Speedometer 3.0

Take this updated benchmark test to see which browser is fastest

What is it?

The latest version of a tool that tests how fast and responsive browsers are. It does this by rapidly running through tasks that simulate how users interact with websites, and giving a score at the end.

How do I try it?

By opening a browser, then visiting www.snipca.com/49738 and clicking Start Test. But before you do, make sure you’re running the latest version of the browser, and close any programs you have open and any other tabs on your browser. Also, if you’re using a laptop, plug it in so it’s charging. And while the test is running, don’t do anything on your computer.

Crikey – is all that really necessary?

It is if you want to get accurate results. Ideally, you should also remove any extensions you have, because they can “have a large impact on the score”, though we wouldn’t blame you for thinking that’s too much hassle. Once the test starts, you’ll see it search the web, click buttons, open menus and more. All this happens inside a box on Speedometer’s website, so you’ll never actually leave that page.

And it’s the same test no matter which browser you use?

Yes. Speedometer is a benchmarking tool, which means it always runs the same test, and applies the same criteria when assessing the score. We perform our own benchmark tests when reviewing devices to calculate specifications such as processor speed, battery life and frame rates. Without benchmarking, it would be impossible to test devices or software with any consistency.

What’s new in Speedometer 3.0?

The latest version updates the existing tests, and adds more that better emulate what people do online, including creating a to-do list, editing text and code, creating SVG charts and reading news sites (see www.snipca.com/49739).

It also more precisely measures rendering, which is how long the browsers take to interpret the HTML, CSS and Javascript code they need to display a web page correctly. But the biggest change with 3.0 is that Microsoft (which makes Edge) and Mozilla (Firefox) have worked on it. Speedometer 1.0, released in 2014, was made solely by Apple (Safari), while Google (Chrome) joined for version 2.0 four years later. With all four major browsers now on board, the test is much more reliable.

How long does the test take?

A couple of minutes. Its progress is marked by white lines that appear along the bottom of the test window, and by a number ticker counting up to 580.

What counts as a good result?

It’s all relative, and scores will vary depending on your computer’s processing power. But as long as you test each browser on the same machine, you’ll get useful results that you can compare. When we ran Speedometer 3.0, Brave was fastest, scoring 10.5 (see screenshot above), followed by Edge and Firefox (see box below). At the bottom of the pile was Chrome.

So why is it still the world’s most popular browser?

That’s down to Google’s global brand recognition. It replaced Internet Explorer as number one in 2012 when it was a faster and more innovative option, and its market share has hovered at around 65 per cent since 2017. By contrast, Brave has just one per cent. Still, while it may never be bigger than Chrome, at least it would beat it in the browsers’ race on sports day.