Intel and LG Display Potentially Surpass Apple and Qualcomm in Laptop Battery Life

The Dell XPS 16 is maintaining its reputation for long-lasting performance. One standout laptop from CES in January was the new Dell XPS 16, featuring a unique 1–120Hz variable refresh rate display that optimizes power consumption when high speed isn’t needed. Notebookcheck tested a version with this LG Display screen and a new Intel Panther Lake chip, revealing it to be the most efficient laptop they’ve ever reviewed in their Wi-Fi web browsing test. Impressively, it consumed as little as 1.5 watts when idle and lasted nearly 27 hours on a 70 watt-hour battery, which is remarkable compared to the 99.5Wh some older models had. Compared to any MacBook or MacBook Pro that Notebookcheck has tested, this battery life is unprecedented. Only two other laptops have surpassed this performance since the test began in 2014, one with a Snapdragon chip and lower specs and the other with dual batteries. While typical use might see less battery life than fixed tests suggest, this Dell model with its combination of Intel and LG Display components is currently leading the pack. Though Dell’s innovations are noteworthy, LG Display has announced they are the first to mass-produce a 1–120Hz LCD panel with plans for an OLED release in 2027. Additionally, Intel is expanding this technology with other vendors like BOE. This variable refresh rate technology, familiar from devices like the Apple Watch Series 5 and various smartphones, continues to evolve and integrate into larger devices.