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Geeky Gadgets
a day ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Pixel 9a vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs. iPhone 16e: Which Mid-Range Champ Reigns Supreme?
Selecting the right mid-range smartphone can be a daunting task, especially when trying to balance performance, features, and value. This detailed comparison video from Sam Beckman examines three prominent contenders—the Pixel 9a, Nothing Phone 3a Pro, and iPhone 16—across key aspects such as design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, software, and pricing. By the end, you'll gain a clearer perspective on which device aligns best with your preferences and needs. Watch this video on YouTube. Design and Build Quality The design of a smartphone goes beyond aesthetics, influencing both durability and usability. Each of these devices offers a unique approach to design and build quality: Pixel 9a: Features a minimalistic design with a matte plastic back, metal side rails, and a flush camera module. Its IP68 rating ensures robust protection against water and dust, making it a practical choice for everyday use. Features a minimalistic design with a matte plastic back, metal side rails, and a flush camera module. Its ensures robust protection against water and dust, making it a practical choice for everyday use. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Stands out with its transparent back and glyph lighting , offering a futuristic aesthetic. However, its glossy finish and IP64 rating make it less durable compared to its competitors. Stands out with its transparent back and , offering a futuristic aesthetic. However, its glossy finish and make it less durable compared to its competitors. iPhone 16: Features a sleek design with a matte glass back and metal side rails. Its IP68 rating matches the Pixel 9a in durability, ensuring excellent resistance to environmental elements. While all three devices cater to different tastes, the Pixel 9a strikes the best balance between style, durability, and practicality, making it an excellent choice for users seeking a reliable and attractive design. Display The quality of a smartphone's display significantly impacts your experience, whether you're streaming videos, gaming, or browsing the web. Here's how the displays of these devices compare: Pixel 9a: Equipped with a 120 Hz refresh rate , 1,800 nits of peak brightness , and symmetrical bezels, it delivers an immersive and vibrant viewing experience, even in bright outdoor conditions. Equipped with a , , and symmetrical bezels, it delivers an immersive and vibrant viewing experience, even in bright outdoor conditions. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Offers a 120 Hz refresh rate and slim bezels, but its 1,300 nits of brightness and asymmetrical bezels slightly detract from its overall display quality. Offers a and slim bezels, but its and asymmetrical bezels slightly detract from its overall display quality. iPhone 16: Falls behind with a 60 Hz refresh rate, 800 nits of brightness, and thick but symmetrical bezels, making it less appealing for users who prioritize display performance. For those who value a high-quality display, the Pixel 9a emerges as the clear leader, offering superior brightness and smooth performance that enhance everyday use. Performance Performance is a critical factor for multitasking, gaming, and overall responsiveness. Here's how the three smartphones perform in this area: iPhone 16: Powered by a flagship-level chipset, it delivers unmatched speed and efficiency , making it ideal for demanding tasks and high-performance applications. Powered by a flagship-level chipset, it delivers , making it ideal for demanding tasks and high-performance applications. Pixel 9a: Offers strong performance with its mid-range chipset, handling most tasks with ease. While it doesn't quite match the iPhone 16, it remains a reliable option for everyday use. Offers strong performance with its mid-range chipset, handling most tasks with ease. While it doesn't quite match the iPhone 16, it remains a reliable option for everyday use. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Equipped with a mid-range processor, it struggles with intensive multitasking and demanding applications, making it less suitable for power users. For users seeking top-tier performance, the iPhone 16 is the standout choice. However, the Pixel 9a provides a solid alternative at a more affordable price point, making it a practical option for most users. Cameras Camera quality is often a deciding factor when choosing a smartphone. Here's how the three devices compare in terms of photography capabilities: Pixel 9a: Excels with its reliable camera app , ultra-wide lens, and macro photography capabilities. Its consistent performance across various lighting conditions makes it the most versatile option for photography enthusiasts. Excels with its , ultra-wide lens, and macro photography capabilities. Its consistent performance across various lighting conditions makes it the most versatile option for photography enthusiasts. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Features an ultra-wide lens and 3x periscope zoom , but its inconsistent camera app and software optimization result in less reliable performance. Features an ultra-wide lens and , but its inconsistent camera app and software optimization result in less reliable performance. iPhone 16: While responsive and easy to use, it lacks versatility with only a single main lens, limiting its appeal for users who enjoy experimenting with different photography styles. For those who prioritize photography, the Pixel 9a stands out as the most capable and versatile option, offering consistent results across a variety of scenarios. Battery Life Battery life is a crucial consideration, as it determines how long your device lasts between charges. Here's how the three smartphones perform in this category: iPhone 16: Despite its smaller 4,050 mAh battery , it offers the best battery life thanks to efficient hardware and software optimization , making sure all-day usage on a single charge. Despite its smaller , it offers the best battery life thanks to , making sure all-day usage on a single charge. Pixel 9a: Features the largest battery at 5,100 mAh and supports wireless charging. However, its overall battery life is shorter due to higher power consumption from its display and processor. Features the largest battery at and supports wireless charging. However, its overall battery life is shorter due to higher power consumption from its display and processor. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Includes a 5,000 mAh battery with fast charging capabilities but lacks wireless charging support, which may be a drawback for some users. For users seeking the longest battery life, the iPhone 16 is the top choice. However, the Pixel 9a offers more flexibility with its wireless charging feature, catering to users who value convenience. Software The software experience can significantly influence how enjoyable and efficient a smartphone is to use. Here's how the three devices compare: Pixel 9a: Stands out with practical features like call screening and spam management, along with seven years of software updates , making sure long-term reliability and security. Stands out with practical features like and spam management, along with , making sure long-term reliability and security. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Offers extensive customization options, including its unique glyph interface , but lacks practical features that enhance everyday usability. Offers extensive customization options, including its unique , but lacks practical features that enhance everyday usability. iPhone 16: Excels in ecosystem integration, providing seamless connectivity across Apple devices. It also offers fun customization options, making it a great choice for users already invested in the Apple ecosystem. For users seeking long-term support and practical features, the Pixel 9a is the ideal choice, while the iPhone 16 is better suited for those who value ecosystem integration. Pricing Price is often a decisive factor when choosing a smartphone. Here's how the three models compare in terms of cost: Nothing Phone 3a Pro: The most affordable option, priced between $350 and $480 , making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious buyers. The most affordable option, priced between , making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious buyers. Pixel 9a: Falls in the mid-range category, costing $499 to $599 , offering a balanced mix of features and performance for its price. Falls in the mid-range category, costing , offering a balanced mix of features and performance for its price. iPhone 16: The most expensive, ranging from $599 to $699, catering to users who prioritize performance and ecosystem integration. For those on a tight budget, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers excellent value. However, the Pixel 9a provides a more comprehensive package, making it the better overall investment for most users. Advance your skills in Pixel 9a by reading more of our detailed content. Source & Image Credit: Sam Beckman Filed Under: Android News, Apple iPhone, Guides, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
CNET
5 days ago
- Health
- CNET
The Ultrahuman Ring Air Shamed Me Into Ditching Unhealthy Habits
This is a little embarrassing to admit as someone who reviews wearables for a living, but the Ultrahuman Ring Air is my first-ever smart ring. I've tested just about every smartwatch and fitness tracker on the market, but never a ring. And honestly, that probably makes me the perfect person to review it -- not as a biohacking pro, but as someone who went into this exactly how most buyers would: curious, slightly skeptical and wondering whether it would make me ditch my smartwatch. Better yet, would it actually improve my habits? Turns out, it did. Not because the data was perfectly accurate (more on that later), but because after over a month of wearing the Ultrahuman Ring Air, the simple act of logging consistently made me more aware of how my daily routine, especially sleep, impacts my body. It didn't replace my smartwatch, but it complemented it in a way I didn't expect. 7.4 / 10 SCORE Ultrahuman Ring AIR $349 at Best Buy Pros No subscription needed for full health data Lightweight and comfortable for 24/7 wear Nearly weeklong battery life, even on max settings Aging metrics that actually help flag bad habits Flexible tracking for things like shift work or pregnancy Cons Heart rate tracking is inaccurate during workouts Auto workout detection is unreliable No indicator for proper sensor placement on the ring App can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate Noticeable scratches and wear after a month of use Ultrahuman Ring AIR 7.4/10 CNET Score $349 at Best Buy The Ultrahuman Ring Air can be a good entry point for anyone curious about testing the smart ring waters, especially if you're looking for something more subtle than a smartwatch. It's designed for background, long-term health tracking rather than on-the-spot reads, with a lightweight design and longer battery life that makes it easier to wear 24/7 (ideal for sleep tracking). At $349 (plus $50 more for the brushed rose gold finish), it's still an investment, but it feels like slightly less of a commitment than competitors like Oura, which lock many key insights behind a monthly subscription. But this ring isn't for everyone. You need to be ready to dive into the data and do a little sleuthing of your own to interpret your metrics and figure out which ones are helpful for you. Some, like Cardio Age and Sleep Score, were self-explanatory and useful at a glance, while others, like temperature tracking and stress, are harder to find or decode. Sometimes, it felt like I was doom-scrolling my own vitals, clicking on one stat only to tumble down a rabbit hole of more questions than answers. And there were definitely times when the data didn't match reality. All that said, I walked away feeling more mindful of my sleep, stress and even unexpected metrics like UV exposure. And honestly, the consistency of logging -- even without perfect accuracy -- was enough to push me toward better habits. The Ultrahuman Ring Air feels light and comfortable. It's thicker (height-wise) than most rings I wear, but it doesn't scream "tech gadget" like other wearables. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Better design than a smartwatch, but not quite jewelry After ordering a smart ring, the next step is finding the right size. I thought I knew my ring size and was ready to skip ahead -- but trust me, don't. Like most smart ring makers, Ultrahuman sends a sizing kit, and it's worth doing properly. I was between sizes, so I wore two of the included sample rings for about 48 hours to figure out the best fit. I ended up choosing the larger one so I could comfortably swap it between my middle, index and thumb -- especially since my fingers tend to swell with humidity or at certain times of the month. I went with the bionic gold finish, which felt like a nice balance; it didn't scream "fitness tracker," but it also wouldn't pass for a delicate piece of jewelry. Compared to the giant slab of a smartwatch I usually wear, it was refreshingly subtle on my middle finger, albeit somewhat thick (height-wise) even on my longer-than-average fingers. The side profile of the Ultrahuman Ring is relatively thin compared to other smart rings. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET The ring itself is super lightweight (between 2.4 and 3.6 grams, depending on size) with a titanium exterior and a hypoallergenic resin interior. For comparison, it's slightly lighter and thinner than the Oura Ring. After a month of daily wear, which includes wrestling three kids, power walking with metal dumbbells on the regular and generally living the chaotic life of someone who doesn't wear jewelry for a reason, it's held up surprisingly well. Most days, I forget I'm even wearing it. That said, the gold exterior has picked up a handful of micro-scratches after just over a month of daily wear. Not shocking, considering my torture-tester tendencies, but worth noting if you're hoping for something completely scratch-proof. Micro-scratches on the Ultrahuman Ring Air show signs of wear after over a month of use. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Battery life is surprisingly great (even in Turbo mode) Ultrahuman claims four to six days of battery life, but I was pleasantly surprised to consistently hit the higher end, even while running it on all cylinders. The ring offers three battery modes: Turbo, Chill, and Critical, each adjusting data collection to extend battery life. I kept it in Turbo mode, which tracks the maximum amount of data, and still averaged about six days per charge. That alone made me more consistent with sleep tracking; something I usually dread with a smartwatch, since charging often ends up colliding with bedtime or peak workout time. The charging puck is a little black ring stand similar to that of the Oura Ring. An LED signals when it's fully charged, which takes about 3 hours. The Ultrahuman app, which is used for pairing the ring and configuring its settings, also sends reminders when the battery is getting low, which I appreciated. Health tracking: Decoding the data maze is not for the faint of heart The Ultrahuman Ring Air tracks just about everything you'd expect -- stress, sleep, heart rate, skin temperature, VO2 max and daily activity. But it also collects data on a dozen other things you may not need. You can even layer on more insights with what Ultrahuman calls "PowerPlugs." These are data widgets that use existing metrics (or general guidelines) to translate into actionable advice. For example, I added the cycle and ovulation tracker, the Vitamin D (UV exposure) tracker and PowerPlugs for caffeine timing and circadian rhythm. They help figure out the best times to get sunlight, drink caffeine and schedule workouts to improve sleep and keep energy levels up. There are also specific PowerPlugs for shift workers that adjust metrics to irregular schedules, and one for pregnancy that provides week-by-week insights. Some metrics are exclusive to Ultrahuman, which essentially translates your health data into something everyone understands: how well (or poorly) you're aging. Healthy aging has become a major focus for wearables in general, with companies like Oura and Samsung leaning heavily into age-based stats as a way to help users understand their overall wellness. The Ultrahuman app assigns a predicted "age" to different categories like cardio fitness, brain health and pulse health, using indicators like heart rate variability (HRV), sleep debt and skin temperature deviations. None of these age metrics are clinically validated, but something about seeing how my habits might be accelerating the aging process genuinely motivated me to make some changes. Learning that my "Brain Age" was older than my actual age was enough to scare me into cutting back my late-night social media scrolling and getting to bed earlier. Apparently, my lack of sleep was fast-tracking neurological decay, and I definitely don't want to end up with a chronic case of mommy-brain fog. Although I get as tired of notifications as everyone else, I appreciate that the app sends text alerts for some of these metrics. Since the ring doesn't have a screen of its own, the alerts are the only way to urge you to take immediate action on the data. Otherwise, you'd have to wade through the maze of metrics retroactively in the app. Some alerts are obvious, like telling me I slept less last night (no need for shade, ring, I was there). Others are begrudgingly helpful -- like a well-intentioned nagging parent -- such as telling me to cut off caffeine after 2 p.m. And a few are actually welcome, like telling me the best time to get outside to optimize my UV exposure and regulate my circadian rhythm. It's incredible having this much data literally at your fingertips -- figuring out what to do with it is another story. Sure, every metric has a little "i" button explaining what it means, but that's not the same as knowing what actually deserves your attention. Whether due to the way the app is laid out, how the metrics are grouped or just the sheer volume of information, it's easy to get overwhelmed inside the app. And unfortunately, it doesn't do much to guide you toward what matters most on any given day. I really wish the app had a single dashboard that summarized any key deviations from my baseline across all categories, something like: "Hey, your heart rate variability dipped, your temperature spiked and your stress is elevated. Maybe take it easy today." Right now, you only see those flags if you click into each individual metric, like Dynamic Recovery or Sleep. Does one flag mean something's off? Or does it take three for me to consider skipping a workout? It didn't always line up with how I felt, either. One night, the app flagged a temperature spike even though I felt perfectly fine. But another time, when I was actually sick, the only signal was a dip in my HRV. Fitness tracking puts accuracy into question It's interesting how one inconsistency can plant a seed of doubt in the whole experience -- and that's exactly what happened with heart rate tracking. During a 35-minute 5K run, the Ultrahuman Ring Air correctly detected the activity but logged it as a 70-minute workout. The ring can auto-detect certain outdoor activities like running and walking, then asks you to confirm them once you open the app. Technically, I could adjust the start and stop times to better match the run, but the heart rate was off regardless. Heart rate data from a 5K run on the Ultrahuman app (left) versus a Polar chest strap (right). Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET My Polar chest strap clocked me peaking at 176 bpm, while the Ultrahuman Ring topped out at 124 bpm, missing two full heart rate zones. For indoor workouts like Pilates, weightlifting or anything that doesn't dramatically spike heart rate, the ring won't even register it unless you manually start a workout in the app. That moment really forced the question: If it's not getting this right, what else is it getting wrong, mainly when so many other metrics, like recovery, stress and sleep, rely on accurate heart rate data running in the background? It's not just workouts, either. Twice during my month of testing, the ring also gave me "extra sleep credit" for time I was very much awake -- just binge-watching on the couch. (Not the first wearable to make that mistake, but still.) The sensors on the Ultrahuman Ring are discreet, but there's no clear indicator to show when they're properly positioned on your finger, which can affect accuracy. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET It also highlights another truth about wearables: accuracy depends heavily on sensor type and placement. Rings simply don't capture heart rate as well as chest straps (or even some wrist-based trackers), especially during high-impact activities. Unlike a watch that stays snug in one spot, the ring tends to naturally turn around my finger throughout the day, and it's not as obvious when the sensors are in a less desirable place (top of the finger versus the bottom). The Samsung Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring both have a small line on the surface indicating which side the sensors are on. That tiny difference matters, especially when tracking sudden heart rate spikes. All of this is a good reminder that the Ultrahuman Ring Air isn't meant to be a fitness tracker first. Its strength is in long-term wellness tracking that comes with consistent use, especially during rest and not on-the-spot workout data. If you go in with that mindset, your expectations will be a lot more grounded. The Ultrahuman Ring Air is a great smartwatch companion, but lacks accuracy for true fitness tracking. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Bottom line: Should you buy it? For $350, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is a solid first smart ring for most people. It's not flawless, especially when it comes to workout tracking, but it's a great wellness companion that can help you improve or adopt healthier habits. The lack of a subscription alone makes it one of the most accessible smart rings out there. It's perfect for biohackers, data nerds or anyone curious enough to geek out over their body's inner workings. Just be ready to do a little of the homework yourself. The ring won't replace my smartwatch anytime soon, but I was surprised to realize how well it complements the watch. Where my watch handles live-workout tracking, the ring picks up the slack on sleep, recovery and long-term wellness. Its strength isn't in hyper-accurate data, but in the consistency of logging it. That consistency -- and the fact that it translates the data into something tangible like age -- was enough to help me spot some not-so-healthy habits and push me toward better ones. Even in its imperfections, that says a lot about what this ring can offer.
Gizmodo
25-06-2025
- Gizmodo
Baseus Clip-On Earbuds Is Nearly Free Just Weeks After Launch, First Discount Hits for Early Prime Day
Noise-cancellation is a great addition on any premium pair of headphones or earbuds, but what it does is drive up the price way high. It's not something that's always needed. If you're not frequently riding on airplanes or trying to drown out the sounds of a couple arguing in the apartment next door, you'll probably be find just listening on the standard mode. So, you'd only be paying the standard price, not premium. And if you're a runner listening to music while hitting the roads, noise-cancellation can be dangerous. You'll want to be as aware as your surroundings as possible. See at Amazon Well, Baseus has a solid pair of wireless earbuds that get the job done and are crazy affordable. Normally they go for $40 which is already pretty reasonable. But for a limited time, you can secure yourself a pair for 28% off. At the time of writing this, the Baseus Bass BC1 open ear earbuds are just $29. The Baseus Bass open ear earbuds use a curved design which ergonomically fits around to the back of your ear and clipping it in place. As much as a lot of those in-ear earbud manufacturers like to boast how they have a secure fit, even offering differently sized ear tips, I never quite feel like they are going to stay in place. Baseus has found a much better solution that can actually adapt to various ear shapes without risk of falling out. The open design is non-intrusive and pressure free. You can listen while wearing glasses without them getting in the way of each other. Plus, sound quality is spectacular with its punchy bass and 12mm driver. These open ear earbuds are designed to keep up with your active lifestyle. They are rated IP55, staying safe from dust, water, sweat and splashes so don't be afraid to get your workout done while listening to the latest Sabrina Carpenter hit. The earbuds have physical buttons to with customizable functions like answering calls, skipping songs, or accessing your voice assistant. The fact that the buttons are physical is a huge bonus. Some earbuds that have touch features can be prone to accidental touches, frustratingly restarting a song or hanging up on a friend. Much smaller chance of that happening here. The four onboard microphones work in unison to amplify your voice during calls while filtering out distracting background noises—ensuring you are always heard crystal clear on the other end. You can score the Baseus Bass BC1 open ear earbuds for the reduced price of just $29 for a limited time. See at Amazon
Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Telegraph
The best phone battery life of 2025, tried and tested by a smartphone expert
The smartphone is the Swiss Army Knife of the modern world. It's a multi-functional tool that's always close to hand. Whether you're browsing the web, taking pictures, watching videos, listening to music or simply making calls, it's in near-constant use. As a result, battery life has become a critical consideration when shopping for a new handset. As an experienced tech journalist, I've tested dozens of smartphones over the past decade and have seen the overall level of battery life improve considerably over the years. While the general level of smartphone stamina is now very good, there are still some phones that will last longer than others on a single charge. If you're in the market for a new phone that won't shut down before the end of a busy day, I would recommend selecting from one of the following handsets. Samsung, Apple, and Google are all familiar and trusted brands, but I've also included some dark horse picks that you might not have considered before. You can find my full reviews, below, along with answers to any frequently asked questions that you may have about battery life. The best phone battery life: At a glance How to choose the best phone battery life for you Several factors contribute to a smartphone's battery life. The most obvious is the total capacity, or size, of the battery, measured in milliampere-hour (or mAh). As a rule of thumb, larger phones tend to have longer battery life, as they can squeeze in bigger batteries, though that's not always the case. You also need to consider the maximum wired charging rate of a smartphone. This is listed in watts (W), and the larger the number, the faster the phone will recharge. A 100W charger, for instance, will charge the handset considerably faster than a 45W plug. There are several other elements at play here. The phone's display resolution can have a big impact on battery life: the sharper the picture gets, the higher the toll on the battery. The same applies to screen brightness and whether the display adjusts the refresh rate according to the task at hand. Another factor is the internal electrical components (often referred to as system on chip, or SoC) that power the phone. Some chips run more efficiently than others. One final, though no less important aspect, is the software. All but one of my picks runs on Google's Android, with the other being iOS. Apple's operating system is known to be more frugal with its energy usage than Google's, though iPhones also tend to have smaller batteries than their Android counterparts, which often evens out the playing field. Beyond that, each manufacturer is responsible for optimising its phone's battery use, which can lead to a surprising variance in battery performance. How we test phone battery life Each of the phones featured in this guide has been granted its own miniature review. I applied the same five key metrics when judging the smartphones: design and features, display, performance and battery life, software and AI, as well as camera. Where available, I've linked to in-depth reviews for the phones listed. As you can see, we typically roll battery life together with performance, but I've given the former element particular prominence for the purposes of this feature. As well as offering general impressions of each phone's battery life from my day-to-day experience, I also ran our in-house battery benchmark. This involves downloading and playing a looping 20-hour Full HD 1080p resolution video via the VLC video player app (available on iOS and Android). The video is set to display across the whole screen, with a fixed screen brightness of 250 nits, and with aeroplane mode switched on, which turns off all data connections. Any automatic battery saver modes are also deactivated. I do all of this to ensure our tests are repeatable and consistent with one another. When the phone finally ran out of battery and powered down, I charged it back up, reopened the VLC app and recorded how long the video ran for. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our tech experts continuously conduct in-depth, independent, real-world tests, scoring devices against pre-set testing metrics and industry benchmarks, so we can deliver definitive and comprehensive buying advice. Telegraph Recommended reviews are never shared with product manufacturers before publication, we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. The best phone battery life of 2025 1. Best Buy Phone Battery Life: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max The iPhone 16 Pro Max scored right up there with the best smartphones on this list in our video test, coming in a close fourth and bursting well past the 30 hours mark on a single charge. Away from this one specific metric, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has exceptional day-to-day battery life and is comfortably the most long-lasting iPhone on the market. While a 4,685mAh battery is the smallest on this list, Apple's efficient iOS software means that the phone utilises that smaller capacity more effectively than its rivals. It will routinely last you through two full days of moderate usage. The main drawback here is the iPhone 16 Pro Max's wired charging speeds, which, at just 45W, will get you from empty to 50 per cent in 30 minutes. That's not terrible, but it falls far short of some of the other phones I tested, such as the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Pro. However, our top pick in all of our round-ups is all about being the Best Buy. The iPhone 16 Pro is the best all-round smartphone on the market, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is essentially the same phone, only larger and with much better battery life. If that's your most pressing concern, but you're still after a brilliant smartphone experience from top to bottom, it's our top pick. Other than fantastic stamina, you're getting phenomenal performance, a delightfully high-end design (now including a dedicated camera shutter button), and the best phone camera around. To learn more, read our full iPhone 16 Pro Max review. Key specifications Screen: 6.9in, 120Hz refresh rate Processor: Apple A18 Pro Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Dimensions: 163 x 77.6 x 8.3mm Weight: 227g Battery size: 4,685mAh Battery life: 30 hours and 43 minutes 2. Best Value Phone Battery: Google Pixel 9a The Pixel 9a might be the cheapest phone on Google's current roster, but it also has the largest battery. Its 5,100mAh capacity is larger than the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, despite being a significantly smaller phone. While I didn't observe outstanding day-to-day stamina from the Pixel 9a, it stood up to a busy working day with ease. What's more, it landed firmly in the middle of the pack on our video test, beating significantly larger phones such as the OnePlus 13 and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra by several hours. It's not all positive news, with a maximum wired charging rate of 23W proving deeply unremarkable. It will take more than an hour to get to a full charge from empty. Conversely, there's a convenient wireless charging provision, which is far from a given at this price. Strong battery life aside, the Pixel 9a is the best budget smartphone on the market, with an extremely bright display, fast performance from a flagship-level processor, and great photographic capabilities. To learn more, read our full Google Pixel 9a review. Key specifications Screen: 6.3in, 120Hz refresh rate Processor: Google Tensor G4 Storage options: 128GB, 256GB Dimensions: 155 x 73 x 8.9mm Weight: 186g Battery size: 5,100mAh Battery life: 29 hours and one minute Also consider: Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro Battery life: 25 hours and 27 minutes With a massive 6,000mAh battery and rapid 90W wired charging for just £309, the Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro is a compelling offering. The only thing keeping it from toppling the Pixel 9a as our Best Value pick is its video playback test score, which was the lowest of all of the phones we tested. Part of that might be to do with the use of a slightly less efficient Mediatek processor. The flagship Xiaomi 15 Ultra didn't perform too well in this test, either. 3. Best Android Phone Battery: Honor Magic 7 Pro It's a shame that the European model of the Honor Magic 7 Pro lacks the global model's huge 5,850mAh battery, or we might have been looking at an even stronger battery life. As it stands, though, the 5,270mAh battery featured here still proves ample, with the Magic 7 Pro scoring the second highest in our video test. Add to this 100W wired charging and 80W wireless charging support and you have a phone that's ready to charge up quickly when it finally runs low. It can charge to full from zero in the same time it takes our Best Buy pick to hit 50 per cent. Elsewhere, the Honor Magic 7 Pro offers a compelling package. Its 200-megapixel main camera is capable of taking excellent images, and is a particular dab hand at action snaps. Honor's Zoom function can capture some remarkably detailed close-ups as well. Performance is up there with the best in the business, as is Honor's 6.8-inch display. The custom Android software is a little too messy for my tastes, but if you can learn to live with it, this is a phone that will last you a long while. Key specifications Screen: 6.78in, 185Hz refresh rate Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Storage options: 512GB, 1TB Dimensions: 164 x 77 x 8.9mm Weight: 227g Battery size: 5,270mAh Battery life: 31 hours Also consider: OnePlus 13 Battery life: 26 hours and 11 minutes The OnePlus 13 previously won a recommendation as the best smartphone for battery life, due to its large 6,000mAh cell and rapid 100W wired charging support. It remains an impressive performer on this front, lasting through two days of regular use. Since that was written, however, we've put the OnePlus 13 through our new looping video test, where it scored the second-worst of all nine phones involved in this test. That shouldn't put you off a purchase, as most people won't be watching non-stop video for a full day. What's more, the OnePlus 13 is simply an excellent phone at a competitive price, with one of the most vibrant displays on the market, an attractive faux-leather finish, a great triple camera system, responsive software and extremely rapid performance. 4. Best Phone Battery Life for Video Playback: Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro If we were going purely on our video test, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro would be a clear winner. It topped the table by a massive margin, beating the number two contender by an hour and 40 minutes. It's not hard to see why the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro has such impressive media playback power. This is a gaming phone, which means that it's purpose-built to deliver a sustained screen on time (SoT) and fast performance. Part of that formula involves extending the phone's stamina, as nothing saps battery life as much as playing games. To that end, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro starts with a large 5,800mAh battery. While its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is the same as several other phones on this list, Asus pairs this with an extensive cooling system to prevent heat build-up (a cooler phone is more energy efficient). Beyond that, Asus clearly focused on optimising the phone's software to maximise battery life. At 65W, the charging speeds are good rather than great, but unlike most phones on this list, you get that charger included in the box. It also supports 15W wireless charging, which is unusual for a gaming phone. The reason I wouldn't recommend the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro to most people, however, is because of this gaming focus. It's relatively large and cumbersome, with a somewhat crude design. Meanwhile, its camera, while not bad, isn't up to the standard you might expect of a £1,100 phone. Key specifications Screen: 6.78in, 185Hz refresh rate Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Storage options: 512GB, 1TB Dimensions: 164 x 77 x 8.9mm Weight: 227g Battery size: 5,800mAh Battery life: 32 hours and 41 minutes Also consider: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Battery life: 30 hours and 55 minutes The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra came third in our looping video test, just pipping the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the post. Samsung's battery optimisation is generally some of the best in the business, allowing its phones to compete despite rarely having the largest size (the Galaxy S25 Ultra's battery is 5,000mAh). This is a phone that will reliably last you a heavy day of usage and well into a second day, no matter what you throw at it. The main aspect holding it back is a mere 45W wired charging provision, which is a fair bit slower than much of the opposition. With that said, we voted the Galaxy S25 Ultra to be the best Android smartphone on the market, with a fabulous glare-free display, excellent camera zoom, and a host of powerful AI features. 5. Largest Phone Battery: Redmagic 10S Pro When it comes to capacity, no phone at the time of writing comes with a bigger battery than the Redmagic 10S Pro. At 7,050mAh, it's truly vast. This huge battery leads to exemplary day-to-day stamina, which is required to keep it running through extended gaming sessions. This is another gaming phone, like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, but this handset has a couple of bonuses. It features a physical cooling fan to avoid heat build-up, and it also has a souped-up version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Technically, it's the fastest phone on this list, as well as being one of the cheapest. The phone comes with an 80W charger in the box, though it supports up to 100W charging. A full charge should take around 40 minutes. On a less positive note, there's no wireless charging. That's far from the only drawback here. Surprisingly, the Redmagic 10S Pro posted one of the worst scores in our video playback battery test. The Redmagic OS software is also messy and glitchy. The physical design, too, is somewhat juvenile, with an off-putting gamer aesthetic that incorporates gaudy lighting effects. Key specifications Best phone battery life FAQs Is a higher mAh better for battery life? Generally speaking, a larger battery leads to better battery life. However, other factors play a major part, including screen and processor efficiency and how well the manufacturer has optimised the software. How do you prolong a phone's battery life? Reducing screen brightness and preventing apps (particularly social media) from running in the background are two ways to preserve battery life. Every phone also has a battery saver mode that can be initiated manually or automatically once it drops down to a certain percentage. Which brands are well-known for producing phones with good battery life? Samsung and Apple both have excellent reputations in this department. Neither brand's phones have the biggest batteries in their class, but both do well through expert optimisation. The biggest batteries, however, are currently coming from Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Honor, and OnePlus, all of which have started utilising super-dense silicon-carbon (Si/c) battery technology. What everyday activities drain phone battery the fastest? Social media apps and navigation apps running in the background can play havoc with battery life, as does frequent switching between mobile networks (5G is a known battery hog). Gaming, too, is an infaillible way to rapidly drop your phone's battery percentage.
The Verge
06-06-2025
- The Verge
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a big phone with small phone energy
Oh shit. Did I leave my phone at home? I experienced that moment repeatedly while testing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. I'd glance into my bag, or note the lack of weight in my jacket pocket, and my stomach would drop. The phone isn't there. But lo and behold, after another moment of digging through my purse, or by reaching into my pocket, I'd find it. These moments don't usually happen when I'm carrying a big phone — but the Galaxy S25 Edge isn't your average big phone. On paper it might not sound so impressive. The Edge is 1.5 millimeters thinner than the Galaxy S25 Plus and about an ounce lighter. That's what all this fuss is about? I was skeptical, too. And I haven't been completely slim-phone-pilled by the S25 Edge, either. But after living with it for a couple of weeks, I've come around to the idea as a pleasant alternative to chunky phones I can barely wedge into an evening bag. Especially since I've been able to draw one important conclusion: the battery life is fine. It feels like a cop-out to say that you really have to hold the S25 Edge to understand it, but I'll say it anyway. Maybe after a decade holding phones that are roughly the same size and weight we've become hyperaware of even slight weight differences — at least that's the theory one of my colleagues put forth when I handed the phone to him. I think he's right. There are a few scenarios where the slightly slimmer dimensions and lighter weight make a difference. It doesn't look or feel as bulky as other phones usually do in the side pocket of my yoga pants. I spend a lot of time in yoga pants (and if I'm being honest, zero time actually doing yoga) so I appreciate this. And the S25 Edge actually fits into a slender clutch that's only designed to hold a couple of credit cards and a chapstick. No other modern phone — save the iPhone 13 Mini — has gone in without a fight. I'd be less willing to endorse the S25 Edge if it cost a lot more or the battery life was markedly worse than the standard S25-series phones. Great news: it only costs a bit more, and battery life is only a bit worse. It's $1,099 compared to the $999 Galaxy S25 Plus. An extra $100 is nothing to sneeze at, but if you're spreading that cost out over three years the difference is a few bucks a month. My biggest concern when I started testing this phone was the battery life. The Edge's 3,900mAh capacity is much lower than the 4,900mAh cell in the S25 Plus. And no surprise, the S25 Edge's battery doesn't stretch as far as what you'll get in the S25 Plus or Ultra. But it's fine. As a rule, I turn on every battery-draining feature I can when I test a phone, including the always-on display and the highest screen resolution and refresh rate settings. With all this enabled I embarked on a trial by fire: a full day covering Google I/O in person. With about three hours of screen-on time and an hour-ish using it as a mobile hotspot to post photos to our live blog, it managed to get through the day with 20 percent left by that night. Did it feel great? No. Under normal circumstances I would have charged it partway through the day, because I suffer from battery anxiety. But it was fine. I'll give it a stamp of approval, but with the caveat that if you watch a lot of streaming video or do a lot of graphics-intensive gaming, this is probably not the phone for you. I'm also concerned about what the battery performance will look like a few years from now as its capacity naturally degrades. If you're the kind of person who wants to hang on to your phone for as many years as possible it wouldn't be a bad idea to plan on getting a fresh battery swapped in after a few years — take it from an iPhone 13 Mini owner. On the subject of small phones: the S25 Edge isn't one. It's a lighter, more approachable big phone, but I still struggle to get my thumb to the far corner of its 6.7-inch screen. Most people will want to put a case on this phone anyway, which takes it from 'slim' to 'just kinda regular' rather than 'wow this is super chunky.' This is a very vibes-based assessment, but I don't want any of my fellow small-phone fans to make the mistake of thinking this could be a small phone in disguise. Battery life might be the biggest tradeoff you'll have to make for this phone, but it's not the only one. The Galaxy S25 Edge comes with only two rear cameras — a 200 megapixel main similar to the S25 Ultra 's and a 12-megapixel ultrawide. On the standard S25 and S25 Plus you get a 3x telephoto, too. Obviously the size constraints were a factor on the Edge, and Samsung included a top-shelf main camera to make up for the telephoto. I think that was the right call. I love a dedicated telephoto camera as much as the next guy, especially with Samsung's excellent portrait mode, but the 2x crop zoom works fine for a little extra reach. As always, you'll either love Samsung's punchy, bright colors or they won't be your cup of tea. I've learned to live with them. Outside of battery life and camera options, the S25 Edge gives up remarkably little. You still get a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, full IP68 dust and water resistance, and a 6.7-inch screen with 1440p resolution. Even with the slimmer profile heat dissipation is fine. In everyday tasks I rarely noticed the phone heating up, and it managed a 20-minute Diablo Immortal session with every display setting I could access cranked up. It was toasty by the end, but I didn't see any drop in performance. Using the Galaxy S25 Edge for the past couple of weeks has cleared up some of my concerns with this new form factor — one we're likely to see from Apple in the near future, too. Battery life is alright. Using a thin phone really does feel different. Subtracting 1.5 millimeters in thickness actually does make it appreciably easier to carry. The S25 Edge makes a kind of sense for someone who likes a large screen but not the bulk and weight of a big phone. But this person should also be someone who's easy on a battery, and isn't the kind of person who just wants to buy a phone and not have to think about replacing it (or more likely its battery) for as long as possible. Those are some pretty serious caveats. At the very least, I encourage you to go find this phone at your wireless carrier or Best Buy or whatever and just pick it up. It doesn't seem that impressively slim or light on paper, but you might just be amazed at how it feels in your hand. Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge Agree to Continue: Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Edge Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It's impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit 'agree' to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don't read and definitely can't negotiate. To use the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, or S25 Edge, you must agree to: Samsung's Terms and Conditions Samsung's Privacy Policy Google's Terms of Service (including Privacy Policy) Google Play's Terms of Service Automatic installs (including from Google, Samsung, and your carrier) There are many optional agreements. If you use a carrier-specific version, there will be more of them. Here are just a few: Sending diagnostic data to Samsung Samsung services, including auto blocker, customization service, continuity service, nearby device scanning, personal data intelligence, and smart suggestions Google Drive backup, location services, Wi-Fi scanning, diagnostic data Bixby privacy policy (required to use Bixby), plus optional for Bixby options like personalized content, data access, and audio recording review There may be more. For example, Samsung's Weather app also has its own privacy policy that may include sharing information with Final tally: there are five mandatory agreements and at least 10 optional ones. Featured Videos From The Verge Inside the Meta monopoly trial | The Vergecast After more than a month of testimony, the Meta antirust trial is beginning to slow down. The Google search remedies trial, meanwhile, is about to heat up again, with closing arguments coming soon. The Verge's Lauren Feiner has been in the DC courthouse for all of it, and has finally emerged to tell us about what she's seen, and learned, from two all-important monopoly trials. After that, The Verge's Victoria Song tells us about her latest experience with Google's smart glasses prototypes, what Google is doing differently from Meta and Apple, and what she thinks Jony Ive and OpenAI might be building. Finally, we answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline about what to do now that Mozilla is shutting down Pocket.
