Are modern high-nit phone displays safe for sensitive eyes or PWM sufferers?

K-Moss

Found this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/PWM_Sensitive/comments/1m5k27m/are_modern_highnit_phone_displays_safe_for/

Found it interesting.

They say:

"I've noticed that modern smartphones are pushing really high peak brightness levels, like 1,500 to 2,600 nits on some flagship models. It got me wondering: is that actually safe for people with light sensitivity or those who are sensitive to PWM (pulse-width modulation)?

If I lower the brightness on a phone that's rated for 2,000 nits, does that just mean the screen is flashing between 0 and 2,000 nits during the PWM duty cycle? Or is it somehow limiting the actual peak brightness output per pulse?

In other words, even if the screen looks dim, is it still briefly blasting my eyes with full brightness over and over again?

I'd love to understand how this works, and whether high-nit phones are inherently worse for people with light sensitivity or flicker issues, even at low brightness levels."

What do you think?

AshX

If you’re sensitive to light then you’ll have to lower the brightness on OLED phones which will in most cases trigger PWM at a worse modulation. Compare that to say an older OLED iPhone with only 1,000-1,200 nits and you may be able to tolerate it at higher brightness and therefore the PWM modulation won’t be as severe.

K-Moss

AshX That is true, but now Android has Extra Dim that allows you to take down the brightness via software while keeping the hardware brightness turned up.

However, someone told me OLED degrades quickly close to full brightness. His units last him only 2-3 years before burn-in is evident. He says OLED is disposable tech. He's an engineer who's worked in the industry for decades and seems to know what he's talking about.

Curiously, I also noticed the big blue pixels in OLED: https://www.interelectronix.com/what-are-different-oled-pixel-arrangements-and-why-are-there-so-many.html

Are OLED screens also emitting more blue light?

JTL

AshX Compare that to say an older OLED iPhone with only 1,000-1,200 nits

>only 1,000-1,200 nits

>only 1,000-1,200 nits

>only

Joke over...

If I lower the brightness on a phone that's rated for 2,000 nits, does that just mean the screen is flashing between 0 and 2,000 nits during the PWM duty cycle? Or is it somehow limiting the actual peak brightness output per pulse?

Absent any overlays or other OLED driver tricks, that is correct.

Also factor in that on many modern devices 100% "OS" brightness isn't the same as 100% of the panel brightness.

jordan

The high nits is awful.when it flickers its a significant difference in brightness. I am going to try the ikko mind one phone which they told me it's flicker free. No PWM and no dithering. If I remember correctly I believe they said no HDR which is very good news. They told me max brightness is 500nits which also is great to hear. I really hope this works otherwise I'm done with OLED.

JTL

jordan they told me it's flicker free. No PWM and no dithering. If I remember correctly I believe they said no HDR which is very good news

A lot of "they told me", but that also assumes they implemented it properly. So if it doesn't work, it could be they didn't implement those features properly.