Which smartphone has the longest lasting battery?
PUBLISHED ONNovember 26, 2014 12:14 AMByTracy Clark
If you've got a charger at home, a charger in your car, a charger stashed away in your desk at work and a spare charger just in case, it may be time to think about a phone that doesn't suck up so much energy.
Here is how three of 2014's most popular smartphones stack up when it comes to the best battery life:
Sony Xperia Z3
The Xperia Z3 is Sony's most advanced smartphone to date. This device features a 3,100 mAh battery unit, which bolsters its battery life. With the stamina mode activated, this smartphone remains powered for up to a day and a half, according to Android Authority.
Phone Arena dubbed Sony the "king of battery life," and the website reports that the device broke records during a battery life benchmark test.
However, a pitfall of the Sony Xperia Z3 is that the charging time can take up to four hours.
» Review by Emily J. Lim: Solid, classy and pleasing
Apple iPhone 6
According to 9to5Mac, 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones were sold within the first three days of release, breaking the previous record of 9 million units sold in three days for the release of the iPhone 5C and 5S. Apple users are loyal to the brand despite the fact that their wishes for a longer battery life have yet to be granted.
The iOS 8 is designed to be the most battery-efficient device ever; however, users and critics disagree with Apple's big claims. Apple user and senior editor at CNet, Scott Stein, writes:
"This morning, the iPhone 6 is already down to 84 per cent at 10 a.m. Not bad. Not great. It'll reach a point by mid-day where I consider a quick recharge. I want to get past that point. To be clear: the iPhone 6 battery isn't bad. It's disappointing. There are other phones that do better. If you're an iPhone user already, you know what to expect. I would have liked, and bought, a thicker iPhone with better battery life. It matters to me."
Apple recommends two simple ways to conserve the battery life of all iOS devices: the first includes dimming the screen brightness or turning on auto brightness, and connecting to Wi-Fi because it uses less power than when a user is connected to a cellular network.
Both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 6 offer about 10 hours of battery life; however, the iPhone 6 Plus offers an additional six hours of battery life, according to Business Insider.
» Review by Grace Chng: Apple's most compelling new iPhones
Samsung Galaxy S5
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of the few smartphones on the market today that allows users to access the battery unit. The 2,800 mAh unit and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor make this phone a contender for the device with the best battery life.
Trusted Reviews reports that users will get up to a day and a half of battery life without using either of the powering saving modes - Power Saving or Ultra Power Saving. Ultimately, this device scored a nine out of 10 for battery life from Trusted Reviews.
» Review by Sherwin Loh: Packs in newer and better features
Tracy Clark is a tech blogger, smartphone reviewer, and hiker.
If you still prefer to carry a portable charger, here are our picks: