The iPhone 18 Pro Max lasted longer than every other phone in CNET’s battery test, published on November 3, 2026. The test ranked 32 phones, including models from Samsung, Google, Motorola and OnePlus, so the Pro Max beat the Android phones too.
It is not the first time an iPhone has come out on top in a battery run against Android. In September 2025, the iPhone 17 Pro Max also beat Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra in a real-world battery run.
The test streamed video for 3 hours, then ran a 45-minute stress test
Each phone started at 100% and went through two runs. The first streamed video over Wi-Fi for 3 hours with the screen at full brightness. The second was a 45-minute stress test that mixed video streaming, a video call, games and social media scrolling. The second run is an anecdotal stress test, so read it as a rough guide to daily use. Each run records the percentage left, and the two results are averaged to set the ranking.
The Pro Max led overall, but the iPhone 18 Pro won the video test
The iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone Duo shared the top spot in the stress test, each finishing down 1%. Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL tied for third there, down 3%. The 2025 Pixel 10 Pro XL dropped 7% in the same stress test. In the 3-hour video test, the smaller iPhone 18 Pro came out on top, losing 6%. The Pro Max kept 92% in that video run.
The 2026 phones in the test averaged about the same battery life as the 2025 and 2024 models. The Pro Max stands out against that flat average.
The results were also averaged by brand, counting only brands with at least three phones tested. Apple placed first, and OnePlus placed second. This is the second year in a row that iPhones have beaten other brands in these battery tests.
Apple’s 45-hour figure is a different test
Apple’s launch page says eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro Max models deliver up to 45 hours of video playback, and the iPhone 18 Pro up to 36 hours. Apple says the eSIM models get two extra hours because the space once used by the SIM tray now holds a bigger battery. Those are Apple’s own numbers. This test does not use that measure, so the 45-hour figure cannot be compared with its percentages.
The results also do not say whether the phones were eSIM-only or had a SIM tray, though the results table lists the eSIM model’s capacity. The eSIM iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 5,567 mAh battery, up 9.4% from the 5,088 mAh in the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
CNET credits the Pro Max’s edge over last year’s model to that larger battery, iOS 27 optimizations and the efficient A20 Pro chip. Capacity helps, but the software and chip are part of why the Pro Max finished first.
If you want value over peak endurance, look at the iPhone 17
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e are among the best battery values in the results. The iPhone 17 tied for second overall with the iPhone 18 Pro, the Motorola Razr (2026) and the OnePlus 15, even though its 3,692 mAh battery is half the size of the OnePlus 15’s 7,300 mAh. It is the model to compare if the Pro Max is more than you want to spend.
The results do not print overall scores, but averaging the Pro Max’s 92% and 99% gives 95.5%, against 93.5% for the four phones tied for second.
Check AppleCare+ before paying for a battery swap
If your battery has worn down, check your coverage first. Apple says AppleCare+ covers a battery replacement at no extra charge when the battery’s capacity drops below 80%. Without coverage, Apple charges $129 in the U.S. for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max battery service.
If battery life is the only thing you are comparing, this test backs the Pro Max. Treat Apple’s 45-hour figure as its own test, since it is not on this test’s scale.
