Google has unveiled a new version of Lighthouse that brings several updates affecting performance scores and how they're presented. The changes are expected to be seen in PageSpeed Insights shortly and will be incorporated into the DevTools of an upcoming Chrome release.
What's new in the performance category?
The changelog from Lighthouse reveals significant modifications in the performance category. Performance metrics will now be scored and ranked based on their predicted impact. Moreover, the performance score gauge will provide more nuanced information to help users understand how each metric contributes to the overall score.
Design tweaks and more
Not every change is as obvious as the performance updates. Some refinements are subtler like adjusting the alignment of the PageSpeed Insights gauges to sit neatly in a row instead of their current haphazard arrangement.
The ‘explodey gauge' and other hidden gems
The interface for the performance category has been revamped with a cleaner, more visually pleasing design. The developers have humorously dubbed this new feature an “explodey gauge.”
Though some changes might not be immediately noticeable, they aim to improve the user experience significantly. The Lighthouse changelog also references many more technical updates, which could be considered intricate for the average user but are undoubtedly noteworthy for developers.
When to expect the changes
Lighthouse 11.2.0 will be integrated into Chrome DevTools with Chrome's 120th version, scheduled for release on December 5, 2023. As for PageSpeed Insights, these updates are expected to go live by the end of October.
