Phones with best battery life in 2024
There are lots of things to consider when you're buying a new phone, and battery life is one of the most important – you don’t want to run out of juice in the middle of an important phone call, or when you’re following directions to somewhere new. Thought portable chargers and battery packs can be useful, carrying round them around can be cumbersome, and it’s just one more thing to keep charged.
To help you choose the best smartphone, we've put together a list of the best performers when it comes to battery life.
mAh battery
The unit of battery capacity is mAh (milliampere/hour). The bigger the mAh value, the more powerful the battery is. This measurement gives an indication of how long your phone can operate between each full charge. However, this is only an estimate because how you use your phone will impact how long the battery lasts. For example, activities such as gaming will use more battery capacity than sending a text.
What other factors affect the battery life?
There are lots of different things that can affect how long your battery lasts - besides the size of your battery - such as:
Your phone processor – newer processors work faster, using less energy and less heat meaning battery life lasts longer
The operating system – newer systems are optimised to use less battery and get work done more quickly
How old the battery is – the more charging cycles, the shorter its life
The brightness level of your screen – the brighter your screen the more power it needs
Using your network – making calls, using your data, and using GPS or location services can all drain your battery. Try using WiFi when you can as this uses less power.
Gaming – especially 3D games require a lot of processing and power from your phone. Check out our list of the best gaming phones
Watching videos – especially in ‘picture in picture’ mode
Multi-tasking – having apps running in the background will drain your battery, especially if they ping you with frequent notifications
The importance of fast charge
The life and size of your battery is important, but when you need to charge your phone then time is of the essence. Fast-charging has become a must-have feature in a lot of smartphones, but how does it work?
A basic USB port sends just 2.5 watts (W) to your phone battery, but fast-charging increases this wattage amount so your phone charges more quickly. There are a few different methods to achieve this:
USB Power Delivery: also known as USB-PD, is technology that enables a USB port to deliver up to 100W to your battery.
Qualcomm Quick Charge: Qualcomm is a type of processor used for flagship Android devices. The latest processors are compatible with Quick Charge 4+, which has a maximum power output of 100W.
Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging: This is used by flagship Samsung devices. It has a maximum power output of 18W and will automatically change charging speeds to maintain the battery's longevity.
Wireless fast-charging is also on the horizon – though this progress is a little slower as a lot of heat is generated in fast-charging, and managing this heat wirelessly can be tricky.
Which phone has the best battery life?
There are lots of different factors that affect battery life, but battery size is an important one - currently the most powerful phone batteries on the market are around 5,000 mAh. Read on to find out our top picks for phones with the best battery life from each major brand.
• Best overall battery life phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Best mid-range phone for battery life: Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
• Best Samsung phone for battery life: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Best Google Pixel phone for battery life: Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Best Honor phone for battery life: HONOR Magic5 Lite 5G
• Best Motorola phone for battery life: Motorola Moto e13 5G
Samsung phones with the best battery life
We have a great range of Samsung phones with a long battery life. Their latest phones with AI also include features to optimise app management, so you can maximise your battery usage.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Fitted with the brand-new phone technology, Galaxy AI, this phone comes with handy functions like Circle to Search with Google and Live TRANSLATE, which provides two-way translation in real time, all powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. Plus, you can take photos to the next level with Camera AI and the 200MP main camera.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Take your content game to the next level with the 50MP Main Camera, 12MP Ultra Wide Camera and 5MP Macro Camera. With Optical Image Stabilisation, you can capture blur-free moments whenever and wherever. Plus, with an enormous, 5,000mAh battery¹ , you can stream content or scroll for hours through social media. See it all in pin-sharp detail, on the FHD+ 6.4-inch Infinity-O display with 1,000 nits of brightness.
Other Samsung phones with great battery life
Battery | |
|---|---|
5,000mAh | |
5,000mAh | |
5,000mAh | |
5,000mAh | |
5,000mAh | |
4,900mAh | |
4,000mAh |
Google Pixel phones with the best battery life
Google’s range of Pixel phones not only have great battery life, but the batteries are adaptive too – this means they conserve battery when you need it so your battery lasts for longer.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
With one of the biggest batteries on the market at 5,050 mAh, the Google Pixel 8 Pro has a fantastic battery life and can last up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver mode¹. The Pixel 8 Pro has some other great features too, like four pro-level cameras supported by Google’s AI editors, and the new Google Tensor G3 chip for super-fast performance.
Google Pixel Fold
Google’s first foldable phone unfolds to an immersive 7.6-inch display, and is powered by Google Tensor G2 chip – perfect for fuelling your multi-tasking. With a large 4,821 mAh battery, it boasts all day battery life¹.
Other Google phones with great battery life
Battery | |
|---|---|
5050mAh | |
4821mAh | |
4575mAh | |
4300mAh |
Other phones with great battery life
Outside Samsung phones and Google phones, here are the top gaming phones we recommend from other big brands.
Motorola Moto e13 5G
Slim, stylish and spectacular, the Motorola Moto e13 5G has an octa-core processor and AI-powered camera system - so you’re always social media ready. Plus, you can free yourself from the power outlet, with a 5,000 mAh battery that keeps you working and playing for longer.
The UK's only Lifetime Service Promise
All phones bought on Vodafone EVO, including refurbished phones, come with Lifetime Service Promise at no extra cost - this keeps your phone running for longer. With our Lifetime Service Promise, you benefit from:
Lifetime Warranty
We'll cover your device for repairs against manufacturer faults for as long as you have a Pay monthly Airtime Plan with us.
Battery Refresh
Battery health checks and replacements included for up to three years.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a 5,000 mAh battery last? A 5,000 mAh battery can last up to a whopping two days, but this depends on usage – if you use your phone a lot, or use it for high energy tasks like gaming or streaming high quality videos, then it may not last as long.
A new battery should last between 2-3 years, which is equivalent to roughly 300-500 charge cycles.
Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries are best for mobile phones.
Yes it’s worth replacing your phone battery – doing so can increase the lifespan of your phone. If you get a phone on Vodafone EVO, then you’ll get Lifetime Warranty and Battery Refresh as standard included with your plan.
Experts recommend that you drain your phone battery once a month in order to help reset it and recalibrate the feature of knowing how much is left. More info
There’s no danger in using your phone while it’s charging, though it might charge at a slightly slower rate in order to allow enough power for your usage.
Yes it’s okay to leave your phone charging overnight – it’s not at risk of overcharging.
Terms and conditions
¹ Based on average use. Actual battery life varies by network environment, apps and functionality used, and other factors.
¹ For 'over 24 hours': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 31 hours. Battery testing conducted on a major operator network. For 'up to 72 hours': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major operator network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in mid 2023 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the 'up to 72 hours' claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.
¹ The typical battery capacity is 5,100 mAh, and the rated value is 5,000 mAh
² The data comes from HONOR lab tests under specific experimental conditions. Actual use may vary slightly due to individual differences in products, user habits and environmental factors. Please refer to the actual experience.