iPhone Battery Life Comparison: Understanding and Maximizing Performance
When it comes to purchasing an iPhone, one of the most critical factors for many users is battery life. Apple promises improvements in battery performance each generation, but what does that mean for real-world usage?
Factors That Affect Battery Life
Several factors influence the battery life of an iPhone. While Apple consistently works to improve efficiency with each new model, factors like battery capacity, usage patterns, and battery degradation over time will affect how long your phone lasts on a single charge.
Charge Cycles and Battery Health
One of the primary factors influencing iPhone battery life is the number of charge cycles the battery has gone through. A charge cycle is defined as using 100% of your battery’s capacity, though it doesn’t have to happen all at once.
For example, using 50% of your battery one day and then recharging it, followed by using another 50% the next day, would count as one complete charge cycle.
As your iPhone goes through more charge cycles, its battery health naturally degrades. Apple estimates that iPhone batteries lose 20% or more of their original capacity after 500 complete charge cycles. Once the battery health dips below this threshold, you may notice your phone doesn’t last as long between charges, even with minimal usage.
You can monitor battery health by following the path Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Here, you’ll see the Maximum Capacity, which indicates how much capacity your battery has retained compared to when it was new.
Battery Capacity vs Power Usage
The battery capacity of an iPhone refers to how much charge it can hold, usually measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). The larger the battery capacity, the longer the phone can last between charges. However, capacity alone doesn’t determine battery life — it’s also about how efficiently the phone uses power.
High-end features, such as ProMotion (which adjusts the screen refresh rate), Always-On Display, and powerful processors like the A16 or A17 Bionic, increase power usage. Even though larger batteries can support these power-hungry features, they can still drain faster under heavy use compared to models with fewer premium features.
For instance, Pro Max models usually come with larger batteries, but their battery life may only slightly exceed that of the standard or Pro models because of the additional power needed to support larger displays and high-performance functions.
Degradation of Batteries Over Time
No matter how well you take care of your iPhone, its battery will degrade over time. This is an inevitable part of the lithium-ion technology used in modern smartphones. As the battery ages, it holds less charge, meaning that your phone won’t last as long between charges as it did when it was new.
Factors that accelerate battery degradation include:
- Frequent use of fast charging
- Letting your battery drop to 0% too often
- Constantly charging to 100%
Battery degradation is another why older iPhones eventually struggle with power management compared to a new iPhone. This isn’t exclusive to Apple, either; any new phone will degrade over time, and new devices generally benefit from advances in battery life. Over time, you’ll always need to replace the battery or consider upgrading to the next iPhone.
How to Maximize Your iPhone’s Battery Life
To ensure your iPhone battery lasts as long as possible between charges, there are several practices you can follow:
- Keep your battery charge between 20% and 80% to avoid stressing the battery.
- Turn off power-hungry features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location services when not in use.
- Lower the screen brightness and use Dark Mode to reduce power consumption.
- Disable Background App Refresh for apps that don’t need to run in the background.
- Use Low Power Mode when your battery is running low to extend usage until your next charge.
Following these tips will help preserve your battery’s health and maximize the time between charges, no matter which iPhone model you own.
iPhone Battery Life Comparison
Now that we’ve discussed the factors that affect iPhone battery life, let’s compare the performance of various models. We’ll look at battery capacities, performance during video playback, audio playback, and gaming, and consider how each phone holds up during real-world testing.
iPhone SE Battery Life
The iPhone SE family is well-known for offering a more affordable entry point into the Apple ecosystem without sacrificing key features or performance. While it’s a great option for those on a budget, how does the battery life compare to Apple’s flagship models?
In general, not great. The iPhone SE series have smaller batteries compared to Apple’s flagship devices, which naturally results in shorter battery life. However, the iPhone SE series has improved over time, particularly with the introduction of the third generation iPhone SE.
1st Generation iPhone SE
Released in 2016, the iPhone SE (1st Generation) was a popular choice for users who preferred the compact size of the iPhone 5S with the internal power of the iPhone 6S. While its smaller form factor was a selling point, the downside was its limited battery life. It also lacks many features that are now standard in iPhones, such as Portrait Mode.
- Battery Capacity: 1,624 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 13 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 50 hours
- Gaming: Up to 5 hours
- Real-World Usage: Less than 1 full day with moderate use
Given its smaller battery, the first-generation iPhone SE can struggle to get through a full day on a single charge, especially for users who engage in activities like gaming or video streaming. For light users, however, the phone still performs adequately.
iPhone SE (2nd Generation)
The iPhone SE (2nd Generation), released in 2020, brought a modernized design with the power of the A13 Bionic chip, the same chip used in the iPhone 11. While the battery life saw some improvements compared to the first generation, it still lags behind larger models due to its compact size.
- Battery Capacity: 1,821 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 13 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 40 hours
- Gaming: Up to 6 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 day of moderate use
Despite its small size and battery, the iPhone SE (2nd Generation) benefitted from the power efficiency of the A13 Bionic chip. For light to moderate users, this phone can still make it through the day, though it will require charging sooner for those who engage in more intensive tasks.
iPhone SE (3rd Generation)
Released in 2022, the iPhone SE (3rd Generation) maintains the small form factor of its predecessors but includes the more advanced A15 Bionic chip, offering greater efficiency and performance. While the battery capacity remains relatively small, the newer chip allows for some marginal improvements in battery life.
- Battery Capacity: 2,018 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 15 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 50 hours
- Gaming: Up to 6 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 day with moderate use
Though the iPhone SE (3rd Generation) doesn’t match the battery life of Apple’s flagship models, it’s a solid improvement over its predecessors. Users who prioritize portability and affordability over long-lasting battery performance will find this model appealing.
iPhone XR
The iPhone XR, released in 2018, was a breakthrough for its price point, offering great value and solid battery life.
- Battery Capacity: 2,942 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 16 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 65 hours
- Gaming: Up to 7 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 full day of moderate use
Although it’s an older model, the iPhone XR still performs reasonably well, especially for lighter users who don’t rely heavily on battery-draining tasks like gaming or streaming.
iPhone 12 and 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 series marked Apple’s introduction of 5G technology, which did come at the cost of battery life in some cases. However, the 12 Pro offers slightly better performance than the base model due to a larger battery.
iPhone 12:
- Battery Capacity: 2,815 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 17 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 65 hours
- Gaming: Up to 8 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 full day of moderate use
iPhone 12 Pro:
- Battery Capacity: 2,815 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 17 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 65 hours
- Gaming: Up to 8.5 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 day with moderate use
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 perform similarly in terms of battery life, with the Pro slightly edging out its base counterpart in more demanding scenarios.
iPhone 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max
The iPhone 13 series improved battery life significantly over the iPhone 12, especially with the Pro Max variant.
iPhone 13:
- Battery Capacity: 3,227 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 19 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 75 hours
- Gaming: Up to 9 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 day with light to moderate use
iPhone 13 Pro:
- Battery Capacity: 3,095 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 22 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 75 hours
- Gaming: Up to 9 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1.5 days with moderate use
iPhone 13 Pro Max:
- Battery Capacity: 4,352 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 28 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 95 hours
- Gaming: Up to 10 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1.5 to 2 days with moderate to heavy use
The iPhone 13 Pro Max was a standout for battery performance, delivering some of the best battery life ever seen in an iPhone at the time of its release.
iPhone 14, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max
Apple made slight improvements to battery life in the iPhone 14 series, with the Pro Max once again leading the way.
iPhone 14:
- Battery Capacity: 3,279 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 20 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 80 hours
- Gaming: Up to 9.5 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 full day with moderate use
iPhone 14 Pro:
- Battery Capacity: 3,200 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 23 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 75 hours
- Gaming: Up to 10 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1.5 days with moderate use
iPhone 14 Pro Max:
- Battery Capacity: 4,323 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 28 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 95 hours
- Gaming: Up to 11 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1.5 days with heavy use
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is ideal for users who need maximum battery performance for demanding tasks.
iPhone 15, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max
With the iPhone 15, Apple continues to push for efficiency with a balance of battery capacity and power usage.
iPhone 15:
- Battery Capacity: 3,349 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 23 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 75 hours
- Gaming: Up to 9 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 full day of light to moderate use
iPhone 15 Pro:
- Battery Capacity: 3,274 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 24 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 80 hours
- Gaming: Up to 10 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1.5 days with regular use
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
- Battery Capacity: 4,422 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 29 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 95 hours
- Gaming: Up to 12 hours
- Real-World Usage: 2 full days with moderate use
The iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers longer battery life than its predecessor, making it one of the top contenders for users who need heavy performance without frequent charging.
iPhone 16 Battery Life
The iPhone 16 series introduces further battery improvements, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max offering the best performance across all metrics.
iPhone 16:
- Battery Capacity: 3,561 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 16 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 75 hours
- Gaming: Up to 9 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1 day of light to moderate use
iPhone 16 Pro:
- Battery Capacity: 3,582 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 22 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 80 hours
- Gaming: Up to 9.5 hours
- Real-World Usage: 1.5 days with regular use
iPhone 16 Pro Max:
- Battery Capacity: 4,685 mAh
- Video Playback: Up to 30 hours
- Audio Playback: Up to 95 hours
- Gaming: Up to 12 hours
- Real-World Usage: 2 days with moderate use
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max now share the title of longest battery life among all the latest iPhones. But in practice, iPhone 15 models have seen significant use by now; the newer battery of an iPhone 16 Pro Max will probably have better battery life in practice.
Which iPhone Has the Best Battery Life?
After comparing the battery life across various iPhone models, it’s clear that the Pro Max versions of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 are the best. While the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a slightly more powerful battery, this is mostly offset by its more powerful, energy-hungry hardware.
Beyond these top-tier models, the other recent iPhones also deliver some of the best battery life in the industry. As long as their battery is in good condition, you should be able to count on more than a full day of consistent use without needing to recharge.
What to Do with a Phone That Has Bad Battery Life
If your current iPhone no longer holds a charge as well as it once did, you have several options to consider. Whether you choose to replace the battery, upgrade your phone, or sell it for cash, it’s essential to know the best course of action.
The Importance of Recycling Old Batteries
As smartphone batteries degrade, they don’t just lose efficiency—they can also become hazardous if not disposed of properly. Lithium-ion batteries contain toxic materials, and if they end up in landfills, they can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.
Recycling old phone batteries helps reduce e-waste and ensures that valuable materials like lithium and cobalt are recovered and reused. Many retailers and recycling centers, including EcoATM, accept old electronics for safe disposal and recycling.
DIY Battery Replacement
For those who are technically inclined, replacing your iPhone’s battery yourself is an option. You can buy battery replacement kits online, which typically include all the tools you need to open the phone and install a new battery.
However, DIY battery replacement can be risky. If done incorrectly, it could damage your phone or lead to poor battery performance. Additionally, opening the phone yourself will void any remaining warranty.
Professional Repair
A safer option for those experiencing battery issues is to take the phone to Apple or an authorized repair service. Apple’s battery replacement service ensures that the new battery will meet their standards and keep your phone running smoothly.
Though professional repair services come at a cost, they guarantee that your phone will continue to function correctly, often extending the life of your older devices for another year or two.
Selling Your Phone
If your battery life has degraded significantly, and replacing it seems like too much hassle, selling your phone may be the best option. Upgrading to a newer model with better battery life is often the most efficient solution.
EcoATM offers a convenient way to sell your old phone and receive instant cash in return. EcoATM kiosks are located in malls and other convenient locations across the country, making it easy to recycle your phone and get paid on the spot.
Why Selling to EcoATM is the Best Choice
Selling your old iPhone to EcoATM comes with several benefits that make it the best option for getting rid of a phone with a degraded battery.
Instant Cash for Your Old Device
Unlike other platforms where you may need to wait for a buyer, EcoATM provides instant cash when you drop off your phone at one of their kiosks.
Environmentally Friendly Solution
EcoATM takes care of the e-waste problem by refurbishing phones when possible or recycling them when necessary. This helps reduce the toxic waste that comes from improperly discarded electronics.
Convenient Locations
With thousands of kiosks across the country, EcoATM is easy to access. You can locate a nearby kiosk online and drop off your device at your convenience.
Hassle-Free Process
The process of selling to EcoATM is simple and takes just a few minutes. There’s no need to haggle with buyers or deal with shipping costs. Simply drop off your phone and walk away with cash in hand.
Trade in Your Phone Today with ecoATM
If your iPhone no longer meets your needs in terms of battery life, it might be time to upgrade. Whether you choose to sell it through ecoATM or consider professional battery replacement, understanding your options will help you get the most out of your old device.
When you want to part with your old device in an environmentally-friendly way and buy a great new phone, ecoATM is the way to go. Price your device online today or head to a nearby kiosk to sell your old device with us today!
FAQs
Which iPhone has the best battery life?
The iPhone with the best battery life is the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which offers up to 30 hours of video playback on a single charge. It also excels in real-world usage, lasting longer in activities such as web browsing, gaming, and audio playback compared to other models.
What iPhone battery lasts longer?
Among all iPhones, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the longest-lasting battery. It is followed by the iPhone 16 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, both of which have excellent battery performance for heavy use, making them ideal for users who need extended battery life.
Is 80% battery life good for iPhone?
An iPhone battery with 80% battery life is considered normal but nearing the point where replacement might be beneficial. Apple considers 80% battery capacity or higher as good after around 500 charge cycles. Once it drops below 80%, users may notice their device holds less charge and drains faster.
Will iPhone battery last 5 years?
An iPhone battery can last up to 5 years with proper care, but its performance will degrade over time. Typically, after about 2-3 years of regular use, the battery’s capacity will start to decline. After 5 years, you may need to replace the battery to maintain good performance. However, keeping charging habits in check, like avoiding overcharging, can help extend the battery’s lifespan.
