Microsoft has claimed that the newest version of its Web browser, Internet explorer (IE) 9 is the most power-efficient browser in the world.

The software giant said IE9 outshined its rival browsers from Mozilla, Google, Apple and Opera, when they put IE9 nose to nose rivals through 6 power consumption scenarios.

The company posted the results of the power consumption tests in a blog post, showing that on a Windows 7-based laptop equipped with a 56 Watt per hour battery, IE9 ran for 3 hours and 45 minutes before exhausting battery runs out.

Mozilla’s recently launched Firefox 4 emerged as the second most power efficient web browser, running time of 3 hours and 35 minutes, followed by Google’s Chrome 10 that lasted 2 hours and 56 minutes.

Apple's Safari 5 was at the fourth position with running time of 2 hours and 55 minutes. Opera Software's Opera 11 was shown as the least power-efficient in the list of top five Web browsers. It could last only for 2 hours and 43 minutes.

Commenting on the results, Microsoft said, "We hope and encourage the industry and other browser vendors to follow us on the path to a more power-efficient Web."

Microsoft’s IE web browser has suffered a fall in the search market share, particularly due to emergence of new rivals, but it is still at the number 1 position with more than half of the market share.