The Google Pixel 7 Pro runs googles second generation tensor chip (made by Samsung) and boast some great cameras, a decend design, and some cool AI features. I have had this phone for about a year since it came out and recently traded up for the Google Pixel 8 Pro. If I am going to be quite honest though, there isn't much difference between the two, including the PWM. Using either of these devices, if your sensitive, will leave you googly eyed...
At 75% brightness we see that google is using a PWM frequency of 246hz. This is generally a pretty low PWM rate (the same can be seen on many older OLED devices) and in general will cause the user eye strain. The modulation is at 99.5%, which is high, and if you look at the wave in the photo on the right you can see that the modulation drops all the way to zero or off, which is hard on the eyes.
At 50% brightness we see the same methodology of dimming the screen that we see in Googles other devices such as the Google Pixel 8 Pro. The flicker rate remains at a constant 246hz but the modulation gets worse with longer off periods in the rate. Even at 50% the eyes are going to be affected.
At 25% brightness you may as well put sand in your eyes. The frequency remains the same at 246hz, but take a look over at that modulation. Ouch!!! We have huge gaps in between the flickers which only peak sharply for a little bit before turning off in between. This will definitely impact the eyes. I feel like Google is applying the same brightness programming to all their devices regardless of the displays capabilities. This seems to me like lazy programming as we know that when the Google Piel 8 Pro came out it was running at 480hz, but then after an update it switched to 246hz. I keep wanting to be a fan of Google as I love the potential their phones have, but I have trouble recommending them as there are so many corners they cut in their devices hardware wise.
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