Phones with exceptional battery life from 2013
Choosing a phone by the number printed beside its battery can be misleading. Our Top 10 Phones With the Best Battery Life in 2013 ranking favours balanced machines: large cells, efficient chipsets, low standby drain and power-saving tools that preserve capacity during a long day. A massive battery in a power-hungry phone still loses to a smaller one when the processor, radio and display are well matched.
For Australian buyers, endurance carried extra weight in 2013. Mobile coverage could fade on regional roads, 4G was beginning to expand through Telstra’s network and competing LTE services, and a summer trip inland could expose a handset to temperatures that shorten battery life. Most Australians said mobile rather than cell phone, while 10% GST was already built into most advertised prices. A phone that lasted from a commute in Melbourne to a full workday at home was therefore more useful than one that merely won a laboratory charge test.
| Rank | Phone | Battery | Battery access | Real-world battery verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorola Moto G | 2,470mAh | Removable | Outstanding endurance for its price |
| 2 | LG G2 | 3,000mAh | Removable | Excellent capacity and efficient performance |
| 3 | Nokia Lumia 1520 | 3,400mAh | Removable | Very strong, though the large screen adds weight |
| 4 | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | 3,200mAh | Removable | Excellent all-day stamina with a large display |
| 5 | Samsung Galaxy S4 | 2,600mAh | Removable | Balanced battery life in a compact flagship |
| 6 | Sony Xperia Z | 2,330mAh | Fixed | Good endurance when Stamina mode is used |
| 7 | Nokia Lumia 1020 | 2,000mAh | Removable | Respectable runtime despite its serious camera |
| 8 | Apple iPhone 5s | 1,560mAh | Fixed | Efficient operation offsets its smaller capacity |
| 9 | Google Nexus 5 | 2,300mAh | Fixed | Good performance, but heavy users needed a charger |
| 10 | BlackBerry Z10 | 2,880mAh | Fixed | Mixed results because of always-connected software |
Measuring endurance beyond milliamp hours
Capacity gets attention, but mixed use provides the more revealing test. During 2013, a handset spent part of the day connected to 3G or LTE, part checking social apps, and often part navigating or taking photographs. The strongest performers conserved power during standby and offered quick ways to disable syncing, background data, location and animated displays. Samsung’s battery-saving modes, Sony’s Stamina option and Windows Phone’s controlled background activity could add useful hours without forcing a change of handset.
Screen size, signal strength and charger access then changed the result. A bright 5.5-inch panel drained more than a compact screen, weak reception made the radio work harder, and a sealed battery turned a flat handset into a shop visit. For a long drive from Sydney to Newcastle or across regional Victoria, carrying a charged spare or plugging into a car’s USB port was often worth more than a modest gain in efficiency. Battery life provided practical freedom, not merely another specification.
Strong choices for Australian daily use
The Motorola Moto G was the value champion. Its 2,470mAh battery, efficient Snapdragon 400 processor and power-conscious 720p display delivered performance that outlasted many costlier flagships. Some dual-SIM variants also made sense for Australians managing separate work and personal numbers. It was a sensible, no-drama choice for students, first-time smartphone buyers and anyone who wanted dependable endurance without spending most of their weekly budget.
The LG G2 combined a large 3,000mAh battery with a 5.2-inch Full HD display. Its rear-mounted volume and power buttons were unusual, but the removable battery gave it a practical advantage over many contemporary slabs. The phone’s power-saving tools and efficient chipset made it one of the strongest Android choices of 2013, particularly for commuters who used navigation and streamed music during longer journeys.
Samsung offered two credible alternatives. The Galaxy Note 3 had a 3,200mAh cell and enough power for demanding use, although its 5.5-inch screen and stylus made it heavy. The smaller Galaxy S4 offered a 2,600mAh removable battery in a more manageable body, making it the better fit for users who valued endurance and pocketability. For specifications and launch context beyond this ranking, the Android handset archive provides a useful reference.
Where screens and cameras change the result
The Sony Xperia Z proved that a sealed battery could still produce strong results. Its 2,330mAh cell was smaller than several rivals, yet Stamina mode restricted background activity and delivered dependable everyday runtime. The 5-inch Full HD display looked sharp, while the water-resistant body suited Australian weather. Heavy camera use, however, exposed the weakness of carrying all that hardware in one fixed battery.
The HTC One pursued a similar balance. Its 2,300mAh battery powered a bright 4.7-inch Full HD screen and Snapdragon 600 processor, both capable of lasting through a busy day when the handset was well configured. The sealed metal construction looked and felt more premium than many plastic competitors, although buyers lost the option of carrying a spare cell.
Google’s Nexus 5 and Apple’s iPhone 5s demonstrated how much operating-system efficiency mattered. The Nexus 5 combined a 2,300mAh battery with a lightweight 5-inch design, although power-hungry users could drain it quickly. The iPhone 5s had only a 1,560mAh battery, yet its smaller display and tightly controlled software usually helped it reach evening with charge to spare. Early iOS 7 battery complaints also eased after Apple released version 7.0.3.
The Nokia Lumia 1020 was the specialist compromise. Its removable 2,000mAh battery was modest beside the largest cells in this ranking, but Windows Phone’s background controls and the phone’s 4.5-inch display helped it perform respectably. The 41-megapixel camera remained the real energy drain, making careful management of photography, sharing and wireless connections essential for owners heading away from mains power.
Long-distance and specialist choices
The Lumia 1520 carried the largest battery of the group at 3,400mAh and combined it with Windows Phone 8’s restrained background activity. Its 6-inch screen and 157g weight made it closer to a small tablet than a conventional phone, but it remained a convincing option for people who wanted a large display and long runtime together. The removable battery was especially valuable for travellers crossing remote parts of the country.
The BlackBerry Z10 offered 2,880mAh of capacity, but its real-world performance depended heavily on how the phone was used. Frequent email, social updates and other active connections drained it faster than basic calling and messaging. Security features, the physical keyboard experience and a strong focus on business notifications gave it a clear purpose, although the fixed battery and small 4-inch screen limited its appeal for media-heavy users.
The practical lesson from these specialist devices was preparation. A removable battery gave the Moto G, LG G2, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3 and both Lumias extra flexibility on long trips. A USB car charger or a compact power bank was useful when travelling from Alice Springs towards Darwin, where distances between services were substantial. Carrying a spare cell, charging at accommodation and using offline maps could prevent a coverage black spot from becoming a dead phone.
Pick a battery that matches your routine
The best handset was the one that matched the owner’s day. Budget users had few credible choices as convincing as the Moto G, while the LG G2 suited people wanting flagship performance without a sealed battery. Galaxy S4 owners gained a practical balance of screen size and endurance, whereas Note 3 and Lumia 1520 buyers accepted extra weight for much larger displays and batteries.
Australian pricing at the time included 10% GST, and buyers weighed the upfront cost against contracts from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Some flagship mobiles arrived with a lower initial price when bundled with a plan, while outright purchases offered more freedom over the network and SIM choice. Checking the included charger, warranty coverage and battery-removal options was just as important as comparing capacity figures.
Ready to choose? Check the available handset deals, compare the final Australian price, and pick a phone with enough endurance for work, messages, navigation and the long way home.