When the Google Pixel 9a launched earlier this month, it ushered in a model new design and plenty of enhancements that made it probably the greatest Pixel experiences up to now. Chief among the many enhancements is the show’s spec sheet, which now seems an identical to the costlier Pixel 9 sequence in practically each method.
Whereas that is nice for many customers, a subset of the inhabitants can’t use any Pixel show with out getting severe complications, and the Pixel 9a did not do something to assist that. Once I requested the corporate if it could contemplate upgrading the PWM dimming fee or including a flicker-reduction accessibility choice, I totally 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 a tremendous assertion I did not anticipate.
“Google…indicated their groups are conscious and investigating this. You’ll be able to anticipate updates later this yr,” a Google consultant advised me.
This is why that is vital. Since I have been writing about PWM dimming over the previous two years, many firms have been prepared 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 problem, regardless of what number of occasions I’ve requested, so this marks the primary time that stance has modified for not less than considered one of these firms. And whereas Google did not explicitly point out the Pixel 10, it appears fairly doable that any updates coming “later this yr” concerning shows might 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 makes use of PWM dimming. Meaning the one telephones I can use every 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 assessments.
For too a few years, shows have been made to ace show high quality assessments as an alternative of being attentive to the people who’ve to make use of them daily. This consists of tips like slow-rate PWM dimming — typically 240Hz or 480Hz — as they permit producers to push brightness ranges and coloration accuracy of OLED screens past what was thought-about possible only a few years in the past. As you would possibly collect, this causes well being points amongst people who find themselves “allergic” to PWM dimming, as I am going to check with it.
It is value noting that I’ve no medical historical past of complications, migraines, epilepsy, or different points which may trigger gentle sensitivity. I’ve additionally by no means worn glasses till summer time 2023 after I was recognized with an astigmatism in my left eye. In different phrases, there was no purpose to suppose I might be somebody prone to flickering lights.
Final summer time, I obtained in touch 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 a terrific choice should you 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 method to alter the PWM fee or disable it utterly. Whereas some customers care extra about having top-notch show high quality at any value, I would relatively change to a minimalist E Ink cellphone and forego show high quality if it means saving my eyes and avoiding bodily ache daily.
Fortunately, I haven’t got to do something that excessive. Telephones just like the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Professional provide dimming charges 8-16x quicker than what Google’s newest Pixel telephones provide, however Google’s change in stance might lastly reverse that hole within the spec sheet.
What to anticipate from the Pixel 10’s show
There isn’t any purpose to suppose that Google will out of the blue deprioritize show high quality as its foremost concern for the Pixel 10. I totally anticipate the Pixel 10 to both persist with 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 might imply considered one of a number of issues.
Google may very well be including a brand new accessibility mode for flicker-sensitive those that 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 technique was distinctive till Xiaomi and OnePlus provided the same choice a yr later, however have but to supply that choice outdoors of China.
Google might additionally provide a hybrid dimming mode that makes use of DC dimming at excessive brightness and high-Hz PWM dimming at low brightness. This has grow to be the brand new {industry} normal 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 present use PWM dimming in any respect brightness ranges, and whereas firms like Vivo provide related “Full PWM” modes, they do it at charges as excessive as 2140Hz. Once more, 5-8x quicker than the large three provide.
Both avenue Google takes goes to be a optimistic step for all customers, not simply these of us who’ve already grow to be delicate to the tough 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 would need.
After all, the ultimate risk is that Google might do nothing and that I am simply being overly hopeful. That mentioned, we must 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 provide a extra eye-friendly cellphone, the OnePlus 13 checks all of the bins and features a higher efficiency, quicker charging, industry-leading waterproofing, and wonderful options that you’ll love. Plus, in fact, a show that gives dimming choices for many customers.