iPhone 16 Pro Max Battery Life Review: Middling Performance, Uneven Balance, Still the King of Big Battery Life?

iPhone 16 Pro Max Battery Life Review: Middling Performance, Uneven Balance, Still the King of Big Battery Life?Apple's fall product launch event took place on the early morning of September 10th, unveiling the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series. Among them, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with its larger size and enhanced performance, has attracted significant attention

iPhone 16 Pro Max Battery Life Review: Middling Performance, Uneven Balance, Still the King of Big Battery Life?

Apple's fall product launch event took place on the early morning of September 10th, unveiling the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series. Among them, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with its larger size and enhanced performance, has attracted significant attention. As the battery life champion in every iPhone generation, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has also seen an upgrade in battery capacity, but how does it actually perform? After two days of experience, we have come to the following conclusions:

Battery capacity increased by 5.5% year-on-year, but still "meager" in the industry

The most notable upgrade of the iPhone 16 Pro Max compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max is its larger size, increasing from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches. While the parameters have increased by 0.2 inches, Apple has adopted an ultra-narrow bezel design on both models of the iPhone 16 Pro series, so there's no significant difference in hand feel or visual perception.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 77.6 millimeters in width and 163 millimeters in height, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max is 76.7 millimeters wide and 159.9 millimeters tall. In terms of overall weight, the iPhone 16 Pro Max returns to 227g, roughly the same weight as the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

From these dimensions, it's evident that the overall size and weight of the iPhone 16 Pro Max haven't changed much, only the length is longer. Consequently, the battery capacity shouldn't have changed drastically either. According to a teardown report by techinsights, the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a 4685mAh battery capacity. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max had a 4441mAh battery, representing an approximate 5.5% increase.

It's worth noting that this generation of iPhones also exhibits some differences in battery technology. The iPhone 16 Pro utilizes a steel shell battery, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max sticks with the L-shaped soft-pack battery. The primary difference between these two battery types lies in their shape and detachable design. Based on current information, Apple hasn't upgraded the energy density of the steel shell battery in the iPhone 16 Pro.

Battery technology is a hot topic in the 2024 smartphone market. Manufacturers are focusing on materials, energy density, and capacity to push the limits of smartphone battery life. For instance, the vivo S19 boasts an energy density of 809Wh/L, allowing it to fit a massive 6000mAh battery into a 7.19mm thin body, weighing only 193g.

From a purely technical standpoint, the battery capacity of the iPhone 16 Pro Max remains characteristically "stingy." Despite having a 6.9-inch display, it hasn't reached the common 5000mAh capacity. However, we understand that smartphone battery life isn't solely determined by battery capacity but is also influenced by factors such as processor efficiency and system optimization.

Middling Battery Life: Lags in Extreme Scenarios, Excellent in Everyday Use

Unlike the previous generation where the iPhone Pro Max differed from the Pro in terms of camera capabilities, this generation implies that individuals considering this "extra-large cup" are primarily driven by enhanced multimedia needs, such as gaming and video watching.

In our gaming tests, we chose "League of Legends: Wild Rift" and "Undawn," two popular titles. The former is a MOBA game optimized for various platforms, while the latter is an open-world game with minimal optimization.

After an hour of playing "League of Legends: Wild Rift," the battery depletion was only 14%. The phone only warmed up slightly, and with a case, the heat was hardly noticeable. Notably, iOS 18 supports automatic game recognition and activates a game mode. Once in this mode, camera controls are disabled, alleviating concerns about accidental touches.

In "Undawn," which hasn't received significant optimization, the iPhone 16 Pro Max performed rather mediocre. The battery drained by 18% after an hour, with noticeable heat concentrated in the middle of the device. Perhaps due to the heating issue, the battery consumption was faster in this scenario.

It's worth mentioning that Apple specifically showcased the heat dissipation of the iPhone 16 Pro series during the launch event. However, it seems the A18 Pro still struggles to manage heat effectively in extreme scenarios (you can search Lei Technology's dedicated review on the iPhone 16 series' heat dissipation for further information).

Returning to everyday scenarios, watching HDR videos for an hour drained 12% of the battery, while browsing social media for an hour consumed 8%. In the four-hour extreme test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max had 48% battery remaining.

In the current smartphone market, this result falls into the average range, considering the iPhone 16 Pro Max already lags behind in terms of battery capacity. But achieving such battery life with only a 4685mAh battery is still quite impressive in our opinion.

If we consider everyday use, the iPhone 16 Pro Max's battery life does offer some pleasant surprises. For example, in the overnight sleep test with Always-On Display enabled for 8 hours, it only consumed 7% of the battery. During commutes, activities like replying to WeChat messages or scrolling through social media apps like Douyin for 30 minutes only consumes about 4% of the battery.

Thanks to iOS 18's optimization, the iPhone 16 Pro Max demonstrates excellent energy management in everyday scenarios. Based on a model of frequent WeChat replies, occasional social media browsing, and a couple of gaming sessions during lunch breaks, the iPhone 16 Pro Max can easily last a full day without issues.

However, at present, 4K video recording remains the most power-hungry activity for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with approximately 17% battery depletion after just 30 minutes of recording. If you plan on using it at a concert, a power bank is still an essential accessory.

Charging speed remains around 27W

Although the iPhone 16 Pro Max's battery life is decent, its charging speed continues to hover around an average of 27W. While the network license indicates a peak of 45W, real-world testing shows that this maximum speed only lasts for about 2 seconds, and the 35W power level lasts for less than 2 minutes. In essence, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a phone with uneven battery life performance.

Conclusion: Battery Life Record Broken, But No Significant Difference with Android Flagships

Despite only a 5.5% increase in battery capacity, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has once again broken the iPhone's battery life record. However, at present, it doesn't offer a substantial advantage over Android flagship devices.

Android flagships haven't adopted the latest battery technology or 3nm process chips, so their future battery life still holds significant potential. When it comes to charging, Android flagships have a clear lead, generally offering 50W or higher wired fast charging for a rapid "blood transfusion." In this context, it wouldn't be inaccurate to say that battery life is becoming a weakness for iPhones.

Overall, I believe that if you highly value all-day battery life and have no urgent charging needs, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is indeed a good choice. However, if you prioritize long-lasting gaming performance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max might not be the ideal choice. Of course, if you're accustomed to carrying a power bank, everything becomes less of a concern.