SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 1, 2026, 04:18 PST
- A hidden Safari “feature flag” reportedly allows certain iPhones to display webpages at up to 120Hz.
- This change targets a default cap that holds Safari’s page rendering close to 60 frames per second on numerous sites.
- Higher refresh rates deliver smoother visuals but can drain your battery faster; Low Power Mode, however, restricts the refresh rate to 60 fps.
Apple’s Safari browser hides a setting that lets iPhones with high-refresh-rate screens render webpages at 120Hz, according to a report from Tom’s Guide on Saturday. This option is tucked away in Safari’s “Feature Flags” menu and disables the default cap that limits page rendering to about 60 frames per second. (Tom’s Guide)
The timing matters because more iPhone users now have 120Hz displays, and they can tell when that smoothness drops off. Since Safari is the default browser for most, the 60fps limit on scrolling hits the app people use the most.
This also highlights something Apple seldom admits openly: performance can be deliberately limited, even on high-end devices. The toggle hidden in “Feature Flags” seems more like a tool for internal testing than a feature meant for users.
A 120Hz display refreshes the screen 120 times every second. With a 60Hz panel, the screen updates only half as frequently, which can cause fast scrolling to appear slightly jittery, especially on pages filled with text.
The report explains that you can find the toggle in the iPhone’s Settings app by navigating to Safari, then Advanced, and finally Feature Flags. The setting is called “Prefer Page Rendering Updates near 60fps” and needs to be turned off. After switching it off, you must restart Safari for the change to apply. To verify, users can check with a refresh-rate test site, the report added.
Apple introduced its “ProMotion” displays to iPhones starting with the iPhone 13 Pro series in 2021, offering an adaptive refresh rate that ranges from 10Hz to 120Hz. This tech aims to balance smooth responsiveness with efficient power consumption. (Apple)
By 2025, Apple expanded its ProMotion display to the iPhone 17, aiming to make this technology more accessible. “The Super Retina XDR 6.3-inch display with ProMotion is bigger and brighter,” Kaiann Drance said in Apple’s launch statement. (Apple)
Battery life is the catch with this adjustment. Apple notes that Low Power Mode on ProMotion iPhones caps the display refresh rate at 60 frames per second. So, if you’re aiming for smoother scrolling in Safari, that benefit might vanish once the phone switches into battery-saving mode. (Wsparcie Apple)
That setting is tucked away in Feature Flags for a reason. Apple might tweak or yank it with a software update, and cranking up frame rates can drain your battery or act unpredictably depending on the website’s activity.
The episode also sets Apple against premium Android competitors who’ve relied on high-refresh-rate displays for years. Samsung and Google flagships have long pushed the “smooth scrolling” angle; now Apple is jumping on that bandwagon too, though with an extra toggle buried deep in the settings.
