Beyond the common reasons like a smaller screen, proximity to your face, and awkward viewing angles, one particular explanation caught my attention. PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) Flicker, a feature commonly used on OLED screens, might be the culprit behind the quick onset of eye strain leading to my headaches.
I was taken aback by this revelation. Could my phone display be causing me harm? After delving deeply into research, I discovered that the answer was indeed yes. And it seems I am not the only one.
Wait, what even is PWM dimming?
Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) is a technology employed by most phone manufacturers to manage screen brightness. Instead of reducing the light’s intensity, the screen is turned on and off at high speeds, often hundreds or thousands of times per second, to mimic a dimmer display.
This rapid flickering is invisible to the human eye, making PWM highly effective for creating the illusion of a dimmer screen without affecting image quality. In contrast, traditional DC dimming, used in most LCD panels, actually decreases the electrical current to the display. However, it can distort colors and generally uses more power.
Adam Smith / Foundry
Despite the clear advantages in image quality and battery efficiency, PWM dimming harbors a hidden drawback that might be impacting many users.
Of course it does…
There’s always a catch!
