Carrying a charger everywhere you go just in case your Mac runs out of juice isn't exactly convenient. That's why choosing a model with excellent battery life is crucial. We'll help you decide which MacBook offers the best battery life, regardless of your budget.

The Absolute Best MacBook for Battery Life

If you're looking for a high-end MacBook with excellent battery life, you should opt for the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip we reviewed in 2023. It packs a 100Wh battery, the largest in the MacBook Pro lineup. According to Apple, the 16-inch MacBook Pro can deliver up to 22 hours of Apple TV video playback and 15 hours of web browsing.

However, if you can't justify the cost of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip or are looking for a device with a smaller screen, you can opt for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M3 chip. While it packs a smaller 70Wh battery, Apple still claims it can handle 22 hours of video playback and 15 hours of wireless web browsing.

I believe that's because the M3 chip isn't as power hungry as the M3 Pro chip, which has more performance and efficiency cores. That's also why I didn't recommend getting the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip for battery performance. The M3 Max chip may draw more power than the M3 Pro under medium to heavy workloads.

The MacBook With the Best Battery Life for Most People

For most people, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is too expensive. Therefore, a MacBook Air is your best bet if you're on a budget. The 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip starts at $1,299. It packs a 66.5Wh battery and can handle up to 18 hours of video playback and 15 hours of web browsing, according to Apple.

If you're looking for a smaller MacBook but don't want to compromise on battery life, you can opt for the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip. While it does pack a smaller 52.6Wh battery, Apple claims it'll last just as long as the 15-inch model. That's likely because the smaller display with a slightly lower resolution doesn't drain the battery as quickly.

Deciding which MacBook is right for you is undeniably a difficult decision. Before you purchase one, it's essential to look into your budget and workflow. If money is tight, we'd recommend going for a MacBook Air. However, if your workflow is more demanding and cost isn't a concern, you can't go wrong with an M3 MacBook Pro.