Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max placed first overall in a battery comparison of 32 smartphones, with other iPhone models leading individual tests and matching significantly more expensive devices.
CNET assessed each phone using two tests totaling three hours and 45 minutes. One measured battery consumption during three hours of video streaming over Wi-Fi at maximum screen brightness. The other combined video playback, video calls, gaming, and social media use over 45 minutes. Both began at 100% charge, and the publication averaged the remaining percentages to produce its overall rankings.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, each finished the mixed-use test with 99% remaining, sharing first place. Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL retained 97%, improving on the Pixel 10 Pro XL's 93% result in the same test.
The smaller iPhone 18 Pro delivered the strongest result in the video streaming test, retaining 94% of its charge after three hours. The iPhone 17 also performed well across both benchmarks, alongside Motorola's Razr and Razr Ultra models.
CNET credited the iPhone 18 Pro Max's overall lead to a battery capacity increase over the iPhone 17 Pro Max, combined with the A20 Pro chip's efficiency and iOS 27 optimizations.
Despite sharing first place in the mixed-use test, the $1,999 iPhone Duo tied for fourth overall. Its combined result matched the $699 iPhone 17e and $1,400 Motorola Razr Ultra, putting the less expensive iPhone alongside two foldable devices costing substantially more.
Apple also led CNET's comparison of average results by manufacturer for the second consecutive year. Only brands represented by multiple tested models were included, with OnePlus finishing second.
The broader findings were less indicative of an improvement across the industry. According to CNET, phones tested in 2026 had approximately the same average battery performance as those tested in 2025 and 2024. Larger batteries do not necessarily translate into longer use between charges, since displays, processors, and other features also affect power consumption.
The publication identified the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e among its better-value options for battery endurance. Beyond Apple's devices, the $500 Motorola Moto G Stylus and $600 Motorola Edge both reached the overall top 10.
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