Overall, the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have good battery life, but depending on what you do on your Mac, sometimes the battery life can be very short. If you’re far from a power outlet or a power bank, the solution could be Low Power Mode. In the latest macOS 15.1 beta, Apple added faster access to Low Power Mode.
Goal: Make your MacBook last longer
The energy saving mode that has become a must-have on our mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad, is now an integral part of the Mac ecosystem. Indeed, this feature, introduced over a year ago with macOS Monterey, allows Mac users to better manage the battery life of their Mac by suspending certain energy-consuming functions and reducing the brightness. Long requested by Mac owners, its arrival responded to a real need, on the next version of macOS Sequoia.
Until now, the energy saving mode was accessible exclusively via the macOS settings, which required some manipulations to activate it. However, with the latest macOS 15.1 update (currently in beta phase) Apple greatly simplifies this activation. Now, it is possible to access this feature directly from the battery icon located in the menu bar at the top of the screen, which makes its use much more intuitive and fast.
Screenshot by 9to5mac
Once enabled, Low Power Mode optimizes battery life by applying a series of restrictions. For example, the screen brightness is automatically reduced by 50%, and displays with ProMotion technology have their refresh rate reduced from 120Hz to 60Hz. Beyond these two measures, background applications are suspended and the overall performance of the Mac is adjusted to minimize battery drain.
With macOS 15.1, Apple continues its effort to offer better energy management on its MacBooks, while simplifying the user experience. This improvement should satisfy those looking to extend the battery life of their Mac without having to go through several consecutive settings changes.
