A long battery life smartphone is often chosen on a single number: the battery capacity, in mAh. Picksly scores the battery of 241 of the 244 smartphones it tracks, and the fast charging of 228 of them. Here is what these two scores really measure, what they do not tell you, how they are spread by price, and which models come out on top, with their dated price.

The figures below are from 9 October 2026, read from the Picksly catalogue for France; the prices quoted were recorded between 15 September and 8 October, and the date is given each time. Prices move: always check the displayed price before buying.

What the Battery score measures

On Picksly pages, the battery life criterion is called Battery, and the name is deliberate: depending on the model, the score rests on one of two very different sources.

  • A measurement: the "Battery" score published by DXOMARK, which tests battery life in use. 58 smartphones have one. Scale: a score of 92.6 is worth 0, a score of 151.35 is worth 100.
  • A capacity: the mAh announced by the manufacturer, read from the GSMArena spec sheet (135 models) or Wikipedia (48 models). Scale: about 3,350 mAh is worth 0, about 5,000 mAh is worth 62, and 6,005 mAh or more is worth 100.

When both exist, the measurement comes before the capacity; they are never averaged. The source of each score is shown on the model page, with its date. In the overall score, the battery weighs 22%; in the profiles, 18% in Budget, 20% in Smart and 12% in Premium. Details are on the method page.

What the Fast charging score measures

The Fast charging score reads the wired charging power announced by the manufacturer, in watts: the GSMArena sheet for 204 models, Apple's spec sheet for the 24 iPhones scored. Scale: 18 W or less is worth 0, 120 W or more is worth 100.

Across the 228 models scored, the median is 45 W; 16 announce at least 120 W, 14 at most 18 W. It is a declared value, not a measurement: it tells you neither the real charging time nor whether a charger is included, and wireless charging is shown on the model page without being scored. Its weight is small: 4 to 5% depending on the profile.

What the catalogue shows, by price band

Of the 244 tracked smartphones, 158 have a verified new price in France. Here is how the two scores are spread by that price:

Criterionโ‚ฌ350 or lessโ‚ฌ350 to โ‚ฌ600Over โ‚ฌ600
Models with a new price593663
Median Battery score6266 (35 scored)62 (62 scored)
Battery score of 100111212
Battery measured by DXOMARK8711
Median capacity (models without a measurement)โ‰ˆ 5,100 mAhโ‰ˆ 5,550 mAhโ‰ˆ 5,000 mAh
Announced charging of 80 W or more6 of 5313 of 3622 of 60

Three readings:

  • Paying more does not get you a better battery. The median score is the same under โ‚ฌ350 and above โ‚ฌ600; it is slightly higher in between.
  • Fast charging is more common above โ‚ฌ350: 80 W or more for 6 models out of 53 under โ‚ฌ350, against 13 out of 36 between โ‚ฌ350 and โ‚ฌ600 and 22 out of 60 above.
  • The top score comes from six brands. The 45 Battery scores of 100 are shared between Xiaomi (21), Oppo (12), OnePlus (4), Honor (3), Realme (3) and vivo (2). None at Samsung (58 models scored), Apple (31), Google (22) or Motorola (16).

Read it with care: these are the models Picksly tracks, not the whole market, and the two sources do not share a scale. A 62 drawn from a DXOMARK measurement and a 62 drawn from a capacity do not say the same thing.

What capacity does not tell you

A capacity is not a measured battery life. Two 5,000 mAh phones can last for different lengths of time: the chip, the screen and the software use more or less power. That is why the DXOMARK measurement comes before the capacity when it exists.

The catch is that these measurements mostly cover older models: 56 of the 58 smartphones measured by DXOMARK were released more than 24 months ago, and none of the 41 models that met the Premium profile on 9 October 2026 had a measured battery. For recent models, the Battery score is therefore a capacity.

iPhones are the clearest example. Nine of them have a Battery score of 0 based on their capacity, including the iPhone Air and the iPhone 13, which means about 3,350 mAh or less. The iPhones measured by DXOMARK, on the other hand, score from 33 (iPhone 14) to 70 (iPhone 15 Pro Max) on the measured scale. How long a recent iPhone actually lasts, the Picksly score does not know: it only knows its capacity.

Nor does the score see the battery condition of a refurbished phone, which may be lower than that of a new one: read what the seller states.

The best-rated smartphones for battery life

Battery measured by DXOMARK

Among measured models with a verified new price, here are the five best Battery scores (score rounded):

The three models scored 100 by DXOMARK (Oppo Find X8 Pro, Honor Magic6 Pro, Honor Magic5 Lite 5G) have no verified new offer on that date. The five in the table were released more than 24 months ago: the Premium profile excludes them. eBay offers are seller listings: check the "new" condition, the seller and the version before buying.

Battery score of 100: 6,005 mAh or more

45 smartphones have the top score, almost all on their capacity (42 of 45). 35 have a verified new price, and 23 of those reach a Smart score of 50. Here are the six best Smart scores among them (score rounded):

How to read it:

  • It is not a buying recommendation, it is a ranking of scores. It says nothing about everyday comfort or software.
  • A score of 100 on capacity means "6,005 mAh or more": beyond that, the scale no longer tells models apart.
  • The ranking moves with the price. The Smart score contains a value-for-money rank (20%) computed on current prices. The up-to-date battery ranking is on the Smartphones page, sorted by Battery score.

According to your profile

To go further: choosing by value for money and refurbished or new.

Frequently asked questions

How many mAh for a long battery life smartphone?

Picksly does not turn mAh into hours. On its scale, 5,000 mAh gives about 62 out of 100, and the top score starts at 6,005 mAh: 45 models reach it. But at equal capacity, the power drawn by the chip and the screen makes the difference, and only a measurement such as DXOMARK's captures it.

Does fast charging count in the Battery score?

No, it is a separate criterion that weighs 4 to 5% of the score. It reads the announced wired power (45 W at the median), not the real time needed to fill the battery: a large battery charged at the same power as a small one takes longer.

Where do the scores and prices come from?

Scores come from DXOMARK, the GSMArena and Wikipedia spec sheets and Apple's spec pages, each with its date and link on the model page. Prices come from re-read merchant listings, on the date shown. Picksly may earn a commission through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, and this affects neither the scores nor the ranking. What affiliation can change is explained on our transparency page.

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