10 Laptops With Best Battery Life

Wally Nowinski
editor

Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our laptop database and find the laptops with best battery life available in 2024. Here are our top picks.

Our criteria for the laptops with best battery life:

  • Battery: We placed large emphasis on battery.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized laptop recommendation
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10 Laptops With Best Battery Life

1
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 15.3"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Very thin, light
Battery: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) model holds an upper midrange price and is equipped with a high-resolution IPS screen of 15.3 inches, which is not a touchscreen. It operates on the Apple M2 processor with integrated M2 GPU and has 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. With a battery capacity of 66.6, it's noted for its long-lasting battery life, offering around 15 hours of typical usage, which is great for on-the-go use. This MacBook is remarkably thin and weighs only 3.3 pounds, making it very portable. It has a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and a silent, fanless operation which will be appealing for work environments. In terms of connectivity, it has two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt support and also supports USB4. There are no options for expandable RAM or storage slots. If you're looking for a laptop for general use with high build and keyboard quality, good performance, and excellent portability at a premium price, this MacBook Air is a solid choice. However, for those needing a dedicated number pad, an HDMI port, or the best performance in 3D and engineering tasks, you might want to look at other options, as those are not the strongest points of this model.
Pros
  • Powerful M2 processor
  • High screen pixel density
  • User-friendly MacOS installed
  • Lightweight and portable design
  • Silent, fanless operation
Cons
  • Lacks touchscreen functionality
  • 60Hz max screen refresh rate
  • No hardware ray tracing
  • No number pad on keyboard
2
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B+, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 16.2"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, med. heavy
Battery: Best in Class




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is positioned at a premium price point with powerful performance thanks to its Apple M2 Pro processor. It boasts a large 16.2-inch Mini LED display with high resolution, making it an excellent choice for professionals who need accurate colors and clear visuals for tasks such as video editing or graphic design. Its battery is robust, providing long hours of typical usage, which is ideal for those who need to work on the go. Weighing 4.7 pounds, it is heavier than some laptops, which may affect its portability. This MacBook Pro also comes with a large touchpad, a high-quality backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader for added security, and multiple USB-C/Thunderbolt ports for connectivity, but it lacks an HDMI port and an Ethernet connection. It doesn't come with a number pad on the keyboard, so for tasks that require numerical data entry, this could be a limitation. It’s not primarily designed for gaming, but it can handle general and engineering tasks very well. Overall, if you value top-notch build quality, excellent screen performance, and are not constrained by budget, the MacBook Pro 16 (2023) would be a strong choice, albeit with some trade-offs in portability and gaming capabilities.
Pros
  • High-resolution 120Hz display
  • Exceptional build quality
  • Long battery life
  • Excellent speaker and webcam
  • Powerful Apple M2 Pro chip
Cons
  • Significantly heavy
  • No touchscreen option
  • No available RAM upgrade
  • Only USB-C/Thunderbolt ports
3
Acer 14”

Swift 3

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
4.7
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Acer Swift 3 comes at a lower midrange price with a solid balance of features for general consumers. Its Intel i5 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics offer good performance for everyday tasks and some light gaming or creative work but aren't optimized for more demanding 3D, machine learning, or engineering software. Equipped with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, it should handle multitasking and ample data. The 14-inch IPS display provides decent color accuracy and viewing angles, though it's not the best choice for color-critical work. The laptop is quite portable, weighing under 3 pounds, and has a good battery life that can support typical usage for around 12 hours. Additionally, build quality and heat management are rated good, making it suitable for mobility and use in different environments. With a variety of ports including USB-C and Thunderbolt, connectivity is versatile, but the absence of an Ethernet port might be a drawback for some. A backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader enhance usability, although if you're looking for a laptop with a higher refresh rate, better speakers, or dedicated gaming features, other models may be more fitting.
Pros
  • Large storage space
  • Sufficient RAM for multitasking
  • Latest generation Intel processor
  • Integrated high-performance graphics
  • Lightweight and slim design
Cons
  • Moderate battery life
  • Lacks number pad on keyboard
  • Speakers are of fair quality
  • Not designed for intense 3D tasks
4
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B+, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 14.2"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, light
Battery: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is considered an upper midrange-priced laptop, well-regarded for its build quality, keyboard, webcam, and speaker performance. It boasts 512GB storage, 16GB RAM, and Apple's M2 Pro chip with a 10-core CPU and a 16-core GPU, making it powerful for general use and engineering tasks but fair for 3D and machine learning applications. With a Mini LED display, a high resolution, and 120 Hz refresh rate it offers a premium viewing experience, though it is not a touchscreen. This model has a solid battery life, offering 13.5 hours of typical usage and is moderately portable at 3.5 pounds. It includes features such as a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and USB-C charging, yet lacks an ethernet port and the performance for intensive gaming. Suitable for professionals and creatives needing high performance and excellent screen quality, this MacBook might not be the first choice for gamers or those requiring machine learning capabilities.
Pros
  • High screen color accuracy
  • Strong build quality
  • Excellent heat management
  • Good battery life
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
Cons
  • Not designed for intensive 3D/machine learning
  • Heavy compared to other models
  • No touchscreen available
  • No available RAM or storage slots
5
Apple 13.6”

MacBook Air (2022)

BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 13.6"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Very thin, very light
Battery: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is a midrange laptop that offers a solid blend of performance and portability, making it a good choice for general use. Its main processor and GPU are both Apple's M2 chip, which provides good general performance and can handle some lighter engineering tasks. Keep in mind, for 3D rendering, machine learning, or heavy gaming, the performance might not meet the demands of those intensive tasks. It features 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which is ample for everyday tasks, but may be limiting for more demanding applications. The battery life is commendable, providing up to 15 hours of typical usage, and its fanless design ensures silent operation. Its 13.6-inch IPS display with a high resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio delivers clear and vibrant images with wide color coverage, but it does not have a touchscreen or high refresh rate. The MacBook Air is highly portable, weighing just 2.7 pounds and with a thickness of 0.44 inches, enhanced by its sleek build quality. For connectivity, it includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports but lacks Ethernet or HDMI ports. The keyboard and webcam quality are rated as excellent, adding to the appeal for professionals on the go. Notably, there are no available slots for RAM or storage expansion. If you prioritize a balance of portability, build quality, and overall performance for everyday tasks, the MacBook Air (2022) is a compelling option.
Pros
  • Excellent portability with lightweight design
  • Outstanding battery life for longer usage
  • Fanless operation for silent performance
  • Superb build and keyboard quality
  • Best-in-class web-cam and speaker audio
Cons
  • Limited to 8 GB RAM for multitasking
  • Entry-level GPU limits 3D tasks
  • No touchscreen or HDMI port
  • Not designed for high-end gaming
6
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B+, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 14.2"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, light
Battery: Excellent




Pros
  • Top-tier keyboard quality
  • Excellent build quality
  • Outstanding screen color accuracy
  • High brightness display
  • Long battery life
Cons
  • Not the lightest laptop
  • No touchscreen
  • Limited availability of RAM slots
  • No Ethernet port
7
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B+, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 14.2"
Overall Performance: Very Good
Portability: Thin, light
Battery: Excellent




Pros
  • Top-notch build quality
  • Excellent battery life
  • Powerful Apple M2 Pro processor
  • Vibrant, high-resolution display
  • Superior speaker and webcam quality
Cons
  • Heavier than many competitors
  • Limited port variety
  • No touchscreen capability
  • No hardware ray tracing
8
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Thin, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Pros
  • High-resolution screen
  • Strong build quality
  • Good heat management
  • Long battery life
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
Cons
  • No touchscreen
  • Heavier than some laptops
  • Limited upgradeability
  • Not ideal for fast motion use
9
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: A, Gaming/AI: B+, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 14.2"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, light
Battery: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is a premium laptop with ample storage and a high-quality mini LED display, which comes with a robust Apple M2 Pro processor and integrated GPU, making it suitable for demanding tasks such as engineering or creative work that requires graphics processing. The MacBook offers an impressive battery life and a high-quality build with backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and multiple USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, but these features do contribute to its premium price tag. Note that it's not the lightest, so while it does offer very good portability, there are more lightweight options if that's a priority. Its screen is notably bright and provides an excellent color coverage, making it ideal for tasks where color accuracy is important. It isn't designed for intensive gaming, as it lacks dedicated gaming features like high refresh rates or hardware ray tracing. If you're looking for a high-performance machine for work that's also capable of handling creative tasks, the MacBook Pro 14 could be a superb choice, as long as the investment aligns with your budget.
Pros
  • High screen resolution and pixel density
  • Color accuracy covers DCI-P3 and sRGB
  • Solid battery life for typical usage
  • Excellent build and speaker quality
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
Cons
  • Relatively high weight affects portability
  • No touchscreen functionality
  • Limited port selection
  • Premium price point
10
BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 13.3"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Best in Class




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is a premium device with an upper midrange price, featuring the Apple M2 processor and integrated M2 GPU. It offers 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB storage capacity. The 13.3-inch IPS display provides a 2560 x 1600 resolution, which is not a touchscreen, but it is bright and covers a wide range of colors. With a lightweight and slim design, it is highly portable and boasts a long battery life of approximately 20 hours. It includes two USB-C Thunderbolt ports, has fanless silent operation, and is pre-installed with macOS. This model is excellent for general use and good for some engineering tasks, but only fair for 3D and machine learning due to its integrated GPU, making it less ideal for intensive gaming. Its backlit keyboard and fingerprint sensor make for secure and convenient use, though it lacks a dedicated numeric keypad.
Pros
  • High-quality Retina display
  • 20 hours of battery life
  • Silent, fanless operation
  • Apple M2 chip performance
  • Backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader
Cons
  • No touchscreen available
  • Limited port selection
  • No hardware ray tracing
  • Moderate 3D performance