Battery & technology woes cut productivity for Aussies

Laptop performance and battery issues are significantly impacting the working lives and productivity of Australians, according to new research among over 1,000 device users in the country.

Mood and anxiety

Three quarters of participants said that laptop problems influenced their mood, with ongoing battery issues cited as a key source of anxiety. When faced with a low-battery warning and no obvious way to recharge, 60% admitted to experiencing panic, while one in five reported high or extreme levels of distress.

Analysis revealed generational differences, with device reliability issues affecting 81% of Gen Z and 87% of Gen Y respondents, compared to 72% of Baby Boomers. Longer battery life remains a top priority for nearly six in ten users, with many adapting daily routines around the need to recharge.

Changing work habits

The shift to remote and hybrid work has heightened reliance on portable devices. Over half of those surveyed said they had resorted to charging their laptops in non-traditional locations, including airports, shopping centres, public restrooms, fast food outlets, and even petrol stations. Several users reported the need to "charge scramble", looking for power outlets during crucial meetings or travel.

Laptop malfunctions, such as unexpected battery loss and performance slowdowns, continue to disrupt productivity. Around 15% said their device often or very frequently failed them through freezing or crashing, and a further 32% reported these incidents at least sometimes. The consequences included missing meetings, losing unsaved work, and incurring repair or replacement costs.

Knowledge gaps

Despite their reliance on laptops, many Australians remain unsure about effective device care. One in four respondents did not recognise practices that can harm laptop hardware or battery health, such as regularly overheating devices, avoiding software updates, or always charging to 100%.

Persistent myths were also noted. More than a third believed that simply leaving a browser window open affected performance, while 15% thought allowing laptops to enter sleep mode was detrimental. Over 70% were unaware of how on-device AI features could help improve performance and privacy, and 61% did not understand the benefits of efficient chipsets for prolonging battery life. Most users (78%) assumed a slow laptop meant it needed to be replaced, and 85% thought specialist software was required to keep their device running optimally.

Purchasing drivers

Feature priorities are changing among consumers. Extended battery life is "extremely important" to 38% when choosing a laptop. Half of users said improved processing power and speed were key desires for their next device, while declining hardware reliability and shorter battery lifespan featured prominently as motives for replacement.

Demand for advanced device features, such as artificial intelligence capabilities, is increasing among younger users. Forty-three percent of Gen Z and 36% of Gen X respondents rated on-device AI as an important factor in future purchase decisions, substantially higher than amongst older age groups.

Productivity impact

Battery and technical issues are causing more than inconvenience. Two-fifths of respondents have run out of battery at inopportune times, over a third have lost unsaved work, and over a quarter have incurred unplanned costs due to device failure. These problems have led to missed meetings, deadlines, and class sessions, according to the study findings.

Device pressures

Nathan Wilson, Director of Business Development, Qualcomm International Australia Branch Office, said, "As AI becomes the new UI, Australians are switching between tasks like captioned video calls, AI assisted documents, and photo edits all on device. PCs therefore need to be equipped to handle advanced on-device AI processing and real time decisions, but many aren't, putting sustained pressure on performance and battery life."

"This ongoing challenge directly contributes to a significant user concern. When the low battery warning hits, it triggers panic, breaks flow, and derails meetings, study, and downtime, which has a significant impact on productivity and peace of mind," said Wilson.

"Laptops powered by Snapdragon processors offers multiday battery life, instant responsiveness, and unrivalled performance even off the charger, giving you the confidence your laptop won't quit when you need it most," said Wilson.