<> is a general purpose tool, and as such is optimized for "the general case." There isn't one single tool that can optimize for speed across the general case (or in other words, the majority of all use cases). If you know your data-set well, you can optimize by selecting a less general tool to fit your specific need. Tools to consider include:

• read: May be faster for small reads.
• sysread: May be faster for large reads.
• Sys::Mmap and File::Map: May be faster for large files in some specific cases.
• Lower-impact layers (eg :raw or :mmap) may offer speed advantages in some cases while reducing functionality in other areas.

Each of these methods come with caveats, pitfalls, limitations, and unique benefits. It is up to you to decide if the limitations are outweighed by the benefits for your specific use case. benchmarking is the only way you'll be sure that one is a win over the other for your specific situation.