It’s no good having a phone with a killer display for streaming video or a top-notch camera if it turns into a paperweight after only a few hours of use. For some, long battery life is essential, whether as a means to stay connected to someone or if you’re one to venture out, away from a viable power source, for days at a time. Bad battery life on smartphones is something we’ve all grown to tolerate. While Apple’s iPhone was once the device that always needed charging by lunchtime, it was never the only culprit. Thanks to major progress on Apple’s part though, for the first time in a while we now do feature one of the latest iPhones in our battery ranking. You can, of course, charge during the day if that doesn’t bother you or even carry around a power bank to top up your phone when away from the wall plug, but if you don’t want to keep checking that percentage icon, then here are the phones that you should look to.
Best battery phones 2022
Related stories for further reading
Best phone deals Best SIM-only deals Best smartphones Best gaming phones Best big phones
Resilient design Extended warranty Clean Android user experience 5G
Middling performance Only 60Hz display No power adapter in box
Despite being pricier than the 2021 Motorola Defy, we found the Nokia XR20 to strike the right balance, in terms of what those after a rugged phone might be looking for, with battery life being a particular highlight. It offers better raw performance compared to its most like-minded rival – the aforementioned Defy – and an impressively hardy design that doesn’t look all that bad and also comes with a great extended warranty. 5G, a headphone jack and Nokia’s characteristically easy-to-use Android user experience are highlights too.
Excellent camera Phenomenal display Stylus support
Bulky Expensive Slower charging
While the S22 Ultra might not boast quite the same chart-topping battery longevity as the Nokia XR20, based on our artificial benchmarking scores, it earns its place on this list as being one of the longest-lasting Android flagships we’ve tested from the 2022 crop, so far. In his review, Lewis Painter said that the Exynos 2200-powered model tested was able to comfortably last “all day,” which is impressive considering the level of performance and breadth of functionality on offer. If you’re not aware, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is effectively a successor to 2020’s Note 20 Ultra in everything but name. The design is distinctly different from the other entries in the S22 range, with an integrated S Pen stylus that expands functionality beyond most rivals, especially in terms of productivity. Despite familiar-looking camera hardware, the upgrades made by Samsung also grant it one of the best systems in any phone right now. An expansive 6.8in LTPO AMOLED display delivers both high WQHD+ resolution and an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, while long-term software support that surpasses even Google’s Pixels rounds out an impressive list of pros.
Powerful cameras Smooth 120Hz display Fast performance
Expensive Big and bulky
The accepted wisdom used to be that iPhones have bad battery life, and for a while it was true. Luckily that changed with the iPhone 13 series, none more so than the 13 Pro Max. This is the rare flagship iPhone that still offers multi-day performance, though you do pay a price for it – quite literally – as it’s an extortionately expensive phone. You’ll have to get used to the size too, but if you don’t mind using Apple’s biggest iPhone yet, then you’ll be rewarded with phenomenal cameras, top-notch performance and an ultra-smooth display – all of which finally lasts. It’s nigh on impossible to kill this phone in a day.
Resilient design Affordable Clean Android user experience
Lacklustre performance Low resolution display Basic cameras
Making a worthwhile rugged phone isn’t cheap and yet Motorola’s managed to make a solid offering in the revived 2021 Defy. It struggles to keep step with like-minded rival, the Nokia XR20 – in terms of performance – but we can’t knock its hardy design, or its sizeable 5000mAh battery; which delivers some exceptional longevity. 20W fast charging isn’t the quickest around, but we’d rather have it than not. While the display also misses the mark with its sub-Full HD resolution, Motorola’s clean Android experience does at least ensure it’s nice to use.
Budget-friendly Headphone jack Expandable storage
Average performance Ships with Android 11
The confusingly-named Nord CE 2 5G falls somewhere between the previous Nord CE 5G and the excellent Nord 2. Either way, it boasts great battery life at an affordable mid-range price. There’s a 90Hz AMOLED display, paired with a big battery, rapid 65W wired charging and a camera that isn’t too bad either; especially for the price. A few minor performance stutters hold it back from true mid-range greatness and it’s disappointing to see it ship with Android 11 – meaning it won’t get updates past Android 13 – but it still makes for a great package and an impressively affordable all-rounder.
Optimised gaming features Great 144Hz AMOLED display Top-notch performance
Unwieldy Heat management issues
If you’re considering phones for their battery life, there’s a chance it’s because you’re looking for a great mobile gaming device. Asus’ ROG Phone series is one of the most established members in the category and the ROG Phone 5 impresses with exceptional longevity, paired with some seriously high-end internals. So long as you’re on board with the unwieldy size of this 6.78in gaming behemoth and its tendency to get a little toasty after extended gaming sessions, Asus’ ROG Phone can keep you entertained for hours. Once we get our hands on the ROG Phone 5S line we’ll undoubtedly point you in their direction, but until that’s the case, the standard 5 is still a winner.
Attractive design Simple software
Underwhelming display Basic camera Micro-USB No 5G
One of the most affordable phones in Vivo’s portfolio, the Y20s prioritises battery life by pairing a large capacity cell with a low-resolution 720p display and a modest Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SoC. For the price, you lose out on features like 5G but the phone still offers a clean and simple user experience and a triple rear camera setup. Fast charging snappier than 18W would have been nice, though.
Affordable Lightweight Clean Android user experience
Plastic build Lacklustre cameras Dim display
A surprising standout in a sea of Moto G phones, the Moto G9 Power packs in a 5000mAh battery cell, which offers up enough juice for multiple days usage at a time. If you’re not hankering after super-fast 5G mobile speeds, the Play is a great affordable option with a big screen and a huge battery. The display needs work, as does the camera, but for the price and paired with Motorola’s slick user experience, the G9 Play isn’t a bad low-cost buy by any means.
Thin, lightweight design Rapid charging Solid main camera
Unreliable fingerprint sensor Middling performance Plastic build
A sleeper hit, in terms of battery longevity. Realme’s 8 Pro places a focus on design, opting for a slim and lightweight plastic build that manages to house a decently-sized battery and an impressively capable 108Mp main camera. Not everyone will appreciate the ‘Dare to Leap’ slogan, strewn across the phone’s back and Realme UI is a skinned take of Android that won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but this is a respectable, affordable phone that delivers great longevity.
Rugged design Wireless charging
Lacklustre performance Low resolution display Basic cameras
A budget offering that specialises in being resilient and long-lasting. The cameras and performance aren’t great but the S58 Pro will still serve those looking for a device that can withstand an active lifestyle and long stints away from the wall plug. With some of the best battery longevity that we’ve tested, the S58 Pro is a great option for hikers, divers or people who work in extreme conditions. The one thing nobody can complain about is the battery, which lasts multiple days on a single charge. It can depend on how efficient the phone’s processor is in conjunction with the software, as well as how much you actually use your phone. Expensive high-end phones often are faster and have better screens, but require larger batteries to compensate or suffer from crippling shortfalls (such as with Google’s Pixel 4). Some phones – particularly in the mid-range and budget segments – may offer large batteries and great battery life but forgo or offer underwhelming fast-charging speeds, meaning recharging them at any time other than overnight may become a chore. Decent fast charging speed wattages to look out for as of 2022 are anything over 33W, with some devices boasting 120W and beyond, at the top end of the current range. It’s worth noting that these tests spit out a figure in minutes and seconds, but this is not an indication of how long a phone will actually last. In all tests, the screen brightness is set to the same level to ensure fairness and consistency (200cd/m2). The phone discharges its battery and the screen is set not to dim or turn off. For example, if a phone lasts 12:15 in a test, it lasted 12 hours and 15 minutes with the screen on and the test processes running. These figures may vary from a device’s own report of screen-on time, as usage and power management setups have an additional effect on real-world situations.
