diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 9abcf78e92..52d6b4ce9a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -102,14 +102,38 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup pnpm, Node.js, and dependencies
         uses: ./.github/actions/setup
 
+      - name: Get Playwright version
+        id: playwright-version
+        run: echo "version=$(pnpm exec playwright-core --version | awk '{print $2}')" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+      # Cache the browser to avoid relying on azure.archive.ubuntu.com, which
+      # can be flaky. Only the default branch is trusted to write the cache,
+      # so PR runs cannot poison it.
+      - name: Restore Chromium cache
+        id: playwright-chromium-cache
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
+        with:
+          path: ~/.cache/ms-playwright
+          key: playwright-chromium-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.playwright-version.outputs.version }}
+
       - name: Install Chromium
-        run: pnpm exec playwright-core install --with-deps chromium
+        run: pnpm exec playwright-core install chromium
+        timeout-minutes: 5
+
+      - name: Save Chromium cache
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && steps.playwright-chromium-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
+        with:
+          path: ~/.cache/ms-playwright
+          key: ${{ steps.playwright-chromium-cache.outputs.cache-primary-key }}
 
       # Builds the Storybook (buildCommand in pixel.jsonc) and snapshots it.
       - name: Snapshot
         run: pnpm exec pixel-storybook
         env:
           PIXEL_KEY: ${{ secrets.PIXEL_KEY }}
+          # On pull_request, github.sha is a synthetic merge commit, not the PR head.
+          PIXEL_COMMIT: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha || github.sha }}
           # Auto-approve on mainline to avoid blocking CI after squash merges.
           PIXEL_AUTO_REVIEW: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' }}
 
diff --git a/.storybook/preview.ts b/.storybook/preview.ts
index ad5833c39f..ef464fb77a 100644
--- a/.storybook/preview.ts
+++ b/.storybook/preview.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /// <reference types="vite/client" />
 
+import { isPixel } from "@coder/pixel-storybook/storyapi";
 import codiconCssUrl from "@vscode/codicons/dist/codicon.css?url";
 import { createElement } from "react";
 
@@ -29,6 +30,11 @@ if (typeof window !== "undefined") {
 	});
 }
 
+// Lets us skip motion animation during Pixel captures.
+if (typeof document !== "undefined" && isPixel()) {
+	document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-pixel", "true");
+}
+
 // Inject codicon stylesheet immediately (before any components render)
 // Must be a <link> element with id "vscode-codicon-stylesheet" for vscode-elements
 if (
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Icon/Icon.css b/packages/ui/src/components/Icon/Icon.css
index 42a3429401..9967622c11 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Icon/Icon.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Icon/Icon.css
@@ -13,3 +13,8 @@
 		animation: none;
 	}
 }
+
+/* data-pixel is set in .storybook/preview.ts via isPixel(). */
+:root[data-pixel] .ui-icon--spin {
+	animation: none;
+}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Menu/Menu.css b/packages/ui/src/components/Menu/Menu.css
index c4a10c0e0a..ec56a68507 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Menu/Menu.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Menu/Menu.css
@@ -140,6 +140,14 @@
 	}
 }
 
+/* data-pixel is set in .storybook/preview.ts via isPixel(). */
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+	:where(:root[data-pixel]) .ui-menu[data-state="open"],
+	:where(:root[data-pixel]) .ui-menu[data-state="closed"] {
+		animation: none;
+	}
+}
+
 @media (forced-colors: active) {
 	.ui-menu__item[data-highlighted],
 	.ui-menu__item[data-state="open"] {
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/ProgressBar/ProgressBar.css b/packages/ui/src/components/ProgressBar/ProgressBar.css
index dc31caec85..5dcdd4453b 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/ProgressBar/ProgressBar.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/ProgressBar/ProgressBar.css
@@ -52,3 +52,8 @@
 		background: Highlight;
 	}
 }
+
+/* data-pixel is set in .storybook/preview.ts via isPixel(). */
+:root[data-pixel] .ui-progress-bar--indeterminate .ui-progress-bar__indicator {
+	animation: none;
+}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Spinner/Spinner.css b/packages/ui/src/components/Spinner/Spinner.css
index 023c91a016..eb32eb4ba4 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Spinner/Spinner.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Spinner/Spinner.css
@@ -50,3 +50,8 @@
 		border-inline-end-color: Highlight;
 	}
 }
+
+/* data-pixel is set in .storybook/preview.ts via isPixel(). */
+:root[data-pixel] .ui-spinner {
+	animation: none;
+}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/vscode-parity.stories.tsx b/packages/ui/src/vscode-parity.stories.tsx
index d37c2067f4..a9a7e49a93 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/vscode-parity.stories.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/vscode-parity.stories.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import { ProgressBar } from "./components/ProgressBar/ProgressBar";
 import { SearchInput } from "./components/SearchInput/SearchInput";
 import { Spinner } from "./components/Spinner/Spinner";
 import { StatusPill } from "./components/StatusPill/StatusPill";
-import { openMenu, PIXEL_ALL_THEMES } from "./storybook";
+import { PIXEL_ALL_THEMES } from "./storybook";
 
 import type { Meta, StoryObj } from "@storybook/react-vite";
 
@@ -177,8 +177,7 @@ const Parity = (): React.JSX.Element => (
 	</div>
 );
 
-/* The reference menu renders inline; ours is a real portalled DropdownMenu,
-   so the play function opens it under its trigger. */
+/* defaultOpen + an invisible trigger mirror the reference's `show`. */
 const MenuParity = (): React.JSX.Element => (
 	<div
 		style={{
@@ -189,9 +188,9 @@ const MenuParity = (): React.JSX.Element => (
 			fontSize: "13px",
 		}}
 	>
-		<DropdownMenu>
+		<DropdownMenu defaultOpen>
 			<DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-				<Button variant="secondary">Menu</Button>
+				<span />
 			</DropdownMenuTrigger>
 			<DropdownMenuContent>
 				<DropdownMenuItem>Start workspace</DropdownMenuItem>
@@ -228,7 +227,4 @@ export const SideBySide: Story = {};
 
 export const Menu: Story = {
 	render: () => <MenuParity />,
-	play: async ({ canvasElement }) => {
-		await openMenu(canvasElement, "Menu");
-	},
 };