When Apple unveiled the newest MacBook, they did so with plenty of attention tuned towards the batteries inside. Why? Because they had to redesign them to fit into the thin profile, but still manage to make it worthwhile using when it’s not plugged into a wall.

Because the 12-inch MacBook is all about portability, but that doesn’t really count for much if the battery doesn’t give you any life away from the charger. When Apple finished talking about the battery, they boasted that the newest portable from the company can survive about 9 hours in use, which obviously led to plenty of feedback from people on the Internet. 9 hours isn’t as long as some other, similarly-sized portables, but there’s also the simple fact that 9 hours without the need of a charger is probably good enough for most people.

So, how is the battery life? Well, now that the reviews for the newest MacBook are published, we can gauge just how it stacks up — at least during the review period. So, here’s what some publications had to say about the contoured batteries within the 12-inch MacBook:

The Verge

“There are other inventions, too. Apple redesigned its batteries to be tiered, so they can cram more of them into the MacBook. The result is a claimed nine hours of battery life — a claim that’s notably close to my experience. In our relatively light test, which reloads websites once a minute, this MacBook actually beat Apple’s claims by about an hour or so. But when you’re putting it under stress, you’ll get a bit less, probably closer to eight hours.“

CNET

“Heavy online use will drain the battery even more quickly, and I found myself frequently glancing up at the upper right corner of the screen to see the battery life percentage tick down as I worked. I’ve found it can last for a full work day of moderate usage, but unlike a current-gen MacBook Pro or Air, it’ll be hard to go a few days without plugging it in at all.“

Re/code

“Apple estimates that the MacBook battery will last for up to nine hours of Web browsing and 10 hours of iTunes movie playback. In my off-and-on use of checking email, browsing the Web and writing with power-saving features turned on, the battery lasted throughout the day.

But my harsh battery tests — screen at full brightness, power-saving off, Wi-Fi on to collect email in the background and a loop of video playing on iTunes — got only five hours and 23 minutes before dying. A similarly draining test on the 13-inch MacBook Air got more than 10 hours of life (reviewed here by Walt Mossberg).“

TechCrunch

“The MacBook’s battery offers up to 9 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing, according to Apple’s official specs, and 10 hours of iTunes movie watching. My own battery testing eschewed artificial playback and browser loop tests, and consisted of using the notebook the way in which I’d actually use a notebook, both in a mixed use while travelling scenario, and in more fixed, workstation-like and couch companion situations.

Battery life in the MacBook was such that I never really felt nervous or anxious about running out when using the notebook on the road. My first instinct was to find power and plug in wherever possible, but in keeping with the spirit of the machine, I resisted that urge, and once I got over that urge, I was pleasantly surprised by how long the power lasts.“

MacWorld

“During my testing I tried to spend as long as possible between charges, and was continually surprised at how little the MacBook was draining its battery. I spent most of a workday with the MacBook in my living room and at a nearby Starbucks and didn’t get close to running out of battery.

It will take a long time to break old-school laptop users out of the habit of constantly seeking a power plug in order to avoid “range anxiety,” but if there’s a laptop that can do it, it’s probably the MacBook.“

In the end, it would appear that while Apple’s estimates may not be completely accurate for the majority of usage situations, the MacBook should be able to make it throughout the day for the majority of tasks implemented on it. Of course, as some reviews noted, this is going to be different for each individual, and some tests are different than others, which will produce different results.

It sounds like the new MacBook should be able to last long enough, though. Do you plan on picking up a new MacBook?