The Best iPhones for battery life ranked [2025]

If you are in the market for an upgrade, but your worried about battery life then this article is for you? After all, what's the point of a phone if the battery’s going to die on you halfway through the day, right? 

With the recent release of the iPhone 16 series you may be assuming that the latest is always the greatest on all fronts including battery life, but history shows us that’s not always the case.

Besides, you may be looking to save some cash and go for an older generation but want to see how it stacks up. Well, we've got you covered.

If you’re really into battery science and getting the most of your battery then you may want to read this article.

Is It Worth Upgrading to the iPhone 16 for the Battery Alone?

When the iPhone 16 dropped, we all thought we'd see something game-changing when it came to battery life. Apple made a big deal about all the new features, so we figured that the battery would get a serious boost too.

But here’s the thing—despite Apple’s focus on reducing waste by taking out power plugs and earphones from the box (which, by the way, we think is a step in the right direction), the real question still stands: should you upgrade? For many people, the decision comes down to two things: camera quality and, of course, battery life. And in this article, we’re breaking down which iPhones are the best in 2025 when it comes to keeping the lights on longer.

 

The Reality of Battery Life in the Latest iPhones

It’s no secret that smartphone innovation has slowed down in recent years. Sure, Apple’s new chips are pretty impressive under the hood, but when it comes to design and features, we’ve mostly hit a plateau. If you've been using an iPhone for the last few years, like the iPhone 12 or iPhone 11 Pro, you’re already working with near computer level power in a tiny package. So, while the newer models still have a lot to offer, big leaps in battery life aren't exactly what we’re seeing.

The good news? There’s still plenty of great value to be had, especially if you’re considering a refurbished iPhone model. Whether you go for an iPhone 12, an iPhone 11, or even a 2022 iPhone SE, you’re still getting a solid phone at a lower price.

How Do the Latest iPhones Compare?

In recent years, the camera was the focal point for most iPhone upgrades. But nowadays, most models have pretty solid cameras, so the real question is: how’s the battery? With the iPhone 16 series, we're seeing some incremental improvements, but don’t expect any jaw-dropping results.

For a closer look, we turned to MrWhosTheBoss, who did a real-world battery test that puts the iPhone 16 series to the test against other models (video here). After 13 hours of heavy use—gaming, streaming, switching apps—here’s how the iPhone 16 fares:

01. iPhone 16 Pro Max - 11hr 22m

Get a refurbished iPhone 16 Pro Max from just £995 with Reboxed® here.

02. iPhone 15 Pro Max - 9hr 35m

Get a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max from just £646 with Reboxed® here.

03. iPhone 14 Pro Max - 9h 14m

Get a refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max from just £436 with Reboxed® here.

04. iPhone 16 Plus - 8hr 45m

Get a refurbished iPhone 16 Plus from just £773 with Reboxed® here.

05. iPhone 13 Pro Max - 8h 41m

Get a refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max from just £429 with Reboxed® here.

06. iPhone 16 Pro - 8hr 19m

Get a refurbished iPhone 16 Pro from just £606 with Reboxed® here.

07. iPhone 16 - 8hr 19m

Get a refurbished iPhone 16 from just £664 with Reboxed® here.

08. iPhone 14 Pro  - 7h 49m

Get a refurbished iPhone 14 Pro from just £406 with Reboxed® here.

09. iPhone 15 - 7h 45m

Get a refurbished iPhone iPhone 15 from just £536 with Reboxed® here.

10. iPhone 14  - 7h 22m

Get a refurbished iPhone 14 from just £316 with Reboxed® here.

11. iPhone 13 - 7h 15m

Get a refurbished iPhone 13 from just £282 with Reboxed® here.

12. iPhone 12 - 6h 36m

Get a refurbished iPhone 12 from just £206 with Reboxed® here.

All the latest iPhones ranked for battery life

Bare in mind a few things when reading this battery life test. These tests assume an average battery within its one year window of life. So essentially they were tested within the year they were released. And as with all batteries that are lithium based, they have a life span that degrades over time.

For example, an iPhone 12 today will not perform to this life unless it has had a battery replacement within the last year, as this model is now over 4 years old, and typically a battery is in deep decline after two years of moderate use.

Thats why at Reboxed®, we offer a Like New category, which all have fresh batteries, and also the option on some models like the older iPhone 13’s to have a new battery fitted when you order it. 

 

iPhone battery sizes

If you want to jump into the specs, you can see the battery size of the latest iPhones below.

So, should you upgrade to the iPhone 16?

To wrap this up… When it comes to battery life, the iPhone 16 Pro Max clearly stands out as the winner, offering the best performance with an impressive 18 hours and 6 minutes of battery power. However, if you're looking for the best value while still getting solid battery life, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a great option, offering 14 hours of use at a significantly lower price.