Like the Apple Pro Display XDR, Apple's 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models offer professional-level display performance and customization options. This article focuses on how to change the refresh rate of the display on the new ‌MacBook Pro‌.

macbook pro sizes space gray
For its redesigned ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, Apple pulled out all the stops to make the new Macs more attractive to professional users. In doing so, not only did it add powerful Apple silicon chips and extra ports for more connectivity options, it also included one of the best displays ever seen in a laptop.

Both the 14-inch and 16-inch models are the first Macs to feature a Liquid Retina XDR display, which offers higher performance modes and more customization options. For example, it's the only Mac display featuring ProMotion, Apple's adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz, which is also found on the latest iPhone 13 and iPad Pro models.

Thanks to the added customization in macOS, ProMotion isn't the only refresh rate option available to new MacBook users. You can also adjust it to 60 Hertz, 59.94 Hertz, 50 Hertz, 48 Hertz, and 47.95 Hertz, which are all useful options if you want to match your screen's refresh rate to video content you are editing.

The following steps show you how to select the optimal refresh rate for your requirements. As a general rule of thumb, choose the rate that is double the frame rate of your video content.

    Click the Apple symbol in the menu bar and select System Preferences....
  1. Click the Displays icon in the preferences pane.
    sys prefs

  2. Click the Display Settings... button.
    display prefs

  3. If you're using an external monitor, select your ‌MacBook Pro‌'s built-in Liquid Retina XDR display in the side column.
  4. Click the dropdown next to Refresh Rate: and choose the rate that you require. If you're only interested in performance, choose ProMotion (variable 120Hz).
    display prefs

Note the other built-in tools available in macOS that can be used to further adjust the display settings on your ‌MacBook Pro‌, including resolution, reference modes, and brightness.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

Wednesday July 9, 2025 10:59 pm PDT by
Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports. The first foldable iPhone's displays are being produced by Samsung Display, who are establishing a production line dedicated to the upcoming Apple device its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. The production line will make displays exclusively...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...