The Samsung Galaxy S24 offers a battery life that is markedly improved compared to its predecessors and also compares favorably with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Galaxy S24 is equipped with a 4,000 mAh battery, which is slightly larger than the battery in the iPhone 14 Pro Max, typically reported around 3,200 to 3,300 mAh depending on sources. Real-world battery life tests indicate that the Galaxy S24 can achieve around 13 hours and 28 minutes of runtime in mixed-use scenarios, which includes browsing on a cellular 5G network and screen brightness set at 150 nits. This duration surpasses the iPhone 14 Pro Max's similar tests, where the iPhone lasted about 10 hours and 53 minutes to 11 hours and 5 minutes in comparable conditions.
Samsung's Galaxy S24 battery life benefits from a combination of hardware and software improvements. The device uses either the Exynos 2400 chip or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 depending on the regional model, with the Snapdragon version considered more efficient. The S24 features a 6.2-inch display, a modest increase in screen size from its predecessor, which slightly offsets the 100 mAh increase in battery capacity from the S23. However, the overall effect is a net gain in battery endurance compared to last year's model, especially during video playback, where the Galaxy S24 can sustain nearly 18 hours of continuous video playing at full brightness, showing a noticeable improvement over the Galaxy S23.
On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, while having a smaller battery capacity, optimizes battery performance with Apple's A16 Bionic chip and iOS power management. Apple devices traditionally deliver efficient battery life, but in direct runtime comparisons under standardized tests, the Galaxy S24's larger battery and updated technology provide a longer usage span. The iPhone 14 Pro Max typically covers a full day of normal use comfortably, with mixed use reported between 10 and 12 hours before requiring a recharge. Video playback tests for the iPhone 14 Pro Max demonstrate resilience but generally fall short of the Galaxy S24's extended playtime.
Charging speeds and battery technology also distinguish the two phones. The Galaxy S24 supports wired charging up to 25W and wireless charging at 15W, maintaining Samsung's cautious approach to charging speeds to optimize battery longevity and thermal management. In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro Max supports fast wired charging up to approximately 27W with MagSafe wireless charging providing speeds up to 15W. However, Samsung does not include charging bricks in the box, so charging times can vary depending on the charger used. In practical tests, the Galaxy S24 can charge from zero to 51% in about 30 minutes, which is competitive for most users but not class-leading in the flagship space.
User experiences with the Galaxy S24's battery have been mixed, with many praising the robust all-day battery life and some reporting rapid battery drain initially, which tends to stabilize with usage and software optimizations. The device's battery management benefits from the combination of OLED display technology, dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz, and efficient chipset processes. This equips the Galaxy S24 to offer balanced power usage for gaming, browsing, video playback, and talk time, with talk time reaching over 23 hours in tests, placing the phone well within the territory of long-lasting flagship smartphones.
Comparatively, the iPhone 14 Pro Max leverages iOS's tight integration with hardware to offer smooth and efficient battery performance, though with less raw capacity. Its system optimizations, including adaptive refresh rate down to 1Hz on the ProMotion display for static content, assist in conserving power during light use. This system efficiency complements the battery size to deliver a full day's usage comfortably, though generally it does not match the Galaxy S24's endurance when both are subjected to rigorous endurance tests.
In conclusion, the Galaxy S24 generally outperforms the iPhone 14 Pro Max in battery longevity in direct independent tests, attributed to a larger battery capacity, efficient hardware, and adaptive software optimizations, especially under various high-usage scenarios such as gaming, video streaming, and sustained talk time. The iPhone 14 Pro Max remains a leader in energy-efficient hardware-software synergy with competitive battery performance but typically offers shorter runtime by several hours compared to the Galaxy S24 in comparable real-world usage tests.