Key takeaways
- Lower screen brightness, use battery saver modes and close heavy background apps for longer daily runtime.
- Avoid heat and enable charge limits (80%) to extend battery lifespan.
- For travel days, carry a USB-C power bank rated 60W or more.
In this article
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Knowing how to make a laptop battery last longer helps in two ways: more hours on each charge today, and more years before the battery wears out. Most of the gains come from a few simple settings and habits. Here is a practical guide for Windows, macOS and ChromeOS in 2026.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each product opens the current price on Amazon.
Part 1: Get more hours from each charge
1. Lower screen brightness
The display is usually the biggest power draw. Dropping brightness from 100% to around 50% to 60% can add hours. Use automatic brightness where available, and turn off keyboard backlighting in bright rooms.
2. Use battery saver modes
- Windows 11: turn on Energy Saver and choose the “Best power efficiency” power mode.
- macOS: enable Low Power Mode in Battery settings.
- ChromeOS: turn on Battery Saver in Quick Settings.
3. Close heavy apps and tabs
Video calls, games, cloud sync and dozens of browser tabs drain batteries quickly. Use Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) to find energy-hungry apps. Use your browser’s efficiency or memory saver mode.
4. Use efficient apps
Safari on Mac and Edge on Windows are optimized for battery life. Streaming in a browser can be more efficient than some desktop apps, and lowering video resolution saves power.
5. Disconnect what you do not need
Unplug unused USB devices, turn off Bluetooth when not needed and avoid charging your phone from your laptop on battery.
6. Use integrated graphics on gaming laptops
On gaming laptops, switch to Hybrid or Eco mode so the dedicated GPU sleeps when you are not gaming.
Part 2: Extend your battery’s lifespan
7. Avoid heat
Heat is the main enemy of lithium-ion batteries. Do not leave your laptop in a hot car, avoid blocking vents and use a hard surface. Read why is my laptop overheating.
8. Use charge limits
Many laptops let you cap charging at 80% when plugged in for long periods: Lenovo Vantage, Dell Power Manager, ASUS MyASUS, HP Battery Health Manager, Surface Smart Charging and Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging all help.
9. Avoid deep discharges
Try not to run your battery to 0% regularly. Charging between about 20% and 80% is gentle on battery chemistry.
10. Keep software updated
Operating system and firmware updates often include power management improvements.
Products that help
Products that help on long days
Anker Prime Power Bank (26,250mAh, 300W)
Best power bank for long days · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.0/10 · Typical price: $180 – $230
Key specs: 26,250mAh, 300W total, two 140W USB-C ports, smart display
Why we picked it: Doubles your working time on travel days by fast-charging your laptop anywhere.
Pros: Can fast-charge two laptops · Smart display shows power flow · Airline-friendly capacity · Premium build
Cons: Expensive · Heavy at over 1 lb · Overkill for phones only
Buy it if you want to fast-charge a laptop away from outlets.
Skip it if you only top up phones.
Anker 737 Power Bank (24,000mAh, 140W)
Best value power bank · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $90 – $150
Key specs: 24,000mAh, 140W output, smart display
Why we picked it: 140W output and 24,000mAh for a lower price.
Pros: Charges laptops quickly · Smart display · Good capacity · Often discounted
Cons: Heavy · Only three ports · Bulky
Buy it if you want a proven laptop power bank at a fair price.
Skip it if you want something pocketable.
Anker Prime 100W GaN Charger
Best compact charger · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.9/10 · Typical price: $65 – $90
Key specs: 100W total, 3 ports (2 USB-C, 1 USB-A), GaN, foldable plug
Why we picked it: A small GaN charger makes topping up easy at cafes and offices.
Pros: Charges a laptop and phone at once · Compact GaN design · Smart power sharing · Foldable plug
Cons: Pricier than basic chargers · 100W split when multiple devices connected · Warm under load
Buy it if you want one small charger for laptop, phone and earbuds.
Skip it if your laptop needs more than 100W.
Dell 14S
Best long-battery Windows laptop · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $1,279 – $1,469
Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 355, 16GB LPDDR5X, 14-inch OLED touchscreen, about 3.3 lb
Why we picked it: If your battery cannot keep up, the Dell 14S lasts far longer than most laptops.
Pros: Exceptional battery life in testing · OLED touchscreen · Solid everyday performance · Face sign-in
Cons: No fingerprint reader · Heavier than ultraportables · Windows 11 Home on many configurations
Buy it if you want a dependable 14-inch Windows laptop that lasts more than a working day.
Skip it if you want the lightest possible machine.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
Best long-battery laptop overall · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.4/10 · Typical price: $1,099 – $1,299
Key specs: Apple M5 chip, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, about 2.7 lb, up to 18 hours claimed battery
Why we picked it: The MacBook Air easily lasts a full day.
Pros: Fast, silent fanless design · Excellent 15-hour-plus real battery life · 16GB memory and 512GB storage as standard · Superb keyboard, trackpad and speakers
Cons: Only 60Hz display · Ports limited to two USB-C plus MagSafe · Price rose in 2026
Buy it if you want the best all-round laptop for work, school and travel and do not need Windows.
Skip it if you game seriously, need lots of ports or want a high-refresh display.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Snapdragon X2 Elite)
Best Windows battery champion · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.9/10 · Typical price: $1,199 – $1,499
Key specs: Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite, 16GB–32GB memory, 14.5-inch 3K OLED 120Hz, about 2.8 lb, nearly 24 hours tested battery
Why we picked it: Near 24 hours of tested battery life if you are ready to upgrade.
Pros: Close to 24 hours of tested battery life · Gorgeous OLED display · Fast Snapdragon X2 Elite · Slim and light
Cons: Arm emulation for some apps · Limited ports · Not for gaming
Buy it if you want the longest battery life of any Windows laptop with a premium screen.
Skip it if you need full compatibility with older Windows software.
Baseus Blade HD Power Bank (20,000mAh, 100W)
Best slim power bank · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.3/10 · Typical price: $70 – $100
Key specs: 20,000mAh, 100W, thin flat design
Why we picked it: A flat 100W power bank that slides into a laptop sleeve for emergencies.
Pros: Slim enough for laptop sleeves · 100W laptop charging · Display · Good value
Cons: Wide footprint · Slower than 140W models · Gets warm
Buy it if you want a power bank that slides into a laptop sleeve.
Skip it if you need 140W or more.
When it is time for a new laptop
If your battery capacity has dropped below 70% to 80% and replacement is expensive, a new efficient laptop may be the better investment. See our best long-battery-life laptops and how to extend the life of your laptop.
Compare more options
Search laptop power bank on Amazon See top-rated laptop power bank on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How can I make my laptop battery last longer each day?
Lower brightness, enable battery saver or Low Power Mode, close unused apps and browser tabs, and disconnect unused accessories.
Should I keep my laptop plugged in all the time?
It is fine if you enable a charge limit (often 80%) or Optimized Battery Charging. Avoid heat while plugged in.
Does charging to 100% damage the battery?
Frequently keeping it at 100%, especially when hot, speeds up wear. Charge limits help.
When should I replace my laptop battery?
When capacity falls below about 70% to 80% of the original or runtime no longer meets your needs.