CNET reports that several iPhone models perform best in a battery comparison covering 32 smartphones, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max finishing first overall and several other iPhones leading specific tests. The analysis uses two battery-drain scenarios beginning at 100% charge and ranks devices by averaging remaining percentages.
Across the test, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, both finish first in the mixed-use benchmark, retaining 99% remaining. CNET also finds that the iPhone 18 Pro performs strongest in the video streaming portion, holding 94% after three hours at maximum brightness over Wi‑Fi. In contrast, Apple leads manufacturer averages for a second straight year, while CNET says results do not clearly indicate industry-wide improvement from year to year.
Outlet coverage highlights different takeaways. 9to5Mac emphasizes that multiple iPhone models place at or near the top, while MacRumors focuses on the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s overall win and the structure of CNET’s testing and results across many devices.
