Katarzyna Petru
Apple has done something that many users have been waiting for years. The iPhone 17 Pro now has the option to completely disable PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), which is responsible for regulating brightness in OLED screens. This is a huge change, especially for those sensitive to flicker – that is, those who experienced headaches, eye strain, or dizziness after using the phone for a long period.
Where does this problem come from?
PWM works in such a way that instead of changing the current intensity, the screen turns pixels on and off in very rapid cycles. The darker the screen is set, the longer the pixels remain off, and the brighter it is — the longer they shine. Our eyes interpret this as a brightness adjustment, although in practice it is simply an illusion. The problem arises in individuals sensitive to flicker at low frequencies — this is when eye strain occurs, and even a flickering effect may be visible after putting the phone down.
Alternative – DC Dimming
OLED or QD-OLED TVs have long handled this differently – they use DC dimming, which regulates brightness by directly changing the current. This solution is flicker-free and now – for the first time – it’s also coming to the iPhone.
New option in iOS 26
In iOS 26, in the accessibility settings, under the Display and Text Size section, there is a new option:
“Disables pulse width modulation, providing an alternative way to dim the OLED display, which may result in a smoother image at low brightness. Disabling PWM may affect display performance at very low brightness under certain conditions.”
At this point, the feature has been confirmed on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, but it's possible that it will also be available on the base models, such as the iPhone 17 or iPhone Air.
Competition does not provide full freedom
In comparison – Google in the Pixel 10 only allows increasing the PWM frequency to 480 Hz, but does not provide the option to completely disable this technology. It is clear that Apple has taken a step further, giving users a real choice.
The official launch of the iPhone 17 will take place on September 19. All new models will also feature a 120-Hz OLED, and Pro version owners will be able to see if the new feature truly resolves the flickering issue once and for all.
