The PWM of the Steam Deck OLED is harmful to the eyes (DC Dimming needed)

[NUTS]

There is an investigation that the Steam Deck OLED is one of the worst screens with the most aggressive flickering that can affect sensitive eyes. However, Valve could fix it with a patch in SteamOS.

There is already opened issue in the GitHub that Valve is ignoring https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1392

In this Reddit post, the user published all measured evidence on the screen to demonstrate what I'm saying:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1882kys/analysis_of_the_pwmflickervisual_fatigue_of_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

The conclusion is that the Samsung OLED anti-glare panel of the Steam Deck OLED has proven to be very bad for the eyes in gaming sessions, and the damage is particularly pronounced below 45% brightness. Still, the high risk is common at all brightness levels equally. There will be a percentage of people with very low sensitivity to PWM who will not notice negative symptoms in their eyes. However, another large percentage of people, especially the most sensitive, will notice the symptoms.

The associated symptoms could include nausea, rapid eye discomfort or fatigue, a sensation of grit in the eyes, migraines, and general fatigue, blurred vision after playing.

It is important to note that each individual reacts differently, and although the measured values here offer an objective and recommended range for viewing], the response can vary from person to person. If you are especially sensitive, I cannot recommend this screen and this product in the actual state. Perhaps you try it, and it doesn't go wrong for you, but what my data says is that the risk of it not going well is VERY HIGH.

But not all the news is bad; if we send enough feedback about this issue, Valve could patch it and fix it with a new update in SteamOS and eliminating all the flickering.

This is what I think Valve could do and change now regarding the PWM of the OLED screen to solve this problem:

1- First option:

Patch SteamOS by adding an option to enable DC-Dimming: DC Dimming is an alternative software method of regulating screen brightness that eliminates almost 100% of the flicker of screens of this style where I have tried it or has been implemented.

For example, my Xiaomi Mi 9 phone with an Amoled screen and other Xiaomi Oled screens were unusable for me with the default PWM, but once DC dimming, also called "anti-flicker" mode, is activated, the phone is completely usable for hours without tiring. Valve is a company known for listening to and supporting its community and consumers by implementing their requests in software with new updates.

With this measure, Valve could reduce a high percentage of people who end up with eye fatigue and worse health playing their OLED steam decks to basically almost, It is about offering a product that takes care of your customers' eyes.

2- A second option by Valve could be instead of implementing a DC Dimming mode, that the screen still uses PWM, but increase its PWM frequency from 360% to 1100%. Look at what happens when the Hz frequency on the Steam Deck LCD reaches this value, even at its worst flicker percentage (99%), it manages to enter the yellow or green zone and be good for the 99% of eyes.

While in my use of the Steam Deck LCD Anti-Glare for hours, my eyes have never gotten tired; with Steam Deck OLED, I have already experienced eye strain and a feeling of blurry vision after playing or shortly after starting.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by UASINIGAMI:

There is an investigation that the Steam Deck OLED is one of the worst screens with the most aggressive flickering that can affect sensitive eyes. However, Valve could fix it with a patch in SteamOS.

There is already opened issue in the GitHub that Valve is ignoring https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1392

Why do you assume Valve is ignoring the issue?

https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsOnDeck/comments/1823g46/oled_hdr_will_not_work_on_windows_according_to/

The OLED deck uses MIPI. The panels are non standard. I would believe the display code down there isn't easy to change.

[NUTS]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Originally posted by UASINIGAMI:

There is an investigation that the Steam Deck OLED is one of the worst screens with the most aggressive flickering that can affect sensitive eyes. However, Valve could fix it with a patch in SteamOS.

There is already opened issue in the GitHub that Valve is ignoring https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1392

Why do you assume Valve is ignoring the issue?

https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsOnDeck/comments/1823g46/oled_hdr_will_not_work_on_windows_according_to/

The OLED deck uses MIPI. The panels are non standard. I would believe the display code down there isn't easy to change.

because it's a 3-month-old issue and there is not any official response to it yet. Steam support said that I have to open a bug report so the developers be aware of it

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by UASINIGAMI:

because it's a 3-month-old issue and there is not any official response to it yet. Steam support said that I have to open a bug report so the developers be aware of it

Only 3 months? Are you kidding me? This stuff will take years when you start from scratch. The code down there is downright difficult. Valve will no doubt need to negotiate with Samsung to access the firmware etc. Good luck with all this political maneuvering.

[deaddoof]

Remember, we are talking about Samsung vs BOE. I believe BOE made investments into DC dimming. The software update should be much simpler. Samsung on the other hand.... Do we even know whether Samsung even cares about DC dimming?

[NUTS]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Remember, we are talking about Samsung vs BOE. I believe BOE made investments into DC dimming. The software update should be much simpler. Samsung on the other hand.... Do we even know whether Samsung even cares about DC dimming?

So that's a main question to the developers what they are planning at least to do with this issue, or they will not do anything, to not wait for it at all

[Mahjik]

Originally posted by UASINIGAMI:

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Remember, we are talking about Samsung vs BOE. I believe BOE made investments into DC dimming. The software update should be much simpler. Samsung on the other hand.... Do we even know whether Samsung even cares about DC dimming?

So that's a main question to the developers what they are planning at least to do with this issue, or they will not do anything, to not wait for it at all

While I sympathize with those impacted by the issue, I doubt Valve will change anything. Not because they don't care, but there is a lot of work to do around this device. When arranging/planning the work, everything has to be weighted against a ROI (Return of Investment). If there is an issue that is impacting a minority of users, they may not view the ROI of that work as valuable. Again, it doesn't mean it's not important to those impacted.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by UASINIGAMI:

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Remember, we are talking about Samsung vs BOE. I believe BOE made investments into DC dimming. The software update should be much simpler. Samsung on the other hand.... Do we even know whether Samsung even cares about DC dimming?

So that's a main question to the developers what they are planning at least to do with this issue, or they will not do anything, to not wait for it at all

If Samsung says no, there is nothing Valve can do. Why do you think FOSS guys want everything to be free software? You can choose a third party to implement the feature you want. In this case, Valve would probably be receptive or hire a skilled contractor. We do not like relying on good graces of mega corps because they will only bow to pressure under competition.

[RealCelticGamer]

Originally posted by UASINIGAMI:

There is an investigation that the Steam Deck OLED is one of the worst screens with the most aggressive flickering that can affect sensitive eyes. However, Valve could fix it with a patch in SteamOS.

There is already opened issue in the GitHub that Valve is ignoring https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1392

In this Reddit post, the user published all measured evidence on the screen to demonstrate what I'm saying:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1882kys/analysis_of_the_pwmflickervisual_fatigue_of_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

The conclusion is that the Samsung OLED anti-glare panel of the Steam Deck OLED has proven to be very bad for the eyes in gaming sessions, and the damage is particularly pronounced below 45% brightness. Still, the high risk is common at all brightness levels equally. There will be a percentage of people with very low sensitivity to PWM who will not notice negative symptoms in their eyes. However, another large percentage of people, especially the most sensitive, will notice the symptoms.

The associated symptoms could include nausea, rapid eye discomfort or fatigue, a sensation of grit in the eyes, migraines, and general fatigue, blurred vision after playing.

It is important to note that each individual reacts differently, and although the measured values here offer an objective and recommended range for viewing], the response can vary from person to person. If you are especially sensitive, I cannot recommend this screen and this product in the actual state. Perhaps you try it, and it doesn't go wrong for you, but what my data says is that the risk of it not going well is VERY HIGH.

But not all the news is bad; if we send enough feedback about this issue, Valve could patch it and fix it with a new update in SteamOS and eliminating all the flickering.

This is what I think Valve could do and change now regarding the PWM of the OLED screen to solve this problem:

1- First option:

Patch SteamOS by adding an option to enable DC-Dimming: DC Dimming is an alternative software method of regulating screen brightness that eliminates almost 100% of the flicker of screens of this style where I have tried it or has been implemented.

For example, my Xiaomi Mi 9 phone with an Amoled screen and other Xiaomi Oled screens were unusable for me with the default PWM, but once DC dimming, also called "anti-flicker" mode, is activated, the phone is completely usable for hours without tiring. Valve is a company known for listening to and supporting its community and consumers by implementing their requests in software with new updates.

With this measure, Valve could reduce a high percentage of people who end up with eye fatigue and worse health playing their OLED steam decks to basically almost, It is about offering a product that takes care of your customers' eyes.

2- A second option by Valve could be instead of implementing a DC Dimming mode, that the screen still uses PWM, but increase its PWM frequency from 360% to 1100%. Look at what happens when the Hz frequency on the Steam Deck LCD reaches this value, even at its worst flicker percentage (99%), it manages to enter the yellow or green zone and be good for the 99% of eyes.

While in my use of the Steam Deck LCD Anti-Glare for hours, my eyes have never gotten tired; with Steam Deck OLED, I have already experienced eye strain and a feeling of blurry vision after playing or shortly after starting.

Hopefully Valve chooses to patch this via DC-Dimming.