Why the iPhone 7 Ranked Last in a Recent Battery Life Comparison Test

When a new phone is released, everyone argues about the merits of the new phone’s flashy new features and functionality. One aspect that often gets overlooked, however, that is of paramount importance to most users, is the phone’s battery life. With new features being introduced to cellular phones at an alarming rate, the number one complaint most users end up having about their phone is related to its battery life.

When the iPhone 7 was introduced last month, Apple’s Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller assured users that, partially due to the efficiency of Apple’s brand-new A-10 chip, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would provide the “longest battery life ever in an iPhone.” Schiller claimed that the iPhone 7 would provide, on average, 2 hours more battery life than the iPhone 6s, and the iPhone 7 Plus would provide, on average, an extra hour of battery life than the iPhone 6s Plus. Although the iPhone rarely tops the list of battery longevity when compared to other flagship phones, it always performs solidly, and the knowledge that the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would provide better battery life than the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus likely put many customers at ease. According to new testing data from UK-based product testing firm Which? (yes, the group’s name is Which?) however, “the battery on the iPhone 7 doesn’t last as long as its three major rivals.”

According to Which?, when compared to the Samsung Galaxy S7, the HTC 10, and the LG G5, often considered the top three non-“phablet” competitors to the iPhone 7, Apple’s phone ranks dead last in battery life. The HTC 10 provided the most impressive battery life in the test, with a staggering 1,859 minutes of battery life for a continuous 3G call on Which?’s phone network simulator, and 790 minutes of internet use on a regularly updating “special web page” over 3G. The LG G5 came second, providing 1,579 minutes of call time and 677 minutes of internet use. Samsung’s Galaxy S7, often called the iPhone 7’s biggest competitor, came in third with 1,492 minutes of call time and 640 minutes of internet use. The iPhone 7 ranked last, providing only 712 minutes of call time and 615 minutes of internet use.

Apple always puts out incredibly solid hardware and software, so why did the iPhone 7’s battery fare poorly against the current crop of competition? Although iOS 10 runs more efficiently than any other mobile operating system out there, the battery in the iPhone 7 is just too small to stand up to the battery in some of the competitors’ phones. According to Which?, the iPhone 7 “has a 1,970 mAh battery, whilst the HTC 10 has a 3,000 mAh battery” – of course the HTC 10, with a battery nearly twice the size of the iPhone 7’s, offers more impressive results. This is one instance where Apple’s obsession with creating the sleekest and thinnest of devices has come back to bite them.

Although the iPhone 7 will likely last most users throughout the day, even with heavy use, Apple’s phones are slowly beginning to trail the competition when it comes to battery life. Perhaps this will change next year, when Apple releases their 10th-anniversary iPhone, which is rumored to feature a complete redesign and a number of exciting new features.

How long has your iPhone 7’s battery life typically last?
Do you charge it before bed, or more frequently?
Let us know in the comments below!