Google Pixel smartphones running on Android 15 have a special 80% battery limit feature which is said to increase battery durability. Now, the same functionality will arrive for Chromebooks as part of the ChromeOS 134 update.
It is expected that this game-changing battery feature will roll out only by next month, but there's one tolerable catch that Chromebook users should know about.
New ChromeOS Battery Preservation Feature
As spotted on the r/chromeos subreddit, the new ChromeOS 134 release includes a battery charge limit policy to help prolong the life of Chromebook batteries.
Devices will charge to 100% by default, but users and administrators can choose to cap charging at 80%. This action follows best practices for lithium-ion battery health, minimizing long-term degradation.
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What's the Catch Behind ChromeOS Battery Update?
Google confirmed this new policy in its Chrome Enterprise and Education release notes, indicating that administrators will be able to control charge limits on multiple devices.
Although this feature will mainly benefit managed Chromebook fleets in businesses and schools, individual users will also need to manually set a max charging cap, according to Digital Trends.
Why Limiting the Battery Charge is Needed
Numerous contemporary devices, such as smartphones and laptops, have charge-limiting capabilities to extend battery lifespan. Maintaining a battery at 20% to 80% charge reduces the chemical degradation that results from charging all the way up to capacity continually. Charging to 80% limits, Chromebook owners can anticipate improved long-term battery performance and stability.
If you're an Android user, you already know about this feature. Google has made a similar option available on Pixel phones with Android 15 before. Chromebooks will now get the same innovation.
How Will This Impact Chromebook Users?
For enterprise and education users, administrators of large fleets of Chromebooks will be able to impose the 80% charge threshold to maximize battery lifespan across devices. This can save a lot of maintenance expenses by minimizing the number of battery replacements needed.
Although the update will be applied automatically for managed Chromebooks, average users will probably need to manually turn on the feature as we said a while ago. This is assumed to be similar to Android 15's battery settings, wherein users can simply switch the charge limit using system preferences.
Those who depend on their Chromebooks for gaming or heavy use might still want to charge their devices to the full 100% for optimal usage time. The silver lining? Google isn't making the change mandatory—users who require a full 100% charge can keep charging their Chromebooks normally.
What Else is Coming with ChromeOS 134?
Although the battery optimization feature is perhaps the most useful addition, the ChromeOS 134 update is expected to bring several improvements to enhance user experience.
For instance, the improved Bounce Keys accessibility settings will allow users with motor disabilities to type more accurately.
What's more, ChromeOS 133 rolled out super-resolution audio for Bluetooth microphones, and the follow-up update should further improve this feature.
Other than that, the Screencast feature has more languages to support, thus becoming an even more inclusive tool for teachers and global users.
While ChromeOS 134 is generating much hype already, Google is said to be developing even more significant upgrades with ChromeOS 135. As per Android Authority, the upcoming big update may feature AI-driven wallpapers and video-calling backgrounds, especially for Chromebook Plus devices.
Chromebook users may soon enjoy dynamic, AI-created backgrounds like those used in high-end Windows and macOS machines if these speculations are true. This would make Chromebooks even more competitive in the market.
Smart Move for Chromebook Longevity
The new battery charge limit in ChromeOS 134 is a blessing for users of Chromebooks who want to make their devices last longer. With the limitation of battery usage, Google is not only strengthening the Chromebook but also saving its users money in the long run.
