As of June this year, smartphones sold in the EU must undergo standardized testing, which will offer durability and battery scores to help users make better purchasing decisions. The testing procedures have their critics and one stands out as the most vocal and by far the most important one, Apple.
Results for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max show it trailing the competition with a Class B rating in the fall tests – it’s rated to survive 180 falls, compared to Class A (270 falls) for the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL. We have these stats in our database to help you compare phones.
Additionally, the iPhone only got a Class C repairability score – the same as the Galaxy but behind the Pixel with a Class B. If you want to learn more about the Energy Label, head over to our Glossary page.
EPREL labels: iPhone 17 Pro Max • Galaxy S25 Ultra • Pixel 10 Pro XL
Anyway, 180 falls is actually an improvement – the iPhone 16 Pro Max was only rated for 90 falls, earning it a Class C score. You can compare the two models for a closer look.
On the plus side, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max aced the energy efficiency test with a Class A score and received a high endurance rating of 53 hours. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is rated Class B and 44:54h, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is also Class B and lasts 48:39h on a charge. However, the Galaxy battery is rated for 2,000 charge cycles, while the iPhone and Pixel batteries are rated for 1,000 cycles. Compared to the 16 Pro Max, this is an improvement in energy efficiency (Class B) and endurance (48 hours) compared to the old model.
The first generation Apple iPhone Air has one direct competitor – the Galaxy S25 Edge. Despite having a smaller battery (3,149mAh vs. 3,900mAh), the Air basically lasts as long as the Edge (40:00h vs. 40:05h) and it got a Class A rating for efficiency. The Air battery is again rated for 1,000 charge cycles, while the Edge battery is expected to last twice that.
EPREL labels: iPhone Air • Galaxy S25 Edge • iPhone 16 Pro Max
As for physical endurance, the Air matches the Pro Max with a Class B (180 falls) free fall rating and a Class C repairability score. The Edge gets the better Class A (270 falls) rating but the same Class C repairability score.
As noted in the opening paragraph, Apple is not happy with the testing procedure and has some legitimate complaints. For one, it says that the drop and tumble test definitions are ambiguous and are difficult to replicate. Further, they are done on a small sample size (5 units), while Apple wants to use a much bigger sample size (30 units at least). Apple has a 44-page report (warning: PDF) on the matter if you want to know more.