The newest update of the Firefox browser includes a performance boost for computers with displays running at a 120Hz refresh rate or higher. That’s good news for anyone with a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro model from 2021, which have ProMotion displays.
Those MacBook models feature Liquid Retina XDR displays with ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates ranging from 24Hz to 120Hz.
2021 MacBook Pros will benefit from performance boost in Mozilla’s updated Firefox web browser
Mozilla’s latest update to the Firefox browser promises better performance for Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
The ProMotion tech in those MacBooks lets the display adapt its refresh rate as necessary. On a static webpage that doesn’t require a high refresh rate, the MacBook Pro’s display uses a low refresh rate to preserve battery life. But while scrolling, watching videos or gaming — anything that begs a higher refresh rate for smoothness — a higher refresh rate automatically starts.
The new Firefox 103 update offers improved performance on displays capable of refresh rates upwards of 120Hz, Mozilla’s release note said. That suggests Macs with ProMotion should see smoother scrolling and such.
When the 2021 MacBooks came out, some users reported rough scrolling in Safari, with stutters and the like. The macOS Monterey 12.2 update appeared to take care of it for at least some people. But if you’re not convinced Safari is running ProMotion optimally, the updated Firefox may be a good alternative.
Other changes in Firefox
Firefox 103 also improved its responsiveness on macOS during periods of high CPU load. It does that by switching to a modern lock API, the release notes said.
You can now also change the subtitles font size directly from within a Picture-in-Picture window and enjoy the browser’s new support for subtitles on platforms such as Funimation, Dailymotion, Tubi, Hotstar and SonyLIV.
And finally, required fields in PDFs are now highlighted, various bugs and security vulnerabilities are now fixed, Mozilla said.
Firefox 103 for macOS is available now from the Mozilla website, where users can find a full list of changes. It does not appear to be updated yet in the App Store.
Where to download: Mozilla
