Exposing the sneaky math behind your Android phone’s battery life claims in 2026

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority Battery degradation is perhaps the biggest concern if you want to keep a phone for three years or longer . Fast degradation means terrible battery life after just a year or two. This wasn’t a huge deal in the late 2000s and early 2010s, since user-replaceable batteries let you easily switch to a new cell.