Apple packed the iPhone Air with efficiency-first hardware—a C1X 5G modem that the company claims draws 30 percent less power than the Snapdragon X75, an in-house N1 wireless chip, and an LTPO OLED display. On paper, that should offset its small battery. In a real-world battery drain showdown against the Galaxy S25 Edge, though, the Android flagship eked out a razor-thin win.
A comprehensive test from PhoneBuff put both phones through identical tasks with carefully matched settings. Displays were locked to 200 nits and audio output was calibrated. The iPhone Air grabbed an early lead during a one-hour call and kept pace during email. The momentum shifted during the web-browsing segment, where the Galaxy S25 Edge pulled ahead, and it held that advantage through a lengthy 16-hour standby.
The iPhone Air clawed back time while running Alto’s Adventure, then lost ground again in Google Maps—an app that keeps Wi‑Fi and GPS active, intensifying power demands. The creator suggested one factor that could be hurting Apple’s device: its single speaker. To match the perceived loudness of the Galaxy S25 Edge’s stereo setup, the iPhone Air’s lone speaker needed higher output, which may translate into higher energy draw.
In the final leg, Snapchat—typically a demanding app—helped the iPhone Air recover a few percentage points. Whether that was down to iOS optimization or Apple’s efficiency-focused silicon wasn’t clear, but the gap narrowed dramatically. Still, the Galaxy S25 Edge held on by the slimmest of margins.
PhoneBuff called it a tie, and the numbers back that up. But if you count every second, the Galaxy S25 Edge technically lasted longer. The takeaway is familiar: clever power-saving silicon and smart display tech can stretch a small battery impressively far, yet a bigger battery still matters in a head-to-head endurance test. For shoppers deciding between these two, expect outstanding longevity either way—just know the Galaxy S25 Edge holds a microscopic edge in all-day stamina.
