Chromebooks will soon get a battery-preserving feature that has already proved popular on Google Pixel smartphones that run the latest Android 15 software.
The feature will limit device charging to 80%. This update will help Chromebook batteries last longer overall. The feature is set to be a part of the ChromeOS 134 update, which is scheduled for next month.
New ChromeOS policy for battery longevity
In ChromeOS 134, we will introduce a new battery charge limit policy that will offer more optimization options, which will help extend the lifespan of Chromebooks. Administrators will still be able to set a maximum charge limit, with 100% as the default, to minimize battery degradation and improve long-term reliability. This new policy will benefit both administrators managing fleets of devices, such as in educational settings, and individual users seeking to maximize their Chromebook’s longevity. This policy will automatically apply and will require no user interaction.
The ChromeOS subreddit spotted Google’s details about the feature in its Chrome Enterprise and Education release notes for the current ChromeOS 133. While the update would be deployed by administrators, users who want to charge to 100% can proceed with charging their devices normally.
Similarly, standard ChromeOS users will likely be expected to set the feature manually, similar to how it works on Android 15, Android Central noted.
More details about the coming ChromeOS 134 upgrade are sure to surface in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, other murmurs about the subsequent Chrome OS 135 are already circulating. The coming still software may include AI-powered wallpapers and video call backgrounds for Chromebook Plus models, according to Android Authority.
The prior ChromeOS 133 update, which was released earlier this month, included several interesting tweaks to the Chromebook ecosystem, including the bounce keys accessibility settings, super-resolution high-quality audio for Bluetooth mics, additional language support for Screencast, and updates to the ChromeOS welcome tour.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.