Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 lineup yesterday, which includes the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the new iPhone Air.
While the launch event highlighted several major upgrades in design, performance, and camera technology, one important feature was left out of the presentation—an option to disable pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming on the display.
PWM is commonly used to control screen brightness on OLED panels by rapidly turning pixels on and off. While most users do not notice this, the flickering can trigger eye strain, headaches, and discomfort in sensitive individuals, especially at lower brightness levels. Apple has historically been criticized for its low PWM rates, making its devices particularly difficult for those affected.
With the iPhone 17 series, Apple now offers a solution. Users can disable PWM dimming entirely through a new option in Accessibility settings, labeled Display Pulse Smoothing. According to Apple, this setting “disables pulse width modulation to provide a different way to dim the OLED display, which can create a smoother display output at low brightness levels. Disabling PWM may affect low brightness display performance under certain conditions.”
This update is a significant step forward for users who previously struggled with Apple devices due to eye strain. While it doesn’t change the PWM frequency itself, the ability to turn it off provides welcome flexibility and makes the iPhone 17 lineup more accessible.
On the Android side, manufacturers such as OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Huawei have tackled the issue differently by adopting very high PWM rates, which reduce flicker and minimize symptoms for most users. However, Apple’s approach of giving users direct control is unique and may set a new standard.
Many are now asking why smartphone makers cannot combine both solutions—offering extremely high PWM rates along with the ability to disable them completely. For now, though, Apple’s move to introduce this long-requested feature makes the iPhone 17 series a more comfortable choice for sensitive users, adding another reason to upgrade.