iPhone 18 Pro vs Pixel 11 Pro Battery Life

The iPhone 18 Pro lasts longer on a charge than the Pixel 11 Pro, and it also charges faster over a cable, even though the Pixel has the bigger battery. Two major independent reviews, from Tom's Guide and GSMArena, show the same overall result. If battery life is the deciding factor between these two 6.3-inch phones, the iPhone is the safer pick. The Pixel 11 Pro can last a full day for many users, although battery life will vary with usage and network conditions, and it costs $100 less.

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Specs that matter for battery life

Apple does not list battery capacity in milliamp-hours, so the iPhone figure below comes from GSMArena and PhoneArena, which agree on it. US iPhone 18 Pro models are eSIM only, and that version has the larger cell. The Pixel figures are from the Google Store spec page, and the iPhone claims are from Apple's tech specs page.

Spec	iPhone 18 Pro	Pixel 11 Pro
Chip	Apple A20 Pro	Google Tensor G6
Display	6.3-inch OLED, up to 120Hz	6.3-inch, 1 to 120Hz
Battery (US model)	4,288 mAh (eSIM-only version)	4,850 mAh typical, 4,707 mAh minimum
Official battery claim	Up to 24 hours typical use	30+ hours typical
Wired fast charging claim	50% in about 15 min (60W+ adapter)	55% in about 30 min (30W charger)
Wireless charging	MagSafe and Qi2, up to 25W	Qi2.2 Pixelsnap, up to 25W
Weight	211 g	204 g
US price before tax	$1,199 (256GB)	$1,099 (256GB)

The two official battery claims use different methods, so a "30+ hour" Pixel rating does not mean it outlasts a "24 hour" iPhone. Independent tests are the better guide.

Lab battery tests: the iPhone leads

Tom's Guide runs an automated web-browsing script over a cellular connection with the screen set to 150 nits until the phone shuts down. The iPhone 18 Pro lasted 16 hours 17 minutes. In its Pixel 11 Pro review, the same publication measured 13 hours 25 minutes for the Pixel 11 Pro. That gap is close to three hours.

The year-on-year picture differs too. Tom's Guide recorded 15 hours 21 minutes for the iPhone 17 Pro, so the 18 Pro gained almost an hour. The Pixel 11 Pro came in slightly below the Pixel 10 Pro, which managed 13 hours 43 minutes in the same test.

GSMArena gave the iPhone 18 Pro an Active Use Score of 16:43h and noted that the Pixel 11 Pro scored lower. Its Pixel 11 Pro review lists 15:38h. One detail matters for US buyers: the iPhone GSMArena tested was the physical SIM version with a 4,056 mAh battery. The US eSIM-only model has a larger 4,288 mAh cell, and GSMArena has not tested that version.

The two tests measure different things, so their numbers should not be averaged or compared directly with each other. Tom's Guide runs one continuous web-browsing test until the battery is empty. GSMArena's Active Use Score combines several separate tests, including web browsing, video playback, calls and gaming, into one figure. The size of the gap also differs: about 1 hour 5 minutes in GSMArena's score, against close to three hours in the Tom's Guide test.

Test	iPhone 18 Pro	Pixel 11 Pro
Tom's Guide web browsing	16 h 17 min	13 h 25 min
GSMArena Active Use Score	16:43h (4,056 mAh non-US unit)	15:38h

Both publications rank the phones the same way, and the iPhone wins with a smaller battery. That suggests better efficiency from the A20 Pro and iOS in these workloads, but it does not guarantee the same gap in your own use, which depends on signal strength, screen brightness and apps.

Real-world use on the Pixel 11 Pro

Lab scripts don't capture everything, so owner-style reports help. Kellen at Droid Life got about 3.5 to 4 hours of screen-on time per day in his first week with the Pixel 11 Pro and went to bed with around 30% left. On a heavier weekend he reached 5.5 and 6.5 hours of screen-on time. He judged the results similar to the Pixel 10 Pro.

Google says the longer rated battery life (30+ hours, up from 24+ on the previous generation) comes from a more efficient Tensor G6 and a new MediaTek modem, according to the same Droid Life report. The Pixel 11 Pro's battery is actually a little smaller than the Pixel 10 Pro's 4,870 mAh, which may explain why the lab results barely moved.

Wired charging speed

Apple rates the iPhone 18 Pro for up to 50% in about 15 minutes with a 60W or higher adapter that supports Adjustable Voltage Supply. In GSMArena's test with a compatible 67W charger, the phone reached 42% at 15 minutes, 74% at 30 minutes and a full charge in 1 hour 2 minutes. It came close to Apple's claim without quite reaching it.

As with the battery test, GSMArena charged the physical SIM iPhone 18 Pro with a 4,056 mAh battery. The US eSIM-only model has a larger 4,288 mAh battery and was not part of this test, so its charging percentages may differ.

The Pixel 11 Pro charges at 30W over USB PD. In its Pixel 11 Pro review, GSMArena measured 30% at 15 minutes, 59% at 30 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes to full, which beats Google's own 55% claim. Tom's Guide recorded 51% after 30 minutes. Either way, the iPhone tops up faster when you plug in for a short break.

GSMArena charging test	iPhone 18 Pro	Pixel 11 Pro
Unit tested	Physical SIM, 4,056 mAh (not US model)	4,850 mAh
Charger	67W, AVS compatible	30W USB PD
After 15 minutes	42%	30%
After 30 minutes	74%	59%
Full charge	1 h 2 min	1 h 20 min

For the iPhone's quoted speed, Apple specifies a 60W or higher USB-C adapter with Adjustable Voltage Supply. Google's spec page says the Pixel needs a 30W USB-C PPS charger or higher, sold separately.

Wireless charging and magnets

On wireless charging the two phones tie on their official specs, which is not the same as a tie in real charging speed. Apple lists up to 25W for both MagSafe and Qi2, and says a MagSafe Charger with a 35W or higher adapter reaches up to 50% in 30 minutes. Google rates the Pixel 11 Pro's Qi2.2-certified Pixelsnap charging at up to 25W. Both phones have built-in magnets (MagSafe on the iPhone, Pixelsnap on the Pixel) for magnetic chargers and stands. Neither GSMArena review published wireless charging measurements, so there is no tested winner here.

Everything else in brief

Price (US prices before tax): the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB at the Apple Store (unlocked, checked October 29, 2026). The Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099 for 256GB on the Google Store (checked October 29, 2026).
Software updates: Google promises seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates. Apple does not publish a fixed support period for iPhones.
Software at launch: the iPhone 18 Pro ships with iOS 27, and the Pixel 11 Pro launched with Android 17.
Bigger siblings: if battery life matters most, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pixel 11 Pro XL (both $1,299) have larger batteries. See the FAQ for their test results.

If you are already considering the iPhone, our look at iPhone 18 Pro earpiece crackling causes covers a known complaint worth reading before you buy. For a mid-range Pixel comparison, see Galaxy A57 vs Pixel 10a camera.

Verdict: which should you buy?

Choose the iPhone 18 Pro if you want the longer battery life of the two and faster cable charging. It led in both the Tom's Guide and GSMArena endurance tests and reached 74% in 30 minutes in GSMArena's charging test.

Choose the Pixel 11 Pro if a full day of use is enough for you and you value the $100 lower price, Google's seven-year update promise or Android itself. Its lab results trail the iPhone. In Droid Life's first week with the phone, a typical day ended with about 30% left, though that is one reviewer's use.

If you are a heavy user who regularly drains a phone before bedtime, look at the Pro Max over either 6.3-inch model.

FAQ

Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max last longer than the Pixel 11 Pro XL?

Yes, in Tom's Guide's web-browsing test. The iPhone 18 Pro Max lasted 18 hours 27 minutes, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL lasted 14 hours 28 minutes.

Is the Pixel 11 Pro's battery better than the Pixel 10 Pro's?

Not by much in testing. In its Pixel 11 Pro review, Tom's Guide measured 13 hours 25 minutes for the Pixel 11 Pro and 13 hours 43 minutes for the Pixel 10 Pro. Google's official rating rose from 24+ to 30+ hours, according to Droid Life, but the battery itself is slightly smaller.

Why does the iPhone last longer with a smaller battery?

Capacity is only one factor. Chip and modem efficiency, display power use and software all affect runtime. The tests show the iPhone 18 Pro getting more hours from each milliamp-hour in these workloads; your own results will vary with signal, brightness and apps.