Two females and one male standing outside glass doors to a building and carrying a Surface Pro and a Surface Laptop

October 06, 2025

Best laptops with good battery life – and why It matters

When your life doesn't fit neatly inside an office—or into a 9-to-5 day—your laptop’s battery quickly becomes one of the most important components. Whether you're flying across time zones, running between meetings, or capturing notes during your bicycle tour in the Dolomites, a long-lasting battery can give you flexibility, confidence, and peace of mind.

Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs redefine what it means to stay productive without being tethered to a power outlet. With smart engineering, energy-efficient components, and AI-enhanced performance, you can forget your charger, because Surface delivers powerful performance that gets the job done, with all-day battery life¹.

Why people on the go need reliable battery performance

A full schedule doesn’t always come with a power outlet. Maybe your day is filled with back-to-back calls, catching up on projects from a train seat, or binging on videos late into the night. When your device lasts all day, you gain the freedom to focus on your work instead of your battery percentage. That reliability is especially important when you’re in transit, between meetings, or using your laptop in places where charging isn’t easy—or possible.

Surface Copilot+ PCs are lightweight and ultraportable. With up to 23 hours of local video playback or 16 hours of active web use, Surface Copilot+ PCs are built to keep going wherever your day takes you.

Battery life is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a laptop—especially if your lifestyle keeps you on the move. Surface Copilot+ PCs are powered by Snapdragon® X Elite and Plus processors, which prioritize energy efficiency and speed. This super-fast CPU is paired with a turbocharged neural processing unit (NPU), a specialized computer chip capable of running AI-intensive processes locally, like real-time translations, image generation, and AI-enhanced video calls. The NPU can perform 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS), which means you’ve got a super-fast CPU with a turbocharged NPU to get going, confidence to make it happen with better performance across your apps, and a long battery life to go the distance.

A young woman using a Surface Pro confident (that it won’t run out of power) while sitting at a sidewalk cafe sipping a cappuccino w/ a canoli in Rome, Italy across from the famous Trevi Fountain

AI art created via Copilot

How to choose a laptop based on battery life

Not all laptops are built the same when it comes to battery performance. If you want a laptop that keeps up with your day, here’s how to make a smart choice:

Start with your daily routine. Think about how you use your laptop—do you stream videos, join video calls, or run creative apps? The more demanding your tasks, the more battery-efficient your laptop needs to be.
Look beyond the battery spec. Manufacturers often list battery life under ideal conditions. Instead, check for real-world usage estimates like hours of web browsing or video playback. Surface Copilot+ PCs, for example, offer up to 23 hours of local video playback and 16 hours of web use—based on actual usage scenarios.
Choose energy-efficient hardware. Devices powered by Snapdragon® X Elite Plus processors, like Surface Copilot+ PCs, are built for long battery life. These chips are designed to balance performance and power. Surface Copilot+ PCs are also built with a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) that handles AI tasks without draining battery life.
Prioritize smart software. Laptops running Windows 11 can help you work more efficiently, reducing the time and energy spent on repetitive tasks. Surface Copilot+ PCs are optimized for this experience, giving you intelligent assistance while preserving battery life.
Read reviews and user feedback. Look for feedback from people who use the laptop the way you do. Battery life can vary depending on usage, so real-world insights are key.

Factors that affect battery performance

Even with a high-capacity battery, your laptop’s actual performance can vary depending on how you use it. Here are a few key factors that influence battery life:

Screen brightness and refresh rate: A brighter screen or one with a high refresh rate (like 120Hz) can drain your battery faster.
Background apps and processes: Apps running in the background—especially those that sync data or use location services—can quietly consume battery.
Connectivity: Constantly using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular connections can reduce battery life.
Performance settings: Laptops often have power modes (like “Best performance” or “Battery saver”). Choosing a balanced or power-saving mode can significantly improve battery life.
AI and productivity features: On modern laptops like Surface Copilot+ PCs, AI tasks are handled by the dedicated NPU. This NPU is more power-efficient than laptops that rely on the CPU or GPU alone, helping extend battery life while delivering smooth, responsive AI experiences.

Understanding these factors can help you get the most out of your laptop’s battery—whether you're buying a new device or optimizing the one you already have.

Tips for maximizing battery life

Even the best battery can benefit from a few smart habits. Here are some easy ways to get the most out of your laptop’s battery:

Adjust screen brightness: Lowering your screen brightness or enabling adaptive brightness can significantly reduce power consumption.
Use battery saver mode: Most laptops have a built-in battery saver or power efficiency mode. Turn it on when you're unplugged to extend usage time.
Close unused apps and tabs: Background apps and browser tabs can quietly drain your battery. Shut down anything you're not actively using.
Turn off unused features: Disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or location services when you don’t need them. These features constantly search for connections and use power in the process.
Keep your system updated: Software updates often include performance and power efficiency improvements. Staying current helps your laptop run more smoothly and efficiently.
Use optimized hardware and software: Laptops like Surface Copilot+ PCs are designed with battery life in mind. The dedicated NPU handles AI tasks efficiently, and Windows 11 includes built-in tools to help manage power use.

A laptop with good battery life means all-day battery life when you choose Surface

Battery life can make or break a laptop experience—especially when you're working, creating, or connecting on the go. By understanding what affects battery performance and choosing a laptop designed for efficiency and portability, you can stay productive longer and worry less about finding the next outlet.

When you choose Surface Copilot+ PCs, incredible speed and battery life come together with next-level AI experiences and signature Surface design. The Snapdragon® X Elite Plus processors and dedicated NPU handles AI tasks with exceptional efficiency. With up to 23 hours of local video playback and sleek, modern designs, Surface Copilot+ PCs are ideal for those who want performance without compromise.

Compare Surface Copilot+ PCs and find the one that fits your lifestyle—get powerful performance that gets the job done, with all-day battery life¹.

DISCLAIMER: Features and functionality subject to change. Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.
[1] Battery life varies significantly based on device configuration, usage, network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings and other factors. See Surface Battery Performance for details.