Scrolling in Microsoft Edge could be even smoother for those with the best PC monitors

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Microsoft has a test feature that allows the Edge browser to increase the refresh rate of a PC’s display. The option improves the smoothness of scrolling in the browser. To use this feature, a PC must have a display that supports Variable Refresh Rate, which is available on most of the best gaming monitors.

First spotted by Leo Varela, the choice to “increase screen refresh rate when scrolling” is currently available in Edge Canary via a flag.

The description of the option reads as follows:

Increase screen refresh rate while scrolling.

Allows Windows to temporarily increase the refresh rate while scrolling (provided the machine has a VRR panel and a supporting driver). This provides an overall smoother scrolling experience.

In addition to improving the appearance of scrolling in the browser, this feature could reduce the amount of power that Edge requires. The description doesn’t specifically mention battery life, but keeping a PC’s refresh rate when it’s idle and then increasing it when needed would use power more efficiently than locking in the refresh rate. refreshing a computer.

A related feature for Windows 11 called Dynamic Refresh Rate allows supported PCs to automatically jump between 60Hz and 120Hz. Dynamic refresh rate is only available on a short list of PCs, including the Surface Pro 8 and the Surface Laptop Studio.