[Feature Request] PWM display options to reduce screen flickering

Ilgar

Canardo_Sanchez you mean extra dim filter has same pwm rate as sliding brightness without extra dim filter?

Canardo_Sanchez

Ilgar according to my brief test and limited understanding, ultra dim mode doesn't help producing a less flickery curve.

I may do another test and post screenshots if I have time.

Ilgar

Canardo_Sanchez if I understand it correctly 100% brightness has better pwm than reducing brightness % via pwm, and with extra dim you change brightness by adding grey filter you keep pwm of 100% brightness

Novalissoide

Ilgar could their measured values be that old UI element that still flicker badly?

Ilgar

Novalissoide I believe ui doesn't matter

aoecs

Hello,
GOS is an excellent os,and I have paid a lot of money to buy a pixel 9 pro and install gos to improve privacy.But after using it for half year,I found it's pwm really harms me and cause dizzy and headache after reading words on the screen for minutes.So,I have to use another phone now.
PWM IS A TOTTALLY BAD DESIGN and according to IEEE,pwm frequency can not be too low(Google 240hz pwm is too low for ours eyes).And even if you are not sensitive about it,the health problem of eyes may still exist!
After doing some research,I have figure out some of the causes and solutions:
first,the hardware only support pwm dimming so there is no dc dimming.
second,even I adjust the brightness to max level,there is pwm occur.In another word,the duty cycle of pwm is not 100%.
third,there is a saying about pixel 8 pro,which you can change pwm frequency by install a custom kernel.
last,you can test the pwm simply by taking photos of the one color screen in 1/4000 shot for example.It is so fast that you can find some of the pixel is dark because of pwm even you set the brightness level to max.
In my opinion,change pwm frequency or install a custom kernel may damage the device.But,I think that if there is a method to force change the pwm duty cycle to 100%,and the screen will be always display at a stable color when we set the brightness to max and reduce the harm.
This may have disadvantages,because there is still a pwm at other brightness level(the device need to use pwm to "change" brightness),but there will be no pwm at the max brightness level.
I am not an technology expert,but I know this may be difficult and may change the foundation code of android or linux kernel.And please accept my poor English.
I would be very appreciate if anyone could help!Thank you!

user2025

aoecs i agree.
I have few other phones in use and i found the P9 screen,fonts,text a bit challenging.
Spending too much time adjusting brightness,text size,font and zooming the screen.
Auto brightness doesnt work well all the time.

Now,it could be subjective to my "eyes usage high mileage"...but im in deep secret negotiations with Santa for a p10pxl gifted to my youngest so then i can test it with his younger eyes.

In meantime,i enjoy the GOS and after only four weeks of usage,im nearly 80% transferring everything over so that it could become a daily partner... ;)

tarbeez

Ilgar what do you when you e.g. use the phone in a dark place? Reduce the brightness and keep everything else? Does reducing the brightness nullify the effect?

TBizzy

tarbeez personally I set my screen brightness to max and use the app 'Screen Dimmer - OLED Saver' to handle auto brightness with its own screen dimming overlay. The app claims it doesn't have network permissions and in all the time I've used it so far, I've seen zero mobile data usage.

Ilgar

tarbeez extra dim on maximum is enough for me

tarbeez

Ilgar I see, so you always have 100% brightness, dark theme, extra dim (slider on dimmest), night mode (intensity?), and grey scale? Regardless of time of day, setting, inside/outside, ambient light etc?

TBizzy interesting. So this lowers the perceived brightness in some other way than PWM? Edit: it functions similarly to the built in extra dim mode?

user2025

TBizzy where did you get this magical app,please ? TIA

Ilgar

tarbeez nono, I disable extra dim during day and enable it only when in dark room, grayscale only when doing something only dependent on plain data, like chatting and reading, so actually it's default feature. I disable night shift for photo/video editing. I use nightshift on default slider position so it's the same temperature on all profiles. and yes, dark mode 100% time, never move brightness slider.

Ilgar

tarbeez also forgot to mention that I use vanadium with dark mode for content also, its fingerprintable thought, but I use private tabs only and enable javascript only if needed, so fingerprinting is not biggest concern

tarbeez

Ilgar in a darkened room the display is extremely bright at 100% even with extra dim on, doesn't the brightness bother you more than the PWM?

TBizzy

user2025 the app is developed by REWHEX and can be found on the Google Play store and they have their own website. It's free and ad free as well. Also has options for its own slider in the notification panel for adjusting the dim level and a phone screen screenshot button that temporarily disables its dimming features long enough to take a screenshot and then immediately re-enables itself(otherwise the screenshots are also filtered). There are some further options in the settings for how the filtering works with a decent number of options.

As much as this appears helpful, It still feels kind of like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. The fact that the pixel 10 pro specifically can change from 240 to 480 hz with a flip of a switch, I'm hoping someone discovers a method to expand on that and push the display even higher up.

ourslfs

At this point we should all hope that the new oem phone will have a decent screen

Ilgar

tarbeez bro, in very dark room I use incandescent lamp for ease on eyes. previously tried screen dimmer https://rewhex.dev/screendimmer/ to make extra dim dimmer but decided to minimize setup as I'm fan of high threat model

I agree with hope of better display in gos oem

« Previous Page