Battery life is one of the most important aspects to consider when purchasing a laptop; it can be annoying to continually look for a power outlet to charge your device, especially when you're out and about. Thankfully, many laptops have fantastic battery life as CPUs, SoCs, and other components become increasingly more power-efficient. Battery life isn't the only thing you need to consider when buying a laptop, though, as a poor user experience or sluggish performance can still make a laptop with incredible battery life nearly unusable, so it's important to weigh each model's pros and cons. Also, remember that the configuration can greatly affect a laptop's battery life.
We've bought and tested over 185 laptops. Below, you'll find our picks for the best laptops for battery life you can buy. You can also see our recommendations for the best 15-16-inch laptops, the best travel laptops, and the best ultrabooks.
Since 2021, we've tested dozens of laptops every year. We buy our laptops to avoid bias and, following a rigorous methodology, test nearly every part of the laptop so we can deliver results you can rely on. We use a wide range of equipment to perform our tests, including a colorimeter, a Mecmesin MultiTest-i System Test Stand, and various performance benchmarking suites.
Want to know more? Check out our How We Test Laptops article, where we give you a broader overview of our review process, from the moment we purchase the product to the final review.
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Best Laptop For Battery Life
School & WorkMedia ConsumptionGamingHeavy WorkloadBatteryForm Factor:Traditional (Clamshell)Screen Size:14"Operating System:macOSTouch Screen:NoRefresh Rate:120 HzSee all our test resultsTested RAM Capacity:16 GBThe best laptop for battery life we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5, 2025). It combines excellent endurance with a premium everyday experience: a sharp 120Hz Mini LED display, a large haptic touchpad, clear, full-sounding speakers, and a wide port selection. Our base M5 configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD lasted around 16 hours of web browsing and nearly 16 hours of local video playback. That's comfortably enough for a typical workday, though demanding tasks will drain the battery much faster.
The base M5 is fast enough for everyday work, programming, and moderately demanding photo or video editing. M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations offer substantially more CPU and GPU power for heavier projects, but our battery results don't apply to those configurations. Memory and storage aren't user-replaceable, so choose enough when you make your purchase. The keyboard feels tactile and spacious, although heavy typers may find its short travel tiring.
Still, as good as the Pro is, this is an expensive choice if you mainly browse the web or write documents. The less expensive picks below offer long battery life without requiring you to pay for the MacBook Pro's display and performance capabilities.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Laptop For Battery Life
School & WorkMedia ConsumptionGamingHeavy WorkloadBatteryForm Factor:Traditional (Clamshell)Screen Size:13.6"Operating System:macOSTouch Screen:NoRefresh Rate:60 HzSee all our test resultsTested RAM Capacity:16 GBIf you don't need the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5, 2025)'s display and extra processing power, check out the less expensive Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5, 2026). Our base M5 configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD lasted around 13 hours in both web browsing and video playback. It's lighter and easier to carry than the Pro, and its fanless design stays silent. The main display trade-off is its 60Hz IPS panel: it's sharp and bright, but lacks the Pro's smooth 120Hz refresh rate and deep blacks.
The M5 easily handles everyday work, programming, and light content creation. You get a tactile backlit keyboard, an excellent haptic touchpad, and a clear webcam. Memory and storage aren't upgradeable, so choose enough upfront; options extend to 32GB and 4TB. Connectivity is limited to two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, and MagSafe charging. The family also offers a 15-inch model, but our battery figures apply to the 13-inch version.
For Windows, consider the Microsoft Surface Laptop 8th Edition (2026). Its 120Hz touchscreen, excellent keyboard, haptic touchpad, and USB-A port make it a useful alternative. Our 13.8-inch Snapdragon X2 Plus configuration lasted nearly 13 hours browsing and around 15 hours playing video. A 15-inch size and X2 Elite processor are also available; their runtimes may differ. Check app and peripheral compatibility with Windows on ARM before buying.
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Best Mid-Range Laptop For Battery Life
School & WorkMedia ConsumptionGamingHeavy WorkloadBatteryForm Factor:Traditional (Clamshell)Screen Size:13"Operating System:Windows 11Touch Screen:YesRefresh Rate:120 HzSee all our test resultsTested RAM Capacity:8 GBThe best laptop for battery life in the mid-range category is the Dell XPS 13 (2026). It's less expensive than the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5, 2026) and offers Windows on an Intel processor, making it a good option if you rely on Windows software. Our unit lasted around 15.5 hours of web browsing, outlasting even the Air in this workload. Video playback is shorter, though, at around 8.5 hours, so the Air remains better for long movie-watching sessions.
The Dell feels remarkably premium for the price, with a sturdy aluminum chassis that weighs just 2.3 lbs. Its compact size makes it easy to carry between classes or meetings. The bright 120Hz touchscreen looks sharp and makes scrolling through documents and webpages feel smooth, while the comfortable backlit keyboard has well-spaced keys for extended typing. The fan is extremely quiet even under load, and the keyboard only gets moderately warm.
The Core 5 320 handles everyday productivity well. We recommend 16GB of RAM for multitasking, as the memory isn't upgradeable and 8GB is quite limiting in Windows. The mechanical touchpad is smaller and less satisfying than the Air's haptic one, and connectivity is limited to two USB-C ports. Both support charging and display output, but you'll need an adapter for USB-A peripherals, HDMI, or wired headphones.
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Best Budget Laptop For Battery Life
School & WorkMedia ConsumptionGamingHeavy WorkloadBatteryForm Factor:Traditional (Clamshell)Screen Size:13"Operating System:macOSTouch Screen:NoRefresh Rate:60 HzSee all our test resultsTested RAM Capacity:8 GBThe best laptop for battery life on a budget is the Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026). It's a typically less expensive alternative to the Dell XPS 13 (2026) with a similarly premium feel, though its screen runs at 60Hz and doesn't support touch input. Our test unit lasted around 10 hours browsing the web and 10.5 hours playing video, comfortably covering a typical day of light use. It also runs silently because it has no fan.
Its sturdy aluminum chassis, sharp and bright 13-inch display, tactile keyboard, responsive touchpad, and excellent webcam make it much nicer to use than many inexpensive laptops. The A18 Pro handles documents, spreadsheets, browsing, and light photo editing well. While RAM is limited to 8GB, macOS makes efficient use of it compared to Windows, and it's quite usable for everyday multitasking. Some heavier applications may not run at their best, though. Both memory and storage are non-upgradeable.
The keyboard isn't backlit. Ports are limited to two USB-Cs and a headphone jack, and only one USB-C supports video output and faster data transfers. The entry-level 256GB model lacks Touch ID; you need the more expensive 512GB configuration for the fingerprint reader.
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Best 2-In-1 Tablet For Battery Life
MultimediaGamingWorkstationForm Factor:Size:13"Operating System:Windows 11Touch Screen:Refresh Rate:HzSee all our test resultsCapacity:GBIf you want a tablet with a detachable keyboard, the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 12th Edition (2026) is our pick. Compared with the conventional laptops above, it's more convenient for handwritten notes, drawing, and reading while held in your hands. Its sturdy kickstand, sharp 120Hz touchscreen, and excellent front-facing camera also make it a versatile travel companion. Our Snapdragon X2 Elite model with an OLED display, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD lasted around 11 hours of web browsing and nearly 13 hours of video playback.
The OLED gives you deep blacks for movies, while the less expensive Snapdragon X2 Plus version comes with an LCD. The X2 Plus model also has a smaller battery, so don't apply our runtime figures to it. Both processors are suitable for everyday work, but check compatibility with your apps and peripherals because these are ARM-based Windows devices.
Budget for a keyboard and stylus separately. The detachable design is less stable on a lap than a conventional laptop, and its limited USB-C connectivity may mean carrying an adapter. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) is worth considering at a substantial discount, as it offers a similar tablet experience; the newer model primarily improves performance rather than transforming battery life.
Notable Mentions
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Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition (2025):
The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition (2025) is an alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5, 2026) if you want Windows and a larger OLED display. Our unit lasted 15 hours browsing and nearly 19 hours playing video. However, it's pricier and heavier, while the Air runs silently and has a flicker-free screen.
See our review -
ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407 (2025):
The ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407 (2025) is an alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5, 2026) if maximum endurance matters most. Our Snapdragon X unit lasted 19 hours browsing and 20 hours playing video. Its OLED screen has deeper blacks, but the Air has stronger CPU performance, a better webcam, and a haptic touchpad.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 27, 2026:
We updated all recommendations for current availability and value. We also refreshed the Notable Mentions.
May 09, 2025:
We've removed the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) from the Notable Mentions because it's no longer available. We've also removed the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) from the Notable Mentions and replaced it with the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition 14 (2025) because the Lenovo has longer battery life. Finally, we added the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition (2025) as a Notable Mention.
Mar 13, 2025:
Added the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) as a Notable Mention. No change in recommendations.
Jan 22, 2025:
Replaced the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) with the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) since the M3 model is discontinued. Replaced the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) with the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) in the Notable Mentions because the OmniBook is a newer version and easier to find.
Nov 26, 2024:
Replaced the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024) with the Acer Swift Go 14 (2024) because the Acer has better performance and longer battery life, it provides a better user experience overall. Removed the Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2024) because there are better options. Small text changes to add information about the M4 Apple MacBook Pros.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the top laptops for battery life to buy. In addition to the test results, we factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our laptop reviews. Most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it's best to see the full review for information about other variants.