Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE might not seem like a game-changer at first glance, but this “affordable flagship” has something quietly impressive about its display. It appears to be the first Galaxy phone to ditch eye-straining PWM dimming in High Brightness Mode (HBM), switching instead to a DC-like dimming method. Not only does this tech fully unleash the screen’s brightness potential, but it also offers relief for sensitive eyes.
Galaxy S24 FE employs DC dimming for high brightness without straining your eyes
PWM dimming, used in most AMOLED Samsung phones, including flagships like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra, rapidly flickers the screen to simulate lower brightness levels. While this helps preserve color and clarity, the fast flickering can cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue in sensitive users, even if the flicker isn’t consciously visible.
The Galaxy S24 FE, however, switches to a more natural and consistent DC-like dimming in HBM, which not only eliminates the flicker but also allows the display to reach its true peak brightness — something other Galaxy phones artificially cap. This discovery by Android Central opens up a broader conversation: why doesn’t Samsung adopt this solution on more devices, or let users enable HBM and DC-like dimming on demand?
Samsung phones are famous for offering deep customization options. However, when it comes to display brightness and dimming control, users have nothing more than the default settings. Even the “Extra Brightness” toggle in settings is a bit misleading, as it unlocks true full brightness only under very specific conditions, such as when HBM is triggered by intense light.
With this revelation, the Galaxy S24 FE quietly carves out a niche for itself, not just as a solid mid-range device, but as a potential favorite for users sensitive to PWM flicker. Or maybe Samsung is testing out DC dimming, and we will see a wider implementation soon; only time will tell. If the Galaxy S4 FE interests you, Samsung currently sells it for just $499 after a flat $150 discount.
