> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://tbd-6fc993ce-hypeship-docs-ia-restructure.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Performance

Kernel browsers [benchmark](https://www.kernel.sh/benchmarks) as the fastest, most performant browsers in the market.

### Kernel browser creation latency

| Benchmark | Latency | Last reported  |
| --------- | ------- | -------------- |
| P50       | 30ms    | April 24, 2026 |
| P99       | 105ms   | April 24, 2026 |

### Troubleshooting latency

If you're experiencing slower-than-expected browser creation (or [browser pool acquisition](/browsers/pools)), review your configuration for the following:

1. App code ⇔ Kernel browser region

Kernel browsers run in `us-east`. Use our [app platform](/apps/overview) to colocate your browser agent or automation.

2. Create browser rate limit

Kernel enforces a per-plan [create rate](/browsers/concurrency-and-limits#create-rate) on browser creation. Our SDKs automatically retry, respecting the `Retry-After` header for delay timing. If retries are exhausted, the SDK throws a typed `RateLimitError` with the response headers accessible for custom backoff logic.

3. Non-default browser configurations

Headful and headless browsers, with stealth mode on or off, are the standard configuration — those are the numbers benchmarked above. Anything else can add to creation time, and some configurations trigger Chromium to restart, which takes several seconds and disrupts active CDP connections:

* Custom viewport configurations
* Chrome extensions
* Setting the live view to `kiosk mode`
* Attaching a [profile](/auth/profiles)

Use [browser pools](/browsers/pools) to get browsers with custom configurations without paying that cost per task.

4. Browser pool refill rate

Browser pools fill at a [specified rate](https://www.kernel.sh/docs/api-reference/browser-pools/create-a-browser-pool#body-fill-rate-per-minute). Read about browser pool lifecycle best practices [here](/browsers/pools#how-browser-pools-work).