How many smartphone users are really happy with their battery life? Among the more popular flagship phones offered worldwide, perhaps iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra users are somewhat satisfied. Certain niche devices, like the Moto G Power, are not flagship phones. Ookla, the company behind the Speedtest.net app, recently examined the situation and reached some conclusions about smartphone battery drain.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the most efficient flagship chipset according to Ookla
If you’re an Android user, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, used on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, is the most efficient SoC around with the lowest battery drain based on Ookla’s testing. The chip had a battery drain of 31% for users on 5G, and 25% for users on a 4G LTE network. Ookla points out that there seems to be no improvement in battery drain between 4G and 5G networks over time, but flagship chipsets are getting better. As an example, Ookla points out that the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 had a 34% battery drain on a 5G connection compared to a 45% drain with the previous-generation Dimensity 9000.
Check out the 5G and 4G battery drain experienced on flagship chipsets
Ookla says that smartphone users looking to extend battery life by turning 5G off on their phone and using 4G connectivity only could get the same battery life by upgrading to a newer 5G model. Pointing to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 again, Ookla says the 5G battery drain with that SoC is 32% compared to 31% for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 on 4G LTE.
The point is that with the newer 5G flagship phones, you can get the same battery life that you get by turning 5G off your older daily driver and running it on a 4G network. And with the newer model, you can actually experience 5G speeds.
Why Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 users should disable 5G and how to do it
If you own the Pixel 6, check out the chart that is embedded in this article. Note how there is a big difference between using 4G and 5G with the first-gen Tensor chip. That SoC had a 40% battery drain on 5G and a 29% drain on 4G. Pixel 6 users can save battery life by disabling 5G. The Tensor 2 on the Pixel 7 line has only slightly improved numbers with a 28% drain on 4G and a 39% drain on 5G. Either way, you might enjoy your Pixel 6 or 7 series phone more by turning off 5G.
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Take another look at the chart and you’ll see that the Tensor chipset is the most inefficient SoCs based on the increased battery drain between use over 4G and 5G networks. The Tensor 2 is next, tied with the Dimensity 9000.
