These Tests Reveal How Low Power Mode Affects Your MacBook’s Performance
Apple first introduced Low Power Mode in iPhones alongside iOS 9 in 2015, but MacBooks only got this feature in 2021 with macOS Monterey.
Low Power Mode saves power by reducing the non-prioritized background processes of your MacBook, but that’s not all it does. In fact, your MacBook doesn’t deliver its peak performance when you have Low Power Mode enabled.
So, how much performance do you actually lose with it turned on? Well, we’ll show you how to test your MacBook’s performance while in this battery-saving mode. The tests below will gauge the performance of your CPU, RAM, and GPU.
What Is Low Power Mode?
Low Power Mode is a great feature that extends your MacBook’s battery life by reducing the activities of other background apps. However, besides limiting background activity, MacBook’s Low Power Mode also decreases the CPU’s processing speed and, more noticeably, reduces screen brightness.
As a result, your MacBook requires less power to keep running, which means reduced battery consumption, allowing you to use your MacBook for a prolonged period when it is not plugged in.
1. RAM Performance Test
RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and it’s vital for quickly storing and retrieving data on your computer. Macs use RAM to temporarily store data you need immediately instead of writing it on a more permanent hard drive.
It’s easy for your MacBook’s limited RAM to get clogged when you have too many apps open. And you can check how badly this is affected by Low Power Mode by running a test.
Follow these steps to test your RAM in Low Power Mode
For color code clarification:
2. CPU and GPU Test
Since MacBooks typically have integrated GPUs, it means that as you test your CPU, you are also testing your GPU at the same time. In some specific Intel-based MacBook Pro models, GPUs are dedicated components with their own RAM; we’ve explained more aboutthe difference between a CPU and GPU.
We used Cinebench to test an M1 MacBook Air, and we recommend you use this program for your testing since it’s free and easy to use. Cinebench tests CPU and GPU using image rendering and ranks your Mac against other computers on the list depending on how quickly it finishes the render.
Our M1 MacBook Air scored only 3,846 pts (Multi Core) in the Low Power Mode test, but it got a 55.8% boost without it, surging to 5,992 pts. And from 866 pts in the Low Power Mode Single Core test, it rose 63.4%, ranking second on the charts with 1,415 pts.
3. Battery Life Test
Some MacBook enthusiasts have used battery life tests to check how effective Low Power Mode is in preserving the battery. These tests compare your MacBook’s performance, battery drain, and temperature with and without Low Power Mode enabled.
Here is one of the most popular ways to test your MacBook’s battery life with Low Power Mode:
Most results from this test showed that the battery lasted longer in Low Power Mode, but the processes were slower. More importantly, the temperature generally stayed lower when Low Power Mode was turned on. This means if you have a MacBook with a fan, it will spin less often and operate quieter due to reduced heat.
If you want to dig deeper, you can check out our list ofapps to monitor your MacBook’s battery.
Monitor Your MacBook Tests With Activity Monitor
Low Power Mode is an effective way to prolong your MacBook’s battery life, but this doesn’t come without some noticeable downturns in its performance.
However, Apple has added nifty tools you could use to track your MacBook’s behavior in Activity Monitor. You can locate resource-draining apps, keep records, and run tests with Activity Monitor to strike the perfect balance between performance and battery life.
Learn all about Activity Monitor on your Mac and how to use it to check detailed information about your system.
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