The flickering is strong, effective and something that has been a consistent factor in Google Pixel smartphones, to the disservice of sensitive users prone to headache and eye strain. Google has only updated the higher-end Pro models for this but it has been an area of weakness since the very beginning with the Pixel 10 Pro improving things considerably.
Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro displays set the brightness level via PWM at a frequency of 240 Hz, resulting in flickering. Which meant the display goes on and off 240 times a second. This low PWM frequency at so-called base model, together with brightness amplitude higher than 20%, often made headaches to sensitive users.
Android Central: New setting for 480 Hz PWM on the Google Pixel 10 Pro Only the Pixel 10 Pro (XL) and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold have this option, but on the foldable, it only applies to the primary display. Users can simply enable an accessibility setting called “Adjust brightness for sensitive eyes” under system settings to be able to use the higher frequency.
Oddly enough, this feature isn’t even turned on by default. This could imply a kind of compromise, like reduced peak luminosity, but testing is needed to confirm. It also isn’t clear if Google has this higher PWM frequency available on the normal Pixel 10 or earlier Pixels after a software update, or if it’s a hardware that cannot handle that.
Where it is not the case, a PWM frequency of 480 Hz is safe and prevents most users from developing headaches due to flickering. Still, Google remains behind its competitors, too, with the Honor Magic 7 Pro offering outrageous 4,320 Hz PWM frequency.
In general, though, the Google Pixel 10 Pro is clearly an effort from Google to better appease users with screen flicker sensitivity. For those of you who tend to suffer eye fatigue or headaches when using smartphones, this Pixel 10 Pro updated could offer a significant improvement.
FAQ
Not quite — it halves the PWM step frequency to 480 Hz, which alleviates migraines for most people.
The feature only the Pixel 10 Pro, right, even if we end up with XL and maybe foldable models at the same time?
Under accessibility options go to system settings and enable Adjust brightness for sensitive eyes.
Perhaps yes, as this may be the reason why Google does not activate the setting automatically.
For a bit of context, the Pixel 10 Pro has a PWM frequency of 480 Hz, which is a lot lower than a phone like the Honor Magic 7 Pro, which gets up to 4,320 Hz, but it’s still a huge user comfort enhancement.
