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    Do Touchscreen models use more battery ?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Maikky, Jul 5, 2013.

  1. Maikky

    Maikky Notebook Consultant

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    Let's say I have two models, same specs, same everything but one has touch and the other not .

    Is the battery gain significant in case of the non-touch ?
     
    Maikky, Jul 5, 2013
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  2. T2050

    T2050 Notebook Deity

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    The touch membrane is more of a sensor, like your track pad. What power it uses is minimal, just look at how long a iPod touch, iPad, or any other tablet/similar device battery last for.

    My wife has a 15.6" laptop and it touch with a small 3 cell battery, it last for ages.
     
    T2050, Jul 5, 2013
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  3. Maikky

    Maikky Notebook Consultant

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    I see thanks !
     
    Maikky, Jul 5, 2013
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  4. banwait

    banwait Notebook Enthusiast

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    From a website:

    Possibly shorter battery life: Touch screens require more power. Laptop Magazine compared a couple of touch screen laptops with their non-touch counterparts (same model and size) and found that the non-touch laptops lasted over an hour longer. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you need as much battery life as possible for your next laptop (check the battery life ratings for both the touch screen laptop and the non-touch model if available).

    Why Would I Want a Touch Screen PC?
     
    banwait, Dec 4, 2013
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  5. qweryuiop

    qweryuiop Notebook Deity

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    it does affect battery life, but some manufacturers may have provided you with an option either in the BIOS or their own controlling software to turn off the touch display on a hardware level

    difference between hardware level and software level disabling is that one does not draw power whilst the other one still uses power, but both level of disabling such feature will result in the user not being able to use touch(rubbish)

    uninstalling/disabling the touch function on windows control panel is a software level disable and will not result in a reduced power consumption
     
    qweryuiop, Dec 4, 2013
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  6. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    I bought the touchscreen version because they are easy to clean no recessed delicate lcd panel it`s edge to edge, i could not find any way to turn off the touchscreen other than disabling it in the device manger.

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Dec 4, 2013
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  7. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    My take is that touch screens use effectively the same power as non-touch screens.

    That year old laptop magazine article about the same system having 1.5 hours less battery life simply because it was a touch screen is not too relevant anymore, imo. (If it was relevant then; I suspect driver/optimization issues).

    Sure, they'll use more power - but just like with comparing different HDD's or SSD's, or 2 Sodimm's vs. 1 Sodimm - if we compare the same 'work' being accomplished by the system and not simply the length of time it stays on; the differences are minimum (10-20 minutes or less would be my guess).


    With any portable system I buy going forward (with Win8.1 and beyond) a touch screen is a 'must' addition to usability - not something that is to be shunned.



    Take care.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Dec 4, 2013
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  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    As tiller said, I'm skeptical of their numbers. Their tests do not compare the same OS or have power consumption numbers. Either way, the difference in battery life would not be as dramatic as they portray it in the article.
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 5, 2013
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  9. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    sgogeta4, what are you 'disappointed' about?

    I read the whole thread in your sig - but no 'regrets' post...
     
    tilleroftheearth, Dec 5, 2013
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  10. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Nothing to do with my laptop (Lenovo W520) or my thread.
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 27, 2013
    #10