Introduction
The UFO Test is an online motion test created by Blur Busters, designed to measure your monitor’s ability to display fast-moving objects clearly. It displays a moving UFO animation across your screen to help you observe motion blur, ghosting, and frame skipping.
The test works by moving an image horizontally at controlled speeds while your monitor tries to keep up. The better your screen’s refresh rate, the smoother and clearer the UFO motion appears.
How the UFO Test Works
When you start the UFO Test, you’ll see several UFOs moving across the screen at different speeds and refresh rates. The test compares how your monitor displays these UFOs to what’s expected at an ideal refresh rate (like 144Hz or 240Hz).
This helps you identify:
- Ghosting: trailing shadows behind fast-moving objects
- Stuttering or Frame Skipping: missing frames or uneven motion
- Display Lag: delay between motion and screen refresh
The smoother the motion and the clearer the UFO, the better your monitor performance.
Why You Should Use the UFO Test
Whether you’re a gamer, designer, or everyday user, your monitor’s performance affects how everything looks and feels.
The UFO Test gives you:
- Instant Results: No tools or downloads, just open and run.
- Visual Clarity Check: Spot ghosting, tearing, or lag instantly.
- Refresh Rate Accuracy: Confirms if your monitor actually runs at the advertised rate.
- Optimization Insight: Helps you tweak settings for maximum performance.
In short, it’s a must-use for anyone serious about visual quality and responsiveness.
Understanding the UFO Test Monitor Results
After running the UFO Test Monitor, you’ll see moving UFOs at various speeds. Here’s what to look for:
1. Clear UFO with No Trails
Your monitor’s refresh rate and response time are well-balanced. This is the ideal result.
2. Blurry UFO or Faint Trail
You may have mild motion blur. It’s common in monitors with slower response times (like 5ms or higher).
3. Strong Ghosting or Double Images
Your screen is struggling to transition pixels quickly enough. This can make gaming or fast-moving videos appear smeared.
4. Stuttering or Skipped Frames
Frame skipping occurs when your GPU or monitor isn’t synchronizing properly. Check your refresh rate settings or enable adaptive sync (like G-Sync or FreeSync).
UFO Test Ghosting – What It Reveals
Ghosting occurs when your monitor’s pixels can’t change colors fast enough to keep up with moving images. It creates a shadow-like trail following fast-moving objects, especially noticeable in games or videos with high motion.
Using the UFO Test Ghosting feature, you can visually detect this issue. The UFO will appear to have a duplicate “ghost” behind it if your display suffers from this problem.
Common Causes of Ghosting
- Low refresh rate (below 75Hz)
- High response time (above 5ms)
- Poor overdrive settings
- Outdated display drivers
- Incompatible cable (HDMI 1.4 or older)
How to Fix Ghosting
- Enable Overdrive or Response Time Acceleration in your monitor settings.
- Use a DisplayPort cable for higher bandwidth.
- Update your GPU drivers and monitor firmware.
- Match your game’s frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate.
Other UFO Test Features
The UFO Test includes several variations to check different aspects of monitor performance:
1. Frame Skipping Test
Ensures your monitor is not dropping frames due to cable limitations or refresh rate mismatches.
2. Refresh Rate Test
Confirms your display’s true refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz, 144Hz, or 240Hz).
3. Stutter Test
Helps identify micro-stutters caused by unstable frame timing or system lag.
4. Persistence Test
Measures the display’s motion blur and pixel transition consistency.
Each test provides unique insights into your monitor’s performance and helps you fine-tune for smooth visuals.
How to Run the UFO Test Step-by-Step
- Visit www.testufo.com.
- Ensure your browser is running in full-screen mode.
- Close background applications that could interfere.
- Observe the UFOs moving across the screen.
- Look for:
- Blurring or trails behind the UFOs (ghosting)
- Uneven motion (frame skipping)
- Flickering or tearing (sync issue)
- Blurring or trails behind the UFOs (ghosting)
For best accuracy, use Chrome or Edge browsers on a monitor running at its native refresh rate.
UFO Test for Gamers – Why It Matters
If you’re into competitive gaming, the UFO Test is your secret weapon for detecting performance issues before they ruin your matches.
High refresh rate monitors (144Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz) should produce smooth, trail-free motion. Even a slight ghosting effect can mean slower pixel transitions — which translates into delayed reaction visuals.
Running a UFO Test helps ensure:
- You’re getting the full benefit of your monitor’s refresh rate.
- Motion clarity is optimal for FPS and racing games.
- Your setup is properly synced between GPU and display.
Think of it as a “health check” for your gaming monitor.
UFO Test vs Other Tools
While the UFO Test is the most popular, other tools exist — like NVIDIA Pendulum Demo or Blur Reduction Utility.
However, UFO Test stands out because:
- It’s browser-based, no installation needed.
- It provides immediate visual feedback.
- It works with any operating system.
That simplicity and accuracy make it a top choice among gamers, content creators, and monitor reviewers alike.
Expert Tips for Accurate UFO Test Results
- Use a high-quality cable: Prefer DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+.
- Disable motion smoothing or V-Sync temporarily.
- Keep ambient light low to spot trails more easily.
- Check browser FPS: Chrome offers a built-in frame rate counter (Ctrl + Shift + R).
- Run multiple tests: Try at different refresh rates and resolutions.
These small adjustments can help you get a clearer picture of your monitor’s true capabilities.
Common Questions About the UFO Test
1. Is the UFO Test safe?
Yes, it’s completely safe. It’s an official Blur Busters tool with no downloads or malware.
2. Can I run the UFO Test on mobile?
Yes, but results are best on desktop monitors, as phone screens have limited refresh rate control.
3. What if my UFO Test says “browser not supported”?
Switch to Chrome or Edge. Safari and some Firefox builds may not handle refresh syncing properly.
4. What is a good result?
A perfectly clear UFO with zero trails means your monitor is performing ideally.
Why Your UFO Test Results Matter
Your monitor’s motion performance directly affects how you perceive movement — from gaming and video playback to scrolling webpages. A screen that fails the UFO Test can cause eye strain, ghosting, and missed visual cues.
By running the test and tweaking settings accordingly, you can achieve smoother visuals, faster response, and better overall experience — without spending extra money on new hardware.
Conclusion
The UFO Test is more than a fun animation — it’s a precision tool for understanding your monitor’s performance. It helps you see what’s really happening behind the scenes of your screen, from ghosting to frame skipping.Whether you’re a gamer fine-tuning for competitive advantage or a user seeking smoother visuals, this test gives you the insights you need to make smart adjustments.
About the Author
