Microsoft Edge 134 brings significant performance enhancements across the board. Startup is faster thanks to Profile Guided Optimization (PGO) and a more efficient browser process initialization. Sleeping tabs, now enabled by default, reduce memory usage by 83% and CPU usage by 32% compared to discarded tabs. The browser also optimizes resource allocation for active tabs, improving performance even with many tabs open. Further enhancements include improved video playback performance, faster page loading from browser history, and reduced input latency. These changes result in a smoother, more responsive browsing experience with less resource consumption.
Microsoft's Edge development team has announced substantial performance enhancements in the latest stable release, Edge version 134. These improvements span several key areas, aiming to provide users with a faster, more responsive, and more efficient browsing experience. The blog post details these enhancements, focusing on startup performance, sleeping tabs, and video processing optimizations.
A significant boost to startup times has been achieved through pre-loading the browser's core components. This preparatory loading occurs when the system is idle, effectively minimizing the time required to launch Edge when a user initiates it. This improvement is particularly noticeable on systems with traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), where the seek times for loading files can significantly impact application startup. The post highlights that users on HDDs will experience the most dramatic improvements, but users with solid-state drives (SSDs) will also see a performance uplift, albeit less pronounced.
Edge 134 further enhances performance through optimized sleeping tab functionality. Sleeping tabs, a feature designed to minimize resource consumption by inactive tabs, have been refined to more intelligently manage system resources. The improvements focus on reducing CPU usage when tabs enter and exit the sleep state, leading to a smoother, less disruptive browsing experience, especially when dealing with numerous open tabs. This contributes not only to performance improvements but also potentially extends battery life for laptop users.
Furthermore, video playback within Edge has received optimization specifically targeting low-powered devices. By reducing the performance overhead associated with video decoding and processing, Edge 134 aims to improve battery life and ensure smoother video playback on devices with limited processing capabilities. This is achieved by leveraging hardware acceleration more efficiently and optimizing software decoding paths.
The blog post emphasizes that these performance enhancements are part of an ongoing effort by the Edge team to continually improve the browser's speed and efficiency. While highlighting the specific advancements in version 134, it suggests that users can expect further improvements in future releases. The post frames these updates as integral to their mission of delivering a high-performance browsing experience tailored to the diverse needs of modern internet users, regardless of their hardware configuration.
Summary of Comments ( 54 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43674159
Hacker News users generally expressed skepticism towards Microsoft's performance claims about Edge 134. Several commenters questioned the methodology and benchmarks used, pointing out the lack of specifics and the potential for cherry-picked results. Some suggested that perceived performance improvements might be due to disabling features or aggressive caching. Others noted that while benchmarks might show improvements, real-world performance, particularly memory usage, remains a concern for Edge. A few users offered anecdotal evidence, with some reporting positive experiences and others experiencing continued performance issues. The overall sentiment leans towards cautious observation rather than outright acceptance of Microsoft's claims.
The Hacker News post titled "Significant performance improvements with Edge 134" linking to a Windows blog post about Edge browser performance has generated several comments discussing various aspects of the browser and its performance claims.
Several commenters express skepticism about Microsoft's performance claims, pointing out that benchmarks presented by browser vendors should be taken with a grain of salt. They suggest that real-world performance and individual user experience can vary significantly. Some also mention the importance of considering factors beyond synthetic benchmarks, such as extensions used and specific website optimizations.
One commenter questions the methodology used in the benchmarks, specifically regarding the choice of competitors and the specific tests performed. They highlight the potential for bias when a vendor performs their own benchmarking and publishes the results. The commenter implies a desire for more transparent and independently verifiable performance comparisons.
Another thread of discussion revolves around the perception of Edge as "Chrome but worse." Commenters debate whether Edge offers any tangible benefits over Chrome, given their shared Chromium base. Some users express satisfaction with Edge, citing specific features or performance improvements they have experienced. Others argue that Edge primarily serves as a means for Microsoft to collect user data and promote its services.
A few commenters discuss the broader browser landscape, touching on topics such as the dominance of Chromium-based browsers and the challenges faced by alternative browsers like Firefox. They lament the lack of true competition and innovation in the browser market.
Some technical details about Edge's specific optimizations are discussed, including Sleeping Tabs and startup boost. Commenters share anecdotal experiences with these features and their impact on performance. However, there isn't in-depth technical analysis of the claimed improvements within the comments.
Finally, there's a brief discussion about the relevance of browser performance in modern hardware. Some commenters argue that with powerful CPUs and ample RAM, the performance differences between browsers are negligible for most users. Others contend that browser performance remains important, especially for users with lower-end hardware or specific use cases like intensive web applications.