Capacity vs charging: two ways to win
Battery life depends on two things: how big the battery is and how efficiently the chip uses it. The best phones here win on one or both axes — some carry massive cells, some charge at 100W+ so downtime is brief even with a smaller pack.
#1 Samsung Galaxy M54 — biggest cell, $330
The Galaxy M54 5G carries a 6,000 mAh battery — one of the largest in any mainstream phone — in a package under $330. It will last two days for moderate users. The trade-off: only 25W charging means a full top-up takes ~2.5 hours. See Galaxy M54 5G specs.
#2 OnePlus 12 — 100W + big battery
The OnePlus 12 combines a 5,400 mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. You get endurance and speed — a full charge in ~30 minutes. For most people this is the best balance. Full OnePlus 12 specs.
#3 Infinix Note 40 — wireless charging at $230
The Infinix Note 40 packs a 5,000 mAh cell with 45W wired and 20W wireless — one of the only sub-$250 phones with wireless charging. See the Infinix Note 40 for full specs.
#4 Poco F4 GT — 120W charges in 17 min
If endurance means "never wait long to charge" rather than "never need to charge", the Poco F4 GT's 120W is transformative. A dead battery fills in under 20 minutes. See Poco F4 GT specs.
#5 Redmi Note 9 Pro — budget endurance champion
The Redmi Note 9 Pro carries a 5,020 mAh cell at $269. For buyers on a tight budget who need all-day endurance with all the extras (jack, microSD, NFC, IR), it still delivers.
Which should you buy?
Longest raw endurance: Galaxy M54 5G. Best balance of endurance + fast charging: OnePlus 12. Budget endurance: Redmi Note 9 Pro. Fastest charge: Poco F4 GT (120W) or Xiaomi 11T Pro (120W).