Microsoft demonstrates that Google Chrome devours battery

This isn't the first time that Redmond has tried to position its technology above the competition through public demonstrations, and it certainly won't be the last. On this occasion, Microsoft's goal is to compare its Edge browser with what appear to be the latest versions of its direct rivals. The video makes a loud claim: Microsoft Edge extends battery life by 70 percent more than Google Chrome and 43 percent more than Firefox, but as they say on the other side of the pond, the devil is in the details…

It's hard to imagine a new browser war when the market remains frozen. WebKit's privileged position, alternative browsers dancing around Chromium's code, and Firefox's stagnation don't help the evolutionary process. We all agree we want faster, more efficient options, though the trend seems to be going in the opposite direction, adding secondary and tertiary features few users actually use. That said, we come to Microsoft Edge. Redmond's new browser isn't doing very well. Windows 10 is gaining users, but Edge's market share is below 5 percent, so there's something wrong with the current strategy. Microsoft decided to run a series of tests to show people Edge's virtues, and its first choice is battery consumption.

Let's be honest here: Microsoft is flogging a dead horse. We've known for a while that Chrome's battery consumption is simply atrocious, as is its pressure on RAM and CPU cycles. Installing pure Chromium improves things a bit, but the average user isn't interested in updating development builds every 24 hours. What catches us by surprise is the difference: on the same hardware and same streaming, Edge gains three hours over Chrome, two over Firefox, and one over Opera with its Battery Saver enabled. For those who carry their computers everywhere and need to squeeze the most out of their battery, Edge seems like the obvious choice, however...

... the test was very poorly received on YouTube, to the point that Microsoft disabled comments. Why? Let's do the math: the use of Surface Books, the absence of version numbers in browsers, the lack of advanced details like extensions or add-ons... and finally, Edge itself. Three hours of battery on a laptop is a huge difference. What does the user lose in return? Edge is exclusive to Windows 10, an update many aren't ready to make yet, and we'll have to wait for the 'Anniversary Update' to get the long-delayed extension support. The comparison's conditions leave several doubts, but still, any optimization is welcome.