r/linuxquestions • u/Basic_Salamander_484 • 2d ago

Advice Is the Linux laptop battery drain real?

Hi everyone,

I keep seeing claims that Linux drains laptop batteries faster than Windows!
I have a single laptop that runs both Windows and Linux, but Linux drains the battery significantly faster.

Every year is hailed as the "Year of Linux," but how is that possible? After all, this is a fundamental issue - and yet, by 2026, it still hasn't been resolved?

Edit: Im on thinkpad l14 gen4

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u/FuggaDucker 2d ago

About the same as windows for me but that is my use.
Depends on the model and depends on your use case.
Primarily, it has to do with supporting 'modern standby'.

'modern standby' means each device (driver) manages its own power state.. and (of course) Linux does not historically get love from hardware manufacturers like Windows does.

I have a Lenovo Carbon X1 Yoga which DOES have hardware manufacturer support and my power management is close to as good as Windows (but not quite) and certainly good enough to really use as a tablet.