# Low Power Mode for Mac laptops: making the case again

DevFeed: [Low Power Mode for Mac laptops: making the case again](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/low-power-mode-for-mac-laptops-making-the-case-again-38586.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://marco.org/2020/01/13/macos-low-power-mode-redux>)

Author: Marco Arment

Published: 2020-01-14T01:21:06Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Marco.org](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/marco-org.md>)

Topics: [macOS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/macos.md>), [Hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/hardware.md>), [intel](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/intel.md>), [cpu](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cpu.md>)

Tags: [apple](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apple.md>), [battery](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/battery.md>), [cpu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cpu.md>), [geekbench](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/geekbench.md>), [heat](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/heat.md>), [intel](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/intel.md>), [laptops](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/laptops.md>), [low-power](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/low-power.md>), [mac](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mac.md>), [macos](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/macos.md>), [performance](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/performance.md>), [power](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/power.md>), [turbo](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/turbo.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that Mac laptops need a macOS Low Power Mode similar to the feature on iOS. It presents disabling Intel Turbo Boost as a practical workaround and reports testing on a 16-inch MacBook Pro showing lower peak CPU power consumption and temperature, quieter fans, and reduced heat, with performance trade-offs in some workloads.

## Source excerpt

In light of today's rumor that a Pro Mode may be coming that seems to offer benefits in the opposite direction,1 I wanted to re-make the case for a Low Power Mode on macOS -- and explain why now is the time. Modern hardware constantly pushes thermal and power limits, trying to strike a balance that minimizes noise and heat while maximizing performance and battery life. Software also plays a role, trying to keep everything background-updated, content-indexed, and photo-analyzed so it's ready for us when we want it, but not so aggressively that we notice any cost to performance or battery life. Apple's customers don't usually have control over these balances, and they're usually fixed at design time with little opportunity to adapt to changing circumstances or customer priorities. The sole exception, Low Power Mode on iOS, seems to be a huge hit: by offering a single toggle that chooses a different balance, people are able to greatly extend their battery life when they know they'll need it.2 Mac laptops need Low Power Mode, too. I believe so strongly in its potential because I've been using it on my laptops (in a way) for years, and it's fantastic. I've been disabling Intel Turbo Boost on my laptops with Turbo Boost Switcher Pro most of the time since 2015. In 2018, I first argued for Low Power Mode on macOS with a list of possible tweaks, concluding that disabling Turbo Boost was still the best bang-for-the-buck tweak to improve battery life without a noticeable performance cost in most tasks.3 Recently, as Intel has crammed more cores and higher clocks into smaller form factors and pushed thermal limits to new extremes, the gains have become even more significant. Here's some thermal testing from my 8-core 16-inch MacBook Pro: 16-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2019, 2.4 GHz 8-core i9) Power Temp. Geekbench 5 single/multi xcodebuild Normal 82W 90°C 1260/7386 39 sec. No Turbo 31W −62% 65°C 669/5206 −46/29% 62 sec. +59% With Turbo Boost disabled, peak CPU power consumption drop