Galaxy S25 Edge Outperforms iPhone Air in Battery Drain Test Thanks to Larger Capacity

The new iPhone Air attempts to compensate for its small battery capacity by integrating the advanced C1X 5G modem, which Apple claims is 30 percent more energy efficient than the Snapdragon X75 while offering superior performance. Complementing this modem is the proprietary N1 wireless chip. Together with the LTPO OLED display, these components aim to provide exceptional battery life. However, recent testing reveals that the Galaxy S25 Edge has managed to outperform the iPhone Air in battery longevity.

Impact of Speaker Configuration on Battery Performance

In an in-depth battery drain test conducted by PhoneBuff, both the iPhone Air and the Galaxy S25 Edge were put through their paces. Initially, Apple’s premium device took the lead during a one-hour phone call, and both smartphones maintained the same performance level while handling emails. However, during the browsing phase, the Galaxy S25 Edge overtook the iPhone Air, holding on to its advantage throughout a 16-hour standby period.

In less demanding scenarios, such as the game Alto’s Adventure, the iPhone Air managed to close the gap with its competitor. However, when using Google Maps—an application that continuously utilizes the Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities—the Galaxy S25 Edge maintained its edge. PhoneBuff ensured that both devices were tested under equal conditions to maintain fairness, including calibrating the displays to a brightness of 200 nits and standardizing the speaker outputs.

One critical observation from the test highlighted the differences in speaker configurations. While the Galaxy S25 Edge is equipped with stereo speakers, the iPhone Air depends on a single speaker. To achieve comparable audio output, the iPhone Air’s speaker operates at a higher output level, which may lead to greater energy consumption. Interestingly, Snapchat—recognized as the most resource-intensive app in the test—allowed the iPhone Air to preserve some battery life close to the test’s conclusion.

Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air battery drain test — Image credits – PhoneBuff

Though we cannot definitively attribute the performance of the iPhone Air to its efficiency or if it was merely a result of better optimization for Snapchat on iOS, it is worth noting that the lead of the Galaxy S25 Edge began to diminish towards the end of the tests. Here are the total times recorded for both devices:

iPhone Air Active time: 9 hours and 58 minutes Standby time: 16 hours Total time: 25 hours and 58 minutes

Galaxy S25 Edge Active time: 9 hours and 59 minutes Standby time: 16 hours Total time: 25 hours and 59 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XXzkZKu4-k

iPhone Air vs. Galaxy S25 Edge Battery Test (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XXzkZKu4-k)

Although PhoneBuff concluded that the battery drain test ended in a tie, it’s important to note that even a slight edge in performance—such as that observed with the Galaxy S25 Edge—can signify a victory. Ultimately, while Apple has made strides in energy-efficient hardware, it appears to still lag behind competitors that leverage larger battery capacities.

For more details, check out the original test on PhoneBuff’s YouTube channel.

News Source: PhoneBuff

Source&Images