Unlock 120Hz Safari Browsing on Your iPhone: Smooth Scrolling in Seconds! (2026)

Did you know your iPhone could be delivering a smoother browsing experience, but it’s secretly holding back? Your iPhone’s Safari browser isn’t using its full potential by default, and this is the setting you need to change. Let’s dive into why this matters and how you can unlock a buttery-smooth 120Hz browsing experience.

Not too long ago, iPhones were stuck in the past with 60Hz displays. Apple finally introduced 120Hz screens with the iPhone 13 Pro in 2021, and it wasn’t until 2025 that this feature trickled down to the base iPhone 17. But here’s where it gets controversial: even with this advanced hardware, Safari still defaults to a sluggish 60Hz refresh rate for most webpages. Why? It’s a mystery that leaves many users scratching their heads.

If you’ve ever noticed that scrolling through text-heavy websites feels a bit choppy, this is likely the culprit. And this is the part most people miss: Safari isn’t automatically taking advantage of your iPhone’s high refresh rate capabilities. But don’t worry—there’s a fix, and it’s easier than you think.

To see the difference for yourself, visit a refresh rate test page like TestUFO and check the live frame rate. You’ll notice that, out of the box, Safari caps the refresh rate at 60Hz. This means your screen updates every 16.7 milliseconds, which can feel less fluid compared to the 8.3-millisecond updates of a 120Hz display. The result? A browsing experience that’s twice as smooth—once you enable it.

But here’s where it gets controversial: While enabling 120Hz in Safari can transform your browsing, it’s not without trade-offs. Some argue that the slight battery drain isn’t worth the marginal improvement. What do you think? Is smoother scrolling worth a few extra percentage points of battery life?

Thankfully, enabling this feature is straightforward—if you know where to look. Here’s how to unlock 120Hz browsing in Safari on your iPhone:

Open the Settings App and Navigate to Safari Settings
Surprisingly, you won’t find this option in the Safari app itself. Instead, head to the Settings app, scroll down to Apps, and tap on Safari to access its settings.
Dive into Safari’s Advanced Settings
Scroll to the bottom of Safari’s settings and tap Advanced. This is where the magic happens.
Access the Feature Flags Menu
Within the Advanced menu, find and open Feature Flags. This menu controls hidden behaviors in Safari, including how webpages are rendered.
Enable 120Hz Safari Browsing
Look for the toggle labeled Prefer Page Rendering Updates near 60fps and turn it off. This prevents Safari from defaulting to the lower refresh rate, allowing it to use the full 120Hz capabilities of your iPhone’s display.
Relaunch Safari
After making the change, fully close Safari using the App Switcher and reopen it. You should now notice a significant improvement, especially on text-heavy sites.

One last thought: While 120Hz browsing is a game-changer, it’s not for everyone. If you’re a power user who prioritizes battery life, you might want to toggle this feature off when you don’t need it. Or, you can explore other battery-saving tips to strike the perfect balance.

Now, here’s a question for you: Do you think Apple should enable 120Hz browsing by default, or is it better to leave it as an optional setting? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Sanuj is a tech writer covering smartphones, tablets, and wearables for Tom's Guide. He also contributes to Android Central, Android Police, and Pocket-Lint. When he’s not testing gadgets, he’s usually sipping tea, watching football, or playing cricket.