I contacted their support to confirm a few things. * It does have an OLED panel (A negative for some) * It does not support FRC and is 8 bit * It uses DC dimming While this isn’t a fully featured smart phone, it’s meant to minimize distractions. It seems like it could be a viable option for some. I just need to find out if there is any way to use my banking app.

@"Clokwork"#p42234 Yup! I preordered one back around last june. I will post flicker data when I receive mine which I think is next month? I am super curious if the refresh rate flicker is non existent. The true dc dimming is what got me buying it, I wonder how good it is compared to dc like phones. I am glad to hear it doesnt use frc, I was wondering about that. It does run their LightOS which is just an apk running on android. I have a lightphone 2 and you can press a certain button combo and it will exist light os and take you to the normal android mode. Its also able to flash normal android GSI builds easily over fastboot. I am hoping the lightphone 3 is this easy to do those things on because if it has an amazing screen then we can turn it into a smartphone while keeping that dc no frc display.

@"jordan"#p42236 that’s awesome to hear!! I definitely look forward to your data. It’s great to know it can be switched to normal android mode too. I didn’t know that. This might just be the phone for me too!! I certainly hope so.

@"jordan"#p42236 I just thought of something else. I’m hoping that the DC dimming and lack of FRC is baked into the bios or whatever sits under the operating system. I’m hoping that when switching to Android mode that the bad forms of flicker don’t come with it.

@"jordan"#p42236 Hello! Tell us if the lightphone 2 causes you eye strain or eye pain? What was your experience?

@"Clokwork"#p42238 The normal android mode wasn't a feature from Light btw, it was just something someone found. I hope thats possible on the LP3 as well. @"Clokwork"#p42240 If its possible to do the LP2 shortcut on the 3 then im sure itll remain as dc dimming and no frc. I guess its a good thing that their LightOS is just black and white because im sure theres not going to be any visual enhancements that could be straining if we can get into the normal android mode. @"JOSEUISLEY"#p42260 The light phone 2 feels comfortable for me. Its eink screen does refresh full black when switching between their apps but that sort of refresh/flicker doesnt really seem to bother me. It is a very minimal phone so you cannot use a browser, spotify, etc on it but they at least have their own "tools" which are their apps optimized for the eink screen which are directions, phone(which has sms in it), music, podcasts, calculator and several others. just dont expect any social media stuff, just the basics. This is a great phone that feels comfortable if you just need the basics. It is really small too and I wish that the texting keyboard had a vertical mode. when you open texts and are typing it forces you to rotate the phone horizontally to type. I do like the voice to text on it too

@"jordan"#p42261 Thanks for the explanation. It seems really good, the problem is that here in Brazil you need to have the WhatsApp app. But I will try to buy it online to see with my eyes. Thanks again.

@"JOSEUISLEY"#p42279 Unfortunately theres no way to use whatsapp on it without the extra steps that arent supported by Light. If the screen didnt have a significant screen refresh constantly it would have been worth to do those extra steps. I think the better option would be to maybe wait for the mudita kompakt phone or the minimal phone if you have to have whatsapp.

Light Phone III. Some good news

Clokwork

I may have to edge more towards the Minimal Phone due to the play store being available. All I Really need is banking, a browser that is up to date, and a few messaging apps. I am reluctantly weaning off of apple slowly as things become unsupported on my old OS.

Sunspark

If a device supports side-loading, you can install the google play services yourself. People used to/still do that with Chinese devices that don't have it installed by default.

Clokwork

@Jordan Have you received your phone by chance?

jordan

Clokwork nope. Says april 15-21 that itll ship

jordan

I picked up a lp3 locally only for testing purposes and well well no DC dimming.. they told me it was hardware dc originally wtf.
You can find my post here
https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPhone/comments/1k9kwu0/light_says_the_lp3_uses_dc_dimming_but_this/

Clokwork

jordan I guess I have more to learn about what DC dimming looks like when using flicker detection tools. What does concern me is the frequency sitting at around 240 Hz. This is roughly where iPhone is if I'm not mistaken. Either that or 480 Hz. I don't know how in the world I'm able to use my iPhone Xs Max (older iOS) even though it is OLED, but I have measured a known bad iPhone 14 plus and I recall seeing flicker detections at 240 and 480. Sure the amplitude has something to do with it, but I thought higher frequency PWM was supposed to be better in general.

parawizard

jordan It's possible that it has the ability to do both as some other phones do and it is configurable.

I've been trying to use my Light Phone III but I am pretty sure it is as bad as a pixel 6a for me. It seems it causes me some kind of visual processing headache within seconds. I put it away for a few days and just the initial screen had me feeling weird again. Had zero issues with the LP II but it didn't work well in my area due to low signal. It looks like I will be buying a different minimal phone perhaps with e-ink instead.

I've been ok with LG OLED phones in the past even without DC dimming.

jordan

Clokwork I think the newer iphones are 480hz. Just curious what ios ver are you running on your xs max? Its weird it seems even other older 240hz phones are ok with some people.

Sunspark curious how the X waveform looks like compared to newer iphones.

parawizard Yikes im sorry to hear that! I didnt end up using it, I sold it. I do have my other one I got on preorder but not sure if I should see how it feels for me or just flip it. Yep lp2 is great for me too. If your looking for other minimal phones I can suggest the mudita kompakt which I think is the best one out, mine ships soon. Theres also the bigme hibreak pro and minimal phone (physical keyboard phone) but those are more like smartphones since they have google play store/services

Which lg oled phones specifically?

Sunspark

It is, but it's also based on the amplitude of the waves as well. iPhone X likes 50% brightness for shallow waves.

parawizard

jordan Last one was a LG G8X.

parawizard

Anyone else have an issue with the lightphone 3? I haven't been able to use mine. Feels similar to a Pixel phone. I am really put off and don't want to try using it much.

PazT

parawizard That’s unfortunate, I’m still waiting for mine but it’s the second time I see someone having issues with the LP3. Besides the Pixel, are there other problematic devices for you? I just returned my new M4 Macbook Air because it gave me tired eyes and brain fog.

parawizard

PazT Most new mac screens give me headaches as well and OLED seem to bother me. Older OLED like Alienware 13R3 and LG phones didn't bother me at all.

Walking into a Best Buy and strolling through the computer and phone section is a bad time. I will have to give the light phone a go for like a few days straight but I really don't think I can use it. I might need to buy a Mudita Kompakt or something else.