Galaxy S27 may adopt DC dimming to reduce eye strain

A leak suggests the Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra will support DC dimming, which adjusts current rather than rapidly flickering pixels. This could help users sensitive to PWM dimming, a group estimated at 10% or more, who experience headaches and eye strain. Samsung may use a hybrid approach like rivals, but details and whether the standard Galaxy S27 gets it remain unclear.

A tip from @WalleGalaxy says the Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra will support DC dimming. Unlike PWM, which flickers pixels on and off to simulate lower brightness, DC dimming adjusts current while keeping pixels lit. The S26 Ultra’s 480Hz PWM is cited as troublesome; PWM sensitivity is estimated at 10% or more and linked to headaches and visual fatigue.

Details remain unclear, including whether the standard S27 gets it. DC dimming can reduce color accuracy at low brightness, so rivals use high-frequency PWM above 2000Hz plus DC at higher levels. A separate leak claims the S27 Ultra will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 in all regions.