iPhone 18 Pro Max Tops CNET Battery Test of 32 Smartphones

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max finished first overall in a CNET battery comparison of 32 smartphones, with other iPhones also leading individual tests and matching more expensive devices.

Each phone underwent two tests: three hours of video streaming over Wi-Fi at full screen brightness, and 45 minutes of mixed use covering video playback, video calls, games, and social media. Both began at 100% charge. The overall ranking averages the remaining battery percentages, rather than measuring how long each phone runs before shutting down.

In the mixed-use test, the Pro Max and iPhone Duo shared the lead, each retaining 99% charge. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro delivered the best video-streaming result, finishing with 94% remaining.

The combined results put iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro in a four-way tie for second place with the Motorola Razr (2026) and OnePlus 15. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 followed in third under CNET's tied-rank system.

The iPhone Duo finished in a three-way tie for fourth overall with the iPhone 17e and Motorola Razr Ultra (2026).

Apple also had the highest average results by manufacturer for the second consecutive year, followed by OnePlus. That comparison included only brands with more than one tested model. Across the broader sample, however, CNET found average battery performance in 2026 was roughly unchanged from 2025 and 2024.