Bigger laptop correlates with shorter battery life due to high energy use, so smaller laptops are more energy efficient. Is this correct?
smaller laptops use less battery yes. But they may last the same since larger devices come with larger batteries. I have a 15 laptop, but a 9 cell battery with itit lasts a good 2-3 hours more than the 6 cell depending on what i am doing
Well it depends on how close the internal components are to each other. A circuit runs along the motherboard and the further it has to travel then the more power/energy it has to use. Also it depends on your CPU (Central Processing Unit).
Your laptop computer frees you from being tied to an electrical outlet -- until your battery-life indicator signals you to plug in or risk a shutdown. How you use your battery determines how long it runs without recharging. Implement power-saving strategies to help your laptop run longer on an individual charge cycle. it is mainly depend on how you save more energy efficient.
Generally, the battery standby time is longer, the capacity is higher.