![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Samsung-Galaxy-S26-Ultra-Privacy-Display-quick-settings-panel.jpg\"\/ "\\"Samsung")
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Hadlee Simons \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
With the launch of the Galaxy S26 series<\/a>, Samsung has grabbed headlines thanks to its new Privacy Display<\/a> technology on the S26 Ultra. While it\u2019s an interesting innovation, it also highlights areas where the company continues to lag behind.<\/p>\n Samsung\u2019s integrated hardware in the S26 Ultra\u2019s display adjusts pixel viewing angles for extra privacy. Yet it still hasn\u2019t adopted basic display and software changes that could improve the experience for users who are sensitive to display flickering. Considering the impact on usability, this is a major letdown.<\/p>\n Do you think it’s time Samsung introduced more eye-care features to its smartphone displays?<\/p>\n 28 votes<\/p>\n Yes.<\/p>\n 75%<\/p>\n No, I think other features are more important.<\/p>\n 25%<\/p>\n Why PWM dimming matters<\/p>\n Robert Triggs \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming is a method to control display brightness by rapidly switching LEDs on and off. This differs from DC dimming, which controls brightness by controlling the current delivered to each LED.<\/p>\n While the rapid on-off cycling of PWM dimming isn\u2019t consciously perceptible, lower frequencies have been associated with discomfort, including eyestrain, headaches, and nausea. This is due to the flickering it causes, especially at lower brightness levels, which can affect people with PWM sensitivity<\/a>. While you may not consciously perceive this flickering, your eyes and nerves may still detect it.<\/p>\n This discomfort is most apparent at lower PWM frequencies, which is why high-frequency PWM dimming is important to many people. When high-frequency PWM dimming is unavailable, users can switch to DC-like dimming or use accessibility features to reduce flicker.<\/p>\n Samsung doesn\u2019t give users many options<\/p>\n C. Scott Brown \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Samsung could\u2019ve adopted a few approaches to improve the usability of its devices for those sensitive to flicker. The best way to address this would have been to increase its PWM frequency to above 1,000Hz, as this is associated with fewer negative effects. This wouldn\u2019t even be costly or unprecedented.<\/p>\n Smartphone makers like HONOR and OPPO have established high-frequency PWM dimming across many devices. Even the HONOR X9d, a budget Android smartphone<\/a>, features a PWM dimming rate of 3,840Hz. Last year\u2019s OnePlus 13R<\/a> has a higher PWM dimming rate (2,160Hz) despite being significantly cheaper than the Galaxy S26.<\/p>\n Yet the S26 series remains at a low 480Hz PWM rate<\/a>, as confirmed by company representatives. It could be worse; the standard Pixel 10 runs at 240Hz. Samsung\u2019s dimming frequency is also in line with devices like the iPhone 17 and Pixel 10 Pro. But just because it\u2019s not the worst out there, it doesn\u2019t mean the company shouldn\u2019t improve it.<\/p>\n The S26 series doesn’t have a higher PWM dimming frequency, DC dimming options, or flicker reduction settings.<\/p>\n Samsung could have also chosen to use DC-like dimming (also known as hybrid DC dimming) or at least introduced a software feature to reduce flickering. For example, the Xiaomi 15<\/a> uses DC dimming over low-frequency PWM dimming. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra<\/a> uses a combination of DC dimming and 1,920Hz PWM dimming. The newer Xiaomi 17 Ultra<\/a> includes DC dimming and is also T\u00dcV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified.<\/p>\n But many brands also include software features to reduce flicker. The Realme GT 7 Pro<\/a> lets you enable an anti-flicker mode to reduce eye strain. The OnePlus 13 also allows you to toggle DC dimming on if you\u2019re sensitive to flickering. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro lets you\u00a0boost the phone\u2019s PWM dimming rate<\/a>, though\u00a0only from 240Hz to 480Hz.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t, by any means, an exhaustive list of smartphones that offer high-frequency PWM dimming, DC-like dimming, or software features to combat flickering. Yet it shows that Samsung could have \u2014 and should have \u2014 taken any of these approaches and still didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Display accessibility and transparency shouldn\u2019t be an afterthought<\/p>\n Megan Ellis \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n You might argue that PWM sensitivity affects only a minority of people, and therefore, flicker reduction is a niche concern. But giving people options that increase accessibility is a goal worth pursuing.<\/p>\n Something that makes flicker-reduction options essential is how it compounds the problems faced by people who are also sensitive to bright screens. Flicker becomes more apparent at lower brightness levels with PWM dimming because the duty cycle (the percentage of time the LED is on) is reduced.<\/p>\n As someone who lives with chronic migraines, this means that most of my devices are below 50% brightness most of the time due to photophobia (sensitivity to light). This makes high-frequency PWM dimming (or DC-like dimming) essential, since flicker worsens migraine pain and can trigger attacks.<\/p>\n There are already so many steps I take to prevent my smartphone from giving me migraines<\/a>. But there\u2019s only so much you can do when the hardware and software don\u2019t give you the features you need. Your smartphone is often the screen you spend the most time on. To have a screen that can exacerbate existing sensitivity is a huge letdown.<\/p>\n Many people may not even realize that the eye strain they’re experiencing is from their phone’s PWM dimming rate.<\/p>\n I\u2019d also argue that PWM sensitivity affects more people than we realize. Even though I was diagnosed with chronic migraines in 2021, I didn\u2019t realize the effect flickering could have on me until much later. However, I noticed that when I used my HONOR 400 Pro during migraine attacks, I experienced less nausea and sensitivity than with devices with lower PWM rates. But I only made the PWM connection much later.<\/p>\n There are also plenty of people who may attribute their eye strain and headaches to screen time or blue light, rather than flickering specifically.<\/p>\n Photophobia affects the vast majority of people with migraines. Meanwhile, migraines affect over 1 billion people globally. But this isn\u2019t the only condition that causes photophobia and sensitivity to flickering. I would say that something that affects a significant proportion of the global population isn\u2019t a niche concern.<\/p>\n The least companies could do is make it easier to find information about the dimming rates and eye-care features for their smartphones. This would help consumers make more informed choices when buying the latest Android smartphone<\/a>. Right now, though, there isn\u2019t much consistency, and the surfacing of these display features and specs depends on what the company shares.<\/p>\n Accessibility benefits everyone. While Samsung isn\u2019t the only brand guilty of low PWM dimming rates, as the world\u2019s biggest Android smartphone company, I want it to hold itself to a higher standard. The Privacy Display is a neat feature, but it feels gimmicky when the display on its latest devices lacks these accessibility features.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Pixel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pixel-9-Pro-XL-Display-PWM-lines.jpg\"\/ "\\"Pixel")
<\/p>\n![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Samsung-Galaxy-S26-Screenshots-in-Gallery.jpg\"\/ "\\"Samsung")
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