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MacOS Monterey gets low-power mode for longer battery life

It's like the feature your smartphone already has.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
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MacOS Monterey

Apple software chief Craig Federighi reveals the next version of MacOS is called Monterey.

 Apple/Screenshot by Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple's upcoming MacOS Monterey software will add a new low-power mode to extend your battery life. It's just like what your phone already offers, but for your laptop instead.

This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.

Apple showed the feature briefly at its WWDC developer conference on Monday, part of a graphic summarizing the new abilities coming to MacOS Monterey, the successor to today's Big Sur operating system.

Watch this: Apple reveals MacOS Monterey with Universal Control

The feature will slow your Mac's processor clock speed, both on older Intel-powered machines and on new models using Apple's M1 processor. And it'll lock your screen brightness to a dimmer setting. That's important since screens are one of the top users of electrical power.

MacOS Monterey low power mode

Apple said MacOS Monterey will get a low power mode to extend your battery life.

 Apple/Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET

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