Battery Optimizer menu on Ubuntu

A new panel app can help you squeeze more power out of your Linux laptop battery, all thanks Slimbook.

The Spanish Linux laptop seller makes (and updates) a battery optimizer tool for the Ubuntu desktop. It’s simple to use, easy to set up, and can extend your battery life by a couple of hours.

The tool in question is called Slimbook Battery and it lets you switch between different pre-configured performance modes, including a power-friendly ‘energy saving’ mode and ‘maximum performance’ option for when you need more oomph.

For those who want even more control there’s an ‘Advanced mode’ settings panel. There you can easily configure, modify and enable other battery optimizations.

A Battery Saver App for Ubuntu

‘Slimbook Battery 3’ is an open source desktop tool designed to help improve and increase the battery life on Ubuntu laptops.

While the tool is intended for use on Slimbook’s own range of Linux laptops it works on any laptop, regardless of brand, so long as it’s running Ubuntu (or a derivative, like Pop!_OS).

There are two parts to the tool:

The first part is a tray-based applet. Use this menu to select one of three energy modes: “energy saving”, “balanced” and “maximum performance”.

There is also an ‘Off’ setting (self-explanatory) an ‘Advanced Mode’ option (more on that in a moment) and an ‘Exit’ value. The latter closes the app fully and deactivates whatever energy saving mode that was active.

The second part of the tool is an advanced configuration panel. This panel has 7 separate tabs, each providing access to different toggles and preferences for altering the behaviour of (potential) power-sapping features.

Advanced settings are available

Using the ‘Slimbook Battery Preferences’ (aka ‘Advanced Mode’) app you can adjust or fine-tune the behaviour of ​​the three power modes available in the applet, e.g., override a specific setting, re-enable a specific feature, etc.

You can also adjust charging behaviour and alerts (Cycles), and see battery information, such as manufacturer, battery type, current capacity, and original capacity.

This app is useful, but not a guarantee

Keep in mind that using this tool is not a guaranteed way to increase battery life under Ubuntu, but it will certainly help more than if you were using nothing at all.

“This battery optimizer can disable unused hardware features as and when necessary”

Back in 2016 we looked at simple ways to improve battery life on Linux distros like Ubuntu. Our list ran through common sense things: lower screen brightness, don’t leave unnecessary USB devices attached, disable Wi-Fi when using ethernet, and so on. It also recommended TLP.

Like TLP, this battery optimizer app is able to disable unused hardware features as and when necessary (with the option to override).

In short, this is a useful battery saver app for Ubuntu that, for laptops owners especially, is something of a must-have.



How to Install Battery Optimizer for Ubuntu

You can install Slimbook Battery 3 on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and above by adding the official Slimbook PPA to your list of software sources.

To add the PPA run this command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:slimbook/slimbook

Followed by this command to install the battery optimizer applet:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install slimbookbattery

When everything has downloaded and installed you will be able to launch the app from the apps grid. Search for “Battery” and launch the tool.

Keep in mind that this app only works when it is run and an energy mode is specified. If you don’t launch the app, it can’t provide any power optimisations — so consider adding it your Startup Applications.

Got a battery saving tip? Share it down in the comments!

Thanks Costales!