Learn Turkish: Bu cihaz, hızlı çalışmakla birlikte bataryayı tüketir. - This device consumes the battery, along with working fast.

This structure uses the infinitive -mak plus the instrumental marker -la (with), followed by birlikte (together). It literally translates to "together with to work". At a B2 level, you will often see this formal converb used to connect two facts, frequently to introduce a contrast—meaning the device is fast, but it drains the battery as a consequence.

Could I use beraber instead of birlikte in this sentence?

Yes, hızlı çalışmakla beraber means exactly the same thing. Both -makla birlikte and -makla beraber are interchangeable concomitant converbs that link two concurrent facts, states, or characteristics.

Why is the main verb tüketir in the aorist tense instead of the present continuous (tüketiyor)?

The aorist tense (-ir) is used here because this is a general statement about how the device operates by design. It expresses a known characteristic or a timeless fact about the device, rather than focusing on an action happening right at this very moment.

Does tüketmek specifically mean "to drain" a battery?

Tüketmek generally means "to consume", "to exhaust", or "to deplete". When you pair it with words like batarya (battery) or enerji (energy), the most natural English translation is "to drain".