Abstract: A system and method for allowing a portable electronic device capable of processing and displaying graphics applications, such as a laptop, hand held computer, PDA, or internet ready wireless cellular device, to continue to display graphics even when battery power is low. The present invention extends the useful battery life by actively managing and appropriately reducing the level of detail or image quality of graphics rendered by the device as function of available power. In a preferred embodiment, the invention manages the level of detail at the application level so it does not affect processor speed.