For years, Google hasnât paid much attention to something thatâs becoming a big deal for many smartphone users â eye comfort. While Chinese phone makers are going all in on things like âlow blue lightâ certifications and super high PWM dimming rates, Googleâs been pretty quiet on that front. But that might finally change.
A new report says Google is planning to improve its PWM dimming tech later this year, which likely means the Pixel 10 will be the first Pixel phone with a high PWM rate. Itâs not the flashiest upgrade ever, but for people who are sensitive to screen flicker, it could make a huge difference.
Why You Should Care about PWM
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is how OLED displays control screen brightness. It quickly flickers the screen on and off quickly instead of dimming it down slowly. This can cause eye strain or even headaches in some people, especially at a lower flicker rate
Looking at a phone’s screen for a long time is more comfortable when the screen has a higher flicker rate. Some brands have already hit super-high PWM rates, well into the thousands of hertz, to help with this. Google hasnât done that yet, but that could change now.
A Small But Important Win
This might not be the kind of feature Google will highlight in big bold letters during the Pixel 10 launch, but itâll definitely matter to a lot of users. Especially the ones whoâve felt discomfort using older Pixel phones and couldnât quite figure out why.
If Google does bump up the PWM rate in the Pixel 10, itâs a step in the right direction. It shows theyâre finally listening to a growing number of users who just want a screen thatâs easier on their eyes.
So yeah, the Pixel 10 might not just be about better cameras or AI tricks this time. It might actually feel better to use, and thatâs a big deal.
