Skip to main content

Google says Chrome is now 20% faster on Macs

If you feel like Google Chrome is running faster on your Mac, then you’re not mistaken. Google recently shared some new statistics behind the web browser, and is claiming that Chrome is now 20% faster on Macs based on the Speedometer benchmark testing.

According to Google’s data, Chrome on Mac hit over 360 on Speedometer testing. That comes just three months after the browser became the highest scoring browser on Speedometer, ever with a score of 300. For reference, Goggle tested Chrome on the M1 Max MacBook Pro running macOS 12.3.1, with Chrome version 104.0.5102.0. The browser was the ARM64 native optimized version. The below graph shows the differences between older and newer Chrome versions in scoring, where higher scores are better.

Chrome's performance over generations.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

To make sure Chrome is always on top of these benchmarks, Google also uses its own internal benchmarking infrastructure. Yet, Speedometer 2.0 is the most representative of real-world browsing. It runs a cycle of various common tests and web applications to simulate user actions such as adding to-do items.

Recommended Videos

The test also ensures that the results are accurate by timing simulated user interactions and runs commonly used browser frameworks used on the most popular websites in the world. Per Google, Speedometer is also the best test for measuring a browser’s JavaScript performance.

How did Google get that score? Well, it comes down to several tweaks under the hood of Chrome. Fastlookups, fast parsing, faster JS calls, pointer compression, short builtins, and Sparkplug are just a few examples. Google says that all of these tweaks have led to an 83% improvement in Speedometer score. The performance benefits of the M1 CPU, as well as browser engine features like Sparkplug and LTO+PGO are other factors too, per the company.

“We are excited to achieve this milestone in performance and look forward to delivering even more performance improvements with each release,” said Google in announcing the milestone back in March.

Microsoft’s own web browser, Edge, is also based on the same Chromium engine as Google Chrome. In our tests, it scores around 218, though we’ve used a base model M1 Mac Mini, and not the same hardware as Google in their tests.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Can’t install Chrome? You aren’t alone, and here’s a fix
Lenovo Tab Extreme showing Chrome.

If you have tried to install Google Chrome only to be met with an error, here's the good news: it's not just you. The problem first popped up yesterday with widespread reports on Reddit and other social media platforms, and it appears to stem from a bug on Google's end. Essentially, users are getting the wrong version of Chrome when they try to download it. It's an irritating problem, but one that's relatively easily repaired.

Computers that use Intel and AMD chips are the most affected, as they're receiving a version of Chrome designed to be used with Snapdragon chips. However, some intrepid users have already found a workaround that will help you get your favorite browser installed until Google issues a correction.

Read more
MacOS update: everything you need to know
The MacBook Pro 16-inch on a table.

Whether you've owned one of the best Macs for years or are totally new to the Apple ecosystem, knowing your way around the latest updates to macOS is crucial. Thankfully, you don’t have to do so alone, since we’ve got everything you need to know about the latest macOS updates.

Should you upgrade to the newest macOS release, and how do you do that in the first place? How does it compare to older versions of macOS -- and, indeed, Microsoft’s Windows operating system? We’ve set out to answer all those questions and more, giving you all that you need to know when it comes to the newest macOS update.
macOS 16
Expected to be confirmed during Summer 2025, macOS 16 is currently unnamed, although a some other details are more solid. For example, rumors of an overhaul of the UI design have spread, with it likely inspired by the user interface enjoyed by wearers of Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset. Apple Intelligence, the company's AI system, will almost certainly enjoy a greater presence in the new macOS.

Read more
macOS 16: everything you need to know
macos update everything you need to know craig federighi ventura wwdc 2023

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2025) date has been set for June 9, 2025, and the next macOS installment will be one of the main attractions. Excitement is already building for this year's installment thanks to rumors of a major design overhaul for the Mac operating system. This is everything we've heard so far about macOS 16.
When will macOS 16 launch?

In recent years, Apple has developed a neat little schedule for WWDC, announcements, and product releases. As we now know that WWDC will take place on June 9, it's highly likely that macOS 16 will be announced on that day. The keynote will introduce all of the biggest new features, updates, and products, making it the most exciting part of the conference for most of us.

Read more