Some embodiments enable low power mode for wireless local area network (WLAN) subsystem of an electronic device to improve power usage at the electronic device and increase response time of the WLAN subsystem to prioritized application(s). For example, a method includes enabling a sleep mode of the WLAN subsystem of the electronic device. The electronic device maintains a connection with an access point of a wireless network during the sleep mode. The method further includes receiving a request from an application to communicate with the wireless network. The application is included in a list of prioritized applications. In response to determining that a metric associated with the sleep mode does not exceed a power budget, the sleep mode of the WLAN subsystem is suspended and the communication between the application and the access point of the wireless network is enabled (after the suspension of the sleep mode).