iPhone 16 Models Face Off in Battery Drain Test, With a Surprise Winner

Apple had previously touted the iPhone 16 Pro Max as the model with the best battery life, claiming an impressive 29 hours of video playback. However, the latest battery drain test challenges those claims, comparing all four iPhone 16 models head-to-head, with a surprising winner emerging at the end.

iPhone 16 Plus Beats Expectations, Outlasting the Pro Max in Battery Life

The iPhone 16 Plus outperformed Apple’s flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max, raising questions about Apple’s battery life claims. Despite the Pro models being equipped with LTPO OLED displays and other advanced features, the battery performance of the entire iPhone 16 lineup is relatively close, thanks to the A18 and A18 Pro chips built on the 3nm ‘N3E’ process.

In a detailed test run by the YouTube channel PhoneBuff, all four models were calibrated carefully to ensure consistency and minimize deviation in the results.

Unsurprisingly, the base iPhone 16 was the first to power down, lasting for 9 hours and 38 minutes of active use, along with a consistent 16-hour standby period, bringing the total runtime to 25 hours and 38 minutes. The iPhone 16 Pro followed closely behind, clocking in 9 hours and 43 minutes of usage time and a combined total of 25 hours and 43 minutes.

The real surprise came when the iPhone 16 Plus outlasted its siblings with a staggering 12 hours and 12 minutes of screen-on time, leading to a total runtime of 28 hours and 12 minutes. This result means the iPhone 16 Plus outlasted the iPhone 16 Pro Max by 11 minutes, making it the best choice for users who prioritize battery life. If battery endurance is a key factor for you, this test suggests that opting for the iPhone 16 Plus could save you money while offering superior battery performance over the Pro models.

It’s important to note that the YouTuber emphasized at the beginning of the test that the results are approximate and may vary with each run, depending on calibration and usage conditions.