What Hz means
Refresh rate is how often the display can present a new frame. Higher values can make scrolling, animation, and games feel smoother.
Why values vary
Battery saver, external monitors, remote desktops, browser throttling, and OS display settings can change what a web page measures.
Frame timing matters
Pixy also looks at frame consistency. A screen can report a good refresh rate while the browser still delivers uneven frames.
This is not a pixel response time test
True response time and ghosting need specialised visual tests or hardware. Pixy reports browser-observed refresh and timing behaviour honestly.
Use this checklist while Pixy runs
- Make sure the display is set to its advertised refresh rate in the operating system.
- Close heavy tabs and disable battery saver before testing.
- Avoid remote desktop sessions when checking local display refresh.
- Run the test in more than one browser if the result looks wrong.
- Use the diagnostic summary when asking for support.
Questions people ask
Why does my 144Hz monitor test at 60Hz?
The most common reasons are OS settings, cable limits, browser throttling, mirroring, or battery saver.
Can Pixy measure input lag?
No. Pixy measures browser frame timing, not end-to-end input lag.
Does a high refresh rate guarantee smoothness?
No. Frame pacing, GPU load, browser behaviour, and system power settings also matter.