Katarzyna Petru
Apple has done something that many users have been waiting for years. The iPhone 17 Pro now features an option to completely disable PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), which is responsible for brightness regulation in OLED screens. This is a huge change, especially for those sensitive to flicker – namely, those who experienced headaches, eye fatigue, or dizziness after prolonged use of the phone.
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 stay off, and the brighter it is – the longer they stay on. Our eyes interpret this as brightness adjustment, although in practice, it is simply an illusion. The problem arises for individuals sensitive to flicker at low frequencies – that's when eye strain occurs, and even a wave effect of the image is visible after putting the phone down.
Alternative – DC Dimming
OLED or QD-OLED TVs have long dealt with this differently – they use DC dimming, which adjusts brightness directly by changing the current. This solution is flicker-free and now – for the first time – it is also coming to the iPhone.
New option in iOS 26
In iOS 26, in the accessibility settings, in the Display and Text Size section, a new option has appeared:
“Disables pulse width modulation, providing a different way to dim the OLED display, which may result in a smoother image at low brightness. Disabling PWM may affect the display performance at very low brightness under certain conditions.”
At this moment, the feature has been confirmed on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, but it is possible that it will also come to the base models, such as the iPhone 17 or iPhone Air.
Competition Does Not Provide Complete Freedom
In comparison, Google in the Pixel 10 only allows raising the PWM frequency to 480 Hz, but does not provide the option to completely turn off this technology. It shows that Apple has taken a step further, giving users a real choice.
The official premiere of the iPhone 17 will take place on September 19. All new models will also have 120-Hz OLED, and Pro version owners will be able to see if the new feature actually resolves the flickering issue once and for all.
