iPhones ranked by battery rating
Apple's own video-playback figure for each model on a new battery. Larger phones carry larger batteries, which is why the Plus and Pro Max models lead.
- 1iPhone 16 Pro Max
Battery rating: Up to 33 h video playback · 6.9″
- 2iPhone 15 Pro Max
Battery rating: Up to 29 h video playback · 6.7″
- 3iPhone 14 Pro Max
Battery rating: Up to 29 h video playback · 6.7″
Out of stock - 4iPhone 13 Pro Max
Battery rating: Up to 28 h video playback · 6.7″
- 5iPhone 16 Pro
Battery rating: Up to 27 h video playback · 6.3″
- 6iPhone 16 Plus
Battery rating: Up to 27 h video playback · 6.7″
Out of stock - 7iPhone 15 Plus
Battery rating: Up to 26 h video playback · 6.7″
Out of stock - 8iPhone 14 Plus
Battery rating: Up to 26 h video playback · 6.7″
- 9iPhone 15 Pro
Battery rating: Up to 23 h video playback · 6.1″
- 10iPhone 14 Pro
Battery rating: Up to 23 h video playback · 6.1″
Out of stock - 11iPhone 16
Battery rating: Up to 22 h video playback · 6.1″
- 12iPhone 13 Pro
Battery rating: Up to 22 h video playback · 6.1″
Out of stock - 13iPhone 15
Battery rating: Up to 20 h video playback · 6.1″
Out of stock - 14iPhone 14
Battery rating: Up to 20 h video playback · 6.1″
Out of stock - 15iPhone 13
Battery rating: Up to 19 h video playback · 6.1″
Out of stock
Why battery health matters more on a used phone
Lithium batteries lose capacity with every charge cycle. Apple designs iPhone batteries to retain about 80% of their original capacity after 500 full cycles, and the iPhone 15 and later are rated for 80% after 1,000 cycles. Below 80%, Apple considers the battery due for service, and you will feel it: shorter days, and on older models possible performance management to prevent shutdowns.
That is why we publish the battery health percentage on every QDN Certified listing and never ship a phone below 80%. When you compare two used phones, compare the health number alongside the model. A 14 Plus at 94% will outlast a 15 Pro Max at 82% on most days.
How to check battery health on an iPhone
Open Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging
Maximum Capacity is the number to read. 100% is a new battery; 80% is Apple's service threshold.
Check the cycle count (iPhone 15 and later)
Settings > General > About shows Cycle Count on the iPhone 15 and newer. Fewer cycles at the same health means a battery that was treated gently.
Look for a Service message
If Battery Health says the battery is significantly degraded, it needs replacing, whatever the percentage.
Watch for unexpected shutdowns
A phone that dies at 20% or restarts under load has a battery that can no longer deliver peak power, even if its capacity reads acceptably.
How to make any iPhone last the day
Most "my battery drains so fast" problems are settings, not hardware. In rough order of effect:
Find the culprit
Settings > Battery shows usage by app for the last 24 hours and 10 days. One app at the top with high background activity is usually the answer.
Turn off Background App Refresh for apps that do not need it
Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Social and shopping apps rarely need it.
Tame the screen
The display is the biggest consumer. Lower brightness, keep Auto-Brightness on, shorten Auto-Lock, and on Pro models consider turning off the Always-On display.
Restrict location to "While Using"
Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. "Always" is rarely necessary and runs the GPS in the background.
Use Low Power Mode when it matters
It cuts background work and visual effects and can add hours. You can add it to Control Centre or trigger it with an Action button shortcut.
Keep it out of the heat
Heat ages a battery faster than anything else. A hot car or a phone charging under a pillow does lasting damage.
Leave Optimised Battery Charging on
It learns your routine and holds at 80% overnight until you need it, which slows chemical ageing. On the iPhone 15 and later you can also cap charging at 80%.
Which iPhone should you buy for battery life?
If battery is the priority and you do not mind a big phone, the Pro Max models lead every generation, with the 16 Pro Max at the top. If you want a big battery without Pro money, the 14 Plus and 15 Plus match or beat the Pro of their year because they carry the same large battery without the power-hungry 120 Hz display. If you want a smaller phone, the standard 16 has the best rating of the 6.1-inch class we sell.
Whichever you choose, buy the healthiest battery you can find at that model. The ranking tells you the ceiling; the health number tells you how close to it you will start.
Questions people ask
Which iPhone has the best battery life?
Of the models QDN sells, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, rated by Apple at up to 33 hours of video playback, followed by the 15 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max at 29 hours. See the full ranking above.
What battery health is acceptable on a used iPhone?
Apple considers 80% the service threshold. We would not buy below it, and no QDN Certified iPhone ships below it. Above 90% is excellent for a used phone; 85 to 90% is normal for a phone one to two years old.
How long should a used iPhone battery last?
Apple rates iPhone batteries to hold 80% capacity after 500 full charge cycles (1,000 on the iPhone 15 and later). A phone bought at 85 to 90% health typically has two or more years before it reaches 80%, depending on how it is charged and kept.
Why is my iPhone battery draining so fast?
Usually an app doing work in the background, a bright screen, location services set to Always, or heat. Check Settings > Battery for usage by app first; the fix is almost always a setting rather than the battery itself.
Does the Pro Max really last longer than the Pro?
Yes. The Pro Max carries a physically larger battery: on the 16 generation Apple rates it at 33 hours of video against 27 for the Pro. The difference shows most on heavy days.
Can the battery in a used iPhone be replaced?
Yes. Apple's out-of-warranty battery service costs $89 to $119 in the US depending on model, and restores capacity to 100%. Our guide to battery replacement costs covers when that is worth doing and when upgrading makes more sense.