TLDR;
This video compares the battery life, performance, and thermal management of the latest flagship smartphones from Samsung, Apple, Google, OnePlus, Oppo, and Xiaomi. The tests include everyday tasks, gaming, and benchmark runs, with a focus on how battery capacity and thermal performance affect overall user experience. The Oppo Find X9 Pro emerges as the battery life champion, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL struggles with performance and battery efficiency.
- Oppo Find X9 Pro has the best battery life.
- Google Pixel 10 Pro XL has the worst performance and battery.
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra shows improvement over its predecessor.
Introduction and Phone Lineup [0:00]
The video introduces a comprehensive battery and performance test involving the best phones from top companies: Samsung S26 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, OnePlus 15, Oppo Find X9 Pro, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and last year's Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. The aim is to compare battery percentages, performance, and thermal output using a custom rig with a thermal camera. The presenter expresses concern that Samsung hasn't increased battery capacity in their Ultra phones for six years, leading to a divide between phones with smaller batteries (Samsung, iPhone, Google) and those with larger capacities (Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo).
Initial Battery Drain and Thermal Performance [1:41]
After a couple of hours of medium-intensity app usage, the Oppo leads in battery percentage, followed by the Samsung S26 Ultra, which surprisingly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Google Pixel. Thermal imaging reveals that the Samsung S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max remain cooler due to their aluminium frames, while the other phones, especially the Google Pixel, exhibit higher temperatures. High temperatures can negatively impact performance, battery life, and long-term battery health.
Gaming and Performance Benchmarks [4:16]
The phones are subjected to an hour of gaming using "Weathering Waves," a taxing mobile game. The Google Pixel is noticeably slower at loading the game. After gaming, Geekbench is used to test CPU performance. The Oppo becomes the hottest phone, reaching 42°C, which affects its performance. The Oppo, powered by a MediaTek chip, scores lower than other current-generation phones with Snapdragon chips. The Google Pixel has the lowest performance, even compared to last year's Samsung S25 Ultra, which is disappointing given its high temperature and poor battery life.
Content Consumption and Battery Tech [7:08]
The video uses Surfshark VPN to access the Super Mario movie on Netflix in Mexico to test battery drain during video playback. The presenter addresses why Samsung, Apple, and Google use smaller batteries compared to Chinese flagships with larger silicon carbon batteries. The reason is that these companies sell their phones globally, and some regions have tight controls on high-capacity batteries. Xiaomi's underperformance is attributed to battery restrictions imposed to comply with international shipping regulations. OnePlus and Oppo use two smaller batteries to achieve high capacity while staying within regulatory limits, a more expensive solution that some companies avoid.
Final Battery Rankings and Recommendations [9:51]
The final battery life rankings are revealed: Google Pixel comes in seventh place due to its compromises. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is sixth, showing how much better current options are. Xiaomi is fifth, with a usable battery capacity lower than advertised. The iPhone is fourth, an impressive result given its smaller battery. The Samsung S26 Ultra is third, showing significant improvement. OnePlus is second, with a great battery life and a super power-saving mode. The Oppo Find X9 Pro wins with the best endurance, lasting 14 hours and 16 minutes, despite its thermal performance not being the best.
