Phones with large batteries are posing a significant challenge to Samsung and Apple.
Apple and Samsung have been slow to adopt this important innovation.
In 2025, device specifications are once again a major point of interest, and this time it seems to be a lasting trend.
I have been testing some new "large battery phones" from Chinese manufacturers like Oppo and Xiaomi. While they closely resemble standard flagship devices, perhaps being marginally thicker, they boast substantial batteries. The Oppo Find X9 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max both include a 7,500 mAh battery.
Phone Thickness, weight
Oppo Find X9 Pro 8.3mm thick, 224 grams
iPhone 17 Pro Max 8.75mm thick, 233 grams
Galaxy S25 Ultra 8.2mm thick, 218 grams
Pixel 10 Pro XL 8.5mm, 232 grams
Phone Thickness, weight
Oppo Find X9 Pro 8.3mm thick, 224 grams
iPhone 17 Pro Max 8.75mm thick, 233 grams
Galaxy S25 Ultra 8.2mm thick, 218 grams
Pixel 10 Pro XL 8.5mm, 232 grams
This is a significant 50% increase in capacity compared to the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max or Galaxy S25 Ultra.
While Apple and Samsung may emphasize their platforms' efficiency, the real-world user experience with these phones is noticeably different.
Battery Life
Phone Battery Life
estimate Browsing Video Gaming
OPPO Find X9 Pro
7500 mAh
9h 50min 25h 34min 13h 30min 11h 17min
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
7h 46min 20h 9min 9h 37min 11h 34min
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5000 mAh
8h 0min 20h 49min 8h 54min 14h 21min
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
5200 mAh
6h 58min 19h 41min 10h 0min 4h 35min
Find out more details about battery and charging for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Battery Score page
Battery Life
Phone Battery Life
estimate Browsing Video Gaming
OPPO Find X9 Pro
7500 mAh
9h 50min 25h 34min 13h 30min 11h 17min
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
7h 46min 20h 9min 9h 37min 11h 34min
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5000 mAh
8h 0min 20h 49min 8h 54min 14h 21min
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
5200 mAh
6h 58min 19h 41min 10h 0min 4h 35min
Find out more details about battery and charging for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Battery Score page
Battery Life
Phone Battery Life
estimate Browsing Video Gaming
OPPO Find X9 Pro
7500 mAh
9h 50min 25h 34min 13h 30min 11h 17min
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
7h 46min 20h 9min 9h 37min 11h 34min
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5000 mAh
8h 0min 20h 49min 8h 54min 14h 21min
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
5200 mAh
6h 58min 19h 41min 10h 0min 4h 35min
Battery Life
Phone Battery Life
estimate Browsing Video Gaming
OPPO Find X9 Pro
7500 mAh
9h 50min 25h 34min 13h 30min 11h 17min
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
7h 46min 20h 9min 9h 37min 11h 34min
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5000 mAh
8h 0min 20h 49min 8h 54min 14h 21min
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
5200 mAh
6h 58min 19h 41min 10h 0min 4h 35min
Phone Battery Life
estimate Browsing Video Gaming
OPPO Find X9 Pro
7500 mAh
9h 50min 25h 34min 13h 30min 11h 17min
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
7h 46min 20h 9min 9h 37min 11h 34min
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5000 mAh
8h 0min 20h 49min 8h 54min 14h 21min
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
5200 mAh
6h 58min 19h 41min 10h 0min 4h 35min
Phone Battery Life
estimate Browsing Video Gaming
OPPO Find X9 Pro
7500 mAh
9h 50min 25h 34min 13h 30min 11h 17min
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
7h 46min 20h 9min 9h 37min 11h 34min
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5000 mAh
8h 0min 20h 49min 8h 54min 14h 21min
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
5200 mAh
6h 58min 19h 41min 10h 0min 4h 35min
Find out more details about battery and charging for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Battery Score page
To confirm these figures, we conducted tests to see if larger batteries provide a tangible benefit.
In web browsing tests, the Oppo Find X9 Pro achieved approximately 25 hours, exceeding iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel scores by 25%.
The Oppo phone's score was almost 45% higher in YouTube video streaming.
These results suggest that while a 50% larger battery doesn't always equate to 50% longer battery life, the improvement is still quite significant.
Ultimately, these results mean that these new "big battery phones" can last for two days.
There's no need to charge them nightly. When traveling for a weekend, you can leave the charger behind and still have a functioning phone.
With minimal usage, the battery life can be extended to three days, though this may not be practical for most users.
Although mainstream flagships have adequate battery life, the shift in mindset occurs when a phone lasts a full two days on a single charge.
This shift is especially relevant now, as advancements in other key areas that drive upgrades have slowed.
While camera quality has been a primary reason for upgrades, the latest iPhone 17 series now promotes features like ProRes RAW and Genlock, which are unnecessary for the majority of users. Similarly, recent Galaxy phones use similar sensors, resulting in minor improvements to photo and video quality.
When camera quality becomes similar across devices, consumers focus on areas with faster innovation and real-world impact, such as battery life in 2025/2026.
Apple and Samsung could have pioneered these technologies.
These companies have the largest market share and the resources to do so. However, they seem to be in no hurry, which is problematic.
Previously, large batteries meant thick and bulky phones. But advances in stacked battery cells, silicon-carbon anodes, and AI-based power management now allow for more energy in the same space, safely.
Consequently, Apple and Samsung's reluctance appears less about user safety and more like stagnation. When competitors offer 50% more battery, quicker charging, and comparable design, the term "premium" rings hollow.
Currently, regulations provide a safety net for both companies. Many Chinese brands driving innovation face restrictions in the United States due to trade, security, and political concerns. Import barriers and distribution issues also limit their presence in Europe. Apple and Samsung do not have to compete directly with the most aggressive innovators in the Android market.
However, regulatory protection differs from competitive strength. Markets change, and technology spreads. Superior products find ways to cross borders through gray markets, tech media, or viral comparisons. A US user watching a YouTube review of a OnePlus or Xiaomi phone that lasts two days on a charge and recharges in 30 minutes may begin to feel dissatisfied, asking: "Why can't my $1,200 iPhone or Galaxy do that?"
Even if those Chinese phones remain officially unavailable, the pressure from comparisons will intensify. A similar situation occurred a few years ago, when Huawei pushed Samsung and Apple to improve night mode and add zoom lenses. A similar trend is now emerging with batteries.
Given the significant gap in endurance and charging speeds, Western consumers may begin to see Apple and Samsung as lagging, even if they cannot directly purchase the alternatives.