diff --git a/lisp/mtl.el b/lisp/mtl.el
index 1c34f3b35bb..0fa21daa216 100644
--- a/lisp/mtl.el
+++ b/lisp/mtl.el
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@
 ;; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ;; Customizable variables
 
-(defcustom mtl-cursor-animation 'spring
+(defcustom mtl-cursor-animation 'sonicboom
   "Cursor animation mode for the Metal GPU backend.
 Possible values:
   `block'      Static filled rectangle (no animation)
-  `spring'     Critically-damped spring physics (default)
+  `spring'     Critically-damped spring physics
   `torpedo'    Trail of last N cursor positions
-  `sonicboom'  Expanding ring when cursor jumps far
+  `sonicboom'  Expanding ring when cursor jumps far (default)
   `ripple'     Three concentric expanding rings
   `pixiedust'  Radial particle burst on jump
   `hollow'     Hollow outline box
diff --git a/src/mtlterm.m b/src/mtlterm.m
index 5f5fdc88525..0a1f7138cb5 100644
--- a/src/mtlterm.m
+++ b/src/mtlterm.m
@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ static void mtl_color_glyph_cache_clear (void);
 static struct gfx_driver mtl_gfx_driver;
 
 /* Phase 4: global animation configuration (Lisp-configurable) */
-MtlCursorMode   g_mtl_cursor_mode    = MTL_CURSOR_SPRING;
+/* Sonicboom is the user's pick as the default for tests and demos
+   (animations themselves stay opt-in behind g_mtl_animations_enabled).  */
+MtlCursorMode   g_mtl_cursor_mode    = MTL_CURSOR_SONICBOOM;
 MtlScrollEasing g_mtl_scroll_easing  = MTL_EASE_OUT_QUAD;
 float           g_mtl_scroll_duration = 0.15f;
 NSUInteger      g_mtl_trail_len       = 20;