6 phones with the best battery life

6 PHONES WITH THE BEST BATTERY LIFE

The last thing you want is for your phone to run out of juice when you need it most.

Usually, a phone lasts a full work day with moderate use. But if you use it heavily, you'll need to recharge it more often. Batteries also lose steam over time, running down faster the longer you've owned the phone. The spectre of losing battery -- and therefore losing your communication hub -- is frightening and real.

If you feel your handset battery seems to be stuck in the '90s and doesn't last as long as you'd like, you're not alone. So if a long-life battery tops your list of smartphone needs, check out these top-scorers in DaveAY's continuous video tests.

Motorola Moto Z Play

As the cheapest, most "midrange" phone of Motorola's Moto Z series, we were stunned to see that the Moto Z Play not only had the longest battery life of the Z line, but of all the handsets we reviewed this year so far. Clocking in a whopping 23 hours and 3 minutes, this handset is worth getting for the battery life alone (aside from the fact that it also works with useful modular accessories). Its Z Force counterpart didn't do so shabbilyeither, with a time of 16 hours and 32 minutes of video playback. Read the full review.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active (and S7 Edge and S7)

We know we said this list includes six phones, but really it's nine. After the Moto Z Play, the next three longest test results come from the entire Galaxy S7 family. That includes the recent Galaxy S7 Active, the S7 Edge and the S7. In addition to being top-tier devices (with the Active being extra durable) they clocked in battery run times over 21, 19 and 16 hours, respectively. Read the full review.

OnePlus 3

With an affordable price tag of $399 or £309 (approx. AU$590), the third flagship from OnePlus still offers high-end specs like a 16-megapixel camera, a Snapdragon 820 processor and a 5.5-inch display. Its battery also lasts an impressive 14 hours and 17 minutes, and with the company's trademarked Dash charging technology, the device charges super quickly. Read the full review.

Xiaomi Mi 5

Unfortunately available in only China and India, the Mi 5 is one heck of a device. It features a dazzling glass design, a great 16-megapixel camera and a 5.15-inch screen. Its 3,000mAh battery is no slouch either, logging 14 hours in our lab tests. Perhaps by the end of 2017, the West will get a crack at the device? Read the full review.

Huawei Mate 8

Sporting a massive 6-inch display, the Mate 8 is an attractive big-screen phone. It has an all-metal build, a fingerprint reader and a massive 4,000mAh battery that continuously played video for 15 and a half hours. Despite its powerful hardware, though, its high price (it starts at €600, or roughly $650 and £450) is a major drawback for those on a tighter budget. Read the full review.

Samsung Galaxy J3

Just in case you thought only premium Samsung handsets can make the list, the Galaxy J3 has a solid battery life and costs less than $200 (or £140 in the UK and AU$329 in Australia). Though it may not be the most powerful device, its removable battery hung in for 15 hours and 40 minutes -- giving you enough juice to last the day. Read the full review.

NOW TELL ME WHICH ONE WILL YOU PREFER?