Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL Showcase Lowest Temperatures in Battery Test Against iPhone 15 Pro Max, Despite Subpar Runtime

Google has made notable improvements in battery capacity with the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL, and paired with the more efficient Tensor G4 chip, the aim was to extend battery life on these flagship devices. However, the latest battery drain test revealed some surprising results—both Pixel devices recorded the lowest temperatures compared to rivals like the OnePlus 12, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, though they fell short in the runtime department.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Runs Hottest, While iPhone 15 Pro Max Outlasts Competition

A comprehensive series of battery drain tests was conducted by TechDroider on YouTube, targeting the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and other flagship devices. The test included periodic temperature checks to determine how much heat each device generated under stress, and the findings are quite intriguing. The Pixel 8 Pro was the first to power off, lasting only 8 hours and 39 minutes, but it had the second-lowest temperature among the flagships, maxing out at 41.2 degrees Celsius.

Both the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are equipped with 4,700mAh and 5,060mAh batteries, respectively. Despite this capacity difference, both devices powered down at almost the same time, managing to last 10 hours and 25 minutes. This is a significant improvement over the Pixel 8 Pro’s endurance. Notably, the Pixel 9 series registered the lowest temperatures among all tested devices, reaching just 40.9 degrees Celsius. Remarkably, the base model Pixel 9 achieved this while being the only Google device this year to ship without a vapor chamber.

Galaxy S24 Ultra’s High Temps Don’t Hamper Battery Life; iPhone 15 Pro Max Reigns Supreme

Despite featuring a robust cooling system, the Galaxy S24 Ultra reached a scorching 50.4 degrees Celsius during the test. Fortunately, these high temperatures did not severely impact its battery life, as it lasted for 10 hours and 47 minutes. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max outperformed all its competitors, boasting an impressive runtime of 11 hours and 44 minutes, with thermal readings hitting 44.6 degrees Celsius.

The low temperature performance of the Pixel 9 Pro XL was also evident in a previous gaming performance test, where the device remained below 37 degrees Celsius. However, this did little to boost its performance, as the Tensor G4 was still outpaced by the two-year-old Tensor G2 when running Genshin Impact. In summary, Google has successfully optimized the thermal management in its flagship lineup. Now, the next step would be enhancing performance, a task likely to be tackled with the Pixel 10’s launch next year.