Google Pixel 8 Pro software mod said to eliminate PWM sensitivity issues

The Pixel 8 Pro (curr. $749 on Amazon) has plenty going for it and fared well when we reviewed it last year. However, the device's low pulse-width modulation (PWM) frequency could prove troublesome for some people. For context, many Android OEMs have adopted DC dimming to control display brightness rather than PWM because of the latter's propensity to cause eye strain and headaches.

According to Android Central, the Pixel 8 Pro ships with a 240 Hz PWM value, which is low enough to cause the issues described above. In fact, we observed a PWM figure of 120 Hz in our tests, which is definitely low enough for human eyes to detect as display flickering. However, it turns out that this PWM value can be raised significantly by applying a software mod.

Specifically, the website adjusted the PWM rate of its Pixel 8 Pro to 4,800 Hz using a custom boot image published on GitHub. With that being said, Android Central only ran the display at 3,840 Hz for any length of time. Unfortunately, displays set beyond 480 Hz are said to exhibit a green tint. Please note that you must also be comfortable rooting your Pixel 8 Pro to perform this tweak. Thankfully, the software mod is reversible, although it remains to be seen whether it could damage a Pixel 8 Pro over time; please see Android Central's write-up for further details and the associated GitHub post.