How To Guide HBM

[rickysidhu_]

The following command is how you can toggle HBM on our 6 Pro:

echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/1c2c0000.drmdsim/1c2c0000.drmdsim.0/backlight/panel0-backlight/hbm_mode

Replace the one with a zero to disable!

 

[Cares]

HBM = high brightness mode?

Is it worth doing?

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

HBM = high brightness mode?

Is it worth doing?

I prefer doing it through @flar2 's HBM app set to automatic when using his custom ElementalX kernel. They've made that kernel for each of the previous Pixels (and some other phones) so I expect once the source code drops they'll do so for the P6P as well.

It definitely made a difference in direct sunlight.

 

[rickysidhu_]

Yeah I use Tasker to create QS toggle with that command

 

[rester555]

Is the command through adb? Or terminal?

 

[Ultimoose]

The following command is how you can toggle HBM on our 6 Pro:

echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/1c2c0000.drmdsim/1c2c0000.drmdsim.0/backlight/panel0-backlight/hbm_mode

Replace the one with a zero to disable!

Any known downsides? I'm curious if there's no long term ill effects why it isn't just a default option. Any chance what's built in is 'what works for every panel' but HBM might cause an issue with a borderline panel that just barely squeaked through QA?

 

[DanielF50]

The following command is how you can toggle HBM on our 6 Pro:

echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/1c2c0000.drmdsim/1c2c0000.drmdsim.0/backlight/panel0-backlight/hbm_mode

Replace the one with a zero to disable!

I was playing around with this command a couple of days ago because I didn't feel that the maximum brightness was very good due to the Pixel 6 Pro using a Samsung s6e3hc3 display (cat /sys/class/backlight/panel0-backlight/device/panel_name), which is in fact the same display the Oppo Find X3 Pro uses & allegedly that goes upto 1300 nits.

I found that:

echo 1 >> /sys/class/backlight/panel0-backlight/hbm_mode

and

echo 2 >> /sys/class/backlight/panel0-backlight/hbm_mode

Both work to give the Pixel 6 Pro to achive a little more brightness (& they stay on after switching the screen off) - obviously setting HBM to "1" provides a little more brightness than "0", and "2" provides even more brightness than "1".


I used my ColourMunki Display to measure the brightness of the display multiple times & got the same results every time: these show that max brightness with HBM @ 0 is ~500 nits, HBM @ 1 is ~795 nits & HBM @ 2 provides 835 nits.

I'm hoping someone can replicate these numbers or verify with another, more accurate device & hopefully (when ElementalX is released) we will be able to toggle both HBM modes via the HBM widget

 

[Tomatot-]

It also works on my Pixel 6 (non-pro), good to know, thanks!

 

[Morgrain]

I guess this is root-only?

 

[DanielF50]

I guess this is root-only?

Yeah, you'd get "permission denied" if you try to echo to that directory without su permissions

 

[Lughnasadh]

I prefer doing it through @flar2 's HBM app set to automatic when using his custom ElementalX kernel. They've made that kernel for each of the previous Pixels (and some other phones) so I expect once the source code drops they'll do so for the P6P as well.

It definitely made a difference in direct sunlight.

Yeah, in the past I've been doing it with tbalden's CleanSlate kernel, which comes with QS toggles. He even has a High Brightness mode & a High Brightness Boost mode, which goes even beyond what High Brightness gives you. But until (or if) he builds his kernel for this phone I'm using flar2's HBM mode app and just toggle it on if I need to.

The other day I went into the bright sun for the first time with this phone to test it's native HBM abilities (without flar2's app). It definitely appeared to turn on by itself (took about 3-5 seconds), which is different from my Pixel 4 XL, where the HBM mode was disabled and hidden by default. The screen was also plenty bright for me to see, so I think all this talk about it not having enough Nits or not being bright enough is a bit exaggerated.

 

[mac796]

It's definitely not as bright as my op8 pro. I work outside so I always use flars hbm. I'm using it still but it's a little glitchy

 

[Morgrain]

The other day I went into the bright sun

The screen was also plenty bright for me to see, so I think all this talk about it not having enough Nits or not being bright enough is a bit exaggerated.

Can agree with this. Even with bright sunshine outside, I can still see everything without problem & sunglasses on (stock, no root, no forced HBM). That's the most extreme usecase I can think of, so that's fine on my end.

 

[rickysidhu_]

Any known downsides? I'm curious if there's no long term ill effects why it isn't just a default option. Any chance what's built in is 'what works for every panel' but HBM might cause an issue with a borderline panel that just barely squeaked through QA?

There might be a possible downside of screen burn in for having HBM on for extended periods. Maybe poor battery life as well.

I don't think there's a default option because I think Android will enable it automatically when the device is under bright light. This command lets you use the mode in any lighting condition

If I'm incorrect with any of this information, anyone who knows more, feel free to let us know!

 

[Ultimoose]

There might be a possible downside of screen burn in for having HBM on for extended periods. Maybe poor battery life as well.

I don't think there's a default option because I think Android will enable it automatically when the device is under bright light. This command lets you use the mode in any lighting condition

If I'm incorrect with any of this information, anyone who knows more, feel free to let us know!

Thank you sir for the information, appreciate it!

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

Any known downsides? I'm curious if there's no long term ill effects why it isn't just a default option. Any chance what's built in is 'what works for every panel' but HBM might cause an issue with a borderline panel that just barely squeaked through QA?

I used automatic HBM through @flar2 's ElementalX kernel and app on my Pixel 1 for several years - I never experienced any issues. It definitely made the screen brighter in direct sunlight than the Pixel 1 did by itself without the kernel and app.

 

[DanielF50]

I was playing around with this command a couple of days ago because I didn't feel that the maximum brightness was very good due to the Pixel 6 Pro using a Samsung s6e3hc3 display (cat /sys/class/backlight/panel0-backlight/device/panel_name), which is in fact the same display the Oppo Find X3 Pro uses & allegedly that goes upto 1300 nits.

I used my ColourMunki Display to measure the brightness of the display multiple times & got the same results every time: these show that max brightness with HBM @ 0 is ~500 nits, HBM @ 1 is ~795 nits & HBM @ 2 provides 835 nits.

Following up on this, I tested some HDR10+ videos on YouTube & if you run cat /sys/class/backlight/panel0-backlight/hbm_mode, when these are playing, you get a result of HBM: "1" so the kernel is obviously able to use this feature on a stock device, and maybe even utilises this when in extreme lighting conditions.

 

[flar2]

I've update High Brightness Mode to support Pixel 6/6Pro (version 5.03).

High Brightness Mode - Apps on Google Play

See your screen in bright sunshine. High brightness mode for your phone

play.google.com

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

I've update High Brightness Mode to support Pixel 6/6Pro (version 5.03).

Thank you!!

 

[finshan]

I've update High Brightness Mode to support Pixel 6/6Pro (version 5.03).

High Brightness Mode - Apps on Google Play

See your screen in bright sunshine. High brightness mode for your phone

play.google.com

Does it support the "2" mode described above by @DanielF50 ?

xdaforums.com/t/hbm.4356189/post-85878625