Are browsers on macOS getting better at HTML5?
HTML5 has been the standard for the web since 2014. But browsers have still not incorporated it fully.
I’ve been testing browsers on Mac for their HTML5 incorporation since 2016. Here are my findings.
BRAVE
MacBook Air M1
2025
Brave 1.77.101 — 576 points, on 2025-04-29
Brave 1.76.74 — 576 points, on 2025-03-12
Brave 1.73.104 — 576 points, on 2025-01-03
2024
Brave 1.71.121 — 581 points, on 2024-11-01
Note. The above update asked to surveil all the devices on my network. This is profoundly the opposite of privacy, which is the stated mission of the browser.FAIL
Brave 1.68.134 — 576 points, on 2024-08-06
Brave 1.67.123 — 576 points, on 2024-06-27
Brave 1.66.118 — 581 points, on 2024-06-01
Brave 1.65.132 — 581 points, on 2024-05-11
Brave 1.64.113 — 581 points, on 2024-04-15
Note. The above update deleted all my bookmarks. FAIL
Brave 1.64.109 — 574 points, on 2024-03-23
Brave 1.63.162 — 574 points, on 2024-02-24
2023
Brave 1.61.109 — 526 points, on 2023-12-21
Brave 1.59.120 — FAIL, on 2023-10-20
Brave 1.57.53 — 521 points, on 2023-08-24
Brave 1.57.47 — 521 points, on 2023-08-17
2022
Brave 1.46.138 — 528 points, on 2022-12-08
Brave 1.37.116 — 528 points, on 2022-04-16
Brave 1.35.100 — 523 points, on 2022-02-09
Brave 1.34.80 — 523 points, on 2022-01-21
2021
Brave 1.32.115 — 528 points, on 2021-12-13
Brave 1.31.91 — 528 points, on 2021-11-15
Brave 1.30.89 — 523 points, on 2021-10-13
Brave 1.28.106 — 523 points, on 2021-08-28
Brave 1.27.109 — 523 points, on 2021-08-16
Brave 1.26.74 — 523 points, on 2021-07-12
Brave 1.26.67 — 528 points, on 2021-06-22
Brave 1.25.73 — 528 points, on 2021-06-17
Brave 1.25.68 — 528 points, on 2021-05-28
Brave 1.22.82 — 523 points, on 2021-05-06
Brave 1.22.75 — 523 points, on 2021-04-29
Brave 1.22.73 — 528 points, on 2021-04-23
Brave 1.22.71 — 528 points, on 2021-04-05
Brave 1.21.77 — 528 points, on 2021-03-19
Brave 1.21.74 — 528 points, on 2021-03-11
Brave 1.21.73 — 528 points, on 2021-03-05
Brave 1.20.103 — 525 points, on 2021-02-18
Brave 1.19.90 — 525 points, on 2021-02-04
Brave 1.19.86 — 528 points, on 2021-01-21
Brave 1.18.78 — 528 points, on 2021-01-16
2020
Brave 1.18.77 — 528 points, on 2020-12-31
Brave 1.18.75 — 528 points, on 2020-12-18
Brave 1.18.70 — 523 points, on 2020-12-10
Brave 1.17.75 — 523 points, on 2020-12-07
MacBook Air 2017
2020
Brave 1.17.75 — 528 points, on 2020-12-04
Brave 1.17.73 — 528 points, on 2020-11-21
Brave 1.16.72 — 523 points, on 2020-11-16
Brave 1.16.68 — 528 points, on 2020-10-29
Brave 1.15.75 — 528 points, on 2020-10-19
Brave 1.15.72 — 528 points, on 2020-10-12
NOTES
Note 1. I am not committed to testing the Brave browser. That is because the Brave browser is Non-Consentual Software. Brave forces updates to the browser without user consent. It withholds any way for a user to switch to manual updates. That is user-hostile. Plus it destroys bandwidth when tethering from a smartphone. FAIL
CHROME
MacBook Air M1
2025
Chrome 138 — 581 points, on 2025-06-30
Chrome 136 — 581 points, on 2025-04-29
Chrome 135 — 581 points, on 2025-04-05
Chrome 134 — 581 points, on 2025-03-12
Chrome 133 — 581 points, on 2025-02-06
Chrome 131 — Fail, on 2025-01-07
Note. The test site said “To view the results of your browser you need to enable JavaScript!” However, (a) I had not changed any setting in Chrome; and (b) the test site did not flag that error in any other browser. I surmise there was a bug in Chrome itself.
2024
Chrome 130 — 581 points, on 2024-10-30
Chrome 129 — 581 points, on 2024-09-27
Chrome 127 — 581 points, on 2024-07-30
Chrome 126 — 581 points, on 2024-06-18
Chrome 125 — 581 points, on 2024-05-18
Chrome 124 — 581 points, on 2024-04-20
Chrome 123 — 581 points, on 2024-03-23
Chrome 121 — 581 points, on 2024-02-22
2023
Chrome 120 — 528 points, on 2023-12-14
Chrome 119 — 528 points, on 2023-11-30
Chrome 118 — 528 points, on 2023-10-14
Chrome 117 — 528 points, on 2023-09-14
Chrome 116 — 528 points, on 2023-08-17
Chrome 114 — 528 points, on 2023-06-03
Chrome 112 — 528 points, on 2023-04-05
Chrome 111 — 528 points, on 2023-03-23
Chrome 110 — 528 points, on 2023-02-16
2022
Chrome 108 — 528 points, on 2022-11-30
Chrome 107 — 528 points, on 2022-11-15
Chrome 104 — 528 points, on 2022-08-09
Chrome 103 — 476 points, on 2022-06-21
Chrome 101 — 476 points, on 2022-04-27
Chrome 99 — 476 points, on 2022-03-28
Chrome 98 — 476 points, on 2022-02-03
Chrome 97 — 476 points, on 2022-01-04
2021
Chrome 96 — 476 points, on 2021-11-15
Chrome 95 — 476 points, on 2021-10-29
Chrome 94 — 476 points, on 2021-09-21
Chrome 93 — 476 points, on 2021-09-01
Chrome 91 — 476 points, on 2021-05-28
Chrome 90 — 476 points, on 2021-04-15
Chrome 89 — 476 points, on 2021-03-05
Chrome 88 — 476 points, on 2021-01-20
2020
Chrome 87 — 476 points, on 2020-12-07
MacBook Air 2017
2020
Chrome 87 — 473 points, on 2020-11-17
Chrome 86 — 476 points, on 2020-10-21
Chrome 85 — 473 points, on 2020-08-26
Chrome 83 — 473 points, on 2020-05-19
Chrome 81 — 473 points, on 2020-04-04
2019
Chrome 79 — 481 points, on 2019-12-11
Chrome 78 — 535 points, on 2019-11-21
Chrome 76 — 535 points, on 2019-07-31
Chrome 75 — 535 points, on 2019-06-13
Chrome 74 — 535 points, on 2019-04-29
Chrome 73 — 535 points, on 2019-03-12
Chrome 72 — 535 points, on 2019-02-01
2018
Chrome 71 — 530 points, on 2018-12-05
MacBook Air mid-2013
2018
Chrome 70 — 528 points, on 2018-10-19
Chrome 69 — 528 points, on 2018-09-24
Chrome 68 — 528 points, on 2018-08-02
Chrome 67 — 528 points, on 2018-06-01
Chrome 66 — 528 points, on 2018-04-18
2017
Chrome 62 — 528 points, on 2017-11-08
Chrome 60 — 518 points, on 2017-07-26
Chrome 59 — 518 points, on 2017-07-06
Chrome 58 — 518 points, on 2017-04-26
2016
Chrome yy — 499 points, on 2016-10-10
Chrome yy — 499 points, on 2016-09-21
Chrome yy — 533 points, on 2016-07-06
NOTES
Note 1. I am only testing the major versions. That is because the version numbers are so long that an ordinary person would not bother to compare minor version numbers.
Note 2. I am no longer committed to testing the Chrome browser. That is because with version 119, the Chrome browser has become Non-Consentual Software. Google forces updates to the browser without user consent. It withholds any way for a user to switch to manual updates. That is user-hostile. Plus it destroys bandwidth when tethering from a smartphone. FAIL
DUCKDUCKGO
MacBook Air M1
2025
DuckDuckGo 1.144.0 — 548 points, on 2025-06-30
DuckDuckGo 1.137.0 — 548 points, on 2025-05-10
DuckDuckGo 1.134.0 — 548 points, on 2025-04-29
DuckDuckGo 1.132.1 — 548 points, on 2025-04-05
DuckDuckGo 1.129.0 — 548 points, on 2025-03-12
DuckDuckGo 1.121.0 — 548 points, on 2025-01-18
DuckDuckGo 1.118.1 — 548 points, on 2025-01-03
2024
DuckDuckGo 1.111.0 — 548 points, on 2024-10-30
DuckDuckGo 1.101.0 — 548 points, on 2024-08-15
Note. Apparently with version 1.101.0, a new default setting was added and pre-selected. It was to automatically download and install updates. That turns the default browser into Non-Consentual Software. DuckDuckGo forces updates to the browser without user consent. For that reason, I have stopped using the DuckDuckGo browser altogether. FAIL
DuckDuckGo 1.100.0 — 548 points, on 2024-08-06
DuckDuckGo 1.93.0 — 548 points, on 2024-06-27
DuckDuckGo 1.88.0 — 548 points, on 2024-06-01
DuckDuckGo 1.86.0 — 548 points, on 2024-05-09
DuckDuckGo 1.82.1 — 548 points, on 2024-04-15
DuckDuckGo 1.80.0 — 548 points, on 2024-03-23
DuckDuckGo 1.76.0 — FAIL, on 2024-03-02
DuckDuckGo 1.75.1 — 548 points, on 2024-02-24
2023
DuckDuckGo 1.68.0 — 478 points, on 2023-12-21
DuckDuckGo 1.65.2 — 478 points, on 2023-11-30
DuckDuckGo 1.60.0 — 478 points, on 2023-10-20
DuckDuckGo 1.58.3 — 478 points, on 2023-10-14
DuckDuckGo 1.58.1 — 478 points, on 2023-10-06
DuckDuckGo 1.56.1 — 478 points, on 2023-09-29
DuckDuckGo 1.56.0 — 473 points, on 2023-09-19
DuckDuckGo 1.55.0 — 473 points, on 2023-09-12
DuckDuckGo 1.54.1 — 473 points, on 2023-09-09
DuckDuckGo 1.53.2 — 473 points, on 2023-09-01
DuckDuckGo 1.52.2 — 473 points, on 2023-08-24
DuckDuckGo 1.51.1 — 473 points, on 2023-08-17
DuckDuckGo 1.44.2 — 473 points, on 2023-06-28
DuckDuckGo 1.43.1 — 473 points, on 2023-06-22
NOTES
Note 1. With version 1.144.0, the DuckDuckGo browser added itself as a login item in the Mac. It did that without asking for user consent. This is NOT the behavior of an app that respects users.
Note 2. Also with version 1.144.0, the DuckDuckGo browser added an inescapeable dialogue box which presented only two possibilities: (a) add to dock; or (b) ask later. The app withheld an answer of NO. Again, this s NOT the behavior of an app that respects users.
EDGE
MacBook Air M1
2023
Edge 120 — 528 points, on 2023-11-30
Edge 119 — 476 points, on 2023-11-30
Edge 118 — 476 points, on 2023-10-20
Edge 117 — 476 points, on 2023-09-21
Edge 116 — 476 points, on 2023-08-24
Edge 114 — 476 points, on 2023-06-14
Edge 111 — 476 points, on 2023-03-22
Edge 110 — 476 points, on 2023-02-23
2022
Edge 110 — 476 points, on 2022-12-09
Edge 107 — 476 points, on 2022-12-02
Edge 103 — 476 points, on 2022-06-30
Edge 101 — 476 points, on 2022-04-28
Edge 100 — 476 points, on 2022-04-01
Edge 99 — 476 points, on 2022-03-08
Edge 98 — 476 points, on 2022-02-04
Edge 97 — 476 points, on 2022-01-06
2021
Edge 96 — 476 points, on 2021-12-02
Edge 93 — 476 points, on 2021-09-03
Edge 92 — 476 points, on 2021-08-11
NOTES
Note 1. Prior to version 92, I had not allowed the Edge browser on my Mac. That was because the Edge browser was Non-Consentual Software. Microsoft forced updates to the browser without user consent. It withheld any way for a user to switch to manual updates. That was user-hostile. Plus it destroyed bandwidth when tethering from a smartphone. FAIL
Note 2. I was only testing the major versions. That was because the version numbers were so long that an ordinary person would not bother to compare minor version numbers.
Note 3. Starting in version 114, I stopped using (and testing) the Edge browser altogether. That was for two reasons:
- Microsoft removed the “reset sync” button that deletes your data from Microsoft Servers. With that, there was no way to remove your Edge browsing data from Microsoft’s cloud. This was a privacy nightmare. FAIL.
- The Edge browser is Non-Consentual Software. Microsoft forces updates to the browser without user consent. It withholds any way for a user to switch to manual updates. That is user-hostile. Plus it destroys bandwidth when tethering from a smartphone. FAIL.
Note 4. As of February 2024, I no longer have the Edge browser on my Mac. That is because with version 120, the Edge browser includes an AI function called Copilot. It slurps up your every inquire and action into itself, with no option to opt-out. This is yet another privacy nightmare. The only possibility is to turn off the displaying of the Copilot button. However, that does not deactivate the Copilot AI. The AI is still running behind the scenes, harvesting telemetry and violating privacy. FAIL.
FIREFOX
MacBook Air M1
2025
Firefox 140.0.2 — 546 points, on 2025-06-30
Firefox 138.0 — 546 points, on 2025-04-29
Firefox 137.0 — 546 points, on 2025-04-05
Firefox 136.0.1 — 546 points, on 2025-03-12
Firefox 135.0 — 546 points, on 2025-02-06
Firefox 134.0 — 546 points, on 2025-01-07
2024
Firefox 132.0 — 546 points, on 2024-10-30
Firefox 131.0 — 546 points, on 2024-10-05
Firefox 130.0.1 — 546 points, on 2024-09-27
Firefox 129.0.1 — 546 points, on 2024-08-15
Firefox 128.0 — 546 points, on 2024-07-09
Firefox 127.0.2 — 546 points, on 2024-06-27
Firefox 127.0 — 546 points, on 2024-06-18
Firefox 126.0.1 — 546 points, on 2024-05-28
Firefox 125.0.1 — 546 points, on 2024-04-20
Firefox 124.0.1 — 546 points, on 2024-03-23
Firefox 123.0 — 546 points, on 2024-02-24
Firefox 121.0.1 — 546 points, on 2024-02-22
2023
Firefox 121.0 — 512 points, on 2023-12-19
Firefox 120.0.1 — 512 points, on 2023-11-30
Firefox 120.0 — 512 points, on 2023-11-30
Firefox 118.0.2 — 512 points, on 2023-10-14
Firefox 118.0.1 — 512 points, on 2023-09-29
Firefox 117.0.1 — 512 points, on 2023-09-12
Firefox 117.0 — 512 points, on 2023-09-01
Firefox 116.0.3 — 512 points, on 2023-08-17
Firefox 116.0.2 — 512 points, on 2023-08-08
Firefox 116.0.1 — 512 points, on 2023-08-05
Firefox 116.0 — 512 points, on 2023-08-01
Firefox 115.0.3 — 512 points, on 2023-07-28
Firefox 115.0.2 — 507 points, on 2023-07-12
Firefox 115.0.1 — 512 points, on 2023-07-09
Firefox 115.0 — 512 points, on 2023-07-06
Firefox 114.0.2 — 515 points, on 2023-06-20
Firefox 114.0.1 — 515 points, on 2023-06-14
Firefox 114.0 — 499 points, on 2023-06-07
Firefox 113.0.1 — 499 points, on 2023-05-13
Firefox 112.0.2 — 499 points, on 2023-04-30
Firefox 112.0.1 — 499 points, on 2023-04-17
Firefox 112.0 — 499 points, on 2023-04-15
Firefox 111.0 — 499 points, on 2023-03-14
Firefox 110.0 — 499 points, on 2023-02-16
Firefox 109.0 — 499 points, on 2023-01-19
Firefox 108.0.2 — 499 points, on 2023-01-08
2022
Firefox 108.0 — 499 points, on 2022-12-13
Firefox 107.0.1 — 499 points, on 2022-11-30
Firefox 107.0 — 499 points, on 2022-11-15
Firefox 105.0.1 — 499 points, on 2022-09-23
Firefox 105 — 499 points, on 2022-09-20
Firefox 104.0.2 — 499 points, on 2022-09-06
Firefox 104.0.1 — 499 points, on 2022-08-30
Firefox 104 — 499 points, on 2022-08-24
Firefox 103.0.2 — 501 points, on 2022-08-09
Firefox 103.0.1 — 501 points, on 2022-08-06
Firefox 103.0 — 501 points, on 2022-07-27
Firefox 102.1 — 501 points, on 2022-07-07
Firefox 102.0 — 515 points, on 2022-06-28
Firefox 101.0 — 515 points, on 2022-06-07
Firefox 100.0.2 — 515 points, on 2022-05-21
Firefox 100.0 — 515 points, on 2022-05-03
Firefox 99.0.1 — 515 points, on 2022-04-16
Firefox 99.0 — 515 points, on 2022-04-05
Firefox 98.0.2 — 515 points, on 2022-03-28
Firefox 98.0.1 — 515 points, on 2022-03-16
Firefox 98.0 — 515 points, on 2022-03-08
Firefox 97.0.1 — 514 points, on 2022-02-25
Firefox 97.0 — 514 points, on 2022-02-08
Firefox 96.0.3 — 517 points, on 2022-01-29
Firefox 96.0.2 — 517 points, on 2022-01-21
Firefox 96.0 — 517 points, on 2022-01-13
2021
Firefox 95.0.2 — 517 points, on 2021-12-27
Firefox 95.0.1 — 517 points, on 2021-12-17
Firefox 95.0 — 517 points, on 2021-12-07
Firefox 94.0.2 — 517 points, on 2021-11-23
Firefox 94.0.1 — 517 points, on 2021-11-04
Firefox 94.0 — 517 points, on 2021-11-02
Firefox 93.0 — 517 points, on 2021-10-07
Firefox 92.0.1 — 513 points, on 2021-09-26
Firefox 92.0 — 513 points, on 2021-09-09
Firefox 91.0.2 — 513 points, on 2021-08-28
Firefox 91.0 — 513 points, on 2021-08-11
Firefox 90.0.2 — 513 points, on 2021-07-28
Firefox 90.0.1 — 513 points, on 2021-07-20
Firefox 90.0 — 513 points, on 2021-07-15
Firefox 89.0.1 — 513 points, on 2021-06-17
Firefox 89.0 — 513 points, on 2021-06-01
Firefox 88.0.1 — 513 points, on 2021-05-05
Firefox 88.0 — 513 points, on 2021-04-23
Firefox 87.0 — 513 points, on 2021-03-23
Firefox 86.0.1 — 465 points, on 2021-03-11
Firefox 86.0 — 465 points, on 2021-02-24
Firefox 85.0.2 — 465 points, on 2021-02-18
Firefox 85.0 — 465 points, on 2021-01-26
Firefox 84.0.2 — 466 points, on 2021-01-07
2020
Firefox 84.0 — 464 points, on 2020-12-15
Firefox 83.0 — 466 points, on 2020-12-07
MacBook Air 2017
2020
Firefox 83.0 — 514 points, on 2020-11-17
Firefox 82.0.3 — 514 points, on 2020-11-11
Firefox 82.0.2 — 514 points, on 2020-10-29
Firefox 82.0 — 514 points, on 2020-10-21
Firefox 81.0.2 — 514 points, on 2020-10-14
Firefox 81.0.1 — 514 points, on 2020-10-05
Firefox 81.0 — 514 points, on 2020-09-22
Firefox 80.0.1 — 514 points, on 2020-09-17
Firefox 80.0 — 514 points, on 2020-08-25
Firefox 79.0 — 514 points, on 2020-07-30
Firefox 78.0.2 — 514 points, on 2020-07-24
Firefox 78.0.1 — 514 points, on 2020-07-01
Firefox 77.0.1 — 513 points, on 2020-06-25
Firefox 76.0.1 — 513 points, on 2020-05-14
Firefox 76.0 — FAIL, on 2020-05-05
Firefox 75.0 — 513 points, on 2020-04-07
Firefox 74.0 — 513 points, on 2020-03-11
Firefox 73.0 — 513 points, on 2020-02-16
2019
Firefox 70.0 — 513 points, on 2019-10-26
Firefox 69.0 — 513 points, on 2019-09-03
Firefox 68.0 — 513 points, on 2019-07-11
Firefox 67.0 — 513 points, on 2019-05-22
Firefox 66.0 — 513 points, on 2019-03-22
Firefox 65.0 — 508 points, on 2019-02-01
MacBook Air mid-2013
2018
Firefox 63 — 482 points, on 2018-10-24
Firefox 62 — 494 points, on 2018-10-10
Firefox 60 — 494 points, on 2018-05-15
Firefox 59 — 483 points, on 2018-05-02
Firefox 58 — 483 points, on 2018-01-24
2017
Firefox 57 — 483 points, on 2017-11-14
Firefox 56 — 473 points, on 2017-11-08
Firefox 55 — 475 points, on 2017-08-09
Firefox 54 — 474 points, on 2017-07-06
Firefox 53 — 474 points, on 2017-04-26
2016
Firefox 49 — 434 points, on 2016-10-10
Firefox 48 — 434 points, on 2016-09-21
Firefox 47 — 482 points, on 2016-07-06
NOTES
Note 1. Around version 129, without informing me or asking for my consent, Firefox changed an important default setting. After the change, the Firefox browser updated itself without asking me first. I only discovered this by hunting through the Settings screens. That was user-hostile. Plus it destroyed bandwidth when tethering from a smartphone. FAIL
Note 2. The Firefox browser claims to be private. However, in 2024, security researchers discovered the parent company Mozilla had secretly installed ad-tracking code in the mobile versions of the Firefox browser. Apparently they removed it after they were caught. This is a terrible violation of trust. References: Techzine Global and AdGuard. FAIL.
SAFARI
MacBook Air M1
2025
Safari 18.5 — 550 points, on 2025-06-29
2024
Safari 18.1.2 — 555 points, on 2024-12-11
Safari 18.1.1 — 550 points, on 2024-12-11
Safari 18.1 — 555 points, on 2024-10-28
Safari 18.0.1 — 555 points, on 2024-10-05
Safari 18.0 — 555 points, on 2024-09-16
Safari 17.6 — 555 points, on 2024-07-30
Safari 17.5 — 550 points, on 2024-05-18
Safari 17.4.1 — 555 points, on 2024-03-26
Safari 17.4 — 555 points, on 2024-03-07
Safari 17.3.1 — 550 points, on 2024-02-22
2023
Safari 17.2.1 — 523 points, on 2023-12-19
Safari 17.2 — 523 points, on 2023-12-12
Safari 17.1.2 — 523 points, on 2023-12-01
Safari 17.1 — 523 points, on 2023-11-30
Safari 17.0 — 523 points, on 2023-09-26
Safari 16.6 — 518 points, on 2023-07-24
Safari 16.5 — 518 points, on 2023-05-18
Safari 16.4 — 518 points, on 2023-03-28
Safari 16.3 — 516 points, on 2023-01-24
2022
Safari 16.2 — 516 points, on 2022-12-13
Safari 16.0 — 514 points, on 2022-09-12
Safari 15.6.1 — 516 points, on 2022-08-17
Safari 15.5 — 516 points, on 2022-05-16
Safari 15.4 — 514 points, on 2022-03-17
Safari 15.3 — 515 points, on 2022-02-04
Safari 15.1.2 — 515 points, on 2022-01-21
2021
Safari 15.1 — 515 points, on 2021-10-25
Safari 15.0 — 515 points, on 2021-09-20
Safari 14.1.2 — 507 points, on 2021-07-21
Safari 14.1.1 — 510 points, on 2021-05-24
Safari 14.1 — 507 points, on 2021-04-26
Safari 14.0.3 — 494 points, on 2021-02-28
2020
Safari 14.0.1 — 492 points, on 2020-12-07
MacBook Air 2017
2020
Safari 14.0.1 — 492 points, on 2020-11-12
Safari 14.0 — 489 points, on 2020-09-17
Safari 13.1.2 — 489 points, on 2020-08-16
Safari 13.1 — 489 points, on 2020-05-25
2019
Safari 13.0.1 — 489 points, on 2019-11-21
Safari 13.0 — 486 points, on 2019-09-20
Safari 12.1.2 — 473 points, on 2019-08-26
Safari 12.1.1 — 476 points, on 2019-07-31
Safari 12.1 — 473 points, on 2019-03-25
MacBook Air mid-2013
2018
Safari 12.0.1 — 471 points, on 2018-10-30
Safari 12.0 — 471 points, on 2018-09-17
Safari 11.1.2 — 471 points, on 2018-07-10
Safari 11.1.1 — 456 points, on 2018-06-01
Safari 11.1 — 471 points, on 2018-04-04
Safari 11.0.3 — 452 points, on 2018-01-24
2017
Safari 11.0.2 — 452 points, on 2017-12-06
Safari 11.0.1 — 455 points, on 2017-10-31
Safari 11.0 — 452 points, on 2017-09-25
Safari 10.1 — 409 points, on 2017-04-26
2016
Safari yy — 383 points, on 2016-09-21
Safari yy — 405 points, on 2016-07-06
Safari yy — 408 points, on 2016-06-xx
NOTES
Note 1. For most of the years I’ve been running these tests, Apple’s default browser almost always took LAST PLACE on macOS. With the least HTML5 incorporation, Safari delivered “Worst-In-Class” HTML performance.
That was really ironic, considering it was former Apple CEO Steve Jobs who accelerated the worldwide shift to HTML5 in his famous 2010 letter called Thoughts on Flash.
As of this writing, that letter has been removed from Apple’s website. However, it is still available at Internet Archive.
Then in late 2023, the HTML5 incorporation of the Safari browser finally caught up with the Chrome browser. By my count, it took eight calendar years for Safari to achieve parity with Chrome.
NOTES
Note 1. In every case, the operating system and all apps were updated to current.
Note 2. All testing was done at HTML5test.co.
Note 3. All scores rounded to the nearest whole number.
Note 4. These are my own test results. Your results may vary.
Note 5. In 2023 and 2024 I tested the Mullvad browser. It is a privacy-focused web browser developed in a collaboration between Mullvad VPN and the Tor Project. However, in most of my tests, it FAILED. For that reason I have entirely given up on the Mullvan browser.
Note 6. Starting in late 2023, my browsers were not able to load the HTML5test.com site. Then in February 2024 I discovered the URL had been changed to HTML5test.co (with no “m”). They provided no redirect and seemingly did not announce the change. For that reason I missed months of testing.
Note 7. The Tor Browser is the most secure browser available. For that excellent reason, the Tor Browser does not do well in performance tests. So concerning performance, I don’t test the Tor Browser. I respect it.
Note 8. I tested the Safari Technology Preview browser from 2016 to early 2025. However, Apple made the updates to the browser far too obnoxious, with unskippable notifications and no possibility to opt-out. For that reason, I have entirely given up on the Safari Technology Preview browser.
Note 9. I was initially attracted to the Vivaldi browser due to its reputation for privacy. I began testing it in late 2024. I invested significant time and effort into getting the font size to be tolerable for my poor vision. However, no matter what I tried, the Vivaldi browser always displayed some fonts much too big and other fonts much too small. The result was illegible slop, as well as the ugliest webpages I’ve witnessed. Thus I do not use the Vivaldi browser.
RESOURCES
MAC
Are browsers on macOS getting better at HTML5?
Are browsers on macOS getting better at JavaScript?
Are browsers on macOS getting faster?
Subjective factors for browsers on macOS
iOS
Are browsers in iOS getting better at HTML5?
Are browsers in iOS getting better at JavaScript?
Are browsers on iOS getting faster?
Originally published on July 7, 2016
Last updated on June 30, 2025
TOPICS: Apple, Browsers, HTML, Mac,