Examples are generally described that include methods for selecting a transmit mode in a communications system. An example method may include calculating a first transmission rate for data in a multiple-input multiple-output mode of the communications system and calculating a second transmission rate for the data in a single-input multiple-output mode of the communications system. A mode may be selected from the group consisting of the multiple-input multiple-output mode and the single-input multiple-output mode based, at least in part, on an energy consumption of the first and second transmission rates. Data may be transmitted from a transceiver in the communications system using the selected mode.