MacBook Pro battery life is four times longer than in 2011
Engadget compared a 2011 MacBook Pro with the 2026 M5 Max model. Battery life rose from seven hours to over 30, though the battery grew only about 30%.
The facts
- According to Engadget, the 2011 15-inch MacBook Pro lasted seven hours in its video rundown test. The 2026 16-inch M5 Max model lasted 30 hours and 46 minutes.
- The battery grew only about 30%, from 77.5 watt-hours to 99.6 watt-hours, so most of the gain comes from more efficient hardware.
- The new model's standard charger is 140W, up from 85W. Apple says it charges to 50% in about 30 minutes.
- The 2026 laptop weighs 4.7 pounds and is 0.66 inches thick, against 5.6 pounds and 0.95 inches in 2011.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
A bigger battery is the obvious fix, but it is the lazy one. The real gain came from chips that waste less power. That matters even more because the 99.6 watt-hour battery sits just under the FAA's 100 watt-hour limit for flying. So efficiency is the main lever left. If you work in Lagos, where power can drop mid-task, a laptop that outlasts your working day is a backup plan, not a luxury.
For builders
With battery size capped, efficiency is where laptop makers will compete. Software that wastes power will feel worse on hardware that sips it, so profile your apps' energy use.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from Engadget's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.