iPhone 12 Pro Max battery solidly beats all other premium phones

iPhone 12 Pro Max battery solidly beats all other premium phones

Apple’s premium iOS handset makes very efficient use of the power it stores in its battery.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 12 Pro Max whipped all other top-tier handsets in a rigorous battery test. Doxomark simulated using the handsets over several days, and also factored in how long they took to recharge. In the final score, Apple’s offering came out way ahead.

Combining all the factors, Doxomark gave the iPhone 12 Pro Max a 78 in the test. The version of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G released in the United States and China scored a 70. The Oppo Find X3 Pro got a 66, and the Exynos version of the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G pulled in a 57.

All of these devices cost more than $800, but some cheaper models actually scored higher. That’s because less-expensive phones, typically designed for developing countries, employ slower processors that require less power. Their screens usually don’t look as sharp or as bright, either, further reducing battery drain.

For example, the overall top score went to the Galaxy M51, which starts at less than $400. It pulled in an 88. But Samsung built in a very bulky battery to help achieve such a score.

Doxomark’s iPhone 12 Pro Max battery scores

Rather than a simple “torture test,” Doxomark combined multiple factors to get its battery scores.

To get an autonomy score, the testing company checked how long the various devices lasted on a single charge while sitting still, then while being used on the go. Then it ran a series of tests while playing video, streaming video, gaming, making phone calls and performing other functions.

Next, Doxomark tried tests to see how long it takes phones to recharge to 80% and then 100%. Other tests measured how efficiently the devices take in and use power.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max did well in most of these tests, but truly stood out in one of them. “While it has an average score for Charging, and an above-average score for Autonomy, it is the current score leader for Efficiency thus far,” noted Doxomark.

It did so well because Apple’s handset uses less power in many situations. “It has lower consumption than all devices in both active hours and in the nighttime, and among its competitors in this review, it shows considerably lower consumption than either the Samsung or the Oppo for music and video streaming,” said Doxomark.