pro secured second place, while the iQOO 15 rounded out the top three rankings.

A notable trend this year is that nearly all top-scoring devices are flagship models, a shift from previous years. This is largely due to the premium cost associated with Si/C batteries, which have not yet been made available in lower-tier devices.

While the Honor Magic8 Lite and the iPhone 17 Pro Max did not feature in our all-time top 10 list, both secured the 10th position in the 2025 rankings.

For those seeking specific recommendations, we have a few suggestions. If call duration is your priority, consider the Realme GT 8 Pro or the iQOO 15; the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max performed well in our call tests, too.

For browsing, the Find X9 Pro, iQOO 15, and Realme GT 7 delivered the best runtimes.

When it comes to video playback, the iQOO 15 stands out as the leader, while the GT8 Pro, Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, and Find X9 Pro also boasted impressive performance.

Honorable mentions include the nubia Z80 Ultra, nubia RedMagic 11 Pro, and Poco F8 Ultra, which ranked 7th, 8th, and 9th, respectively. These models showcased remarkable Active Use Scores across various categories.

Looking ahead, expectations are set for more significant battery capacities in 2026, with hopes they will also extend to budget-friendly and mid-range smartphones. The future of battery technology in smartphones indeed looks promising!