iPhone 17 Pro Max Outlasts Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL in Intense Battery Showdown

The battle between Apple, Samsung, and Google’s flagships has reached another milestone, and this time endurance, not speed, decided the winner. After losing to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra in a previous performance showdown, Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max made a fierce comeback in a new, exhaustive PhoneBuff battery drain test. The results left no room for doubt – Apple’s top-tier device has once again proven its efficiency, outlasting both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL in a real-world power test.

From the very start, the iPhone 17 Pro Max took the lead in the early rounds of the experiment, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL trailing behind. The test, designed to mimic real-world usage, included web browsing, social media apps, video playback, standby periods, and camera-intensive tasks. The heart of the comparison, however, came down to which chipset – Apple’s A19 Pro, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, or Google’s Tensor G5 – could deliver the best balance between raw power and efficiency.

In the browsing phase, Samsung’s flagship managed to close the gap slightly, showcasing the optimizations in One UI and the energy efficiency of its Snapdragon processor. But once the test turned to display-heavy applications like Instagram and Snapchat, the difference became clear. All three smartphones feature advanced LTPO OLED panels capable of dynamic refresh rates up to 120Hz and scaling down to 1Hz to conserve energy. Yet Apple’s meticulous tuning allowed the iPhone 17 Pro Max to sustain longer screen-on times with lower drain – a testament to the company’s hardware-software integration.

The next segment of the test, a 16-hour standby simulation, gave the Galaxy S25 Ultra a temporary advantage. Historically, Samsung devices have performed well in idle endurance thanks to aggressive background management. Interestingly, this mirrored results from last month, when the Galaxy S25 Edge narrowly surpassed Apple’s iPhone Air in similar conditions. However, standby strength alone couldn’t secure victory this time.

When the test shifted to one of the most demanding real-world apps, Snapchat, the competition reached its breaking point. This segment pushed all major systems – the display, GPS, Wi-Fi, and camera – to their limits. The Pixel 10 Pro XL, despite its larger battery capacity, was the first to fall below 10% and soon powered down completely. Once again, Google’s flagship proved that raw battery size cannot compensate for inefficient power management. Shortly after, the Galaxy S25 Ultra followed suit, leaving Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max standing tall as the final survivor.

By the end of the test, the iPhone 17 Pro Max registered an active time of 13 hours and 5 minutes, plus a 16-hour standby – for a remarkable total of 29 hours and 5 minutes of battery life

. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra wasn’t far behind, delivering 27 hours and 50 minutes in total (11 hours and 50 minutes active), while the Pixel 10 Pro XL ended with 26 hours and 45 minutes. That means Apple’s flagship outlasted the S25 Ultra by 1 hour and 15 minutes and Google’s by a full 2 hours and 20 minutes.

These results underline Apple’s continuing mastery of efficiency engineering. The A19 Pro chip’s custom cores and the tightly integrated iOS 26 platform work in tandem to reduce wasted cycles, particularly during low-power states. Samsung, on the other hand, has refined its software to close the gap significantly, a sign of growing maturity in Galaxy optimization. Still, it seems that Android flagships – even the most premium ones – face an uphill battle when it comes to matching Apple’s consistent energy management.

Interestingly, experts note that the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s performance might improve even further with upcoming iOS 26 updates, which are expected to include additional power optimizations. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra could reclaim its crown in future tests once Samsung’s firmware updates refine background task handling and display calibration. As for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Google’s task is clear: it needs a deeper rework of its Tensor G5 efficiency and battery scheduling strategy to stay competitive.

For now, though, the scoreboard is clear: iPhone 17 Pro Max is the new battery endurance champion, reclaiming the top spot from Samsung and leaving Google in the dust. For users who value reliable all-day performance – whether for travel, work, or streaming marathons – Apple’s latest Pro Max delivers exactly what it promises: unmatched longevity in a world of power-hungry smartphones.