Google has announced plans to build on its dedication to improving Chrome “for speed” with a slew 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 claims will make active tab browsing smoother.
This is a warning: because inactive tabs will be reloaded when accessed again, Memory Saver mode may not be suitable for sites that must remain active in the background.
Google Chrome battery life
There’s also a new power saving mode that detects when the device’s battery level reaches 20%, at which point background activity and visual effects like animations and videos will be limited, helping to save as many extra minutes as possible.
The new settings, which are expected to provide significant advantages for low-power PCs and laptops running low on battery power, could be launched in the browser’s three-dot menu when they roll out “over the next several weeks” to Chrome users on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS.
Google isn’t the only company looking to improve performance and battery life with its browser. Microsoft has had something called Sleeping Tabs for several months now, which promise to reduce memory usage by 85% and CPU usage by a whopping 99%.
Chrome accounts for two-thirds (66%) of all desktop browser installs according to the latest Statcounter (Opens in a new tab) numbers, with the edge lagging far behind at 11%. Safari, which makes up less than 10% of the market, is also designed to run optimally on Apple’s own devices.
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