Google Pixel 10 series allegedly gets brighter displays with better PWM on Pro models

6 hours ago 2

According to a new report, Google is finally addressing a long-standing shortcoming of Pixel displays by adjusting the PWM refresh rate on its Pro phones this year, while upgrading the brightness across the board.

The displays on Pixel phones have been a sore point in the past, but they’ve gotten much better in recent years. One unfortunate aspect, though, has been the PWM refresh rate which is much lower compared to other devices. While PWM sensitivity isn’t particularly common, it can be a big problem, and the benefits of boosting this rate make a display easier on the eyes for everyone. Mods have made it possible to improve this on some Pixel devices, but Google has been seemingly hesitant to make the change itself.

That may finally change this year.

As Google previously all-but-confirmed, the Pixel 10 series appears to be preparing a display boost that includes a higher PWM refresh rate on the Pro models. That’s according to Android Authority, which makes the claim without citing their usual “source inside Google.” Where Pixel 9 Pro had a PWM refresh rate of 240Hz, the Pixel 10 Pro will jump up to 480Hz. The base Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold will stick at 240Hz, though.

That’s not a massive jump, but it’s certainly a welcome improvement which also matches that of Apple and Samsung. It’s unfortunate, to say the least, that the base Pixel 10, and even more so the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, apparently won’t see this improvement.

All devices will benefit from a brightness boost, though.

The same report claims that the base Pixel 10 will hit a higher “declared” HDR brightness of 2,000 nits, up from 1,800 nits on Pixel 9. Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL would hit 2,250 nits, up from 2,050 nits. Pixel 10 Pro Fold would hit 1,850 nits on its inner display and 2,050 nits on its external display, both similarly up around 10% from its predecessor.

Notably, those figures are just based on what is “declared” in the software. The actual panel could be brighter in real life situations, though since this is all talking about HDR, peak brightness will likely be different. Last year, Google advertised 3,000 nits of peak brightness on Pixel 9 Pro. All these figures really tell us is that Google is making the display capable of being brighter.

But, being an early rumor seemingly based in software – again, this report lacks any sourcing context and only says that these changes are “expected” – take it all with a grain of salt.