Newshot CNET releases battery drain test of 32 phones: Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has the best overall battery life
IT之家, November 12: Tech media outlet CNET this month released a battery life report on 32 phones sold in the US market, saying the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has become the model with the best overall battery life.
On the testing side, the outlet tested a total of 28 new phones in 2026, but it also included 4 models that were not updated this year, so the list contains 32 phones in total. In terms of testing time, the outlet's total testing time for these phones exceeded 120 hours.
As for the test items, the outlet's testing leans toward battery drain tests, including the following two items:
- 3-hour video streaming test: with a full charge, maximum screen brightness and a Wi‑Fi connection, play video continuously for 3 hours and record the remaining battery level.
- 45-minute stress test: at full charge, perform high-intensity operations such as video playback, video calls, gaming and social media browsing, and record the remaining battery level.
The results show that the iPhone 18 Pro Max lost only 1% of battery in the 45-minute stress test, tying for first place with the iPhone Duo; the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL tied for third with only 3% consumption.
In the 3-hour video test, the iPhone 18 Pro performed best, consuming only 6% of battery. CNET believes the iPhone 18 Pro Max's win benefits from a larger battery capacity, iOS 27 system optimizations and improved energy efficiency of the A20 Pro chip. IT之家 attaches the relevant images below:
It is worth noting that a large battery capacity does not necessarily mean long battery life. Tests show that brighter screens, more powerful processors and AI features all consume the added capacity, so the average battery life of new phones in 2026 is basically on par with 2024 and 2025 models.
Silicon-carbon batteries have become the most closely watched technological change of the year. Foldable phones such as the Motorola Razr (2026) and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 have begun using this type of battery, which can increase capacity without significantly increasing battery volume. CNET expects that more manufacturers will adopt the technology in 2027 and beyond.
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