Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max secured top battery performance in CNET's 35-phone comparison published February 4, 2026. The flagship outlasted Android competitors with larger battery capacities, including the OnePlus 15's 7,300mAh unit.
CNET conducted two benchmark tests across 35 smartphones. In a three-hour video streaming test over Wi-Fi at full screen brightness starting from 100% charge, the iPhone 17 Pro Max lost just 9% battery, tying the Motorola Razr (2024) for the best result ever recorded in that specific test.
The 45-minute mixed-use endurance test, involving gaming, video streaming, social media scrolling and video calls, saw the device drop only 1% from full charge.
The base iPhone 17 tied for second place with the OnePlus 15 despite having a 3,692mAh battery compared to OnePlus's 7,300mAh cell. This 49.4% capacity difference highlights Apple's software-hardware optimization advantage over raw battery size, even as rumors suggest Apple's first foldable iPhone could feature a 5,500 mAh battery.
Apple's efficiency stems from multiple technical improvements. The A19 Pro chip delivers better power management than the A18 series, while iOS 26 introduces aggressive background app throttling and adaptive refresh rates.
A vapor chamber cooling system enhances thermal controls, and the LTPO OLED display dynamically adjusts refresh rates during static content.
Independent testing from Tom's Guide, PhoneArena and GSMArena confirms the results. Independent testing recorded extended web browsing times, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max showing strong performance in 5G browsing scenarios compared to Android competitors.
Real-world performance matches laboratory results. PhoneArena reported the iPhone 17 Pro Max comfortably lasts a full day of heavy mixed use including photography, app navigation and streaming, often ending with significant charge remaining.
Testers typically reported 20-30% battery remaining after 7-9 hours of screen time.
The battery performance comes as Apple pushes endurance as a key selling point for the iPhone 17 series launched in September 2025. Marketing claims of up to 39 hours video playback and 35 hours streamed video align with independent findings, though heavy 5G usage or gaming reduces totals.
Apple's brand-wide efficiency advantage extends beyond the Pro Max. When CNET averaged scores across each phone model, Apple achieved a 91.7% overall rating, placing it ahead of OnePlus and several points above Motorola, Samsung and Google.
Three other Apple models trailed closely behind the Pro Max in the endurance test, including the $599 iPhone 16E.
The results validate Apple's decision to avoid silicon-carbon battery technology for now. While Samsung reportedly tests bespoke silicon-carbon batteries with 6,000-8,000mAh capacities, CNET's findings demonstrate that larger capacity doesn't automatically translate to better user experience, particularly given silicon-carbon's faster degradation rates.
For consumers, the battery performance represents a practical advantage over AI-focused competitors. While the iPhone 17 Pro Max lacks groundbreaking AI capabilities compared to rivals, its endurance provides reliability for power users including photographers capturing ProRAW files, travelers using offline maps, and professionals requiring all-day usage without charging.
The achievement comes at a critical time for smartphone buyers. A CNET/YouGov survey from September 2025 found consumers rank "longer battery life" as the main reason to buy a new phone, second only to price.
With 2026 flagship releases approaching, Apple's software-hardware synergy continues to set battery efficiency benchmarks that competitors struggle to match despite larger physical cells.
