MyDeviceScan / Refresh Rate Test

Refresh Rate Test

Estimate your screen refresh rate using browser animation timing. This quick diagnostic helps confirm whether your monitor, laptop, phone, or tablet is running near 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, or higher.

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Hz estimate

How the Refresh Rate Test Works

The page samples the timing between animation frames using the browser's rendering loop. A 60Hz display usually produces a frame about every 16.7 milliseconds, while 120Hz is about 8.3 milliseconds and 144Hz is about 6.9 milliseconds.

Because browsers can throttle animation timing, this tool should be treated as a practical estimate rather than a laboratory measurement. Run the test with the tab visible, close heavy apps, and disable battery saver when comparing display modes.

Why Your Hz May Look Lower

Many phones and laptops use adaptive refresh rates to save power. A device advertised as 120Hz may drop to 60Hz or lower when idle, hot, unplugged, or in low power mode. External monitors may also need the higher refresh rate selected in system display settings.

If the result is lower than expected, check your operating system display settings, cable type, browser window location, and whether the test is running on the intended monitor. Try the test again after moving the browser window to the target screen.

FAQ

Refresh Rate Test — Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is a browser refresh rate test?

It estimates the rate by measuring how many frames the browser renders per second. It's close to your real refresh rate but can be capped by the browser or affected by background load, so expect a reading near a standard value like 60, 90, 120, or 144 Hz.

Why does it show a lower rate than my display's rating?

Common causes are browser frame-rate throttling, a power-saving or battery mode lowering the refresh rate, or the display set to a lower mode in your OS. Check your operating system's display settings to confirm the active refresh rate.

What is a good refresh rate?

60 Hz is the standard baseline. 90 Hz and 120 Hz feel noticeably smoother for scrolling and gaming, and are common on modern phones. 144 Hz and above are aimed at competitive gaming on monitors.

Does a higher refresh rate drain the battery?

Yes. Higher refresh rates redraw the screen more often and use more power. Many phones offer an adaptive or variable refresh rate that lowers the Hz for static content to save battery while keeping motion smooth.