Best laptops for battery life 2024: MacBooks, Surface, and Razer

Overview

Apple MacBook Pro (M3) sitting on a table

Best overall

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

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$849.99 Microsoft

A more durable 2-in-1

HP Spectre x360 14

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$1,848.99 HP

Best for gamers

Razer Blade 14

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$2,699 Razer

In this day and age, pretty much everyone needs a computer. And whether you're using it for work, school, or entertainment, some tasks can only be accomplished with a laptop.

The thing is, shopping for laptops gets complicated, fast. It's easy to get bogged down in granular specifications like processors, GPUs, RAM, and storage types until your eyes glaze over. You can only ask yourself so many times if you should go with an SSD or eMMC flash storage before you decide that you'd rather just live off the grid, sans technology.

For a lot of people, the nitty gritty specs don't matter all that much — they just want a laptop that works well and offers an all-day battery life without having to charge it over and over again. And if battery life is your top concern, then you've come to the right place: In this guide, we'll be recommending the best laptops for battery life, so you can spend less time charging your device and more time using it.

Which laptop brand typically has the best battery life?

In our experience, MacBooks usually have the best battery life. The most recent MacBook Pro with Apple's M3 chip lasts for up to 17 hours, and the latest MacBook Air with the M2 chip can achieve a similar maximum usage time. They're also just fantastic laptops in their own right, so you can't really go wrong if you decide to get one.

But that doesn't mean you have to go with a MacBook. Plenty of laptop hopefuls are looking for alternatives to Apple devices, or ones that specialize in gaming or 2-in-1 capabilities. The good news is that those options can also feature amazing battery life, so you're not beholden to Apple.

Which laptops have the best battery life?

The M3 MacBook Pro is hands-down the best combination of battery life and power that we've tested so far, but if you're looking for a MacBook alternative, we've recommended a few other great picks below, including 2-in-1 and gaming-specific options. Check out our top choices for the laptops with the best battery life, all based on in-depth testing.

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Our Pick

Apple MacBook Pro (M3)

Best overall

$1,599 Amazon

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3).

Who it's for:

The M3 MacBook Pro is going to be a great laptop for just about anyone, but especially those who want true all-day battery life. Heck, call it multi-day battery life. On top of the 17-hour charge, the M3 MacBook is just a fantastic powerhouse device. Thanks to the impressive M3 chip, it will fit nicely into the lives of creatives, busy professionals, and those just looking to use it for their daily tasks and entertainment.

Why we picked this:

To us, the latest M3 MacBook Pro is the standard bearer for not just MacBooks, but for laptops in general. And that's especially when it comes to battery life. During our testing, we got a whopping 17 hours of use out of the M3 Pro — for many, that'll get them through nearly two full workdays, which feels pretty unreal (but it's definitely real).

So yes, the battery life is amazing, but there's so much more to love about this device. For starters, the Liquid Retina XDR screen is pretty immaculate, excelling in color depth, brightness, and clarity. The 14-inch size is one of our favorite aspects, too — it hits that sweet spot between the 13- and 16-inch MacBook models that feels just right. Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon, who reviewed the M3 MacBook Pro, also noted the laptop's audio quality as a selling point, saying that the device "arguably has the best set of speakers on the laptop market." Add in speedy and efficient performance from the new M3 chip, and you've got yourself a winner.

Like most MacBooks, we think the port selection leaves a lot to be desired, but if you're already in the Apple ecosystem, you know the drill when it comes to proprietary ports, charging cables, and all that good stuff. Also, we think the base model should have more RAM.

Buying Options

$1,599 from Amazon

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Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Best 2-in-1

$849.99 Microsoft

Who it's for:

If you want a 2-in-1 laptop that'll last you all day and comes in at a relatively reasonable price, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 should be on your list. It's super versatile, performs swimmingly, and you really can't beat its portability. Make sure to grab a detachable keyboard and Slim Pen 2 and you'll have one of the best laptop and tablet combinations on the market.

Why we picked this:

We love a good 2-in-1 laptop, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is one of the best we've ever tested, even beyond battery life. But, this is a roundup of laptops with great battery life, so let's start with that. In our testing period, the Surface Pro 9 regularly reached the 15.5-hour mark before needing a charge, which is very impressive and similar to that of the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Here, you'll get the added perks of a true 2-in-1.

Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to the Surface Pro 9. Switching from laptop to tablet mode is easier than ever, and performance is great thanks to the computer's 12th Gen Intel Core processor. We love the Slim Pen 2, which makes it more fun than laborious to take notes at work or school — creative types who like to write and draw will love it too, for obvious reasons (it synergizes wonderfully with Adobe programs). It's also the first Surface to offer 5G support, which is a nice touch.

The build quality of the 2-in-1 machine is also pretty good. The tablet portion feels sturdy and durable, and we specifically love the improved kickstand that makes tabletop mode feel like less of an afterthought than it did in previous iterations. It still doesn't work quite right when balanced on your lap, though, so make sure you put your Surface on a hard surface. The detachable keyboard feels nice to type on, but it's a bit flimsy. We recommend picking up a carrying case to be safe. Oh, and we'll never not be upset about the lack of a headphone jack.

Buying Options

$849.99 from Microsoft

The Good

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Details

HP Spectre x360 14

A more durable 2-in-1

$1,848.99 HP

Read Mashable's full review of the HP Spectre x360 14.

Who it's for:

If you're in the market for a 2-in-1 laptop but bristle at the Microsoft Surface Pro 9's detachable keyboard and lower-level specs (at least in the build that we tested), the HP Spectre x360 14 will be a step in the right direction for you. You'll lose some battery life — though you'll still get over 11 hours per charge — but you'll gain a studier keyboard, more storage space, and an ultimately less precarious-feeling device.

Why we picked this:

Want something a little bit heftier than the Surface Pro 9? Your next best bet is the HP Spectre x360 14. Though you'll sacrifice some battery life, you'll gain those usage hours back in storage, RAM, and durability (though, it'll cost you a bit more). Even then, you'll still get around 11.5 hours of battery life per charge, which will be satisfactory for most people.

While we like the Surface Pro 9 for its compact design, performance, and price, some may want a 2-in-1 that's a bit more durable than the Pro 9's flimsy keyboard, and the HP Spectre x360 certainly delivers in that regard. Here, you'll find a more traditional keyboard — one that's a joy to type on, according to Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon, and that can handle a wider variety of surface types. The 2-in-1 also packs a sizable 2TB SSD, plenty of RAM, and a high-quality 9MP webcam. The audio system scored high marks during our testing, too.

While our souped-up testing unit clocks in at $1,848.99, the HP Spectre x360 starts at $1,099.99, which isn't an outlandish price for what you're getting. Thankfully, you can fully configure yours on the HP website and choose a setup and price that works for you. While the HP Spectre x360 14 is one of the better Windows machines we've tested in 2024, we'd change the placement of the ports — the USB-C ports located on the corner of each side are just a bit too awkward for our liking.

Buying Options

$1,848.99 from HP

The Good

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Details

Razer Blade 14

Best for gamers

$2,699 Razer

Who it's for:

If you want a device that sits right at the intersection of gaming laptops and productivity laptops, the Razer Blade 14 is going to be a great choice for you. The battery performs well in both departments, and we can definitely see it being a gamer's "do it all" machine. The high-end specs, vivid display, and compact design further add to the laptop's value — just be ready to shell out some serious cash for one.

Why we picked this:

Gaming laptops are notorious for having laughably short battery lives. When pushed to their limits, most will get you around one to two hours of gameplay before needing a charge, which is why most people opt to keep theirs plugged in constantly while they play. That's kind of a shame, because a big reason to buy a gaming laptop is the convenience they provide compared to a desktop tower, and having to keep it plugged in doesn't make it feel all that portable.

Thankfully, the Razer Blade 14 is here to break the mold a bit. We got around four hours of heavy gameplay (non-cloud) before needing to re-up. That's not an astronomical step up in terms of gaming laptop battery life, but it's certainly above average, and a fantastic midpoint for those who want a laptop that can be used effectively for gaming and regular use. We could easily see the Razer Blade 14 being someone's everyday device for work, as well as their main gaming source. To us, that's a great value. Don't sleep on the Razer Synapse app, either — you can use it to further optimize your battery and component usage, which may get you some extra juice, as well as customization for RGB lighting, key mapping, and more.

If you're using the Blade mostly for productivity reasons, you'll get an average of about 10.5 hours of use. It's not quite MacBook-level, but MacBooks don't have the gaming capabilities that the Blade does, so the trade-off is worth it. That's not the only reason to buy one, though. The display is gorgeous, it runs cool and quiet, and the compact size is unrivaled compared to other gaming laptops.

As for what we don't love about the Razer Blade 14, it's mainly the price. The build we tested — which was decked out with all the highest possible specs — comes in at a pricey $2,699. We love the laptop, but the price tag feels a little over the top, and we hope the next iteration can shave a few dollars off the MSRP. You can opt to go for the lower-level specs, but that'll still run you $2,199. And one smaller gripe we had: The touchpad feels just a little too tough to press down, but your mileage may vary there.

Buying Options

$2,699 from Razer

The Good

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Details

Topics Apple HP MacBook Microsoft

How we tested

Mashable Staff or contributors have hands-on tested every laptop recommendation in this shopping guide. To test the battery life of each laptop, we ran them through a variety of tasks — from internet browsing, to video playback, to gaming — at around 50% display brightness until the battery fully lost its charge. To us, the battery life sweet spot lands at around 10 hours and above. Any laptop that didn't hit at least 10 hours during our battery life test didn't make the cut.

We only wanted to include well-rounded laptops in this article, not just ones that boasted great battery life but nothing else. Because of that, we also considered these specs when finalizing our picks:

CPU: The central processing unit, or CPU, is responsible for how fast your laptop can complete a given task. High-end CPUs will be able to handle multiple demanding tasks at once, whereas more budget-friendly options may be better for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing. Newer and more powerful CPUs will net you speedier, more responsive performance across the board.
GPU: The graphics processing unit, or GPU, is responsible for rendering clear and detailed visuals. MacBooks aren't really all that customizable in this department, but Windows laptops and beyond are. If you're a gamer, creative, or someone who uses their laptop for entertainment often, we'd pay close attention to your graphics card model. Just be careful with your budget — better GPUs can run up the bill quickly.
RAM: A laptop's RAM is where active application data is temporarily stored to assist the CPU. Essentially, if you have more RAM, you'll be able to run more applications at the same time. Look for devices with a minimum of 8GB of RAM, with 16GB being the ideal.
Storage: This is where your laptop saves long-term data like files and downloads. Keep in mind that SSD storage is faster than eMMC flash and regular hard drive storage. For most people, we recommend starting at 256GB of storage and above, but you can get away with 128GB if you mostly use cloud storage or don't normally have that many files saved on your device at once.
Price: Laptops aren't cheap, but they should be priced proportionally to their feature set.

Frequently Asked Questions

The amount of battery life you personally need will depend on how much you use your laptop on a day-to-day basis. But, assuming you're someone who's constantly using their device, we'd recommend not going below a 10-hour battery life. Unless you want to have to interrupt yourself at least once per day to charge your laptop back up, 10 hours and above seems to be the sweet spot, in our opinion.

We don't think you should compromise on how you normally use your laptop just so you can tolerate subpar battery life. But, if you really want to make a concerted effort to extend your device's usage capacity, there's plenty that you can do. Cutting down on the number of tabs and programs you have open at the same time can certainly help, as well as lowering your default brightness levels.

If you want to get even more into the weeds, our friends over at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) put together a helpful in-depth guide on steps you can take to fully optimize your laptop's battery life and increase its longevity.

Dylan Haas

Lead Shopping Reporter

Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, pets, fitness, sleep, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.

When he's not writing or testing products, you can find Dylan playing lots of video games, working out, spending time with loved ones (especially his dog, Stevie), or watching reality TV. Follow him on X at @iamdylanhaas, or send him an email at [email protected].