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The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the longest-rated iPhone in the 2026 sources reviewed: Apple’s playback ratings, as reported by Macworld, reach up to 45 hours for eSIM-only models and 43 hours for physical-SIM versions. The iPhone 17 Pro Max remains a strong battery phone, but its published rating is up to 39 hours of video playback. In Tom’s Guide’s separate 5G web-browsing test, the 17 Pro Max ran for 17 hours 54 minutes. Those figures measure different tasks, so they should not be treated as one ranking.
Which iPhone lasts longest?
For Apple’s published video-playback rating, the iPhone 18 Pro Max leads the current 2026 lineup. Macworld reports Apple ratings of up to 45 hours for eSIM-only models and up to 43 hours for physical-SIM versions. The gap is tied to the model’s SIM configuration, not a guarantee that every owner will see either runtime.
That is a different kind of evidence from an independent battery-drain test. No single shared-workload third-party test in the sources here covers every iPhone through the 2026 lineup, so “longest” needs an axis: Apple-rated playback, or runtime in a specific independent test.
Apple video-playback ratings across recent iPhones
The figures below are Apple’s published maximum video-playback ratings as reported by Macworld and MacRumors. They are not results from one independent test. Apple’s streamed-video figure is included where the comparison reports it.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
| iPhone model | Video playback, up to | Streamed video playback, up to |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro Max, eSIM-only | 45 hours (Macworld, 2026) | not stated in the cited comparison |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max, physical-SIM version | 43 hours (Macworld, 2026) | not stated in the cited comparison |
| iPhone 18 Pro | 36 hours (Macworld, 2026) | not stated in the cited comparison |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 39 hours | 35 hours |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 33 hours | 30 hours |
| iPhone 17 | 30 hours | 27 hours |
| iPhone Air | 27 hours | 22 hours |
| iPhone 17e | 26 hours (Macworld, 2026) | not stated in the cited comparison |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 27 hours | not stated in the cited comparison |
| iPhone 16 | 22 hours (Macworld, 2026) | not stated in the cited comparison |
The iPhone 17 family and iPhone 16/16 Plus figures are Apple ratings reported by MacRumors; the 18 Pro Max, 18 Pro, 17e and 16 lineup figures are reported by Macworld. Apple’s 2026 video testing for iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and Duo used preproduction devices and software in July 2026. It looped a 2-hour-23-minute HDR movie purchased from the iTunes Store. The streamed test repeated a 3-hour-1-minute HDR movie. Apple’s testing of the 2025 iPhone 17 models also used preproduction devices and software on LTE and 5G networks.
How long did the iPhone 17 Pro Max last in an independent test?
Tom’s Guide recorded 17 hours 54 minutes for the iPhone 17 Pro Max in its October 7, 2025 test. The site continuously browsed the web over 5G with displays set to 150 nits. This is a controlled comparison among the models it tested, not an estimate of every owner’s mixed daily use.
Rank #2
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
| Model tested by Tom’s Guide | Continuous 5G web-browsing runtime |
|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 17 hours 54 minutes |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 17 hours 17 minutes |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 16 hours 29 minutes |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 15 hours 32 minutes |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 14 hours 7 minutes |
| iPhone 17 | 12 hours 47 minutes |
| iPhone Air | 12 hours 2 minutes |
In that test, the 17 Pro Max was the longest-lasting of the four tested iPhone 17 models and ran 37 minutes longer than the tested iPhone 16 Pro Max. This result does not establish how the 18 Pro Max would fare against the 17 Pro Max under the same conditions.
What the 2026 independent test does—and does not—show
In a separate side-by-side battery-drain test published October 2, 2026, Tom’s Guide measured 18 hours 27 minutes for the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 17 hours 38 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The test did not include the iPhone 17 Pro Max, so it cannot be used as a direct 18 Pro Max-versus-17 Pro Max result.
Rank #3
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Why battery numbers differ
Video playback, streamed video and continuous web browsing put different demands on a phone. A local-video rating does not predict the same runtime as streaming over a network, and neither is directly interchangeable with a controlled 5G browsing result. Keep each comparison within its workload rather than combining the numbers into one supposedly universal ranking.
- Apple says actual battery results vary with network, location, signal strength, configuration, settings and usage.
- Personal runtime is also affected by battery condition, brightness, apps and how the phone is used.
- The published playback figures are controlled reference points, not promised screen-on time for everyday use.
Apple’s testing notes say its results use specific devices and conditions; actual results vary. A phone’s age and battery condition also matter, so a used iPhone may not match the rating for a new device.
Rank #4
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Is the iPhone 17 Pro Max still the best choice for battery life?
If the question is whether the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery among the iPhone 17 models, the evidence points to yes: it has the family’s highest Apple playback rating in the figures reported here and led the tested 17 models in Tom’s Guide’s 5G browsing comparison. If you mean the longest-rated iPhone in the 2026 lineup, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is ahead on Apple’s published video-playback ratings.
Choose based on the kind of runtime you care about. The 18 Pro Max has the highest cited playback rating; the 17 Pro Max has a documented independent browsing result and remains a strong option. Neither source establishes the runtime a particular person will get in mixed daily use.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Sources
- Apple: iPhone battery information and testing qualifications
- MacRumors: iPhone 17 battery-life ratings
- Tom’s Guide: iPhone 17 battery-life test, October 7, 2025
- Macworld: iPhone battery-life comparison, 2026
- Tom’s Guide: iPhone 18 Pro Max battery test, October 2, 2026
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