Latest Microsoft Edge Web Browser Canary Version 87 Gets Tab Resources Management Improvements Reducing CPU, Memory And Battery Usage
Microsoft Edge web browser, based on Google’s Chromium, has a new version which includes two important features. These new features will allow the Edge browser to significantly reduce the amount of RAM and CPU resources, which should positively impact battery life on laptops.
Microsoft Edge is reportedly the fastest web-browser on Windows 10. Microsoft claims it is faster than Google Chrome by a considerable margin on its own operating system. However, the browser still consumes a lot of RAM, especially when compared to the legacy Edge browser. This behavior is set to undergo a massive improvement in the upcoming versions of the browser. In fact, the latest version of the Microsoft Edge web browser in the Canary channel includes the two most promising features to reduce RAM and CPU usage.
Microsoft Introduces Tab Resources Management Improvements Including Sleeping Or Freezing Tabs And SegmentHeap:
A new feature added to the Microsoft Edge browser that is now available in the Edge Canary update allows the reduction of both memory and CPU usage when users are not actively using tabs. The feature is called Sleeping Tabs. It essentially puts dormant or inactive tabs to sleep to conserve RAM and CPU. When implemented or activated, Microsoft claims the feature is able to achieve a memory reduction of up 26 percent and CPU reduction of up to 29 percent in early tests.
En la edición de desarrollo Canary, Microsoft Edge ya permite a sus usuarios "mandar a dormir" las pestañas que tienen rato sin uso para ahorrar memoria RAM. ¿Quieres saber cómo funciona? Entérate aquí https://t.co/3eM6kOSIy1
— Alexis López Abreu (@tecnopapapi) September 24, 2020
The feature works alongside the existing “SegmentHeap”, which was recently introduced in Microsoft’s Edge browser to reduce memory usage by up to 27 percent. When both these features work together, they manage to achieve “excellent battery savings” on laptops and 2-in-1s, claims Microsoft.
The collection of these features, called tab Resources Management Improvements, is now available in the Microsoft Edge 87 (Canary). Collectively, these features will put background tabs to sleep automatically to reduce overall memory and CPU usage, which will effectively contribute to improved battery savings.
Microsoft Improves Upon Google Chromium’s Tab ‘Freezing’ Feature To Reduce RAM And CPU Usage?
Incidentally, Microsoft appears to be relying on Google Chromium’s “freezing” feature and building upon its own Sleeping Tabs feature o freeze the contents of the tab. When activated, the new Chromium-based Edge browser will stop the targeted tabs from performing actions and running scripts until users interact with them again.
Microsoft Edge consumerà meno CPU, RAM e batteria: ecco come https://t.co/I7WMxV7rh5 via @everyeye
— TechpcRoby (@Roby_Passarelli) September 24, 2020
In its current iteration, the Chromium’s freezing feature deactivates the tabs after two hours of remaining idle or inactive. However, unlike Chrome’s freeze tab feature, Microsoft has indicated Edge will allow users to choose a different time interval in Settings > System. This is important for users who keep some tabs idle but do rely on them. Tabs for Twitter or Outlook can be added to the whitelist to prevent them from being put to sleep.
Microsoft Edge Canary users need to install Edge Canary and enable experimental flags titled ‘Sleeping Tabs’ in edge://flags menu. The Windows 10 OS maker has also promised it is working on several other areas in which RAM consumption can be reduced and performance improved.
