Some people depend on a laptop's battery more than others, but no shopper should ignore battery life. Even workstations and gaming laptops, once lucky to last an hour away from a wall socket, can now get you through a workday with ordinary tasks. (Most ultraportables now run anywhere from 12 to 20 hours or more.) At PC Labs, we've been assessing laptops for decades, rigorously testing each of the 100-plus machines we review each year. Our expert laptop reviewers run a standardized battery-rundown test, a host of performance benchmarks, and screen-quality trials on each machine to craft authoritative recommendations and insights before you buy. The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ holds the current crown as the longest-lasting laptop to date on our battery test, earning our inaugural PCMag Lab Award in the category. It's not the only worthy high-endurance machine out there, though. Keep reading for more recommendations, a detailed spec comparison, and key buying advice.
Overview
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![MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+]()
Laptop With the Longest Battery Life OverallMSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
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![HP OmniBook 5 14]()
Best Ultraportable With Long Battery LifeHP OmniBook 5 14
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![Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x 15]()
Best Budget Laptop With Long Battery LifeLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x 15
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition]()
Best Work Laptop With Long Battery LifeLenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition
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![Dell Precision 5690]()
Best Power-User Laptop With Long Battery LifeDell Precision 5690
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![Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition]()
Best Convertible Laptop With Long Battery LifeLenovo Yoga 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition
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![Razer Blade 16 (2025)]()
Best Gaming Laptop With Long Battery LifeRazer Blade 16 (2025)
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![Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2025, M4)]()
Best MacBook With Long Battery Life for Most UsersApple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2025, M4)
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![Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)]()
Best MacBook With Long Battery Life for Creative ProsApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)
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![Panasonic Toughbook 40 Mk2]()
Best Rugged Laptop With Long Battery LifePanasonic Toughbook 40 Mk2
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+]()
Laptop With the Longest Battery Life OverallMSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
This new business laptop 2-in-1 from MSI is a fantastic device in its own right. Still, it tops our list of the longest-lasting laptops because it is just that: our PC Labs endurance champ. The Prestige 14 Flip AI+ held on longer than any single-battery laptop before it in our video rundown test. With a result of 42 hours and 6 minutes, the Prestige ran circles around battery-life darlings like the MacBook Pro line, and it even outlasted the Panasonic Toughbook 40 Mk2, which has two batteries.
This result is a testament to Intel's efficient processor engineering and MSI's product design, as well as to the OLED display choice, which maximizes the exceptional efficiency gains from the new Core Ultra Series 3 chips. For frequently traveling professionals with battery anxiety, this is the ultimate laptop right now.
Who It’s For
Mobile professionals: Workers who travel often or have a long daily commute will appreciate the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ for its best-in-class battery life. Extreme efficiency aside, the Core Ultra X7 chip inside is also a dynamo, blazing through productivity tasks and equipped with top-end integrated graphics via the Intel Arc B390 GPU. You're not sacrificing much pep for that epic battery life.
People who give many presentations: As a convertible 2-in-1 laptop, the Prestige is an excellent device for pros who frequently present in person to co-workers, clients, and customers. Professionals who live in presentation slides, share design documents, or discuss detailed purchase options in person should put this laptop on their short lists.
Pen-compute enthusiasts: Take notes in meetings all day, or in lecture halls? This unit will outlast the longest class or the most excruciating conference. (No doodling with the pen in sight of your boss or professor, please.)
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Convertible 2-in-1 Dimensions (HWD) 0.55 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc B390 Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Windows 11 Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra X7 358H RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 42:06 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.02 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 6 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review -
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![HP OmniBook 5 14]()
Best Ultraportable With Long Battery LifeHP OmniBook 5 14
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
A highly portable laptop design and long battery life go together like peanut butter and jelly. The HP OmniBook 5 14 lasted an incredible 34 hours on our rundown test, and it weighs less than three pounds. Larger laptops are a burden, and lighter machines that run for less than half as long won't give you nearly the same peace of mind as the OmniBook. Qualcomm's efficient Snapdragon X Plus processor enables such long battery life while still delivering speedy performance. It's not overly expensive for all these positives, either. Just be sure that any specific apps you need to use are compatible with a Windows-on-Arm system before buying.
Who It’s For
Road warriors: Frequent commuters and travelers will find this to be an excellent laptop. Students and mobile professionals will appreciate the slim metal build, long battery life, and snappy AI-ready processor. The OmniBook 5 also includes USB Type-C and Type-A ports, plus 1TB of storage, making it versatile and ready for the long haul.
Mobile budget shoppers: This laptop is also a smart pick for anyone seeking a relatively inexpensive machine with premium touches. The OmniBook 5 is an excellent ultraportable option for budget buyers, especially if you can find it on sale. HP and Qualcomm prove that it's possible to offer a laptop with epic battery life for well under $1,000.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.6 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches Graphics Processor Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Windows 11 Panel Technology OLED Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 34:48 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.98 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More HP OmniBook 5 14 Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x 15]()
Best Budget Laptop With Long Battery LifeLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x 15
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
This IdeaPad from Lenovo is a lovely, practical laptop that sells for a competitive price. Its starting price is basement-level, but it keeps pace with some entry-grade systems that cost a bit more. (The system's Snapdragon X is the slightest CPU in Qualcomm's power-efficient laptop-chip line.) You'll find the usual budget concessions—its display is a little underwhelming, and the keyboard could be better—but the steady performance and wildly long battery life are major draws. This system ran for nearly 30 hours on our rundown test. Need we say more?
Who It's For
Deal hunters: This is the budget battery-life laptop to beat for bargain buyers looking for a quick all-around system. The IdeaPad Slim 3x showed battery stamina far beyond that of an average general-use PC in our tests, and for an approachable price. This laptop is a smart pick for anyone who wants long battery life in a compact, portable, and capable system. Just be sure that any specific apps you need to use are compatible with a Windows-on-Arm system before buying.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Budget Dimensions (HWD) 0.7 by 13.5 by 9.4 inches Graphics Processor Qualcomm Adreno GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 15 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 29:54 Touch Screen Weight 3.52 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x 15 Review -
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition]()
Best Work Laptop With Long Battery LifeLenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Extraordinary battery life is one reason this laptop stands out, lasting 21 hours on our rundown test. Indeed, long battery life is one of the major selling points for Intel's "Lunar Lake" processors, and the X9 15 Aura Edition delivers on that, along with snappy overall performance. The X9 has a beautiful OLED touch display, helpful AI features, and only minor compromises. Its trim and relatively light design for a 15-inch machine combine well with the battery life to make it a top travel companion if you need a big screen.
Who It's For
Traveling professionals: Office workers on the go will love this laptop's combination of speed, style, and battery life. The ThinkPad X9 15 is quick enough, easy to carry despite its stellar 15-inch display, and supports your workflow at your desk or on the road.
Style-conscious shoppers: This is a sleek, beautiful laptop for people who care how their system looks. Other laptops in its class deliver more raw performance, but the ThinkPad X9 is far from slow, and it packs enough other advanced features that help it achieve an acceptable balance of style and substance.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Business Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.51 by 13.37 by 9 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics 140V Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 258V RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 15.3 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 21:02 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support Yes Weight 3.09 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition Review -
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![Dell Precision 5690]()
Best Power-User Laptop With Long Battery LifeDell Precision 5690
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
This pick speaks to the most demanding professional users who need serious CPU and GPU performance to crunch their workloads. The Precision 5690 is one of the more mobile workstations we've reviewed in terms of design, which makes its 17-hour battery life all the more helpful for roaming professionals. While that limits its power ceiling compared with massive chunky workstations, the Precision's performance still sits well above your average laptop. Our Precision review configuration punched right through our benchmark tests.
Who It's For
Demanding professionals: Data crunchers, engineers, designers, and other power-hungry users will enjoy this long-lasting workstation laptop. Its top-tier CPU and potent GPU are crucial in some fields, and while not all powerful professional PCs guarantee extended battery life, the Precision 5690 is an exception.
Content creators: This laptop is a fit for media editors who need advanced graphics capabilities. The Precision is overkill (and overspending) for everyday productivity and office apps, but the dedicated pro-grade GPU elevates media-editing tasks significantly, and the 4K OLED screen is a perfect fit for creative work.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches Graphics Memory 16 Graphics Processor Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 185H RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 16 Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Secondary Drive Type SSD Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 17:11 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.46 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Dell Precision 5690 Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition]()
Best Convertible Laptop With Long Battery LifeLenovo Yoga 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
If you're frequently taking conference calls or working outside of the office, look to the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition. You'll first notice the stunning OLED touch screen, which looks sharp at 1800p. This convertible 2-in-1's pristine build, peppy performance, and lengthy battery life make it perfect for long coffee-shop stints or airport waits. If you need to stay productive and make a positive virtual impression, the Yoga 9i Gen 10 is ideal for grab-and-go productivity and versatility.
Who It's For
Remote workers: Whether you're working from home daily or frequently joining meetings from the road, you'll find the Yoga 9i Gen 10 is up to the task. The OLED display, beautiful build, and quick performance make this a favorite for frequent video calls and getting stuff done, particularly if you get caught away from an outlet.
Touch-screen fans: This is a top-tier laptop for fans of touch-controlled computing. The Yoga 9i's gorgeous design and stellar 1800p OLED screen make it a joy to use, more so than many standard laptop touch screens, and the battery will keep you running all day.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Convertible 2-in-1 Dimensions (HWD) 0.63 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics 140V Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 258V RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 21:56 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.91 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition Review -
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![Razer Blade 16 (2025)]()
Best Gaming Laptop With Long Battery LifeRazer Blade 16 (2025)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The latest Blade 16 laptop once again delivers a slim design, quality materials, potent performance, and superior battery life. Gaming laptops are notorious for short battery uptime, which has improved over the years, but larger gaming models often still suffer from low stamina. The Blade 16 lasted more than 10 hours on our rundown test despite its high-end parts and sharp screen. Naturally, the battery won't last nearly as long while gaming off the charger, but it's longer than many others in standard use. The biggest hurdle here is, as always, the luxury pricing.
Who It's For
Enthusiast gamers: This laptop is for hard-core gamers with big budgets only. The Blade's starting price and configurations are all expensive, so you need to have the desire and budget for high frame rates and a premium build to consider this system. For hard-core players with the cash, you'll enjoy this system's power, style, and battery life.
Content creators: The Razer Blade line has increasingly, alongside gamers, become popular with the content creation and media editor crowd. Its sleek MacBook-like design, sharp and fast screen, and potent GPU make it a fine fit for creative professionals with the money to spend.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.87 by 13.98 by 9.61 inches Graphics Memory 24 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1600 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 240 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 10:12 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 5.4 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Razer Blade 16 (2025) Review -
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![Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2025, M4)]()
Best MacBook With Long Battery Life for Most UsersApple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2025, M4)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
For more than 20 years, Apple's laptops have been practically unparalleled in design, and the latest MacBook Air carries that torch well. Responsible for the ultraportable trend, the newest MacBook Air measures just 0.44 inch thick. It weighs a feathery 2.7 pounds, though its trim portability limits its physical connectivity, with just two Thunderbolt 4 ports on this machine's chassis. As you'd expect from the Air, it excels in battery life, lasting nearly 20 hours on our rundown test. Its Liquid Retina display (2,560-by-1,664-pixel native resolution) is sharp and bright, its performance is fast, and it's a better value than ever with 16GB of memory at the base level for the same price.
Who It’s For
Less-demanding Mac users: This laptop is best for Mac fans who don't need a ton of speed but want maximum longevity. That's not to say it's slow (the M-series chips are all speedy), but this is the pick for mainstream use. If you already own an iPhone or an iPad and want to keep your computer within Apple's ecosystem, this decision was likely already made for you.
Value shoppers: If you're a student or just a bargain shopper considering a Mac, then Apple's MacBook Air is an excellent deal. It's a better-than-expected value, with its expansion to 16GB of memory at the entry level challenging tropes regarding Apple product pricing. College students and other budget-strapped shoppers seeking the best deal will enjoy high design, serious speed, and long battery life for a competitive price from the MacBook Air.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.44 by 12.0 by 8.5 inches Graphics Processor Apple M4 (10-core) Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1664 Operating System Apple macOS Sequoia Panel Technology LED Processor Apple M4 RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 13.3 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 19:56 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.7 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2025, M4) Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)]()
Best MacBook With Long Battery Life for Creative ProsApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Long battery life is nearly synonymous with Apple's MacBook line, which extends to the super-fast top-end Pro models. The M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro is an exceptional performer that ran for almost 26 hours on our rundown test. Apple's M-series chips have helped its machines hit new battery-life heights while maintaining slick designs, excellent keyboards and touchpads, and now a nano-texture screen option to reduce glare. Configuring this system is admittedly expensive, but few can match its power and uptime away from the plug.
Who It's For
Demanding creative pros: Apple's goal with this model is always a workstation-grade MacBook, ideal for the iconic MacBook user: the creative professional. The average MacBook fan likely doesn't need the power on display here, but demanding professional users (media editors, content creators, and software engineers) can look forward to the M4 Pro's extreme performance.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches Graphics Processor Apple M4 Pro (20-core) Native Display Resolution 3456 by 2234 Operating System Apple macOS Sequoia Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M4 Pro (14-core) RAM (as Tested) 48 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 25:52 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 4.7 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Panasonic Toughbook 40 Mk2]()
Best Rugged Laptop With Long Battery LifePanasonic Toughbook 40 Mk2
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Rugged laptops weather days on potentially hazardous job sites, and long battery life is a must for time in the field. As the name suggests, the Toughbook is one of these, built like a tank to withstand various dangers. Like many in the category, it can hold multiple batteries (our unit test unit has two, a main and a spare) to ensure it will be powered on when you need it, and the two cells combined for a staggering 41 hours of running time on our test. Besides that stellar stamina, this machine has many modular expansion options, a bright screen to combat sun glare, and plenty of protected ports.
Who It's For
Workers on rough job sites: Rugged laptops are specialist devices for construction, engineering, manufacturing, and first responders. The average user doesn't need this feature set, but if you're one of those workers (or an IT director choosing such systems for your business), the durable and expensive Toughbook 40 Mk2 checks many boxes.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Rugged Dimensions (HWD) 2.1 by 13.9 by 11.9 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Optical Drive DVD+/-RW (Plus Minus) Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 165H RAM (as Tested) 64 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 41:20 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 7.4 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Panasonic Toughbook 40 Mk2 Review -
Compare Specs
![Razer Blade 16 (2025) [Review]](https://sm.pcmag.com/t/pcmag_uk/review/r/razer-blad/razer-blade-16-2025_za9d.640.jpg)
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3.5 Good |
4.0 Excellent |
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Best For | Laptop With the Longest Battery Life Overall | Best Ultraportable With Long Battery Life | Best Budget Laptop With Long Battery Life | Best Work Laptop With Long Battery Life | Best Power-User Laptop With Long Battery Life | Best Convertible Laptop With Long Battery Life | Best Gaming Laptop With Long Battery Life | Best MacBook With Long Battery Life for Most Users | Best MacBook With Long Battery Life for Creative Pros | Best Rugged Laptop With Long Battery Life | Laptop With the Longest Battery Life Overall | Best Ultraportable With Long Battery Life | Best Budget Laptop With Long Battery Life |
Class | Convertible 2-in-1 | Ultraportable | Budget | Ultraportable, Business | Workstation | Convertible 2-in-1 | Gaming | Ultraportable | Workstation, Desktop Replacement | Rugged | Convertible 2-in-1 | Ultraportable | Budget |
Processor | Intel Core Ultra X7 358H | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Apple M4 | Apple M4 Pro (14-core) | Intel Core Ultra 7 165H | Intel Core Ultra X7 358H | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) |
Processor Speed | |||||||||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 32 | 32 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 48 | 64 | 32 | 32 | 16 |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 | 1 | 512 | 1 | 512 | 1 | 2 | 512 | 2 | 512 | 1 | 1 | 512 |
Secondary Drive Type | SSD | ||||||||||||
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 | ||||||||||||
Optical Drive | DVD+/-RW (Plus Minus) | ||||||||||||
Screen Size | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15.3 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 13.3 | 16.2 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1200 | 2880 by 1800 | 3840 by 2400 | 2880 by 1800 | 2560 by 1600 | 2560 by 1664 | 3456 by 2234 | 1920 by 1080 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1200 |
Touch Screen | |||||||||||||
Panel Technology | OLED | OLED | IPS | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | LED | Mini LED | IPS | OLED | OLED | IPS |
Variable Refresh Support | None | None | None | None | None | None | ProMotion | None | None | None | |||
Screen Refresh Rate | 60 | 60 | 60 | 120 | 60 | 120 | 240 | 60 | 120 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
Graphics Processor | Intel Arc B390 | Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU | Apple M4 (10-core) | Apple M4 Pro (20-core) | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc B390 | Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 | Qualcomm Adreno GPU |
Graphics Memory | 16 | 24 | |||||||||||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.55 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches | 0.6 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches | 0.7 by 13.5 by 9.4 inches | 0.51 by 13.37 by 9 inches | 0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches | 0.63 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches | 0.87 by 13.98 by 9.61 inches | 0.44 by 12.0 by 8.5 inches | 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches | 2.1 by 13.9 by 11.9 inches | 0.55 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches | 0.6 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches | 0.7 by 13.5 by 9.4 inches |
Weight | 3.02 | 2.98 | 3.52 | 3.09 | 4.46 | 2.91 | 5.4 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 7.4 | 3.02 | 2.98 | 3.52 |
Operating System | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Apple macOS Sequoia | Apple macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Home |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 42:06 | 34:48 | 29:54 | 21:02 | 17:11 | 21:56 | 10:12 | 19:56 | 25:52 | 41:20 | 42:06 | 34:48 | 29:54 |
Buying Guide: The Best Battery Life Laptops for 2026
Modern improvements in laptop battery life are largely thanks to CPUs and other more power-efficient components; it's not just battery technology that deserves the credit. That's especially true of Intel's and AMD's latest processors (especially the AI-centric Intel Core Ultra chips), which power some of the longest-lasting models on our list. Alternatives to these chips, notably Apple's M series and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X, also offer long battery life.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Battery life is a critical specification, but one of the toughest to measure. If you're watching movies all day, you'll get far more unplugged time than someone editing images nonstop in Photoshop. And how long a notebook will run without being plugged into a power outlet varies wildly depending not just on what it's doing—playing a game, browsing the web, writing emails, or whatever—but also on factors such as its screen resolution (more pixels to illuminate will drain the battery faster), brightness setting, and battery capacity.
Thus, an extremely important point: Any battery-life test we do is a test of relative battery potential. We test battery life in a best-case scenario: watching a specific test movie on a loop, stored locally, at 50% screen brightness, with airplane mode turned on. If you're frequently running CPU-intensive or graphics-hammering tasks, you'll want to shave several hours off our results. If that's all you do, it will be shorter still.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Again, look at our battery results not as absolutes but as relative measures of what a given machine can do versus other machines in an optimal, low-impact battery situation.
What Designs of Laptops Have the Longest Battery Life?
Our top laptop list is stacked with traditional laptops and convertible hybrid designs. Detachable Windows tablets tend to be underrepresented, and for good reason: There simply isn't room for a large battery in such a small enclosure. The best of these, like the Snapdragon-based Microsoft Surface Pro, run around 14 hours. Some convertibles, though, such as the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition or the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ mentioned earlier, use a rotating hinge rather than a detachable keyboard. The latter designs tend to have a better chance of battery-longevity glory, since all of the electronics (and the battery) don't have to be crammed behind the screen, like in a detachable tablet. Indeed, that MSI rotating 2-in-1 is our current battery champion.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)"Traditional laptops" don't always mean big laptops, though: You will find plenty of these laptops and convertible picks to be relatively thin and light. Advancements in chassis design, Windows settings, and processor architecture allow thin-and-light laptops to squeeze more life out of their batteries than ever. A long-lasting battery doesn't have to mean a heavy laptop, even in those with larger screens.
Of course, no matter what laptop you're in the market for, you can always add a few minutes or hours to your unplugged time by changing your computing habits. It's a bit like driving more conservatively to save gas. For some ideas, look at our tips for improving your laptop's battery life.
Recommended by Our Editors
Want the Best Battery Life? Also Consider a MacBook, or a Snapdragon Laptop
Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro lineups have a reputation for excellent battery endurance, and Cupertino's current offerings are no exception. Most portable Macs we've tested can manage at least 18 hours away from an outlet, but some releases last even longer.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The original 2020 M1 MacBook Air ran for an exceptional 29 hours in our battery-rundown test. Which Apple ultraportable you should choose depends on your budget, portability needs, and usage patterns, but you can't go wrong on the battery-life front with a MacBook Air or Pro model. The 2023 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro set the bar at more than 30 hours, but that was the Mac high point to date.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Other manufacturers are more dependent on the model and processor. Intel's latest Core Ultra chips consistently land around the 20-hour mark, and some much longer. Several of our picks here are running these CPUs; you'll want to look to Core Ultra for Intel laptops with really long battery life. (Our current longest runner is an x86 Core Ultra X7 laptop that endured for more than 40 hours.) Similarly, AMD's Ryzen AI 300 chips have consistently delivered long battery life in testing.
Outside of x86 processors, Qualcomm's emerging Snapdragon X processors can last very long, too, and can rival Apple's machines and the best Intel Core Ultras at the 30-hour-and-beyond mark. These AI-centric chips appeared in the first wave of Copilot+ PCs, made in cooperation with Microsoft. One Snapdragon X-based unit, from HP, the OmniBook 5 14, clocked in at just shy of 35 hours.
You won't see them in all types of laptops quite yet, though. But they (and similarly long battery life) should become more common over time. Just know that, as Arm-based CPUs, they run a variant of Windows 11 called Windows 11 on Arm (WoA), and some Windows programs do not run natively, or at all, on WoA. Check for compatibility for your key apps before going the Snapdragon/WoA route. (We tested a bunch of apps with WoA soon after Snapdragon X's launch; some need to run in emulation.)
Ready to Buy the Right Long-Life Laptop for You?
If you have a long plane flight, a stretch of working outdoors ahead of you, or if you're just too busy to linger around a power outlet for long enough, any of these laptops will keep you productive throughout the day and into the evening. For a look at the broader laptop landscape, check out our latest laptop reviews and our picks for the top business notebooks and the best budget laptops.