Which Copilot+ PC Battery Offers the Best Performance: Let’s Compare

Battery life on Copilot+ PCs is one of the key highlights of Microsoft’s campaign for the new devices. Let’s confirm if these computers meet those high expectations.

“All-day” and “multi-day” battery life are how Microsoft and Qualcomm describe a typical Copilot+ PC’s battery performance. These promises caught the tech community’s attention, as battery performance has eluded Windows laptops for years.

However, it’s best to always take marketing claims with a slice of skepticism since their numbers mostly come from favorable testing conditions.

I’ll be covering the real-world battery performance of Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft, Samsung, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, and Lenovo under different usage patterns. We’ll also look at how each computer performs against its manufacturer’s claims and which laptop performs the best.

What Are Copilot+ PCs?

Copilot+ PCs are a new category of Windows computers with special AI features powered by new hardware. Microsoft introduced these computers to allow users to perform AI tasks on their devices without depending on cloud servers.

To make that possible, the company requires OEMs to integrate NPUs, a new type of processor specifically designed for AI computing. These NPUs must have at least 40 TOPS (tera operations per second) capabilities.

Learn more: NPUs: How They Are Changing the Computing Game with the New Copilot+ PCs

But that’s not all. Microsoft introduced a new emulation layer for Arm-based processors called Prism to revive Windows on Arm, and it’s been quite a success. It means that computers running on processors with the Arm architecture can now run x86 and x64 apps better. 

Read more: Microsoft Copilot+ PCs are Out Now on the Market: Do You Need One? Here’s the Breakdown

Copilot+ PC Battery Life Claims by Microsoft and Qualcomm

While Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC battery life claims are somewhat more conservative than Qualcomm’s, both companies still put out exceptionally high numbers.

Qualcomm’s Kedar Kondap published a blog post on the release date of the first-generation Copilot+ PCs. The post iterated that these PCs have multi-day performance. But that’s not all. The company also claimed the following:

• Its NPU is five times more power efficient than other processors as of the time of release.
• Users can play videos on the Copilot+ PC powered by the Snapdragon X Elite 60% longer than other computers.
• Users can also stream videos two times longer and stay on video calls 70% longer.

Microsoft’s “Introducing Copilot+ PCs” blog claimed the PCs can deliver all-day battery life and outperform the MacBook Air 15″ by 20% in local video playback.

Battery life in context

Both companies added small-print disclaimers at the bottom of each blog post. Per Qualcomm, “Battery life varies significantly based on devices, settings, usage, and other factors.”

Qualcomm also claims to have used Microsoft Edge for browsing, Microsoft Teams for video call, and VLC Media Player for the video playback (4k video file) tests while setting the computer’s screen at 150 nits.

Part of Microsoft’s footnote reads, “Battery life varies significantly by device and with settings, usage, and other factors.” The company also provides a dedicated page that provides context for every Copilot+ PC claim, from performance to battery life.

Microsoft also ran their video playback test at 150 nits with VLC Media Player. The video file (.mov) played in 1080p at 24 FPS. The same screen brightness was used during the web browsing test running multiple (no exact number) tabs on a browser.

Do Copilot+ PCs Really Have Better Battery Life than Other Windows Laptops?

Yes, when comparing Copilot+ PCs to other traditional computers, the new-generation laptops offer better battery life.

To be fair to Microsoft, Qualcomm, and OEMs, Copilot+ PCs deliver incredible battery performance under different scenarios. While the all-day and multi-day claims do not represent every use case and device setting, you will enjoy better numbers than Intel and AMD-powered computers.

Even in real-world testing, users are saying it’s the best battery performance since Microsoft’s first attempt at Windows on Arm. But these laptops offer better use cases on top of their battery performance, as x64 and x86 emulation is miles better than Windows 10 on Arm.

Performance on battery is also incredible. Users say they do not have to sacrifice so much power even while running only on battery. It’s not the case with x86 laptops, as you have to deal with significantly subpar performance when your computer is not plugged in.

• Why do they have better battery life?

As mentioned, Arm processors were originally designed for mobile devices to consume significantly less power. Here are the reasons they are better at preserving battery life:

• Architecture efficiency: Arm chips operate on the reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture (Arm is short for Advanced RISC Machines). They prioritize simpler instructions and lower power consumption, unlike Intel and AMD’s complex instruction set computing (CISC) architecture.
• System on a chip (SoC) design: Most manufacturers, like Snapdragon, integrate multiple processors, such as the CPU, GPU, memory controller, and NPU, onto a single chip (system on a chip). This integration removes the need for excessive power due to data transfer over longer distances.
• Optimized software: Applications designed for Arm platforms are tailored to follow Arm’s resource management principles to further increase performance per watt, reduce voltage demands for the same amount of power, and boost battery life.
• Process node advantage: Arm-based chip manufacturers, like Apple and Snapdragon, have been able to reduce their processor size and add even more transistors. For example, the Apple M3 chip has a processor node of just 4 nanometers and packs a whopping 25 billion transistors. Shrinking processor size generally helps thermal efficiency.

What determines battery life?

While looking at what a laptop delivers on paper is good enough to influence your decision, you still have to consider the following:

• A larger screen with a higher resolution, peak brightness, and refresh rate will consume more battery than lesser configurations.
• Laptops with bigger batteries may last longer.
• Use cases are the main gauge for battery performance. Using higher brightness and performance settings, running multiple demanding apps at once, and keeping numerous browsing tabs open can significantly drain battery life, regardless of system configuration.
• Other device specifications, such as a specific processor (the Snapdragon X Elite has four different variants), RAM, speaker quality, Wi-Fi technology, and storage, can influence battery life.

Which Snapdragon Copilot+ PC Delivers the Best Battery Life?

As mentioned, the computer with the best battery life depends on the different factors covered above. While real-world tests try as much as possible to make fair comparisons, they’re still not apples to apples. Things like screen panel, screen resolution, speaker output, and other specifications can drain or preserve battery life.

For example, an LCD screen with a higher resolution will drain more battery than an OLED screen, even if you set them to the same brightness level and run video playback (with audio) for the same number of minutes.

That said, it’s still a good idea to see a snapshot of a computer’s battery life, all things considered. That way, you’ll know what you’re signing up for. I’ll show you the manufacturer battery life claims and real-world results from different users.

• Microsoft Surface Laptop and Pro Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft released three Surface devices: Surface Pro, Surface Laptop 7 (15-inch) and Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch). The company claims the following battery life for each PC:

• Surface Laptop 7 (13.8“): Up to 20 hours of local video playback and 13 hours of active web browsing. 

Battery capacity: 54 Wh battery

• Surface Laptop 7 (15″): Up to 22 hours of local video playback and 15 hours of active web browsing. 

Battery capacity: 66 Wh battery

• Surface Pro: Up to 14 hours. 

Battery capacity: 48 Wh (LCD); 53 Wh (OLED)

According to the tests we’ve seen from different reviews, the Surface Laptop 7 is one of the best battery performers. PhoneBuff’s battery test for the 13.8-inch variant involved running browsing, productivity, gaming, video calling, and video streaming sessions at different intervals. The device lasted about 7 hours during active use and lost only 4% of battery life after 16 hours on standby.

A Reddit user, DifficultyWorldly502, revealed the Surface Laptop 7 15″ 15–16 hour battery life on everyday use with productivity apps, game streaming, browsing, and video playback. 

According to Mash It, the Surface Laptop 7 13.8″ delivered about 20 hours on regular YouTube and Netflix streaming and 5 hours and 35 minutes on heavy GPU and CPU work. The Surface Pro 11 (OLED version) achieved 13 hours while streaming Netflix and YouTube and 5 hours on demanding use cases.

Tom’s Guide’s testing showed the Surface Pro 12 OLED version lasting 12 hours and 10 minutes on continuous web browsing.

Andrew Marc David’s YouTube review also revealed the 13.8″ laptop lasted 20 hours and 9 minutes streaming 4k YouTube video at 120 Hz.

• Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge Copilot+ PCs

The Samsung Copilot+ PC is the Galaxy Book4 Edge, which comes in 16- and 14-inch versions. The company claims the 16-inch version can deliver up to 22 hours of local video playback. However, it also issued a caveat that the number does not represent both PCs as they have different battery capacities:

• Galaxy Book 4 Edge 16″: 61.8 Wh. 
• Galaxy Book 4 Edge 14″: 55.9 Wh.

That said, the Tech Chap’s (YouTube reviewer) real-world tests showed the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge 16″ pulling off 13 hours and 49 minutes on YouTube streaming. They also lost only 2% of the battery life after leaving it overnight on standby.

XDA’s real-world use test showed the 16″ lasting about 11 hours.

Laptop Mag’s HP EliteBook Ultra test, which involved Wi-Fi web surfing, saw the computer hit 16 hours.

• Asus Copilot+ PCs

Asus says its new Vivobook S 15 with a 70 Wh battery lasts up to 18 hours on local video playback. However, Wi-Fi was disabled, brightness was set to 150 nits, and the Windows power plan was set to best power efficiency to achieve that number.

Real-world testing by Dave2D revealed the following:

• Browser loop test (light load): 10 hours and 46 minutes.
• Netflix streaming (medium load): 7 hours and 47 minutes.
• Photoshop (heavy load): 4 hours and 12 minutes.

However, Notebook Check’s tests saw the following results:

• Wi-Fi web browsing: 13 hours and 3 minutes.
• Web browsing at 100% brightness: 7 hours and 39 minutes.
• Maximum load (100% brightness): 1 hour and 37 minutes.

• HP Copilot+ PCs

Like other manufacturers, HP’s claims also don’t reflect real-world usage, but they’re not that far apart. Per the OEM, the Omnibook X (59 Wh battery) can last up to 26 hours on local video playback. The EliteBook Ultra (also a 59 Wh battery) can deliver up to 22 hours of battery life on Netflix and 12 hours of actively running Microsoft Teams.

But according to Matthew Moniz’s tests, the HP Omnibook X lasted for 15 hours and 5 minutes on battery while playing video. Marshable’s video test (running a 1080p video) showed the laptop lasting 16 hours and 47 minutes.

Per Notebook Check, the HP EliteBook Ultra G1q lasts 20 hours and 22 minutes idle, 13 hours and 12 minutes on web browsing, and 2 hours and 4 minutes on heavy load with maximum brightness.

• Lenovo Copilot+ PCs

Lenovo’s consumer Copilot+ PC is the Yoga Slim 7x. The company’s battery life claim is quite different from others, as it says the 70 Wh battery device offers “two consecutive 8-hour days of mixed workloads.”

Paul Thurrot measured his uptime with the device and concluded it’s best (and regular) battery performance for day-to-day work activities is just about 10 hours.

According to Dave2D’s tests, the laptop can carry web browsing on battery for 11 hours and 13 minutes. Its Netflix streaming performance is 8 hours and 13 minutes. However, it lasts only 4 hours and 37 minutes under heavy load when running Photoshop.

Copilot+ PC Battery Life: Verdict

I didn’t get to see well-run battery life tests for Dell and Acer’s Copilot+ PCs. However, the manufacturers still claim these numbers:

• Dell XPS 13: Up to 27 hours of streaming Netflix.
• Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441): Up to 15 hours of streaming Netflix.
• Dell Latitude 7455: Up to 21 hours of local video playback.
• Acer Swift AI: Up to 26 hours.

That said, from what I’ve seen, it’s clear the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 15″ takes the prize. The PC showed consistent performance across different tests, whether under light or heavy loads. 

I’ll put the HP Elitebook Ultra in second place since it beats even the Surface Pro in some tests. But we need more data and varied tests to confirm for sure where they fall in the pecking order.

It’s important to point out that these laptops are still in their early days, and more tests may reveal better or worse performance. OEMs and Microsoft will continue releasing driver and performance updates to resolve certain issues that may improve battery life.

Implications of the AI Features on Battery Life

Most of the real-world tests I’ve checked did not really mention using AI tasks at full throttle. However, certain AI functions, such as the automatic super resolution, are turned on by default to help boost picture quality, especially during video playback and gaming.

These features don’t hurt the battery much, thanks to the dedicated NPU, which processes AI tasks using minimal power. Still, Recall is currently unavailable, as Microsoft is still rectifying the issues behind the feature’s PR disaster. We’ll see if battery life takes a hit when it ships and when Microsoft introduces new AI features, especially updates for the Copilot app.

Expert Tips for Maximizing Battery Life

If you decide to go for an Arm-based Copilot+ PC, you still have to practice efficient battery management if you want to get the best battery life. These sets of computers are still not immune to the consequences of heavy loads on battery life.

Using the highest brightness level, running the high performance power option when you don’t have to, and running too many background applications are things you’d have to avoid to enjoy longer uptime without connecting your charger.

Copilot+ PC Battery Performance: What You Should Keep in Mind

These tests are solely connected to the Snapdragon X-powered device. The impressive numbers demonstrate some of the advantages of Arm-based laptops. However, Intel and AMD are gearing up to release competitive Copilot+ PCs of their own.

So, if you’re in the market for a new laptop, my best advice is that you wait until more computers hit the market. You’re still not getting the complete package with this current crop of Copilot+ PCs since x86 app support is not yet 100% and the AI features are not all that life-changing.

Head to the comments section to share what stands out when you look at these computers.

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