2024 comparison: Which iPhone has the best battery life?

If you’re ready to break up with your phone charger (or at least leave the house without it), you might be debating whether to upgrade your iPhone. So the question is: Which iPhone has the best battery life?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve made a full comparison of the latest iPhone models and series to help you decide if the newest iPhone is worth the added cost for the battery life (Spoiler alert: Probably not.). 

Methodology and disclaimer: The battery life claims below are based on Apple’s iPhone comparison tool. Video playback and audio playback statistics are nonstreaming versions only. Since battery life may decrease with phone use, please note that the below data reflects new phones out of the original box.

iPhone 15 Series battery life

The iPhone 15 series is the latest to join the iPhone family in September 2023. It features a titanium body for a lighter phone. It’s also the first iPhone to use a USB-C charger rather than the previous Apple lightning cable. Along with a slightly upgraded camera, there’s a new action button in place of the mute switch. 

It’s a great phone, both technologically and aesthetically speaking. Yet the iPhone 15 didn’t get a battery life upgrade from its predecessor.

• iPhone 15 battery life: Up to 20 hours of video playback; 80 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 15 Plus battery life: Up to 26 hours of video playback; 100 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 15 Pro battery life: Up to 23 hours of video playback; 75 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 15 Pro Max battery life: Up to 29 hours of video playback; 95 hours audio playback

iPhone 14 Series battery life 

The iPhone 14 was released in 2022 and boasted updated front and back-facing cameras. Apple also released new colors of the iPhone and a few other internal adjustments, like an upgraded RAM.

What is also noteworthy about the iPhone 14 series is its battery life. While only a small upgrade from the iPhone 13 series, these phones have the longest battery life Apple has offered to date.

• iPhone 14 battery life: Up to 20 hours of video playback; 80 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 14 Plus battery life: Up to 26 hours of video playback; 100 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 14 Pro battery life: Up to 23 hours of video playback; 75 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 14 Pro Max battery life: Up to 29 hours of video playback; 95 hours of audio playback

iPhone 13 Series battery life 

When the iPhone 13 series first came out in 2021, many people quickly noticed the similarities between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12. Additionally, the camera upgrades were minimal. However, the OLED screen was improved with better calibration for readability and also features Apple’s new (at the time) A15 Bionic chip for improved performance and fluidity.

You might also note that this series was the last series to offer a “mini” model rather than the “Plus” model we’ve been seeing in recent years. 

The iPhone 13 series also came with a decent jump in battery life. Specifically, the iPhone 13 Pro Max gained eight more hours of nonstreaming video playback and 15 more hours of audio playback.

• iPhone 13 battery life: Up to 19 hours of video playback; 75 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 13 Mini battery life: Up to 17 hours of video playback; 55 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 13 Pro battery life: Up to 20 hours of video playback; 75 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 13 Pro Max battery life: Up to 28 hours of video playback; 95 hours of audio playback

iPhone 12 Series battery life 

When the iPhone 12 first came out, its biggest difference was the screen. Only the Pro and Pro Max models had an OLED screen until 2020, when all iPhone 12 models featured a bright and shiny OLED display. This change set the precedent for all iPhone models moving forward. 

MagSafe, a magnetic feature that allows you to attach accessories like wallets and wireless chargers were introduced with this series of iPhones. 

However, if we’re talking battery life, there was no upgrade from the previous generation. In fact, the iPhone Pro model lost one hour of nonstreaming video playback battery life.

• iPhone 12 battery life: Up to 17 hours of video playback; 65 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 12 mini battery life: Up to 15 hours of video playback; 50 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 12 Pro battery life: Up to 17 hours of video playback; 65 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 12 Pro Max battery life: Up to 20 hours of video playback; 80 hours of audio playback

iPhone 11 Series battery life 

When you first look at the iPhone 11 series, you may think it looks exactly like the generation before it, but what’s interesting is that the screen quality took a small dip for the base iPhone 11 model when compared to the iPhone X. 

The iPhone 11 came with one big upgrade — a new processor that’s more powerful and energy efficient. Whether it’s gaming or becoming the next big star on social media, the iPhone 11 was made for iPhone power users.

Due to this new processor, the iPhone’s battery life received quite a boost in 2019 — adding four hours of nonstreaming video playback for the iPhone 11 base model.

• iPhone 11 battery life: Up to 17 hours of video playback; 65 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 11 Pro battery life: Up to 18 hours of video playback; 65 hours of audio playback

• iPhone 11 Pro Max battery life: Up to 20 hours of video playback; 80 hours of audio playback

iPhone X Series battery life 

At the time of its release, the iPhone X series was big news. In the last months of 2019, you literally couldn’t have a conversation without someone bringing up that Apple ditched the home button. With the upgraded OLED screen (on select models) it was the first-ever all-screen iPhone. 

The iPhone X series also had a significant camera upgrade and introduced us to everyone's favorite selfie feature:  Portrait Mode. 

Along with all these huge upgrades, the battery is larger than that of previous iPhones. However, the new display needed extra power, so the battery life ended up being comparable to that of previous models. 

• iPhone X battery life: Up to 13 hours of video playback; 60 hours of audio playback

• iPhone XR battery life: Up to 16 hours of video playback; 65 hours of audio playback

• iPhone XS battery life: Up to 14 hours of video playback; 60 hours of audio playback

• iPhone XS Max battery life: Up to 15 hours of video playback; 65 hours of audio playback

iPhone SE Series battery life 

If you love the iPhone but don’t love the price, you may be familiar with Apple’s SE series of phones. Essentially, these iPhones have processors similar to the standard models but are reduced in size, camera quality, and, yes, battery life. Since their original release in 2016, there have been three releases of the iPhone SE. The most recent release offers the same processor as the iPhone 13.

When it comes down to battery, an iPhone SE’s battery life isn’t anything to brag about, but it can easily last the average user all day.

• iPhone SE (1st Gen) battery life: Up to 13 hours of video playback; 50 hours of audio playback

• iPhone SE (2nd Gen) battery life: Up to 13 hours of video playback; 40 hours of audio playback

• iPhone SE (3rd Gen) battery life: Up to 15 hours of video playback; 50 hours of audio playback

Final Thoughts

Overall, upgrading to the latest version of the iPhone won’t necessarily provide you with a large boost in battery life. For reference, the two latest generations of iPhones (15 and 14) have the same battery lives when comparing model-to-model, with the 13th generation following so closely behind that you likely wouldn’t notice a difference.

That said, upgrading to a larger iPhone model could give you the battery life you need. Since iPhone Plus and iPhone Pro Max models have larger bodies, their batteries are also larger, creating more nonstreaming video and audio playback hours.

However, everyone uses their iPhones differently. While a power user could reap the benefits of longer battery life, it may not be worth the upgrade and extra cost for someone who uses their phone more casually. 

It’s worth considering that all phone batteries (no matter the manufacturer) tend to weaken over time. So, if your phone is older than a few years, you may feel like your battery’s life span is less than ideal. In this case, replacing your battery may be in your best interest. If a battery replacement alone won’t do the trick,  you can get a great deal on your next iPhone with a refurbished iPhone from Back Market. 

So what are you waiting for? Check out Back Market’s best deals on iPhones now.