Google reported 30 additional minutes of browsing with Chrome’s Energy Saver enabled in one test, using Chrome 110.0.5481.100 on a 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) with 8 GB of RAM and macOS Ventura 13.2.1. That result belongs to that setup. Memory Saver has a different job: it frees memory by deactivating eligible inactive tabs.
Treat Google’s 30 minutes as a result for one specific laptop and Chrome build, not a forecast for your own battery life.
What Chrome’s two settings change
Both settings are in Chrome’s desktop Settings > Performance. Memory Saver deactivates eligible inactive tabs to free memory; Energy Saver reduces some display and background activity. Google’s Chrome Help page describes the controls, while Chrome Developers explains how tabs are discarded and reloaded.
| Setting | What it changes | What you may notice | Where to find it |
| Memory Saver | Deactivates eligible inactive tabs to free memory | A tab may reload when you return to it | Settings > Performance |
| Energy Saver | Reduces image capture rates and some background activity; display refresh may also fall | Scrolling, animations, video, or game performance may change | Settings > Performance |
Memory Saver’s three modes control how long Chrome waits before deactivating eligible tabs. Moderate waits longer, Balanced uses an optimal interval and is Google’s recommended setting, and Maximum uses a shorter interval. The modes are available under Settings > Performance.
What Google’s battery test found
Google reported 30 extra minutes of browsing with Energy Saver in its test of Chrome 110.0.5481.100 on a 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022), with 8 GB of RAM and macOS Ventura 13.2.1. In the same report, Google gave results of 17 hours of browsing or 18 hours of YouTube playback on that setup. These are Google’s reported measurements, not a promised gain for other devices or Chrome versions. Google’s test report was published in February 2023.
In an account published November 6, 2026, Android Police journalist Jon Gilbert described about an hour of added battery life from Energy Saver on an average workday, and about two hours from using both settings in his regular work sessions. Those are Gilbert’s personal observations, not results from a standardized benchmark. His account is separate from Google’s test.
Where to find the desktop controls
Open Settings > Performance in desktop Chrome. Energy Saver is available on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook devices with a battery installed. Google’s settings let you activate it when the computer is unplugged or when battery charge reaches the low-battery threshold; the default threshold is 20% or lower.
How Chrome handles background tabs
Memory Saver may leave a tab active when it is playing audio or video, handling a call or screen sharing, showing page notifications, downloading a file, or holding a partly completed form. Pinned tabs and tabs connected to USB or Bluetooth devices may also stay active. You can add sites to Chrome’s “Always keep these sites active” list in Performance settings. Google lists these conditions in its Chrome Help documentation.
Deactivation is not the same as freezing. Memory Saver unloads an eligible tab from memory, and Chrome reloads it when you return. In Chrome 133, Energy Saver can freeze eligible CPU-intensive background tab groups that have been hidden and silent for more than five minutes. Freezing pauses page tasks without unloading the page. Chrome Developers lists exceptions that include video conferencing, control of external devices, and certain Web Lock or IndexedDB activity. The developer explanation describes the eligibility conditions.
What Energy Saver can change while you browse
Energy Saver reduces image capture rates and background tasks; the developer documentation also describes a lower display refresh rate. As a result, scrolling and animations can look less smooth, and video frame rates may fall. Chrome warns that gaming and video performance may change, so the setting’s effects can matter if you are watching or playing while on battery.
Google says Chrome’s Performance settings cannot be personalized in its Android or iOS apps.
