Choosing the best phone for your needs involves many factors. Of course the camera is a major consideration, as is the screen size. Being the more sensible type, I opt for a more compact design. What is the deciding factor in buying a cell phone will be different for everyone.

However, I think there is one thing that is often overlooked among cell phone buyers and really should not be. After all, whatever cell phone you buy, you want one that will hold a charge for a long time. I recently switched from an aging iPhone that required nearly constant trips to the wall charger to a newer model that can be used from dawn to dusk on a single charge. This has improved my outlook on life considerably.

I am not saying that battery life is the only thing to consider. If you value battery life above all else, then the Moto G Power (2021) is the only way to go.

In fact, if you look at our Best Smartphones Battery Life list, the latest version of the Moto G Power is not #1. That honor belongs to last year's Moto G Power, which outperformed the newer version by just over two hours in our battery tests. Of course, the 2021 version of the Moto G Power has an improved main camera and a lower price.

Every time we update our list of long-lasting phones based on how long they last in Tom'sGuide's battery test, a few things come to our attention: Tom'sGuide's battery test is based on how long the batteries in Tom'sGuide phones last ( We set each phone to surf the web continuously with a cellular connection and recorded the time from full charge to dead battery like a doorknob). For starters, you don't have to pay a fortune for a cell phone that takes a long time to recharge.

Of the top 10 longest-lasting phones we've reviewed over the past 18 months, only four cost more than $699; the rest are all under $500. You have to make trade-offs when getting a budget phone, but longevity doesn't have to be one of them.

Another thing that stands out in our best phones battery life entry is that Motorola has this competition clocked. Besides the two newest Moto G Power models, there are four other models from Motorola in the top 10. A couple of those models were released 12 months ago, but there are also new models like the Motorola One 5G Ace.

And not to get ahead of myself, but I'm willing to bet that a Motorola phone will soon make this list. I am currently testing the Moto G Stylus (2021) for a review in Tom's Guide. Even when away for other articles and reviews, the battery on the Moto G Stylus barely drains. On standby, the phone simply consumes power.

Considering that last year's version of the Moto G Stylus is already on the Best Battery Life list and this year's version has the same 4,000 mAh battery, we would be very surprised if this new phone does not join the previous model. And that's before we test the Moto G Play (2021) and its 5,000 mAh battery.

What is the secret to Motorola's long-term success? Clearly, a large battery plays a role, as many of the phones that have impressed us have heavy power packs. Like the Moto G Play, for example, the latest Moto G Power also has a 5,000 mAh battery.

However, Motorola also seems to be using power-efficient chipsets. For example, the Motorola Edge is powered by the Snapdragon 765, a system-on-chip like those found in many long-lasting cell phones. Its snazzier sibling, the Motorola Edge Plus, uses the Snapdragon 865 and just barely missed the 11-hour mark in our battery tests.

If you want your next smartphone to last longer on a charge, here's the key. Make sure you have a Motorola device on the list of phones you are considering. Maybe it doesn't meet all the criteria you value, but chances are it will give you a long battery life.