Google has announced plans to build on its commitment to optimizing Chrome “for speed” with a series of updates set to reduce memory usage by up to 40% and 10GB.
A new Memory Saver mode promises to free up memory from browser tabs that are open in the background but not being used, which the company says will make browsing on the active tab smoother.
However, this is a caveat: because inactive tabs then reload when they are reopened, Memory Saver mode may not be suitable for sites that need to stay active in the background.
Google Chrome battery life
There’s also a new Energy Saver mode that detects when a device’s battery level reaches 20%, then limits background activity and visual effects like animations and videos, helping to save as many extra minutes as possible.
The new settings, which are expected to provide significant benefits to low-power computers and laptops running on low battery power, can be toggled on and off in the browser’s three-dot menu when they roll out in the coming weeks. for Chrome users on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS.
However, Google isn’t the only company looking to improve performance and battery life with its browser. Microsoft has had its so-called Sleeping Tabs for several months now, which promise to reduce memory usage by 85% and CPU usage by as much as 99%.
According to the latest version, Chrome accounts for two-thirds (66%) of all desktop browser installations Stat counter (opens in new tab) numbers, with Edge far behind at 11%. Safari, which accounts for less than 10% of the market, is also designed to run optimally on Apple’s own hardware.
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