There is a disturbing trend in the gadget world, and it’s that laptop, tablet and phone makers aren’t taking battery life seriously enough. Yes, having touch on a Windows 8 notebook is great, but not if the computer lasts an hour and a half less than one without that capability. And what good is a smartphone with an HD display and superfast processor if you have to plug it in around lunchtime?
We run our homemade battery test, which involves continuous web surfing at 40 per cent brightness, on every device we review. And if the endurance isn’t good enough, regardless of the gadget’s other features, we simply won’t recommend it.
Here are seven of my worst battery life offenders and how much you will pay per hour of juice versus more efficient competitors.
Staying on the cutting edge of gadget tech doesn’t come without a few sacrifices — both monetarily and in terms of battery life. And what good is an HD display if you can’t even use it? Laptop Mag’s Mark Spoonauer breaks down the worst drainers in detail.
Microsoft Surface Pro ($US899)
Battery life: 4:37
Cost per hour of juice: $US195 per hour
You know it’s a bad sign when the top tech story in Google News is that you might be offering an external battery for your product. Despite its Core i5 power and the ability to run both desktop and Windows Store apps, we don’t recommend the Surface Pro because its four hours and 37 minutes of battery life completely undermines its portability. The average ultraportable laptop lasts about an hour and a half longer. And while the iPad isn’t as versatile, it lasted 12 hours and 22 minutes on our battery test. That’s 2.5 times the endurance. If you opted for the 128GB iPad ($US799/$A869), that works out to $US64 an hour of juice, compared to $US195 per hour for the Surface Pro. [clear]
Acer C7 Chromebook ($US199)
Battery life: 4:24
Cost per hour of juice: $US45 per hour
Lets take a look at two Chromebooks with around the same price: the Samsung Series 3 Chromebook ($US249) and Acer C7 ($US199). Both devices sport 11-inch displays, but the ARM-powered Chromebook lasted 7:34, while the C7 lagged more than three hours behind at 4:24. Granted, the C7 isn’t designed to be your primary PC, and maybe you will use it mostly around the house. But why would you pay $US45 per hour of battery life for the Acer when, for just $US50 more, you can get the much more efficient, $US33-per-hour Samsung Chromebook? The Series 3 also happens to sport a sleeker design. [clear]
ASUS Taichi ($US1299)
Battery life: 4:37
Cost per hour of juice: $US282 per hour
One of the most innovative Windows 8 hybrids of the year is also one of the most disappointing. Almost everyone who sees the ASUS Taichi, which has a second screen on the back of its lid, can’t help but say “Wow”. All you have to do to transform this 11.6-inch wonder from clamshell to tablet mode is shut the lid.
While we wish both displays offered touch capability (just the outside one does), my biggest complaint is the lack of staying power. In laptop mode, the device lasted four hours and 37 minutes, and with just the touchscreen active, we saw only three hours and 37 minutes. The average ultraportable laptop lasts 1.5 hours longer. While it’s bigger, the $US1199, 12-inch Dell XPS Duo lasted 5:46, translating to a much better efficiency rating of $US206 per hour. [clear]
Google Nexus 4 ($US299/$A349)
Battery life: 4:36
Cost per hour of juice: $US65 per hour
If you want a pure Google experience, the unlocked Nexus 4 is the smartphone to buy. You get the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean software, a nifty Photo Sphere camera and absolutely no ugly skins. Too bad the 2100mAh battery inside this handset lasted only four hours and 36 minutes on our battery test. The HTC One VX lasted 6:58 on our test, good for a $US7 per hour efficiency rating. [clear]
HP Pavilion Chromebook ($US329)
Battery life (rated): up to 4:15
Cost per hour of juice: $US78 per hour
We give HP credit for being transparent about the battery life it expects out of its Pavilion Chromebook. The company says “up to” four hours and 15 minutes via the four-cell battery. Even if the system lives up to that not-so-lofty number, it will lag way behind the Samsung Chromebook’s score of 7:34. Granted, HP’s Chromebook has a much larger, 14-inch display, but it also costs $US80 more for something you can’t use for very long away from an outlet.
Put another way, you’ll pay $US78 per hour of endurance, versus $US33 per hour for the Samsung. That’s nearly a 2.5x premium. [clear]
Techno Source Kurio Tablet ($Us149)
Battery life: 3:37
Cost per hour of juice: $US39.50 per hour
You might have heard of the Kurio 7 tablet, because it’s targeted directly to families. This $US149, Android-powered device lets you create multiple child profiles with ease, as well as restrict screen time and Web surfing. Parents can also choose to whitelist only the apps they want Junior to use. But what good is a kids’ tablet if it runs out of juice in just three hours and 37 minutes? That works out to $US39.50 per hour. The $US199 Amazon Kindle Fire HD lasted 7:34 (or $US26 per hour), and it has a parent-friendly FreeTime mode. And the $US199 Fuhu Nabi 2 didn’t conk out until 8:05 ($24.50 per hour). [clear]
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist ($US899)
Battery life: 4:36
Cost per hour of juice: $US195 per hour
Here’s a twist on the Windows 8 convertible you should probably avoid. The 12.5-inch ThinkPad Twist combines a swivelling touchscreen with one of the better keyboards you’ll find. We especially like the stand mode for giving presentations. Just make sure you’re near an outlet. On our battery test, the Twist died after 4 hours and 36 minutes. The average ultraportable notebook lasts 6:01. Although it has a slightly larger display, Lenovo’s own IdeaPad Yoga lasted a much longer 6:18. In efficiency terms, the $US899 Twist would cost you $US195 per hour of juice, compared to $US182 per hour for a $US1159 Yoga outfitted with a much faster 128GB SSD. That’s an easy call in my book. [clear]
Related Links:
- Countdown: 10 Smartphones with the Longest Battery Life
- Acer Aspire S7-391 Extra Battery Tested: Ugly But 9 Hours of Power
- 10 Tablets with the Longest Battery Life
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