Which smartphones offer the best autonomy in 2022? We answer this question in our selection which includes both high-end smartphones and models for small budgets that offer exemplary endurance.
Our selection of smartphones with the best battery life
Two points have always been particularly important on smartphones for the majority of users: the quality of the photos and the battery life. If the first point has changed enormously over the years, the second has still not seen the arrival of technology that changes everything.
Anyway, this does not prevent us from having devices that try to stand out with large capacity batteries, often accompanied by an effort to optimize the software that allows them to increase their endurance. If battery life is the most important point of a smartphone for you, these are the devices you should turn to.
iPhone 13 Pro Max
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is equipped with a 4352 mAh battery. This capacity is 10% higher than that of the iPhone 12 pro Max (3969 mAh). And if most high-end Android smartphones offer batteries of 4500, even 5000 mAh, Apple manages to offer exemplary autonomy thanks to the optimization of iOS. The Apple brand has therefore made great progress, as we saw during our test of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The smartphone lasts up to 2 days in one charge for moderate daily use. After a day of classic use during our test, we still had 70% of autonomy. And this, despite the 120 Hz ProMotion screen. Apple has indeed implemented an adaptive frequency solution that automatically switches from 10 Hz to 120 Hz depending on the refresh rate required for the task at hand.
The Cupertino company promises up to 25 hours of video streaming, against only 12 hours for the 12 Pro Max. This allows a little comparison of the evolution of autonomy compared to the previous generation model. But overall, the brand has announced a gain of 2.5 hours on average for daily use.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is available since Friday, September 24, 2021. The 128 GB version is at € 1,259. Apple asks € 1379 for the 256 GB variant and € 1609 for the 512 GB model. Very high-end, it differs from the iPhone 13 Pro by its giant 6.7-inch screen. It inherits the same triple photo sensor with Lidar but on the other hand promises better autonomy. Finally, there is 5G and MagSafe compatibility.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| The proven but successful design |
The price |
| The interface of iOS 15 | A photo application that deserves a redesign |
| Low light photos | Still no compatibility with Apple Pencil |
| Crazy performances thanks to the A15 SoC | Increased weight |
Must see: the best deals to buy the iPhone 12/12 Pro at the cheapest price
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The most premium smartphone in the S21 series is the Galaxy S21 Ultra. More imposing than the S21 and S21 +, the terminal sports a superb AMOLED screen with a diagonal of 6.8 inches and benefits from a WQHD + definition when the other two are satisfied with Full HD +. Its battery is also larger since we are now on a capacity of 5000 mAh. Samsung’s Exynos models are known for their autonomy compared to Snapdragon versions.
However, the brand has made great efforts to improve the optimization of its platform. According to our test of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the smartphone can easily last a day and a half with relatively intensive use. Here too, it is thanks in particular to an intelligent management of the refresh rate of the screen which varies automatically between 11 Hz and 120 Hz as needed. What offer a significant gain in autonomy.
Regarding charging, Samsung has decided to offer the same fast charge on all of its models. As a result, while the S20 Ultra benefited from a charging capacity of 45 W, that of the S21 Ultra goes to… only 25 W! Additionally, Samsung has decided not to include a charger in the box. To take advantage of the fast charge, it will therefore be necessary to bring the appropriate unit. Count around twenty euros for an official Samsung charger on online sales sites.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Really excellent screen quality |
No microSD slot |
| Video stabilization |
Fast charging less efficient than that of the S20 Ultra |
| Audio quality |
|
| Battery management |
To see: the best offers to buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 / S21 + / S21 Ultra at the cheapest price
Xiaomi 11T and 11T pro
The Mi 11T and Mi 11T Pro both ship the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and 8GB of RAM (up to 12GB for the Pro version) as well as 128GB / 256GB of internal memory depending on the variant. both models have a 5000mAh battery. According to our test of the Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro, the smartphone can last two days, even up to three days with moderate use.
If we are talking about the two models at the same time, it is because they share many points in common, including the size of the battery. But the charging speed is different: the standard Mi 11T is compatible with 67W fast charging which allows it to be fully charged in about thirty minutes (36 minutes exactly).
The Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro meanwhile is a monster on this precise point. It offers a fast charge of 120W which allows it to be charged from 0 to 100% in just 20 minutes. The manufacturer promises a full charge in 17 minutes but during our test of the Mi 11T Pro, it took us 20 minutes and 40 seconds very precisely, which is already very impressive.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Nice screen | The lack of telephoto |
| Good autonomy | Fingerprint sensor on the side rather than under the screen |
| The power of SoC | |
| Very very fast recharge |
To see: the best offers to buy the Xiaomi MI 10T / 10T Pro at the cheapest price
Best quality price report
OnePlus Nord 2
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE ONEPLUS NORD 2
Autonomy is one of the big assets of the OnePlus Nord 2 which has a 4500 mAh battery, a big improvement compared to the first model which had a 4,115 mAh battery. But the most important thing is obviously software optimization and in this regard, the brand has done a very good job. During our test of the OnePlus Nord 2, we found that the smartphone lasted almost 2 days for normal daily use.
This is particularly the case when the screen is in 90 Hz mode. But by switching to 60 Hz, it is possible to easily keep the two full days. This is a very correct service for this smartphone which shines with its excellent value for money. In terms of charging, the Nord 2 is compatible with fast charging at 65W, the same as that reserved for the brand’s high-end models. It takes 32 minutes for the smartphone to go from 0 to 100% as we saw during our test.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Successful design | The improvements put forward are in the detail |
| Powerful, ideal for gamers | No Jack port, no IP68 certification, no microSD port |
| Very good autonomy |
Successful photo part but which would have deserved more care |
| Superb overlay |
Galaxy A52s 5G
An improved version of the A52, the Samsung A52s was launched in September 2021. It is one of the star models in the South Korean brand’s catalog. We are here in front of a mid-range smartphone with premium finishes. The Galaxy A52s indeed benefits from a quality construction and good reliability. In terms of autonomy, it has a 4500 mAh battery which ensures very good endurance.
The smartphone can easily last two days, even up to three as long as you don’t put it to the test too much. But where Samsung sins compared to the competition is when it comes to charging power. The battery is indeed compatible with a 25W charging unit which allows it to be charged from 0 to 100% in about an hour and 30 minutes.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Nice screen | Lack of a microSD port |
| Excellent battery life and good fast charging | Not waterproof |
| Powerful |
Best cheap smartphone
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 and Note 10 Pro
The Redmi Note 10 and Note 10 Pro have a 5000 mAh battery. According to the Remi Note 10 standard test note, the smartphone is able to easily last two days for moderate daily use. The Redmi Note 10 Pro offers comparable autonomy although it is slightly less than that of the basic version.
Either way, for their price bracket, the Redmi Note 10 and 10 Pro are some of the best in their class. When it comes to charging speed, we’re a long way from the top of the list, but you get a decent 33W charging block. Either way, it takes a little over an hour and 10 minutes for a full charge.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Excellent APN |
A little rough design |
| Very good autonomy |
A lack of power for big games |
| Elegant design | Ads in the overlay |
| MIUI 12, overlay with personality |
Realme 8i
For less than 200 euros, the Relame 8i offers a technical sheet and interesting features. The terminal features a 6.6 ″ Full HD + definition touch screen (2400 x 1080 pixels). It is powered by the Helio G96 Octo-Core processor clocked at 2.05 GHz, supported by 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM and 64 or 128 GB of storage.
Its large capacity battery (5000 mAh) allows him to comfortably hold one to a full day, or even up to 2 days with less intensity. However, the charge is not the strong point of this model. It is compatible with fast charging at 18W. Allow 2h10 minutes for a full charge. To be recharged therefore ideally in the evenings at bedtime. We will not hold it against a smartphone available at 169 €.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| 120 Hz screen | Slow recharge |
| Good autonomy | |
| Little price | |
We are more used to leaving WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular data active all the time. However, this network access overlay often becomes redundant, for example when you are at your home, or in a place with WiFi. As soon as possible, turn off WiFi, Bluetooth and / or cellular data to achieve significant battery savings.
We also advise you to limit the background tasks of the most demanding applications. Which is possible in the latest versions of Android. Also review app permissions in Settings> Applications – in particular the location and use of data, when this does not seem essential.
The simplest remedies are often the best: all smartphones on the market have a battery saver feature. This feature optimizes the operation of Android so that it requires the least possible power consumption.
