Apple May Introduce macOS ‘Pro Mode’ To Boost Performance On Laptops

According to 9to5Mac, a recent beta of macOS hints at a ‘Pro Mode’ that could be a boon for professionals using portable Macs.

Apple has faced a lot of criticism in recent years for a perceived abandonment of professionals in favor of the very lucrative consumer market. In the last year or two, however, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to professionals, with a more powerful iMac Pro, industry leading Mac Pros and a revamped 16-inch MacBook Pro.

9to5Mac reports the latest macOS Catalina 10.15.3 beta references a “Pro Mode,” that can be toggled on or off as needed. Some of the strings in the beta say “Apps may run faster, but battery life may decrease and fan noise may increase” in Pro Mode. Another string says “Fan speed limit overridden.”

This feature is not particularly surprising, nor is there any reason why it wouldn’t work. Computer performance, especially in laptops, is often throttled or restricted to a certain threshold to achieve the best balance of performance, heat and battery life. Temporarily removing those restrictions could noticeably boost performance at the expense of the other factors.

If Apple does include this feature in an upcoming release of macOS, it will likely be a welcome one for many professionals.