Battery life and charging speed can make or break the user experience, especially for power users. In our internal lab tests, conducted by our core testing team, we put four smartphones through rigorous battery and charging benchmarks to find out which one truly delivers. The phones compared are the iQOO Neo 10, Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, vivo V50, and realme GT 7T. Here’s a breakdown of how each phone performed.
Battery Capacity: Bigger Cells, Longer Days?
Let’s begin with the raw numbers:
- iQOO Neo 10: 7000mAh
- Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: 5000mAh
- vivo V50: 6000mAh
- realme GT 7T: 7000mAh
On paper, the iQOO Neo 10 and realme GT 7T stand out with their massive 7000mAh batteries, promising extended screen-on time and multi-day use. The vivo V50 follows with a respectable 6000mAh cell, while the Galaxy A36 5G sticks with a more standard 5000mAh unit.
Charging Speed Test: iQOO Neo 10 Wins by a Wide Margin
Each brand has its own marketing term for fast charging, such as FlashCharge, SuperVOOC, or Super Fast Charging, but how fast are they? We tested how long each phone takes to go from 0% to 100%.
iQOO Neo 10 leads the pack by hitting full charge in just over 35 minutes, despite having the largest battery. That’s seriously impressive. The vivo V50 achieves a solid 44-minute full charge, while the realme GT 7T lags behind at 51 minutes, which is surprising, given that it has the same 120W rating as the iQOO. The Galaxy A36 5G is the slowest in the group, taking over an hour to charge, despite having a much smaller 5000mAh battery.
Battery Endurance Test: iQOO Neo 10 Takes the Crown
We also ran the PCMark battery benchmark on the phones that support it, which simulates a mix of web browsing, video playback, and productivity tasks under screen-on conditions.
The vivo V50 is the clear winner here, delivering over 21 hours in the PCMark test, a strong result for anyone looking for endurance. The realme GT 7T is not far behind, crossing the 19-hour mark. We tried running the PCMark battery test multiple times on both the iQOO Neo 10 and Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, but the test returned an error each time.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
If you’re looking for ultra-fast charging and a massive battery, the iQOO Neo 10 is the standout performer. It combines a 7000mAh battery with 120W charging to deliver the fastest full charge time in our tests.
For those prioritising battery life, the vivo V50 is a top pick; its 6000mAh battery lasted more than 21 hours in the PCMark test and charged fully in under 45 minutes.
The realme GT 7T offers solid balance, but its slower-than-expected charging speed at 51 minutes makes it less appealing than the iQOO Neo 10.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, while reliable, falls short in both battery capacity and charging speed. It’s clearly not built for heavy-duty users focused on endurance or rapid charging.
Here’s a quick run-down of what to expect from each of the phones listed on this comparison:
iQOO Neo 10
- A powerful performance-driven phone with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, ideal for gaming and heavy multitasking.
- Balanced for everyday use, featuring capable cameras and strong battery life beyond just raw speed.
- Runs a cleaner, improved UI, though still held back by pre-installed bloatware and limited colour options.
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
- This smartphone follows the same Samsung design language that we have seen on several other Galaxy Phones.
- Reliable for daily use with smooth performance, decent cameras, and fuss-free software, though not ideal for heavy gaming.
- Good value for longevity with clean software and a slim build, but slightly overpriced for the specs offered.
vivo V50
- It comes with Vivo’s reliable formula, featuring a sleeker design and a premium display, although not a major overhaul from its predecessor.
- Like most Vivo smartphones, the V50 places a strong focus on photography, featuring ZEISS-tuned cameras that deliver enhanced photo quality, making it a great choice for mobile photographers.
- It also boasts excellent battery life, lasting over a day and a half even with heavy usage, although performance remains mid-range, not flagship-level.
realme GT 7T
- This is also a performance-focused smartphone for demanding users. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Max, featuring up to 12GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and gaming performance.
- It also features a premium display with flagship-grade cameras, including a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a versatile 50MP+8MP dual-camera setup that supports 4K@60fps recording.
- The phone is equipped with a massive 7000mAh battery and 120W Super VOOC charging, offering all-day endurance and quick top-ups.
FAQs
Which phone charges the fastest among these four?
The iQOO Neo 10 charges the fastest, from 0 to 100% in just 35 minutes using 120W FlashCharge.
Which smartphone has the best battery life?
Based on our PCMark battery test, the vivo V50 offers the best battery life, lasting over 21 hours on a single charge.
Do all these phones support USB Type-C?
Yes, all four smartphones come with a USB Type-C charging port.
Why don’t we have PCMark scores for the iQOO Neo 10 and Galaxy A36 5G?
We attempted the PCMark battery test multiple times on both devices, but encountered repeated errors. The issue seems related to test compatibility.
Is 120W charging safe for daily use?
Yes, all phones with 120W fast charging come with built-in thermal and battery management systems to ensure safe and stable charging during daily use.
