The iPhone battery capacities have evolved significantly over the years.

Larger Models, Larger Batteries: The iPhone Plus and Pro Max models consistently have higher battery capacities, offering longer battery life.

Steady Increase: Over time, Apple has steadily increased battery capacities, especially in recent years.

Efficiency Matters: While capacity is important, software optimizations and hardware efficiency also play a significant role in overall battery performance.

Apple's focus on straight hours of real-world battery life doesn't provide a comprehensive picture of battery performance, as it overlooks the various factors that influence battery usage, such as screen brightness, network connectivity, and app usage. Although real-world battery life can be influenced by various factors, we can use technical specifications to compare the raw battery capacities of different iPhones.

Apple's secrecy surrounding iPhone battery specifications could be attributed to the desire to avoid comparisons with rivals like Samsung, which frequently boast larger battery capacities. The only way to definitively determine an iPhone's battery capacity is to disassemble the device and check the specifications printed on the battery. iPhone batteries are rated in terms of their capacity, which is typically measured in milliampere hours (mAh) or watt hours (Wh).

Milliampere hours (mAh) measure electrical charge, while watt hours (Wh) measure energy consumption over time. When assessing actual battery life, it's the energy consumed (Wh) that's more relevant. When comparing the overall energy storage capacity of similar batteries, watt hours (Wh) offer a more precise and consistent measurement.

Battery voltage, which is not considered in milliampere hours (mAh), plays a crucial role in determining battery power (wattage). If two batteries have the same mAh capacity but different voltages, the battery with the higher voltage will have greater actual stored power.

This comparison table provides an overview of the battery capacity in milliampere hours (mAh) and watt hours (Wh) for each iPhone model:

iPhone Model    (mAh)   (Wh) 

iPhone 6s            1715    6.86

iPhone 6s Plus   2750    10.9

iPhone 7              1960    7.84

iPhone 7 Plus     2900    11.6

iPhone 8              1821    7.28

iPhone 8 Plus     2691    10.76

iPhone X              2716    10.86

iPhone XS            2658    10.63

iPhone XS Max   3174    12.69

iPhone XR            2942    11.77

iPhone 11            3110    12.44

iPhone 11 Pro    3046    12.18

iPhone 11 Pro Max3969 15.88

iPhone 12 mini  2227    8.91

iPhone 12            2815    11.26

iPhone 12 Pro    2815    11.26

iPhone 12 Pro Max3687 14.75

iPhone 13 mini  2402    9.61

iPhone 13            3227    12.81

iPhone 13 Pro    3095    12.38

iPhone 13 Pro Max4352 17.41

iPhone 14            3279    13.12

iPhone 14 Plus   4323    17.29

iPhone 14 Pro    3200    12.8

iPhone 14 Pro Max4323 17.29

iPhone 15            3877    15.51

iPhone 15 Plus   4924    19.69

iPhone 15 Pro    3643    14.57

iPhone 15 Pro Max4852 19.41

iPhone 16            3,561   13.7

iPhone 16 Plus   4,674    18

iPhone 16 Pro    3,582    13.8

iPhone 16 Pro Max4,685  18

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