With their zippy quad-core processors and big screens, smartphones have never been more powerful–or more power hungry. Yes, specs and apps matter, but what good are they if you’re hunting for an outlet by lunchtime? If you want a smartphone that endures, check out the handsets that made our list.
These devices lasted at least 8 hours on the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over 4G LTE. We set each phone’s display to 150 nits to normalize for brightness and make sure each handset is receiving at least 3 bars of service. See for yourself which smartphones keep going and going.
OnePlus One
If you haven’t heard of the OnePlus One, you should put it on your smartphone shortlist. Available for just $299 unlocked, this device lasted a fantastic 13 hours and 16 minutes on our battery test. There are plenty of other reasons to scoop up the One, including the very flexible Cyanogen Mod software that runs on top of Android and generous 5.5-inch, full HD display. We also like the gritty texture on the back, so you’re less likely to drop this long-distance runner.
Nokia Lumia 1520 (AT&T)
Nokia’s first phablet is a doozy, offering a glorious 6-inch 1080p display, a zippy Snapdragon 800 processor and an excellent 20-MP camera. Not bad at all for just $99. It gets better. The Lumia 1520 lasted an imprssive 11 hours and 28 minutes on the LAPTOP Battery Test. If you’re thinking about Windows Phone and want a big screen, this is one heck of a bargain.
LG G Flex
The LG G Flex is one of the most unique smartphones yes, sporting a curved and bendable display and a backside that can heal itself from minor scuffs and scratches. But don’t forget about the endurance. The T-Mobile version of the G Flex lasted nearly 11.5 hours on our battery test, which will give you that much more time to enjoy videos on the rich 6-inch screen.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (T-Mobile)
In addition to sporting one of the biggest and brightest 5.7-inch screens on the market, the Galaxy Note 3 offers superb battery life. In our test, this phablet lasted an epic 11 hours and 15 minutes. That gives you a heck of a lot of time to enjoy Samsung’s new S Pen features and the Note 3’s improved multitasking capabilities.
Samsung Galaxy S5
The Galaxy S5 improves on its predecessor in multiple ways, including a water-resistant design, fingerprint reader and even a heart rate monitor. But this powerhouse can also get you through the day. The T-Mobile version of the S5 lasted a whopping 10 hours and 57 minutes on our battery test. The AT&T (9:28) and Sprint (8:34) models also delivered great endurance. The Verizon S5 lasted 7:30, which is still above average.
HTC One M8
The HTC One M8’s gorgeous metal design, powerful performance and booming speakers make it one of the best Android phones yet. Another big reason this device earned a 4.5-star rating from us? Its 2,600 mAh battery lasted 9 hours and 52 minutes on our battery test over Verizon’s network. We saw an even longer 10:50 on T-Mobile and a still-excellent 9:26 on Sprint. The AT&T version lasted 8:42.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active (AT&T)
The Galaxy S5 Active is a long-lasting smartphone in more ways than one. The device is rated to withstand multiple drops from 4 feet, and it can be submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. It’s also dust-proof and can easily survive sever temperatures. This AT&T exclusive phone can also go the distance when it comes to battery life, as the handset lasted an excellent 9 hours and 37 minutes on our web surfing test.
Motorola Droid Maxx (Verizon)
The Droid Maxx is beefier than other Motorola phones on Verizon’s network, but its battery life is well worth the $299 asking price. On the LAPTOP Battery Test, this handset’s 3,500 mAh battery lasted a very impressive 9 hours and 52 minutes. Plus, the Maxx has one of the brighter 5-inch screens on the market and excellent touchless voice controls.
HTC One Max
Not everyone wants a ginormous 5.9-inch display on their phone, especially when it weighs a hefty 7.7 ounces. But if you do decide to buy the HTC One Max you’ll be rewarded with nearly 9 hours of battery life. Other highlights include a built-in fingerprint reader that lets you launch the app of your choice with a swipe.
