Over the last few years, there has been a mass exodus of PC users switching to internet browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. With more features, faster browsing, and an overall smoother user experience, these free internet browsers have captured the hearts and hard drives of users all over the world.
However, a recent benchmark by Ciprian Adrian Rusen suggests that users who want to save battery life should try using Internet Explorer. On a test PC, it was found that Internet Explorer 9 and 10 gave users a significantly longer battery life than the latest releases of Firefox, Chrome, and Opera.
Specifically, when using Internet Explorer 9, a test PC was able to last for 104 minutes, compared to 85 minutes for Chrome, 92 minutes for Firefox, and 100 minutes for Opera. Internet Explorer 10, which is available on the beta version of Windows 8, came in first at 108 minutes, which suggests that Microsoft has put an emphasis on power savings in their upcoming mobile operating system.
The test was conducted using a browser test program called Peacekeeper. The tests took place on the same laptop PC and all internet browsers were downloaded in their default forms. The PC was using a power saver profile, but no browser settings were changed.
One of the most interesting results of this test is the fact that Chrome – which is known for its fast, minimalist style – used up significantly more battery life than any of the other browsers tested. Its battery life was 21% shorter than the leading program, Internet Explorer 10, which may be enough of a difference to make PC users take note.
Will this difference in battery life cause users to switch to Internet Explorer 9 and 10 over the coming months? It’s too soon to tell, but if you’re looking to squeeze every ounce of power out of your battery during a long day at work, then you may want to stick to Internet Explorer.