When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 Extremely on the late-February Galaxy Unpacked occasion, everybody was buzzing in regards to the new Privateness Show characteristic. Not solely that, however Samsung claimed it has lastly upgraded its shows to true 10-bit panels, able to displaying over a billion colours and eliminating the colour banding that has plagued its flagships for years.
Whereas that final half is true of the S26 Extremely’s display, Samsung confirmed to Android Authority that the shows had been really 8-bit panels (16.7 million colours), not 10-bit (1.07 billion colours) as initially marketed. Apple was sued again in 2008 over comparable claims about its laptop computer shows. In the meantime, competing flagship telephones just like the Honor Magic 8 Professional and OnePlus 15 make the most of true 10-bit panels.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely’s show is simply constructed completely different
One among my commonest exams includes watching this 4K HDR YouTube video about wildlife in Costa Rica. The inexperienced snake scene on the 8-second mark is the right showcase of whether or not a telephone is able to 10-bit shade copy. Within the picture above, you may see clear shade banding on the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s show, whereas it isn’t seen in any respect on the Galaxy S26 Extremely. Colour banding is a stark separation of colours that seems when a show is not able to displaying all the colours in a gradient.
Since Galaxy S26 Extremely’s show continues to be an 8-bit show, because the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s is, which means Samsung adopted some type of dithering to make the colour shift seem smoother. Sometimes, this implies utilizing FRC, which appears to be like like this wonderful fast explainer video from Wikipedia. Nonetheless, that is not what’s occurring on the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s show.
I’ve created a fast instance video right here of what FRC normally appears to be like like on LCD and OLED shows underneath a microscope at 480FPS to match them to what’s occurring on the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s show:
So it is clear that Samsung is doing one thing completely different with the Galaxy S26’s 10-bit software program simulation technique, nevertheless it’s not clear what they’re doing to realize this. I’ve reached out to Samsung and requested in regards to the firm’s methodology, however did not hear again in time for publishing.
Whereas viewing the video above, you possibly can see the pixels “dancing” throughout the two examples, displaying what dithering sometimes appears to be like like on an LCD and an OLED. When wanting on the gradients underneath a microscope on the Galaxy 26 Extremely’s display, I do not see any pixel flashing or motion, which is precisely the way it needs to be.
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I have been performing show testing to detect dithering for years and have by no means seen a show that does this. I by no means like to ensure {that a} show won’t ever use dithering as a result of it is unattainable to check each app and supply the place dithering might happen. The picture above is a good instance of why I say this (open the unique picture if the location compression ruined it). There is no shade banding within the 10-bit video, but the YouTube app reveals clear shade banding proper subsequent to the video.
This brings up a captivating, and sometimes complicated, purpose why methods like FRC are so tough to measure or decide. Samsung’s technique right here is an attention-grabbing one which seems to be much better than the remainder, on the very least, however there’s additionally no telling if and when the corporate’s strategies might grow to be an issue for flicker-sensitive customers.
Why dithering is an issue
Temporal dithering is a moderately fascinating trick that makes use of velocity to trick our eyes into seeing one thing that does not exist. Different temporal methods, like PWM dimming, are employed in a means that leverages the concept most human eyes can’t see flickering at a sure fee, however they ignore the truth that our brains course of sight in several methods.
For some folks, flickering lights or colours can create discomfort. A gentle headache, sore or dry eyes, and dizziness are some frequent delicate signs related to FRC dithering and PWM dimming. Others, nonetheless, will not be so fortunate. Discomfort from these show methods is well-documented on boards like LEDstrain and the PWM delicate sub-Reddit, and I’ve identified many people who worry for his or her jobs as a result of fashionable working programs have began forcing the tactic.
One outstanding member of the PWM-sensitive group, Mark, has discovered himself on this actual scenario. Mark defined to me that “Microsoft launched ‘dithering’ in Home windows 11 show supervisor since some construct in model 22H2 – which has sadly rendered Home windows 11 utterly unusable to me and others as we’re delicate to dithering and flickering.”
A query levied to Microsoft’s official IT YouTube channel in early December (begin at 8:27) confirmed Mark’s findings. “None of the present accessibility instruments treatment this concern,” Mark stated, “and I am actually frightened about my potential to work going ahead, as I’ve already needed to persuade my reluctant IT division to let me stick with it with Home windows 10 underneath ESU.”
After all, the answer needs to be easy: both purchase a 10-bit show or change the colour house to 8-bit within the OS. However the issue is twofold. Trendy working programs nearly by no means enable customers to power 8-bit shade and, even then, there is not any assure an app will not attempt to use dithering to “ship a greater expertise,” because the advertising so usually places it.
The second is that 10-bit panels are elusive, as this debacle with the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s show proves. As was the case with PWM dimming, many firms began using techniques with out correct analysis, solely to search out out that customers began complaining about not having the ability to use the newest units due to them.
In a world the place all the pieces is linked and also you’re pressured to at use newer variations of practically all the pieces, poor selections by firms are forcing customers to make life adjustments they in any other case would not have. The low frequency PWM fee of the Galaxy S26 Extremely makes it unattainable to suggest to flicker-sensitive folks, as an example.
Samsung’s use of FRC to pretend 10-bit shade means its shows have the potential to trouble much more customers, as I am personally delicate to PWM dimming however in no way bothered by FRC dithering. A number of others discover themselves within the reverse boat, and it is in the end as much as firms to firms to pursue the wants of its prospects in the event that they wish to maintain them. I simply hope Samsung is listening.
See the Privateness Show in motion on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely, the primary telephone that may defend your messages and different delicate data the second another person appears to be like at it.
