Shutting down your computer or putting it to sleep after using it, which is the best option? We take stock with you.
It may not have escaped your notice, but the habits of Windows users and those of Mac owners are frankly different. Windows users tend to turn off their PC after each use, whereas those who work on a Mac prefer to put it to sleep. The reasons for this difference in behavior are many, but the responsiveness of Macs, especially since the introduction of Apple Silicon SoCs, has proven that returning from standby is faster than a full power-on.
You suspect that if we ask ourselves the question, it is because the answer is not as simple as that. macOS does an excellent job of managing memory and applications, and the M1 chips are no strangers to this. On the other hand, a complete extinction ensures that the RAM memory is emptied to start again on a good basis…
Standby: the benefits
If you are a fan of standby, several arguments lean in its favor. You want quick access to your machine when you need to work and don’t have to wait several minutes for it to turn back on.
- Power consumption that is minimal: 0.21W for a MacBook Air M1 and 1.36W for an iMac M1;
- Work in progress and open windows are not lost;
- A restart that is practically instantaneous, thanks to the arrival of Apple Silicon SoCs.
On the other hand, be aware that by leaving your Mac powered on for several days without restarting, its responsiveness may be slightly affected and it may be slowed down.
Switching off completely: the advantages
On the other hand, turning off your Mac completely has several other advantages.
- Power consumption that is zero, especially for desktop Macs;
- Start again on a good basis, by emptying the RAM memory and thus gaining in reactivity;
- Install updates on reboot.
On the other hand, as you can imagine, the Mac will take longer to turn on when returning from a power off than from a sleep mode. Some are against total shutdown, because the cooling and heating of components can be damaging to the machine.
Power off or standby, that is the question
But then, is it better to turn it off or put it on standby? It depends on what you use your Mac for. If you’re a heavy user and work on it multiple times a day, suspending probably makes the most sense. Your work in progress will still be preserved and the Mac will turn back on much faster.
On the other hand, if you don’t use it every day or prefer to leave it alone, then turn it off completely. This ensures that it is constantly responsive and very fast. However, avoid leaving it off for too many days at 100% battery or flat. Indeed, this can have the effect of seriously damaging the battery.
The ideal would be to intelligently alternate between powering off and standby. There’s no harm in keeping your Mac on standby for several days, but don’t hesitate to shut it down for a few hours before using it again or to do a quick restart. This will allow him to purge his RAM memory and start again on a good basis.
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