This has been one of the strongest years yet for new entries on our best phone battery life list. The first half of 2024 brought new flagship phones from Samsung and OnePlus, with both nabbing spots in our rankings. And now, one of Google's latest phones has landed on our list, after years of Pixels struggling to keep pace with average smartphones.
We're not done yet. The latest iPhones arrive in September, and we're eager to see if the iPhone 16 can build upon the success of the iPhone 15 lineup at lasting a long time on a charge.
How much has battery life improved in the past year? Foldable phones, which require a lot of power for their extended screens, used to struggle to find a spot on our list. Now, our top 15 rankings include one of Motorola's foldable flip phones.
This influx of long-lasting phones is making it tougher than ever to land a spot in this best phone battery life guide. A phone would need to hold out for more than 14 hours on the battery test we run on each phone just to have a chance of breaking into the top 15 long-lasting phones.
Still, some devices manage to go above and beyond that 14-hour mark. Take the ROG Phone 8 Pro, which currently heads our list after turning in the best result we've ever seen on our battery test. It's followed by the OnePlus 12R, an impressive midrange device that doesn't require you to pay up for outstanding battery life. It's no wonder that both of those handsets took home honor in our Tom's Guide 2024 awards for phones.
In our custom battery test, we make phones surf the web continuously over 5G until they run out of juice. We set the phone's screen at 150 nits of brightness to ensure comparable results. And if the phone has a display with a fast refresh rate, we test multiple times with that feature enabled and disabled to get a sense of what kind of battery life you can expect.
The average phone lasts just over 10 hours, so anything better than that mark offers solid battery life. But to earn a place on the best phone battery life list, you need to go past 14 hours. Truly, we're talking about phones that offer the kind of endurance where you're less reliant on one of our best portable charger picks.
Devices ranked for the best phone battery life were tested in the last 18 months. Asus dominates the top of the rankings with three of the top four long-lasting phones, but don't over look Motorola and its four entries. Flagships from Samsung, OnePlus, Apple and Google are also represented.
Best phone battery life at a glance (hours:minutes)
- Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro: 18:48
- OnePlus 12R: 18:42
- Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: 18:32
- Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra: 17:52
- OnePlus 12: 17:41
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: 16:45
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: 16:32
- Motorola Edge Plus (2023): 15:47
- Moto G Stylus 5G (2024): 15:01
- Nothing Phone 2a: 15:00
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: 14:37 (tie)
- Motorola Razr (2024): 14:37 (tie)
- Moto G 5G (2024): 14:36
- Nothing Phone 2: 14:21
- iPhone 15 Plus: 14:14
The best phone battery life in 2024
1. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro (18:48)
Asus actually uses a smaller battery in the ROG Phone 8 Pro than it did in the previous version of its gaming phone. But don't worry about that — the ROG Phone 8 Pro still set a new standard on our battery test by finishing just shy of 19 hours.
The ROG Phone 8 Pro's time was 16 minutes better than the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate — not only the previous gaming phone from Asus but the last phone to set a new record on our battery test. Get an Asus gaming phone, and you'll never have to worry about running out of power mid-game.
A 65W charger that comes with the ROG Phone 8 Pro helped get a drained phone to a 71% charge after 30 minutes of charging. By 50 minutes, the phone was completely charged. So you're never really out of the game with this long-lasting phone from Asus at your side. The phone goes on sale in February.
Read our full Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review.
2. OnePlus 12R (18:42)
The midrange OnePlus 12R is the longest-lasting phone we've tested that's not built specifically for gaming. A chunky 5,500 mAh battery helps this phone last throughout the day and then some on a single charge, but credit should also go to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which powers many of the other devices on our best phone battery life list.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 may be an older chipset, but that's what allows OnePlus to offer the 12R at such a low price, particularly in the U.S. You can buy a $499 model with 128GB of storage in the U.S., while the OnePlus 12R starts at $599 for 256GB of storage in other parts of the world.
Even with its lower price, the OnePlus 12R doesn't skimp on OnePlus' trademark fast-charging. With 80W wired charging speeds in the U.S., we got the phone to a 96% charge after 30 minutes. Don't expect wireless charging, though.
Read our full OnePlus 12R review.
3. Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate (18:32)
Last year's battery champ remains a long-lasting legend, as the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate held out for 18.5 hours on a charge. Credit goes to the device's 6,000 mAh battery as well as the energy efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that powers the phone. Speedy 65W charging helps you quickly top off that battery.
You'll probably want the more recent ROG Phone 8 Pro if you want a long-lasting device for gaming. But if you find this older model at a significant discount, the ROG Phone 7 Utimate is a good alternative.
Read our full Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate review.
4. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra (17:52)
At this point, it would be a surprise if Asus didn't produce a long-lasting phone. The Zenfone 11 Ultra joins the last two ROG Phones in dominating our battery life rankings. In the case of the Zenfone 11 Ultra, the phone lasted nearly 18 hours on our battery test with its 6.78-inch display set to an automatic refresh rate.
Even better, the Zenfone 11 Ultra's appeal goes beyond endurance and gaming, as Asus has equipped the phone with an especially bright and colorful display. We appreciate how a 6-axis gimbal boosts the stability of the phone's 50MP main camera, even if we wish that the photo-processing capabilities were a little more refined. You can enjoy 65W wired charging, too, though you will need to provide your own charger to take full advantage of that feature.
Read our full Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra review.
5. OnePlus 12 (17:41)
The lower-cost OnePlus 12R may be the longer-lasting phone in the OnePlus 12 series, but don't sell the flagship phone short. The OnePlus 12 still lasted more than 17.5 hours on our battery test with the help of a 5,400 mAh battery and the power management features of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 silicon. We got that time with the phone's adaptive display enabled, so you can take advantage of faster refresh rates without having to worry about that feature draining the battery.
Unlike the OnePlus 12R, the OnePlus 12 offers wireless charging, which makes its welcome return to OnePlus' flagships. Wired charging supports 80W speeds in the U.S., compared to 50W wireless speeds.
Read our full OnePlus 12 review.
6. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (16:45)
Meet the longest-lasting flagship phone we've ever tested. The Galaxy S24 Ultra finished 15 minutes shy of the 17-hour mark, beating out last year's flagship phone from Motorola by nearly an hour. The S24 Ultra's performance is 2.5 hours better than Apple's latest flagships, which are no slouches when it comes to lasting a long time on a charge.
Samsung didn't increase the battery size in the Galaxy S24 Ultra — it remains at 5,000 mAh. So we have to credit the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powering the phone for its excellent efficiency. It's also worth noting we recorded that time with the S24 Ultra's adaptive refresh rate turned on, so the Qualcomm chipset does a great job managing power.
Charging speeds remain at 45W, but we managed to get a 71% charge after 30 minutes using a 45W USB-C charger. Samsung doesn't include such a charger with its phone, so if you want top charging speeds, you'll need to pick up this accessory on your own.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 hands-on.
7. Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (16:32)
The Galaxy S24 Plus can last nearly as long as the slightly larger Galaxy S24 Ultra on a charge, missing the Ultra's time on our battery test by just 13 minutes. That's an excellent result for a phone with a 4,900 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. (At least in North America — S24 Plus models in the rest of the world use Exynos 2400 silicon.)
Charging speeds haven't changed from the Galaxy S23 Plus, as the S24 Plus charges at 45W wired. With a compatible charger, we got a drained Galaxy S24 Plus to a 72% charge in 30 minutes, similar to what we saw with the S24 Ultra.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus review.
8. Motorola Edge Plus 2023 (15:47)
We're never surprised when a Motorola phone does well on our battery test — you'll find a lot of the phone maker's devices on this best phone battery life list. Still, the Motorola Edge Plus 2023 raised a few eyebrows with its time of 15 hours and 47 minutes. We got that result with the phone's 6.7-inch display set to an automatic refresh rate, meaning that it can scale up to 120Hz as on-screen activity dictates.
But the Edge Plus supports an even higher refresh rate of 165Hz — appealing to gamers who long for immersive graphics. When we locked the phone's refresh rate at 165Hz, the Motorola Edge Plus still lasted more than 13 hours on our test, so it still would have ranked among the longest-lasting phones we've reviewed. The Motorola Edge Plus also sports 68W wired charging to top off its massive 5,100 mAh battery. We weren't blown away by the charging speed in practice, but that's one of the few disappointments we experienced when testing this excellent flagship phone.
Read our full Motorola Edge Plus (2023) review.
9. Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 (15:01)
Motorola's G series phones have a strong reputation for lasting a long-time on a charge. The best of the bunch from this year's batch of G series updates is the Moto G Stylus. It lasted a little more than 15 hours on our test, and that was with the 6.7-inch display's refresh rate alternating between 60Hz and 120Hz.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) gives you more than just a massive battery and fast 30W charging speeds. It comes with a built-in stylus that's useful for scribbling notes or sketching on the phone's display. The Moto G Stylus may lack some processing muscle and its cameras are passable at best, but for less than $400, you get a bright display, a stylish design and all the battery life you could ask for.
Read our full Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) review.
10. Nothing Phone 2a (15:00)
The less expensive of Nothing's latest phones benefits from a 5,000 mAh battery and a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset to turn in an impressive time on our battery test, lasting for exactly 15 hours. We achieved that result with the display refresh rate set to high so you don't have to worry about that feature draining battery life.
East-charging is something you typically don't find on cheaper phones, and yet the Nothing Phone 2a can charge at 45W with a wired connection. For less than $350, that's an impressive set of power management features — provided you're able to get your hands on the Nothing Phone 2a, as U.S. availability is limited.
Read our full Nothing Phone 2a review.
11. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (14:37)
The entire Google Pixel 9 lineup finally manages to shake off Google's troubles with building a phone that lasts a long time on a charge. While the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro beat the average smartphone by about 3.5 hours on our test, it's the Pixel 9 Pro XL that turns in the best result of the trio, lasting more than 14.5 hours.
A big 5,060 mAh battery helps with that improved battery life, but the new Tensor G4 silicon also does an excellent job managing power — an especially impressive feat given how bright the Pixel 9 Pro XL display can get. This phone is also the only one in Google's lineup that can really take advantage of faster wired charging speeds when paired with Google's 45W charging stand. Otherwise, charging speeds are a respectable 37W, which lets a drained Pixel 9 Pro XL get to a 63% charge after 30 minutes.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review.
12. Motorola Razr 2024 (14:37)
Foldable phones aren't supposed to last a long time on a charge — they've got twice as many screens to keep powered up as conventional phones. So color us surprised that both of Motorola's latest foldable phones are among the longest-lasting phones we've tested in the last year-and-a-half, with the cheaper Motorola Razr (2024) posting the better time of 14 hours and 37 minutes on our test. (The more expensive Motorola Razr Plus from 2024 is no slouch either, just missing making this list at 14 hours and 13 minutes.)
There's a caveat to that Razr number — we achieved it by setting the refresh rate on the Razr's 6.9-inch display to 60Hz. The phone can reach a refresh rate of 120Hz, so battery life may not be as high with that feature enabled. Still, it's an impressive result for any foldable phone, let alone one that costs $699. You may make some compromises to get that affordable price, but battery life isn't one of them.
Read our full Motorola Razr (2024) review.
13. Moto G 5G 2024 (14:36)
One of the least expensive entries on our best phone battery life list, the Moto G 5G (2024) proves once again that Motorola's G series of budget phones can be counted on to last a while on a charge. In this case, the latest edition of the Moto G 5G lasted more than 14.5 hours — and that time was recorded with the phone's 6.6-inch display set to its automatic refresh rate that can scale up to 120Hz.
A fast-refreshing display and long battery life underscore the value of the Moto G 5G, which costs just $199. You'll make some trade-offs for that price — mostly in processor speed and photo quality — but longevity isn't something you need to worry about sacrificing.
Read our full Moto G 5G 2024 review.
14. Nothing Phone 2 (14:21)
The Nothing Phone 2 is much easier to get your hands on than the Nothing Phone 2a, and you're not losing much in terms of longevity. Equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset and a 4,385 mAh battery, the Nothing Phone 2 lasted 14 hours and 21 minutes on our battery test, topping devices powered by more recent Qualcomm silicon.
Like the Nothing Phone 2a, the Nothing Phone 2 offers 45W wired charging while also throwing 15W wireless charging into the mix. So it's easy to quickly top off the phone when you need a little extra battery life before heading out the door.
Read our full Nothing Phone 2 review.
15. iPhone 15 Plus (14:14)
The iPhone 15 Plus doesn't just offer the best battery life of any of Apple's latest iPhones — it's the longest lasting iPhone we've ever tested, blowing past the 14-hour mark. (That said, it only beat the iPhone 15 Pro Max by 12 minutes, so that $1,099 model would also be an excellent choice for anyone who wants a long-lasting Aple handset.) While the iPhone 15 Plus reportedly has a bigger battery than its predecessor — Apple doesn't disclose battery sizes — it's likely the A16 Bionic that helped the current model user power more efficiently.
We wish the iPhone 15 Plus could charge faster, especially since Apple made the switch to USB-C and dropped the proprietary Lightning port. But charging speeds still top out at 20W. At least you can use the same cable on your iPhone that you would on your computer or your iPad now.
Read our full iPhone 15 Plus review.
How we test for the best phone battery life
Every phone we review goes through extensive testing in addition to being put through everyday use. The test most relevant to determining the best phone battery life is our proprietary Tom's Guide Battery Life test. (You can get a full rundown of the testing we conduct in our guide to how Tom's Guide tests and reviews smartphones.)
In this test, we set the display of a phone to 150 nits, so that we can get consistent results. We then run a script on the phone that makes it surf the web via its default browser app until the phone runs out of power and we time the results. Phones with longest endurance land on the best phone battery life list, though we cycle out devices older than 18 months to keep our list of longest-lasting phones current.
Many smartphones — particularly premium models — now offer displays with faster refresh rate settings. Because a high refresh rate can drain the battery of a phone faster, we'll test phones multiple times — once with the display set for the maximum refresh rate and once with it locked at 60Hz. We'll indicate which setting produced which battery life time in our review and in our best phone battery life rankings, though we favor phones that have a good result at highest refresh rates.
We run one other test on smartphone batteries, timing how long it takes for a drained phone to charge. We'll note the percentage charge after 15 and 30 minutes of charging a phone that's run out of power. We'll use the charger that comes with the phone for this test; in cases where a phone ships without a charger — increasingly coming among premium handsets — we'll use a charger that's capable of delivering the fastest charging speed supported by the phone as listed in the device specs.
Battery testing is one part of the tests we run to review phones. We also run benchmarks to evaluate a phone's performance, measure screen brightness and color reproduction to rate its display and take multiple pictures to evaluate cameras. All those help us assign ratings to devices in our smartphone reviews, though for the purposes of the best phone battery life list, our battery test is the only result affecting rankings.
