When the Google Pixel 9a launched earlier this month, it ushered in a model new design and numerous enhancements that made it among the finest Pixel experiences to this point. Chief among the many enhancements is the show’s spec sheet, which now appears to be like an identical to the costlier Pixel 9 sequence in practically each approach.
Whereas that is nice for many customers, a subset of the inhabitants can not use any Pixel show with out getting severe complications, and the Pixel 9a did not do something to assist that. After I requested the corporate if it could contemplate upgrading the PWM dimming fee or including a flicker-reduction accessibility choice, I absolutely anticipated to get the usual “we’ll look into this,” however by no means truly hear again. As a substitute, six weeks later, Google returned an incredible assertion I did not anticipate.
“Google…indicated their groups are conscious and investigating this. You possibly can anticipate updates later this 12 months,” a Google consultant informed me.
Here is why that is vital. Since I have been writing about PWM dimming over the previous two years, many firms have been keen to debate PWM dimming and the way their merchandise are working towards bettering shows for everybody, together with these with accessibility wants.
Google and Samsung have been utterly silent on the difficulty, regardless of what number of occasions I’ve requested, so this marks the primary time that stance has modified for not less than one in every of these firms. And whereas Google did not explicitly point out the Pixel 10, it appears fairly doable that any updates coming “later this 12 months” concerning shows may line up with the Pixel 10 launch.
Why this issues
I am delicate to telephones that use gradual PWM dimming charges and have been for not less than the previous few years. Each single Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, or Apple iPhone with an OLED display screen makes use of PWM dimming. Which means the one telephones I can use each day with out complications are from manufacturers like OnePlus, Honor, Nothing, and a handful of different manufacturers which have begun to prioritize eye well being over pure show high quality exams.
For too a few years, shows have been made to ace show high quality exams as an alternative of listening to the people who’ve to make use of them every single day. This consists of methods like slow-rate PWM dimming — usually 240Hz or 480Hz — as they permit producers to push brightness ranges and colour accuracy of OLED screens past what was thought-about possible just some years in the past. As you may collect, this causes well being points amongst people who find themselves “allergic” to PWM dimming, as I will check with it.
It is price noting that I’ve no medical historical past of complications, migraines, epilepsy, or different points that may trigger mild sensitivity. I’ve additionally by no means worn glasses till summer season 2023 after I was recognized with an astigmatism in my left eye. In different phrases, there was no motive to suppose I might be somebody vulnerable to flickering lights.
Final summer season, I bought involved with a customized kernel developer who was capable of finding the road of code to change the Pixel 8 Professional’s PWM fee. It made the cellphone usable for me once more, however rooting a contemporary cellphone is not an incredible choice if you happen to like making NFC funds or utilizing 2-factor authentication apps, because it violates most app safety protocols.
So, the one actual choice anybody like me has of utilizing a Pixel cellphone full-time once more is that if Google offers customers a technique to modify the PWM fee or disable it utterly. Whereas some customers care extra about having top-notch show high quality at any price, I might relatively swap to a minimalist E Ink cellphone and forego show high quality if it means saving my eyes and avoiding bodily ache every single day.
Fortunately, I haven’t got to do something that excessive. Telephones just like the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Professional supply dimming charges 8-16x sooner than what Google’s newest Pixel telephones supply, however Google’s change in stance may lastly reverse that hole within the spec sheet.
What to anticipate from the Pixel 10’s show
There isn’t any motive to suppose that Google will immediately deprioritize show high quality as its foremost concern for the Pixel 10. I absolutely anticipate the Pixel 10 to both stick to 240Hz PWM dimming or go the Galaxy S24/S25 Extremely route and improve that to 480Hz because the default show configuration. However this new stance from Google may imply one in every of a number of issues.
Google may very well be including a brand new accessibility mode for flicker-sensitive people who reduces the quantity of show flicker. Motorola did this with its Motorola Edge Plus 2023 cellphone and has included a “flicker-reduction” characteristic on each single OLED-equipped cellphone since then, even the newest Razr 2025 telephones. Motorola’s full DC-dimming methodology was distinctive till Xiaomi and OnePlus supplied an identical choice a 12 months later, however have but to supply that choice outdoors of China.
Google may additionally supply a hybrid dimming mode that makes use of DC dimming at excessive brightness and high-Hz PWM dimming at low brightness. This has turn out to be the brand new {industry} customary amongst most smartphone manufacturers in 2025, together with Nothing, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Honor, Vivo, RealMe, and loads of others.
It is also doable that Google merely upgrades the PWM fee throughout the board and in any respect brightness ranges. Google, Apple, and most Samsung Galaxy units at the moment use PWM dimming in any respect brightness ranges, and whereas firms like Vivo supply related “Full PWM” modes, they do it at charges as excessive as 2140Hz. Once more, 5-8x sooner than the large three supply.
Both avenue Google takes goes to be a optimistic step for all customers, not simply these of us who’ve already turn out to be delicate to the cruel PWM dimming related to some lights and shows. Person-selectable choices and customization have lengthy been staples of the Android world, and it is at all times good to see Google contemplating choices for customers who want them, not simply issues we’d need.
After all, the ultimate risk is that Google may do nothing and that I am simply being overly hopeful. That stated, we should wait and see what we get when the Pixel 10 launches.
Should you do not feel like ready for Google to get it collectively and supply a extra eye-friendly cellphone, the OnePlus 13 checks all of the packing containers and features a higher efficiency, sooner charging, industry-leading waterproofing, and wonderful options that you will love. Plus, in fact, a show that gives dimming choices for many customers.
