Top 5 Netbooks by Battery Life
Battery life varies depending on several factors including -
- Intensity of the applications you are running.
- Type of battery (3 cell, 4 cell, 6 cell etc.).
- Power saving options available.
- Amount of energy consumed by hard drive.
Also, you want a netbook that lasts long and works well. This list ranks laptops based on their battery lives as well as other specs including ease of use and computing power.
1. Asus Eee PC 1000 HE – 9 hours
The Asus 1000 HE uses a 6 cell high density battery (8700mAh) that boasts up to 9.5 hours of use. In practice, it lasts for a bit over 7 hours, which is still very impressive for a netbook. It uses Intel’s Atom N280 - a small, powerful processor that requires less power to run.
While the 1000 HE is a popular model because of its computing power and large keyboard, it is one of the heaviest netbooks weighing 3.2 pounds. If you don’t mind lugging it around, the 1000 HE is a good choice for heavy computing. (available at Amazon for under $400)
If the 1000 HE is over your price range, you can get the Asus 1000 HA for $50 less at Amazon. The 1000 HA has a battery life of 6-7 hours and similar features.
2. Samsung N120 – 10.5 hours
Priced higher at almost $ 500 (Amazon) Samsung’s N120’s 6 cell battery offers a battery life of up to 10.5 hours. This netbook is perfect for trans-Atlantic and Pacific trips - you can watch a couple of movies with battery life that long.
The N120 weighs only 2.8 pounds and its screen is quite large at 10.71’. A feature unique to the N120 are its speakers which are built in on both sides of the screen.
3. Samsung NC10 – 9 hours
Another netbook with a 6 cell battery, the Samsung NC10 is a popular choice for many reasons. It lasts for almost 7 hours before using power saving options, has a solid Atom N270 processor, weighs less than 3 pounds (2.8 lbs to be exact) and has a large keyboard and sleeker design than most models.
For a company that started manufacturing netbooks later in the game, Samsung’s NC10 is one of the better notebooks available today. (available at Amazon for under $450).
Samsung NC10 - A great netbook with great battery life
4. Acer Aspire One AOD150 – 6.5 hours
The Acer AOD150 is a high standard 10.1’ netbook that promises a decent battery life. Expect it to run for about 5 hours after heavy use. The AOD150 is slightly lighter than the Asus 1000 HE at 2.95lbs, and has a slightly less impressive range of features. It biggest advantage is its retail price – about $50 cheaper than the 1000 HE (via Amazon).
Just make sure the 6 cell battery it comes with is a 5800mAh to get the full 6.5 hour life. The 6 cell 4400mAh battery lasts only 4.5 hours.
5. HP Mini 1000 series – 6-7 hours
The HP Mini 1000 series also stands out as far as its battery is concerned. The batteries are sleek and come in a slim square size, making it convenient to carry a spare battery in your handbag or netbook bag.
After wide anticipation, HP recently released an extended 6 cell battery that weighs a little longer but lasts for 6-7 hours. The battery is an expensive add-on at over a $100, but the extended life allows you to seriously consider buying an HP Mini – one of the best-looking netbooks available.
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Not included in this list is MSI’s upcoming netbook which will redefine our view on battery life entirely. The Wind U115 promises a battery life of over 10 hours and is speculated to last for an entire day. It will be launched this summer in the UK, much to the dismay of netbook fans in the rest of the world. Read more about it here.
You may have noticed that all the laptops on the list use 6 cell batteries for the extended life. With 9 cell batteries being introduced in the market, you really want to make sure you stay away from the 3 cells if battery life is a priority for you.
This post is part of the Top 5 Netbooks By… series. Enjoy!
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