Google Nexus 5X battery life test results are out

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Google Nexus 5X battery life test results are out

The Google Nexus 5X brings the regular-sized Nexus phone that we've missed last year back.

The successor to the 2013 LG-made Nexus 5 now comes with a slightly larger, 5.2-inch display, a fingerprint scanner on the back and a USB Type C port for charging and syncing. We've already been putting the phone through its paces in preparation for our full-on review, but the first thing that we wanted to share with you before the review is out are the battery life test results.

The Nexus 5X comes with a 2700mAh non-removable battery

We put all phones through equal conditions: screen brightness is set at 200 nits (a level comfortable for indoor use) and we run a script that mimics typical smartphone use. There is also one important condition: we run the test with the screen always on. With all this in mind, the Nexus 5X scored 6 hours and 25 minutes on our test. This is around average result, a bit below the scores of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and even further below the Apple iPhone 6s score.

Do keep in mind, though, that Android 6.0 Marshmallow introduces 'Doze', a battery saving feature that puts the phone into a more efficient state of sleep, and this boost in stand-by time is not accounted for in our battery test.

Nonetheless, it seems that the Nexus 6P does not bring any revolutionary improvements to battery life while it is in active use, and actually scores slightly below most flagships. For more detailed impressions about its battery life, stay tuned for our full-on review that's coming up soon!

Battery life (hours)
Higher is better
Apple iPhone 6s 8h 15 min (Excellent)
Samsung Galaxy S6 7h 14 min (Good)
Huawei P8 7h 12 min (Good)
HTC One M9 6h 25 min (Average)
Google Nexus 5X 6h 25 min (Average)
Charging time (minutes)
Lower is better
Apple iPhone 6s 150
Samsung Galaxy S6 78
Huawei P8 180
HTC One M9 106
Google Nexus 5X 100
View all

20 Comments
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posted on 19 Oct 2015, 04:45 3

1. Tronlol (Posts: 20; Member since: 06 Feb 2015)


Lol rekt

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 04:53 4

4. vincelongman (Posts: 3233; Member since: 10 Feb 2013)


How accurate is PA's test?
Ars Technica are reporting its has better battery than the S6, but worse battery than the G4, which is the opposite of what PA's tests show

http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Review-chart-template-final-full-width.0121.jpg
http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Review-chart-template-final-full-width.0131.jpg
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/nexus-5x-and-nexus-6p-review-the-true-flagships-of-the-android-ecosystem/3/

Edit: Just realised, Ars Technia's is web which is more harsh on the S6's AMOLED
Still not sure why the G4 does so bad on PA's test

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 05:08

8. vincelongman (Posts: 3233; Member since: 10 Feb 2013)


Oh actually, I didn't read Ars Technia's second graph properly
The G4 also did worse than the 5X in Ars Technia WebGL test

I guess that means PA's test is more similar to Ars Technia's WebGL test

Pretty disappointing from the 5X, but not really surprising given it has the 808 and a small 2700mAh battery

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 09:53 3

18. hound.master (Posts: 1043; Member since: 27 Feb 2015)


Yeah and core can you explain iPhone 6s becoming suddenly a record breaker in PA while it get the same score from iPhone 6 from gsmarena?

PA battery tests sucks.
And also iPhone 6s plus one of the slowest of 2015 chargings.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 05:35 7

12. TyrionLannister (Posts: 1656; Member since: 14 Oct 2014)


I don't believe either of these. gsmarena and anandtech is all that matters.

It all depends on the script. In a CPU bound workload like the geekbench battery test, s6 will beat the nexus 5x 2:1 or more. Same with a gfx bound workload. You need to see all the results and just get an idea.

Battery life simply cant be quantified. It's too complex of a factor to be. You need to see which script you are more interested in. If you game or watch videos, a phone like s6 will last way longer than an lcd with sd 810. The opposite is case with, say standby where a nexus with marshmallow will destroy a lollipop phone.

Web browsing depends. If you use chrome on a samsung phone, it drains battery like no tomorrow. Samsung browser is way more optimised. Trust me, the difference is like 40-50% in drain. I can literally get 10 hours SoT while browsing on stock browser, but even 7 will be tough with chrome. Ars uses chrome while gsmarena uses stock browser. Thats why you get the disparity between s6 and g4 with regards to battery.

S6 outlasts g4 2:1 on gsmarena Web test despite being AMOLED. So it's not that. It's the chrome browser which screws everything up.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 06:57 2

14. mistercarter (Posts: 319; Member since: 01 Sep 2011)


and even GSMarena is not that accurate... the G4 is rated at 54h of mixed use and the iPhone 6 Plus is rated at 79h, how come i switched from the 6 Plus to the G4 and i get similar battery life on both phones with the same use?

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 07:08 1

15. TyrionLannister (Posts: 1656; Member since: 14 Oct 2014)


No battery test is 'accurate' It depends on the type of usage. PA uses a script, GSMArena uses a web and video test. And other sites have other tests.

Now a particular person has a pretty mixed usage. So your mileage will vary.

You will never find a perfect battery test. The number of variables is too large.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 19:44

20. elitewolverine (Posts: 4003; Member since: 28 Oct 2013)


Very true. It is why I like to do my own test. I set screen to medium, 5 minute time out. Whatever I do on one, I do on the other. Whichever has the best battery out of the box is the winner. Why, because not everyone is going to go out of their way to download a battery app to fix something that should happen out of the box to begin with.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 04:52

2. apple4never (Posts: 1056; Member since: 08 May 2013)


kind of disappointing

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 04:52 4

3. vuyonc (Posts: 783; Member since: 24 Feb 2014)


Galaxy S7 or Xperia Z6 it is, then. Qualcomm screwed everyone over this year and deserves a hard smack upside its head.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 04:54 1

5. jan25 (Posts: 463; Member since: 26 Feb 2012)


If Phonearena's benchmark to be believed, the 5x is as good as the the iPhone 6 Plus.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 05:01 4

6. Modest_Moze (Posts: 35; Member since: 23 Mar 2015)


But add the Sony Xperia Z3 and then compare again.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 05:05

7. .KRATOS. (Posts: 240; Member since: 15 Mar 2013)


I was waiting for better result on the 2 handsets, I'm a bit disappointed guess I have to reconsider if it worthy to buy it or no I was hoping to switch my S6 for the nexus 5x if it has a better battery life but guess this won't be happening.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 05:19

9. Djz89 (Posts: 205; Member since: 25 Aug 2014)


Deal - breaker

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 05:33 5

11. ThePython (Posts: 748; Member since: 08 May 2013)


PhoneArena tests aren't the most reliable ever, it might as well have a good battery life.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 08:09

16. ibend (Posts: 1067; Member since: 30 Sep 2014)


battery test vary greatly from one tech site to another..
and nexus usually have better battery life compared to other flagship on same year (better optimization, faster update and less bloatware)
ps: i like how they didnt include note5 on comparison chart, it make 6s+ look to be smartphone with longest battery life, lol

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 08:59 1

17. Djz89 (Posts: 205; Member since: 25 Aug 2014)


I'll wait for gsmarena before deciding. I find PA to be both biased and kind of unfair.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 14:03

19. ThePython (Posts: 748; Member since: 08 May 2013)


I find it odd that PhoneArena is the only site where the iPhone had good results on battery life.

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 05:22

10. kanagadeepan (Posts: 817; Member since: 24 Jan 2012)


Nexus phones always have terrible battery life.. Comparing other old nexus phones, this one is looking ok..

posted on 19 Oct 2015, 06:25 2

13. surethom (Posts: 517; Member since: 04 Mar 2009)


Lets hope this is much longer than my nexus 5.

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