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refresh-rate-testVerified

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Updated 2026-10-17

Refresh rate test for phone, tablet and laptop: UFO animation measures real Hz from 60Hz to 1000Hz, with frame drop and jitter detection. Stuck at 60Hz?

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Features09

  • Real-time refresh rate measurement: uses requestAnimationFrame timing to detect your monitor's actual Hz with high precision, updating live as you watch
  • UFO motion test: animated flying saucers move across the screen at different speeds to visually compare frame rates, inspired by the classic Blur Busters test
  • Frame skip detection: identifies dropped frames during measurement, alerts you if your display or GPU can't keep up with the target refresh rate
  • Frame time readout: shows each frame's rendering interval in milliseconds, shorter frame times mean smoother motion
  • Fullscreen test mode: one-click fullscreen strips away browser chrome and window distractions, testing your display the way you actually use it
  • Speed and track controls: adjust UFO speed from 0.5x to 8x and pick 1 to 6 motion tracks to match your test to your display's refresh rate
  • Gaming reference table: frame time benchmarks for 60/120/144/165/240/360Hz show where your measured result stands
  • Pause and resume: measurement runs like a video player, pause to inspect readings then continue without losing your session data
  • Works on all displays: desktop monitors, laptop screens, tablets, and phones. Refresh rate coverage runs from 60Hz up to 1000Hz, including 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz, 300Hz, 360Hz, 480Hz, 600Hz and 1000Hz panels. Most online refresh rate tests stop at 240Hz

How to Use14

  1. Close other browser tabs and resource-heavy applications for the most accurate measurement
  2. Click 'Start Test' to begin measuring your display's refresh rate
  3. Watch the UFO animation: smooth motion indicates your display is running at its native refresh rate
  4. Monitor the real-time Hz counter: it shows your display's current refresh rate updating every frame
  5. Check the frame skip indicator: any dropped frames appear as gaps in the animation or red warnings
  6. Review the live stats: current refresh rate, frame time, and frame skip count together tell you whether your display is delivering clean, steady frames
  7. Compare with your monitor's rated spec: if measured Hz is significantly lower, check your display settings and GPU configuration
  8. Watch the frame time (ms) reading: shorter frame times mean smoother motion. For competitive gaming, a consistent frame time near 6.94ms (144Hz) is the target
  9. Keep the test tab in the foreground: browsers throttle background tabs, which pulls the reading down
  10. Run the test in fullscreen (F11) to remove browser chrome and stabilise the sampling
  11. Check your operating system's refresh rate setting: Windows and macOS often default to 60Hz even on a 144Hz monitor, so set it to the highest available value
  12. Use a cable that carries the bandwidth: DisplayPort 1.2+ or HDMI 2.0+ for 144Hz and above. Older cables negotiate down to 60Hz automatically
  13. Disable power saving and plug in the charger: laptops and phones commonly lock to 60Hz on battery
  14. Turn on browser hardware acceleration: without it rendering falls back to the CPU and the frame rate drops

Frequently Asked Questions16

How accurate is this refresh rate test?

The measurement uses requestAnimationFrame timing, which is the most accurate method available in web browsers. On most systems, accuracy is within ±1-2 Hz of the actual display refresh rate. Browser overhead, background processes, and power-saving features can cause minor fluctuations. For professional-grade accuracy, dedicated hardware tools like a oscilloscope or high-speed camera are needed, but this test is more than sufficient for consumer verification.

Why does my 144Hz monitor show 60Hz?

This usually means your monitor isn't configured to use its maximum refresh rate. Common causes: Windows display settings are set to 60Hz, the DisplayPort cable doesn't support the full bandwidth, the GPU driver needs updating, or you're using an HDMI cable that doesn't support high refresh rates. Go to your operating system display settings and manually select the highest available refresh rate. Also ensure you're using the cable that came with your monitor.

What is frame skipping and why does it matter?

Frame skipping occurs when your display or GPU fails to render a frame within the refresh interval, causing a visible stutter or gap in motion. On a 144Hz display, each frame has only 6.94ms to render; if the GPU takes longer, that frame is skipped. This is particularly noticeable in fast-paced gaming and smooth scrolling. Our test detects frame skips by monitoring the consistency of animation timing. Frequent frame skips indicate your system can't sustain the target refresh rate.

Does this work on phones and tablets?

Yes. Modern smartphones and tablets often have high refresh rate displays (90Hz, 120Hz, or even 144Hz). The test works on any device with a modern browser that supports requestAnimationFrame. On iOS, the Fullscreen API is limited, but the measurement and animation still function correctly in the normal page view. For best results on mobile, close other apps and ensure the device isn't in low-power mode, which may reduce the refresh rate.

Why is my measured Hz slightly different from the rated spec?

A small variance of ±1-3 Hz is normal and expected. Browser overhead, JavaScript execution time, and operating system scheduling all introduce minor timing variations. Additionally, some displays use variable refresh rate (VRR/FreeSync/G-Sync) which dynamically adjusts the Hz based on content. The measured value represents the average over the test duration. If the variance is large (more than 5 Hz), there may be a configuration issue or the display isn't running at its intended refresh rate.

Can I test variable refresh rate (FreeSync/G-Sync)?

This test measures the average refresh rate over time. If your display uses Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), the measured Hz may fluctuate as the refresh rate changes dynamically based on content. For a true VRR test, you need specialized hardware. However, you can observe VRR behavior by watching the Hz counter while the animation speed changes; on a VRR display, the refresh rate should adjust smoothly.

Will this test damage my screen?

No. The test uses standard browser animations that are completely safe for any display technology: LCD, OLED, LED, or CRT. The animations run for a limited time and do not produce static images long enough to cause burn-in. This is the same type of animation used by websites like testufo.com, which have been used safely by millions of users.

What should I do if my measured refresh rate is wrong?

Work down by device type. Desktop monitor: set the refresh rate in the operating system first (Windows: Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display; macOS: System Settings > Displays; Linux: your display server settings), because Windows and macOS often default to 60Hz on a 144Hz panel. If it is already set to the highest value, check the cable: 144Hz and above needs DisplayPort 1.2+ or HDMI 2.0+, and older cables negotiate down to 60Hz on their own. Then update the GPU driver, and confirm the port on the GPU itself supports the rate you want. Laptop: connect the charger and come off battery, since many laptops lock to 60Hz on battery, and check whether the machine is thermally throttling. Phone or tablet: this is usually the browser rather than the panel, because browsers cap how often they deliver frames to a page. Still stuck: if a native app or the system's own refresh rate readout reports the full rate while every browser reports 60Hz, the limit is in the browser, not the screen.

What is the difference between 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz displays?

A 60Hz display updates the image 60 times per second (one frame every 16.67ms). 120Hz updates every 8.33ms, 144Hz every 6.94ms, and 240Hz every 4.17ms. The perceived difference: 60Hz to 144Hz is a dramatic improvement in smoothness and reduced motion blur. 144Hz to 240Hz offers diminishing returns, noticeable to competitive gamers but less obvious to casual users. Higher refresh rates also reduce input lag because the display polls for new frames more frequently.

Why does my refresh rate fluctuate during the test?

Fluctuations can be caused by: 1) Background processes consuming CPU/GPU resources. 2) Thermal throttling: if your GPU gets too hot, it may temporarily reduce performance. 3) Variable Refresh Rate (FreeSync/G-Sync) actively changing the refresh rate. 4) Power saving features on laptops that dynamically adjust display refresh. 5) Multiple displays connected to the same GPU sharing bandwidth. If your reading sits far from your panel's rated spec, check your display settings and power mode rather than suspecting the test.

Why is my game not smooth even though my monitor runs at 144Hz?

Frame rate (fps) and refresh rate (Hz) are different numbers: the display refreshes 144 times per second, but if your game renders only 60 frames per second, you see 60 of those refreshes; the monitor's 144Hz headroom goes unused. Check the game's fps counter: for a smooth 144Hz experience you need 144 fps sustained, which depends on GPU power, game settings, and resolution. This tester measures the display's capability; stutter in games is a rendering performance issue. Enabling VRR (FreeSync/G-Sync) with fps below the refresh rate, or capping fps with VSync, removes visible tearing.

Why does my iPhone only show 60Hz? How do I test ProMotion?

iPhones with ProMotion (iPhone 13 Pro and later) run at a variable 120Hz, dropping to as low as 10Hz on static screens to save battery. If a test shows 60Hz, the display is likely idle or the browser tab is not in focus; ProMotion ramps to 120Hz only during active scrolling or animation. Run the UFO test while scrolling or with an animation playing, and check in Safari with the tab focused. Android phones with 120Hz or 144Hz panels may also report a lower rate when the OS switches to power-saving mode; check your display settings for smooth display or high refresh rate options.

My phone is 120Hz or 144Hz, so why does the browser still show 60Hz?

Because the limit sits in the browser, not in the panel. Browsers deliberately restrict how often they hand frames to a web page: WebKit's own explanation is that updating web content above 60Hz caused a measurable increase in power consumption and broke pages that assumed a 60Hz callback rate, so the 60Hz preference is on by default. It stacks with battery saver mode, charge below roughly 20%, thermal throttling, background tabs, and cross-origin iframes (capped at 30Hz). There is also no web API that exposes a display's hardware refresh rate, so a page can only measure the frames the browser actually delivers, and a 144Hz phone can honestly report 60Hz in every browser-based test, testufo.com included. To rule out a phone-side cause: leave battery saver, keep the charge above 20%, let the device cool down, and keep the tab fullscreen and in the foreground; on Android Chrome you can also try chrome://flags and search for "Preferred refresh rate", set to Maximum available. If a native app or the system's own refresh rate readout says 144Hz while every browser says 60Hz, the browser is the limiter, not the screen.

What is the difference between FPS and refresh rate (Hz)?

Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times per second the display hardware can redraw the panel. Frame rate (FPS) is how many frames the software actually produces per second. The two are independent: a game can render 200 FPS on a 60Hz screen, and the screen still shows only 60 of those frames. Perceived smoothness is limited by whichever number is lower, and a mismatch between them is what produces tearing and stutter. A useful way to remember it: Hz is a property of the hardware, FPS is a property of the software. This test measures the browser's frame delivery, which is the FPS side of that pair, while the panel's hardware rate is what you select in the operating system.

What counts as good frame time jitter?

Frame time jitter is the frame-to-frame variation in rendering interval, shown here as a plus-minus millisecond figure. The thresholds this test uses are: below 0.5ms is excellent and looks completely steady; 0.5ms to 2ms is acceptable and mostly invisible in normal use; above 2ms is where stutter starts to be noticeable, especially in fast panning or competitive play. Jitter is a separate question from the average refresh rate. A display can hold a perfect 144Hz average while individual frames still arrive unevenly, and that unevenness is what the eye reads as micro-stutter. The usual causes of high jitter are background processes competing for CPU or GPU time, browser extensions, thermal throttling, and variable refresh rate doing its job.

What is the highest refresh rate this test supports?

Up to 1000Hz. The built-in reference table covers 60, 120, 144, 165, 240, 300, 360, 480, 600 and 1000Hz with the matching frame time for each, and the motion test's speed range spans every valid observation point from 60Hz to 1000Hz. Most online refresh rate tests stop at 240Hz, so this one is built to stay useful on 360Hz, 480Hz and 1000Hz panels. What you actually measure is still bounded by the browser: see the FAQ above on phones that report 60Hz.