Should you’re like me, utilizing a Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or Apple iPhone has turn out to be more and more tough attributable to these telephones’ use of flickering shows. The OLED panels that energy these units positive look good, however sadly for us, our eyes and brains simply don’t love how they function.
Fortunately, a number of choices available on the market provide an excellent expertise with out sacrificing processing energy, digital camera high quality, or total expertise. We’re working to ship the perfect information for PWM/Flicker-sensitive folks to make an knowledgeable shopping for choice and are aiming to incorporate telephones from each product class and worth vary.
I’ve examined plenty of telephones over time and have been particularly testing telephones for flicker sensitivity since initially posting about changing into PWM-sensitive in mid-2023. Many of those telephones are additionally the perfect Android telephones, and a few, surprisingly, even use OLED shows. Should you’re extraordinarily delicate to flickering and PWM dimming, it is protected to say most telephones with OLED shows are seemingly not in your future.
Some upcoming telephones just like the TCL 50 sequence sport “paperlike” LCD shows that use no PWM in accordance to my brief testing at MWC 2024. Stay up for these in the event you want an LCD-based improve this 12 months.
People who find themselves delicate to show flicker aren’t all delicate to the identical issues, so what works for one particular person could not work for an additional. I’ve included as a lot info as I can on every cellphone that will help you make the perfect choice.
At a look
1. Motorola Edge Plus (2023)/Edge 40 Professional
Greatest total
Motorola has taken a large flip for the higher in 2023, and a part of that’s due to its wonderful shows. The pOLED within the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is tremendous eye-friendly, notably with Motorola’s flicker-reduction setting enabled.
Runner-up
Xiaomi made a reputation for itself by providing an expertise that is lots just like the iPhone for a fraction of the worth. This cellphone’s show is much friendlier than Apple’s with DC Dimming choices and 1,920Hz PWM for decrease brightness.
Greatest digital camera
If a smartphone’s digital camera is a very powerful function for you, the Honor Magic 6 Professional is the cellphone it’s good to get. With 4,320Hz PWM dimming under 30% brightness, this digital camera cellphone’s show is impressively eye-friendly.
4. Motorola Razr Plus (2023)
Greatest folding cellphone
The Motorola Razr Plus (2023) is not simply the one folding cellphone on this checklist, it is also one of many best possible folding telephones available on the market. It makes use of a pOLED show however affords Motorola’s flicker-reduction expertise.
Greatest mid-range cellphone
The Nothing Telephone 2a is priced good, with a novel design and nice options in Nothing OS 2.5. Plus, the OLED show makes use of DC-like dimming above 50% brightness and a pair of,160Hz PWM dimming under that.
Greatest reasonably priced cellphone
The OnePlus Nord sequence has been identified for providing nice worth to people since its inception a number of years in the past. This cellphone’s IPS LCD panel is totally flicker-free all the way down to the bottom brightness, making it an excellent choose for extra-sensitive people.
Greatest total
Motorola took us without warning this 12 months when it launched the Motorola Edge Plus (2023). Motorola’s premium telephones had been struggling lately so it was refreshing to see Motorola not solely launch a cellphone with such stellar {hardware} but in addition again that {hardware} up with a four-year software program replace promise and a PWM-friendly OLED show.
Motorola sells this mannequin because the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) within the U.S. and because the Motorola Edge 40 Professional in many of the remainder of the world. It is also bought in China because the Moto X40.
Motorola debuted a comparatively new flicker-reduction choice with the Edge Plus (2023) that ensures the cellphone’s show is on 99.51% of the time in the course of the responsibility cycle. In observe, that is an identical to DC dimming, which implies the cellphone is definitely decreasing the voltage to the OLED diodes as a substitute of utilizing PWM flickering to pretend a dimmer show.
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As is telling from mild flicker measurements, the brightness dips a little bit bit every time the show refreshes. On this case, the show is refreshing at round 120Hz. That is regular for all DC-dimmed OLED shows.
So long as the sparkle discount function is enabled, the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) by no means switches to PWM dimming, even on the lowest brightness settings. Due to this, you would possibly discover some show noise that appears a bit like an outdated 35mm film. That is as a result of OLED diodes have problem exhibiting constant brightness ranges and coloration when voltage is decreased.
The upside is that the show would not flicker or use PWM to handle these damaging elements, that means it is much more comfy to have a look at.
Should you disable the sparkle discount function, you may see that 720Hz PWM dimming is used under 35% brightness. Take a look at the video under to see it in motion.
That is my private favourite premium cellphone and I’ve no consolation points from utilizing this cellphone all day lengthy.
Apart from simply having a cushty show, the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) is a downright superb cellphone. It is bought a blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, plus 2-day battery life and people timeless Motorola options that make utilizing Motorola telephones so handy.
The digital camera may very well be higher but it surely’s stunned me quite a lot of instances. Simply be sure to persist with 1080p video recording high quality if you wish to use all the perfect digital camera options the cellphone has to supply.
Runner-up
The Xiaomi 13 is a group choose and the one that most closely fits within the class of finest worldwide premium cellphone. We have had the pleasure of reviewing the Xiaomi 13 Extremely and Xiaomi 13 Professional, and Android Central’s Harish Jonnalagadda additionally has the common Xiaomi 13 as nicely, so we’re accustomed to the software program and total cellphone expertise.
However the smaller (and cheaper) Xiaomi 13 is the one to choose for PWM-sensitive people. Out of the field, it makes use of a 1,920Hz PWM OLED show, however you may allow DC dimming by choosing the “anti-flicker” setting within the show choices.
Graphs from the identical Opple Gentle Grasp mild meter I exploit can be found here, and you may see the distinction between the 2 modes in this video.
Apart from a vision-friendly show, you are getting a cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, nice battery life, and quicker charging than something supplied by Google, Apple, or Samsung.
It is also bought an excellent digital camera — even when it is inferior to the Xiaomi 13 Professional or Extremely fashions — and MIUI is all the time feature-packed and up to date repeatedly.
The cellphone is clearly styled after the iPhone with its shiny, flat sides. That is one thing that individuals will both love or hate, as is evidenced by the fixed design modifications forwards and backwards over time. MIUI can be extraordinarily Apple “impressed” and has all the time been a type of iOS clone since its inception.
Greatest digital camera
If digital camera efficiency is a very powerful a part of a smartphone for you, the Honor Magic 6 Professional’s digital camera will significantly blow you away. Not solely are on a regular basis photographs from the 50MP predominant digital camera and 180MP telephoto digital camera unimaginable, however the cellphone’s software program is wise sufficient to take footage for you.
However earlier than we get into all that, let’s go over the show as a result of that is one bizarre OLED panel. First off, it is able to emitting an eye-searing 5,000 nits of brightness at its peak, one thing it repeatedly staves from by using DC-like dimming to maintain the attention ache at bay.
However the bizarre factor is that Honor makes use of a 360Hz backplane for its DC-like dimming construction, which implies it would really feel extra like 360Hz PWM dimming to some folks.
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At 100% brightness, the show makes use of a average 17% modulation price which is 3x deeper than the Motorola Edge Plus 2023 on the identical brightness. It is nowhere close to telephones just like the Galaxy S23 Extremely or Google Pixel Fold with their 99% modulation price at full brightness, but it surely’s not fairly nearly as good a some others on this checklist.
However once you drop the show to 30% brightness and under, one thing very odd occurs. The 4,320Hz PWM price kicks in under 30% brightness but it surely’s interwoven with the identical 360Hz DC-like dimming technique from increased brightness ranges.
The impact is so unusual that my Opple Gentle Grasp IV cannot choose it up in any respect and reads it as 360Hz all the best way to 0% brightness. Regardless of what my measurement instrument is telling me, a excessive velocity digital camera shutter proves that the cellphone does use 4,320Hz PWM dimming under 30% brightess.
For me, this show was tremendous comfy from the second I began utilizing it. Up to now, this has been my predominant cellphone since I started utilizing it in early February 2024 and I’ve but to really feel any discomfort type the show.
The truth is, this is among the few telephones I have been ready to make use of with auto brightness enabled. The consistency that the 360Hz frequency delivers is probably going the rationale for this because it helps emulate a sine wave sample just like an incandescent bulb.
Past the show, I’ve principally loved utilizing the cellphone and heartily suggest it over previous Honor telephones. Whereas Magic OS continues to be very iOS-heavy in its design, Magic OS 8.0 overhauled the UI and glued plenty of issues I had with earlier Honor Magic OS releases. It now not feels clunky and outdated, even when I do not take care of the iOS model break up notification panels and another UI components.
I’ve had my fair proportion of quirks alongside the best way although, together with a typically unresponsive app drawer and the occasional notification that’ll get missed. Should you choose one up, be sure to disable all of the nonsense energy saving “options” which can be enabled by default and allow notifications on all apps. In any other case, you may find yourself lacking lots.
The cellphone sports activities some significantly unimaginable efficiency and battery life even once you disable the foolish energy saving options, although. Honor is utilizing a brand new sort of battery with the cellphone and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor soars by way of each take a look at conceivable. It’s kind of win total, regardless of the quirks.
Greatest folding cellphone
The worst half about being a fan of folding telephones is once you’re additionally somebody who’s delicate to show flicker. Most folding telephones use Samsung AMOLED panels, and, in consequence, most of them flicker lots. Motorola makes use of pOLED panels by LG, and these enable for correct DC dimming at excessive brightness ranges.
Motorola’s flicker discount choice in show settings additional helps hold issues beneath management, however that does not imply this cellphone will work for everybody who’s flicker-sensitive.
As you may see from the charts under, the cellphone makes use of refresh rate-locked DC dimming for the OLED panel, that means there is a slight dip in brightness each time the display screen refreshes. Dropping the refresh price to 60Hz could make this cellphone extra comfy for some people for the reason that dips occur much less typically.
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However, even with DC dimming enabled, the modulation price is a bit increased than what’s comfy for some flicker-sensitive people. For me, something under an 8% modulation price is often essentially the most comfy.
Different flicker-sensitive people would possibly discover this show continues to be comfy, although, because it would not use PWM dimming above 25% brightness. Additional dim is supported on this panel, but it surely triples the modulation price, so I would not suggest utilizing it.
The video confirms that modulation is low all through most brightness ranges. You possibly can see the distinction between the flickering ranges with the sparkle discount setting enabled and disabled right here, too.
The cellphone’s cowl show modulates at the very same price as the massive folding show, so utilizing that extra typically will not change a lot.
Should you’re comfy with these numbers, Motorola’s flip cellphone is one in every of our favourite flip telephones of all time. Whereas it would not have as many software program options as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip sequence, Motorola’s cowl show is a lot extra helpful than the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s as a result of Motorola enables you to do something with it. It is all right here, from working full apps, swiping by way of widgets, and even enjoying video games with out having to flip open the cellphone.
It makes use of an older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor which nonetheless feels snappy regardless of being a number of years outdated now. Sadly, that does not imply battery life is especially good — one thing that plagues all flip telephones. Fortunately, Motorola’s chargers are faster than Samsung’s, and you may prime up in just some minutes with out fear.
Greatest mid-range cellphone
If you already know something about Nothing’s telephones, you may know the corporate takes its design language significantly. The corporate’s first budget-friendly choice, the Nothing Telephone 2a, delivers an excellent mid-range expertise with out compromising on design. It is nonetheless bought the glyph interface lights on the again, and the corporate’s trademark clear design language seems to be nearly as good as ever.
Extra impressively, the corporate stored an OLED show onboard that makes use of DC-like dimming above 50% brightness and a pair of,160Hz PWM dimming under 50% brightness. Whereas the refresh frequency is extra aligned to the refresh price than the Nothing Telephone 2, the Telephone 2a’s modulation price is a bit increased.
You possibly can see this impact within the video under. The Telephone 2a has a darker single line at excessive brightness whereas the Nothing Telephone 2 has double strains which can be dimmer. The means the Nothing Telephone 2 pulses at a better price, which may very well be much less comfy with DC-like dimming, however the brightness dip on the finish of the responsibility cycle is not fairly as stark as it’s on the Telephone 2a.
In a nutshell, this implies the Telephone 2 can be extra comfy for some folks whereas the 2a is perhaps extra comfy for other people. All of it will depend on what bothers your eyes extra.
I discovered the Nothing Telephone 2a was most comfy at 49% brightness, as the upper PWM price really felt nice to make use of. That makes it a little bit tougher to see exterior within the solar, but it surely’s about as vivid as your common price range LCD cellphone at this stage, so it is not too unhealthy.
The truth is, one of many causes I feel this brightness stage was so comfy for me is as a result of the graph, seen under, seems to be similar to what a superb LCD show seems to be like. The road is kind of flat regardless of utilizing PWM, and that made it really feel gentler on my eyes.
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Coming from the Honor 90, which was our earlier choose for this class, the Nothing Telephone 2a’s Nothing OS is a breath of contemporary air. Whereas Honor tends to stay intently to iOS-style design, Nothing OS feels much more like traditional Oxygen OS used to.
It is bought an excellent mild and quick really feel whereas retaining a novel visible look. The corporate’s dot matrix-style font stands out, and the house display screen customization settings will assist instantly differentiate your cellphone from everybody else’s — as if the clear again and LED glyph interface on the again would not already try this!
Plus, I actually loved the construct of this cellphone. Positive, it is utterly made from polycarbonate with an aluminum body for assist, however the firm made the sides with a sandpaper-like texture. That makes it very straightforward to grip and choose up from a desk, plus the centered digital camera island means it will not wobble once you place it down like so many different telephones do.
Greatest reasonably priced cellphone
OnePlus has lengthy been an organization targeted on delivering worth, and the Nord sequence fulfills its diehard prospects’ expectations of that concept. The Nord N30 is the 2023 U.S. Nord launch, and it brings the standard suite of enhancements together with one shocking change: the 60Hz OLED show on the N20 was swapped out for a 120Hz LCD panel on the N30.
That LCD panel is tremendous pleasant for anybody affected by flicker sensitivity because it makes use of correct DC dimming at an especially excessive frequency — better than 15,000Hz, the truth is — to get issues carried out.
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This show is usually flicker-free in any respect brightness ranges, as evidenced by the video under. Nonetheless, there appears to be a slight flicker under 10% brightness that does not get picked up within the video.
Some customers within the PWM-sensitive group have picked up the cellphone and located that it does hassle them at very low brightness ranges like this, so I would not suggest utilizing it at tremendous low brightness.
Apart from the flicker-free show at most brightness ranges, the Nord N30 is a unbelievable price range cellphone that is affected by options due to OxygenOS. This is identical OxygenOS you may discover on dearer OnePlus telephones, so that you’re getting the perfect options at a discount worth.
And the processor on this cellphone is quick sufficient even for graphics-intensive video games like The Division Resurgence due to quick inside storage velocity and normal enhancements in optimization in OxygenOS over time. Plus, battery life is actually wonderful, and it costs in about half-hour flat with the included charger.
How to decide on
What’s the perfect cellphone for PWM/flicker-sensitive folks?
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Should you’re PWM or flicker-sensitive, it may be extraordinarily tough to determine which telephones work finest for you. As a rule of thumb, IPS LCD panels are often friendlier on the eyes than any type of OLED panel, however even that is not assured. PWM dimming is usually used for price causes, whereas it is used to masks poor low mild display screen high quality in different situations, so even LCD panels can use it.
OLED shows have to make use of PWM dimming at a sure brightness stage to retain correct colours and particulars. You possibly can examine why that is the case intimately right here. However know that the majority OLED shows can use DC dimming to keep up brightness at excessive ranges. Some producers — like Samsung, Google, and Apple — simply refuse to do that.
Whereas the telephones on this checklist have been examined and utilized by us, everybody’s eyes and brains work a little bit in another way. Which means what works for one particular person will not all the time work for an additional particular person. Should you’re PWM-sensitive, there is a excessive chance that you’ll have to strive a number of choices on the checklist earlier than you discover one thing that is comfy for you.
Should you discover your cellphone bothers your eyes when utilizing automated brightness, strive setting it to handbook at 100% brightness. Then use an app like this screen and notification dimmer to artificially decrease the brightness. I’ve examined plenty of screen-dimming apps, and that is the perfect one.
What cellphone works for one particular person could not work for an additional particular person, particularly you probably have delicate eyes.
People in search of a premium cellphone within the U.S. ought to look no additional than the Motorola Edge+ (2023). Motorola makes use of a particular flicker discount DC dimming technique that ensures the display screen’s responsibility cycle stays on 99.51% of the time.
In easy phrases, meaning the display screen is not flickering like different OLED shows irrespective of the brightness stage. Simply be sure to allow “flicker discount” within the cellphone’s show settings. The Motorola Razr Plus makes use of an identical technique of flicker discount, making it the one foldable cellphone accessible within the U.S. that is vision-friendly.
Internationally, there are much more choices. Many smartphones from Asia provide DC dimming strategies, together with the Xiaomi 13, Honor Magic 6 Professional, and a number of other different choices. An increasing number of firms have begun to extend their show PWM charges and have been higher about clearly marking the speed within the cellphone’s advertising and marketing.
