Posted in: Android, Battery tests, Featured, Mobile phones

Samsung Galaxy S5 battery life test

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is bound to become one of the hottest selling handsets and so it must undergo heavy scrutiny. Battery life is an everyday worry, especially with bigger screens and faster chipsets.

The Galaxy S5 screen isn’t much bigger than that of its processor (5.1″ vs. 5″), but it is brighter. The Snapdragon 801 chipset should also offer a big performance boost over the Snapdragon 600 of last year.

Samsung has enabled a couple of battery saving features ranging from practical to extreme. The Ultra Power Saving mode disables most functionality and shows a simplified black and white homescreen.

We didn’t use those features for the test as they are for emergencies when the last few percent of the battery have to hold out for hours before you can charge the phone again.

The Galaxy S5 lasted over 21 hours of 3G calls. That puts it ahead of the HTC One (M8) by an hour, three ahead of the Galaxy Note 3, but well behind the impressive 25 hour result of the LG G2.


Talk time

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 LTE
    46:44h
  • Nokia Lumia 625
    30:58h
  • Nokia Lumia 1520
    28:34h
  • Sony Xperia Z1
    26:53h
  • Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7
    25:45h
  • LG G Pro 2
    25:37h
  • LG G Flex
    25:19h
  • Huawei Ascend Mate
    25:12h
  • Alcatel Hero
    25:02h
  • Oppo N1
    25:01h
  • LG G2
    25:01h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
    24:52h
  • Sony Xperia Z Ultra
    24:23h
  • Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
    22:42h
  • Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue
    22:16h
  • HTC One Max
    22:13h
  • Nokia Lumia 1320
    22:13h
  • Samsung Galaxy Core LTE
    22:13h
  • Nokia Lumia 1020
    22:13h
  • Samsung Galaxy S5
    21:20h
  • Motorola RAZR MAXX
    21:18h
  • LG Optimus G Pro E985
    20:45h
  • Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
    20:42h
  • Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
    20:24h
  • Motorola RAZR i XT890
    20:07h
  • HTC One (M8)
    20:01h
  • BlackBerry Q10
    20:00h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand 2
    19:55h
  • Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 I9200
    19:54h
  • Sony Xperia SP
    19:49h
  • HTC Butterfly S
    19:14h
  • Oppo R819
    19:03h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3
    18:12h
  • Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
    18:03h
  • Sony Xperia ZR
    17:48h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
    16:57h
  • HTC Desire 700 dual sim
    16:56h
  • Samsung Ativ Odyssey I930
    16:41h
  • Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
    16:40h
  • LG Nexus 5
    16:40h
  • Sony Xperia Z
    16:03h
  • Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom
    15:32h
  • LG Optimus G E975
    15:30h
  • Sony Xperia ZL
    15:22h
  • Nokia Lumia 720
    15:17h
  • BlackBerry Q5
    14:31h
  • Pantech Discover
    14:17h
  • Huawei Ascend P6
    14:17h
  • Oppo Find 5
    14:17h
  • Nokia Lumia 620
    14:17h
  • LG Nexus 4 E960
    14:17h
  • Nokia Lumia Icon
    14:15h
  • Motorola Moto G
    13:41h
  • HTC One
    13:38h
  • Nokia Lumia 520
    13:33h
  • HTC One X+
    13:31h
  • Sony Xperia C
    13:29h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo
    13:20h
  • Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
    13:10h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand I9082
    12:45h
  • LG Optimus GJ E975W
    12:39h
  • HTC First
    12:31h
  • Motorola DROID RAZR M
    12:31h
  • Sony Xperia M
    12:31h
  • Sony Xperia L
    12:30h
  • Huawei Ascend P1
    12:30h
  • Nokia Lumia 928
    12:27h
  • HTC Butterfly
    12:18h
  • Samsung Galaxy S III I747
    12:18h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note N7000
    12:14h
  • HTC One mini
    12:04h
  • HTC Desire 600 dual sim
    11:58h
  • Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
    11:58h
  • Samsung Galaxy Core I8260
    11:52h
  • HTC Desire 500
    11:31h
  • Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260
    11:30h
  • HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE
    11:25h
  • Asus PadFone 2
    11:20h
  • HTC DROID DNA
    11:07h
  • Samsung S8600 Wave 3
    11:07h
  • LG Optimus L9 P760
    11:07h
  • HTC One SV
    11:07h
  • HTC Windows Phone 8X
    11:07h
  • Samsung I9105 Galaxy S II Plus
    11:06h
  • HTC Desire X
    11:03h
  • Meizu MX3
    11:02h
  • Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
    11:01h
  • Apple iPhone 5s
    10:46h
  • Apple iPhone 5c
    10:18h
  • Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
    10:15h
  • Samsung S7710 Galaxy Xcover 2
    10:03h
  • Samsung Galaxy Express I8730
    10:00h
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    10:00h
  • HTC One V
    10:00h
  • HTC One X
    9:57h
  • HTC One S
    9:42h
  • HTC One S C2
    9:42h
  • Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
    9:40h
  • Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
    9:32h
  • HTC Sensation XL
    9:30h
  • Sony Xperia J
    9:14h
  • Nokia Lumia 810
    9:05h
  • Acer CloudMobile S500
    9:05h
  • Nokia Lumia 710
    9:05h
  • Motorola ATRIX HD MB886
    9:04h
  • HTC Vivid
    9:02h
  • Nokia Lumia 920
    8:56h
  • Nokia Lumia 610
    8:51h
  • HTC Rhyme
    8:48h
  • Apple iPhone 5
    8:42h
  • LG Optimus 3D Max P720
    8:42h
  • Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
    8:41h
  • Meizu MX
    8:39h
  • Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II
    8:35h
  • Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562
    8:28h
  • Nokia Lumia 800
    8:25h
  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250
    8:23h
  • Nokia Lumia 510
    8:22h
  • Samsung Galaxy Fame S6810
    8:21h
  • BlackBerry Z10
    8:20h
  • Samsung i927 Captivate Glide
    8:20h
  • Sony Xperia T
    8:15h
  • HTC Rezound
    8:10h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note I717
    8:02h
  • LG Optimus Vu F100S
    7:57h
  • Apple iPhone 4s
    7:41h
  • LG Optimus 4X HD P880
    7:41h
  • Samsung Focus S I937
    7:25h
  • Nokia Lumia 900
    7:21h
  • Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G T769
    7:14h
  • Samsung Rugby Smart I847
    7:09h
  • Nokia Lumia 820
    7:09h
  • Sony Xperia acro S
    7:09h
  • Nokia N9
    6:57h
  • Sony Ericsson Xperia pro
    6:57h
  • Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos S6802
    6:53h
  • HTC Radar
    6:53h
  • BlackBerry Curve 9380
    6:52h
  • Sony Xperia E dual
    6:42h
  • Sony Xperia E
    6:40h
  • Samsung Galaxy mini 2 S6500
    6:28h
  • Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini
    6:22h
  • Sony Xperia P
    5:58h
  • Samsung Galaxy Pocket S5300
    5:54h
  • Nokia Lumia 900 AT&T
    5:53h
  • Sony Xperia ion LTE
    5:52h
  • Nokia 808 PureView
    5:16h
  • LG Nitro HD
    5:16h
  • BlackBerry Bold 9790
    5:00h
  • Pantech Burst
    4:46h

The Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 2,800mAh battery, a 200mAh bump from the S4. The LG G2, for comparison, has a 3,000mAh battery. The Samsung phone lasted nine and half hours of browsing the web over Wi-Fi, beating the One (M8) by half an hour but again lagging behind LG G2.

Web browsing

  • Sony Xperia C
    12:45h
  • Nokia Lumia 1520
    12:40h
  • Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
    12:37h
  • HTC Desire 700 dual sim
    12:30h
  • LG G2
    11:22h
  • HTC One Max
    11:20h
  • Sony Xperia ZR
    11:20h
  • HTC Butterfly S
    11:07h
  • Nokia Lumia 1320
    10:58h
  • BlackBerry Q5
    10:04h
  • HTC One
    9:58h
  • Apple iPhone 5s
    9:58h
  • Apple iPhone 5
    9:56h
  • Samsung Ativ Odyssey I930
    9:54h
  • Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
    9:47h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
    9:43h
  • Alcatel Hero
    9:40h
  • Samsung Galaxy Core LTE
    9:37h
  • Samsung Galaxy S5
    9:36h
  • LG G Pro 2
    9:31h
  • LG G Flex
    9:31h
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 LTE
    9:16h
  • Motorola RAZR MAXX
    9:12h
  • HTC One (M8)
    9:06h
  • Oppo N1
    9:05h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand 2
    9:05h
  • Apple iPhone 5c
    9:05h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3
    9:04h
  • Motorola Moto G
    9:04h
  • Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom
    8:51h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
    8:48h
  • BlackBerry Q10
    8:42h
  • Asus PadFone 2
    8:20h
  • Nokia Lumia 810
    8:20h
  • Huawei Ascend Mate
    8:17h
  • Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 I9200
    8:17h
  • HTC One mini
    8:12h
  • Nokia Lumia 610
    8:01h
  • HTC One X+
    7:56h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo
    7:43h
  • Motorola DROID RAZR M
    7:42h
  • Sony Xperia E dual
    7:42h
  • Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini
    7:38h
  • Nokia Lumia 720
    7:37h
  • Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
    7:35h
  • Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
    7:24h
  • Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue
    7:23h
  • Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
    7:23h
  • HTC Radar
    7:17h
  • Nokia Lumia 520
    7:15h
  • LG Optimus GJ E975W
    7:11h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand I9082
    7:09h
  • Sony Xperia M
    7:09h
  • Meizu MX3
    7:09h
  • Samsung Galaxy Express I8730
    7:09h
  • Nokia Lumia 625
    7:07h
  • Motorola RAZR i XT890
    7:06h
  • Sony Xperia J
    7:06h
  • Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
    6:58h
  • Apple iPhone 4s
    6:56h
  • Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7
    6:54h
  • Samsung Galaxy Core I8260
    6:54h
  • HTC One V
    6:49h
  • LG Optimus G Pro E985
    6:40h
  • Sony Xperia L
    6:40h
  • Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260
    6:40h
  • HTC DROID DNA
    6:40h
  • Samsung I9105 Galaxy S II Plus
    6:40h
  • Motorola ATRIX HD MB886
    6:40h
  • BlackBerry Curve 9380
    6:40h
  • Sony Xperia E
    6:40h
  • HTC First
    6:39h
  • Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
    6:38h
  • Sony Xperia Z
    6:37h
  • Samsung S7710 Galaxy Xcover 2
    6:35h
  • HTC Desire 600 dual sim
    6:34h
  • HTC Desire 500
    6:31h
  • Huawei Ascend P6
    6:30h
  • Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
    6:27h
  • BlackBerry Z10
    6:27h
  • HTC Butterfly
    6:24h
  • Sony Xperia SP
    6:18h
  • Samsung Galaxy S III I747
    6:16h
  • HTC One SV
    6:15h
  • Samsung Focus S I937
    6:15h
  • Nokia Lumia 510
    6:13h
  • Sony Xperia ZL
    6:04h
  • Samsung Galaxy mini 2 S6500
    6:03h
  • Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
    6:02h
  • Oppo R819
    6:01h
  • HTC Windows Phone 8X
    6:01h
  • Sony Xperia Z1
    5:59h
  • Sony Xperia ion LTE
    5:56h
  • Samsung Galaxy Fame S6810
    5:55h
  • Samsung Rugby Smart I847
    5:53h
  • Pantech Burst
    5:51h
  • Nokia Lumia 1020
    5:50h
  • HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE
    5:48h
  • Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G T769
    5:45h
  • Nokia Lumia 920
    5:40h
  • Nokia Lumia 928
    5:36h
  • Samsung S8600 Wave 3
    5:34h
  • Pantech Discover
    5:33h
  • Oppo Find 5
    5:33h
  • Samsung i927 Captivate Glide
    5:33h
  • Sony Xperia T
    5:33h
  • Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
    5:28h
  • Nokia Lumia 900
    5:25h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note I717
    5:24h
  • Sony Xperia Z Ultra
    5:23h
  • Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562
    5:23h
  • HTC Sensation XL
    5:20h
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    5:19h
  • Nokia Lumia Icon
    5:17h
  • HTC Desire X
    5:16h
  • HTC Rezound
    5:16h
  • Sony Xperia acro S
    5:16h
  • LG Optimus G E975
    5:15h
  • HTC Rhyme
    5:08h
  • Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
    5:07h
  • LG Optimus L9 P760
    5:02h
  • Sony Ericsson Xperia pro
    4:50h
  • LG Optimus Vu F100S
    4:49h
  • LG Nexus 5
    4:46h
  • HTC Vivid
    4:46h
  • Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos S6802
    4:45h
  • Meizu MX
    4:35h
  • LG Nexus 4 E960
    4:34h
  • Nokia N9
    4:33h
  • Acer CloudMobile S500
    4:32h
  • Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II
    4:24h
  • Nokia Lumia 820
    4:24h
  • Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
    4:20h
  • HTC One X
    4:18h
  • Nokia 808 PureView
    4:14h
  • LG Optimus 3D Max P720
    4:10h
  • Nokia Lumia 900 AT&T
    4:10h
  • Nokia Lumia 800
    4:07h
  • HTC One S
    4:03h
  • HTC One S C2
    4:03h
  • BlackBerry Bold 9790
    4:02h
  • LG Nitro HD
    4:00h
  • LG Optimus 4X HD P880
    3:59h
  • Sony Xperia P
    3:59h
  • Nokia Lumia 710
    3:51h
  • Nokia Lumia 620
    3:50h
  • Samsung Galaxy Pocket S5300
    3:47h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note N7000
    3:35h
  • Huawei Ascend P1
    3:23h
  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250
    3:01h

The HTC One (M8) does come out ahead of the Galaxy S5 in the video playback time, but by just a smidge – both new flagship lasted 11 hours. Even the LG G2 failed to pull ahead by much here.

Video playback

  • LG G Flex
    19:57h
  • Motorola RAZR MAXX
    16:35h
  • Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
    14:17h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3
    13:32h
  • Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
    13:12h
  • Nokia Lumia 1020
    13:12h
  • HTC One Max
    13:11h
  • Sony Xperia C
    12:53h
  • Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260
    12:51h
  • Nokia Lumia 1520
    12:31h
  • Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
    12:30h
  • BlackBerry Q5
    12:28h
  • Huawei Ascend Mate
    12:18h
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 LTE
    12:10h
  • LG G2
    11:51h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
    11:38h
  • Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7
    11:37h
  • Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
    11:29h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
    11:27h
  • Oppo N1
    11:15h
  • BlackBerry Q10
    11:15h
  • HTC One (M8)
    11:14h
  • Samsung Galaxy S5
    11:05h
  • Apple iPhone 5s
    10:31h
  • Apple iPhone 5
    10:12h
  • HTC First
    10:03h
  • HTC One
    10:02h
  • Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
    10:01h
  • Samsung Galaxy Express I8730
    10:00h
  • Samsung I9105 Galaxy S II Plus
    10:00h
  • Nokia 808 PureView
    9:53h
  • Alcatel Hero
    9:49h
  • Sony Xperia M
    9:49h
  • Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
    9:42h
  • Samsung Rugby Smart I847
    9:34h
  • Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom
    9:30h
  • HTC One S
    9:28h
  • HTC One S C2
    9:28h
  • Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
    9:27h
  • Apple iPhone 4s
    9:24h
  • Samsung Galaxy mini 2 S6500
    9:22h
  • Nokia Lumia 1320
    9:17h
  • HTC Butterfly S
    9:03h
  • Motorola DROID RAZR M
    9:00h
  • Sony Xperia E
    9:00h
  • Samsung Ativ Odyssey I930
    8:59h
  • Sony Xperia Z Ultra
    8:45h
  • BlackBerry Z10
    8:44h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand 2
    8:41h
  • LG Optimus G Pro E985
    8:40h
  • Nokia N9
    8:40h
  • Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 I9200
    8:34h
  • HTC Butterfly
    8:28h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note N7000
    8:25h
  • LG Optimus GJ E975W
    8:15h
  • Samsung Galaxy S III I747
    8:14h
  • HTC One X+
    8:11h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand I9082
    8:11h
  • Motorola RAZR i XT890
    8:11h
  • Sony Xperia J
    8:11h
  • Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II
    8:00h
  • Samsung Focus S I937
    7:55h
  • Samsung S8600 Wave 3
    7:52h
  • HTC Desire 500
    7:50h
  • Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini
    7:46h
  • Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
    7:45h
  • Apple iPhone 5c
    7:41h
  • Asus PadFone 2
    7:38h
  • Huawei Ascend P1
    7:38h
  • Nokia Lumia Icon
    7:34h
  • Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G T769
    7:33h
  • Sony Xperia ZR
    7:30h
  • Samsung Galaxy Core I8260
    7:30h
  • HTC DROID DNA
    7:30h
  • Samsung S7710 Galaxy Xcover 2
    7:30h
  • Samsung Galaxy Note I717
    7:30h
  • Sony Xperia SP
    7:27h
  • HTC One mini
    7:23h
  • Nokia Lumia 610
    7:23h
  • LG Optimus G E975
    7:16h
  • Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
    7:03h
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo
    6:55h
  • Huawei Ascend P6
    6:55h
  • HTC One SV
    6:55h
  • Pantech Discover
    6:55h
  • Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
    6:54h
  • Nokia Lumia 928
    6:54h
  • HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE
    6:51h
  • HTC Desire 600 dual sim
    6:49h
  • Nokia Lumia 720
    6:43h
  • Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue
    6:40h
  • Motorola Moto G
    6:37h
  • Nokia Lumia 900
    6:37h
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    6:33h
  • Nokia Lumia 620
    6:32h
  • Nokia Lumia 625
    6:29h
  • Sony Xperia E dual
    6:27h
  • HTC Windows Phone 8X
    6:27h
  • HTC Desire 700 dual sim
    6:26h
  • Nokia Lumia 810
    6:26h
  • Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos S6802
    6:25h
  • Nokia Lumia 820
    6:25h
  • Nokia Lumia 510
    6:23h
  • LG Optimus Vu F100S
    6:23h
  • Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
    6:21h
  • Nokia Lumia 920
    6:19h
  • Sony Xperia Z1
    6:12h
  • HTC Sensation XL
    6:12h
  • LG Nexus 5
    6:06h
  • Samsung Galaxy Pocket S5300
    6:06h
  • Samsung i927 Captivate Glide
    6:04h
  • Sony Xperia ion LTE
    6:03h
  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250
    6:02h
  • Motorola ATRIX HD MB886
    6:01h
  • Sony Xperia T
    6:01h
  • HTC Vivid
    6:00h
  • HTC Radar
    5:54h
  • Oppo R819
    5:54h
  • LG Optimus L9 P760
    5:53h
  • Nokia Lumia 800
    5:52h
  • Nokia Lumia 520
    5:50h
  • LG G Pro 2
    5:49h
  • BlackBerry Bold 9790
    5:47h
  • HTC One X
    5:45h
  • Sony Ericsson Xperia pro
    5:44h
  • Sony Xperia Z
    5:39h
  • Meizu MX3
    5:38h
  • Pantech Burst
    5:38h
  • HTC Desire X
    5:38h
  • Sony Xperia acro S
    5:38h
  • Samsung Galaxy Core LTE
    5:34h
  • Sony Xperia ZL
    5:28h
  • Meizu MX
    5:27h
  • HTC Rhyme
    5:23h
  • HTC One V
    5:20h
  • Oppo Find 5
    5:18h
  • Acer CloudMobile S500
    5:18h
  • Nokia Lumia 900 AT&T
    5:18h
  • Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
    5:16h
  • BlackBerry Curve 9380
    5:09h
  • HTC Rezound
    5:03h
  • Samsung Galaxy Fame S6810
    5:02h
  • LG Nexus 4 E960
    4:55h
  • Sony Xperia L
    4:44h
  • Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562
    4:30h
  • Sony Xperia P
    4:30h
  • LG Nitro HD
    4:17h
  • LG Optimus 4X HD P880
    4:14h
  • LG Optimus 3D Max P720
    3:28h
  • Nokia Lumia 710
    3:27h

Compared to last year’s Galaxy S flagship, the Galaxy S5 manages three hours more of talking and two hours more of web browsing, but an hour less of video playback. The Galaxy Note 3 with its 5.7″ screen 3,200mAh battery was behind the S5 in everything but video.

Efficient standby on the new phone results in an Endurance rating of 72 hours, which puts it between the Galaxy S4 and the Note 3.

Even without Samsung’s advanced power saving modes, the Galaxy S5 offers excellent battery life. With moderate usage you can get three full days of usage before you need to charge your phone. Don’t forget to check our Battery life test page if your phone usage differs from the standard one hour of each per day we use to calculate the Endurance rating.

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