Screen brightness - NITS - Sunlight readability *** UPDATED ***

[droidguy22]

Might be brighter with the manual brightness, but it's not with automatic brightness in direct sunlight. Samsung phones only go to their real maximum brightness on automatic brightness in bright light. I was just comparing my Pixel XL and Note 7 outside, and the Note 7 got noticeably brighter in direct sunlight. The Pixel XL was definitely readable though.

Custom kernels will take care of this.

 

[CZ Eddie]

I was just comparing my Pixel XL and Note 7 outside, and the Note 7 got noticeably brighter in direct sunlight.

Could you please set both phones to 100% manual brightness instead of Automatic and compare again?
And maybe comment on reflectivity between the two screens?

Thanks!

 

[CZ Eddie]

Even *if* the same exact panel is used (not likely) as the S7 Edge, the hardware and software drivers are most likely very different.

If both phones get the same brightness at 100% manual, then we can hope the High Brightness Widget can get us the extra oomph that Samsung phones get:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flar2.hbmwidget

 

[CZ Eddie]

I just compared my Pixel XL vs. my Motorola Moto X Pure out under the 12PM Texas sunlight.

• Turned off adaptive brightness for both.
• Set both to max brightness on the slider.
• Opened up the same webpage (yahoo.com).
• Also looked at my phone contact pictures.

The Moto X Pure was slightly brighter and easier to see/read with direct view.
When looking at an angle, the Pixel XL was easier to read.

Once root is available, I'll install the Brightness Widget and install ElementalX kernel to see how the Pixel XL looks with the brightness pumped up.
If it gives me 10% more brightness then I think it'll probably be just as bright as the Moto X Pure with direct viewing.

The Moto X Pure has ~715 nits according to some reviews and is just as bright as my old Note 4 was.

 

[sdelcegno]

I have no issue with the pixel xl in bright sunlight. It's much better than my 6p

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[CZ Eddie]

I dream of a day when our phones are capable of 4000+ nit bursts in direct sunlight so I can read text messages and emails without removing my semi dark polarized sunglasses.
I have no issues removing my sunglasses if I'm going to sit there for five minutes reading a book on my phone.

Okay, I don't really "dream about it".
But I do consider this a valid goal for mfg's.

I'd also like it to be always-on extra extra extra bright when plugged in and in direct sunlight.
Such as when I ride around on my Motorcycle and have the phone plugged into the USB charger and mounted next to my speedometer while using the phone's navigation software to get to where I'm going.

 

[flar2]

Good news, I've tested it and HBM works on both the Pixel and Pixel XL.

 

[Nitemare3219]

Good news, I've tested it and HBM works on both the Pixel and Pixel XL.

Fantastic! Would love to get a nits reading of the HBM mode to see if it's hitting S7 Edge levels.

Will we have to use a 3rd party kernel to use HBM again?

 

[flar2]

Fantastic! Would love to get a nits reading of the HBM mode to see if it's hitting S7 Edge levels.

Will we have to use a 3rd party kernel to use HBM again?

Yes, you will need a custom kernel.


I measured with one of my other phones:

max brightness stock: 398 lux
hbm on: 589 lux

 

[Nitemare3219]

For those wanting more visbility, flar2's EX kernel + high brightness mode widget (with auto-on) works perfectly just like auto-brightness on Samsung's flagships. The Pixel XL is on par with the S7E with these mods.

 

[joderme]

For those wanting more visbility, flar2's EX kernel + high brightness mode widget (with auto-on) works perfectly just like auto-brightness on Samsung's flagships. The Pixel XL is on par with the S7E with these mods.

I wonder why Google is restricting use of higher brightness? I would guess either battery life or burn-in worries.

 

[Nitemare3219]

I wonder why Google is restricting use of higher brightness? I would guess either battery life or burn-in worries.

Doubtful. It's not like it'd be activated very long. I'm sure it's something along the lines of Samsung not wanting them to take their thunder.

 

[CZ Eddie]

I wonder why Google is restricting use of higher brightness? I would guess either battery life or burn-in worries.

It's unlikely they are restricting it.
Samsung's AMOLED panel driver sets brightness to a reliable level.
They then gave an option to go higher than that level for short periods of time.

Google and other mfg's don't do this for some reason.

Actually, I think LG is starting to do this with some phones too, like the G5.

 

[flar2]

I'm not sure why this mode is not enabled on many phones.

The OnePlus 3 has HBM, but it's not very bright (causes a lot of bad reviews for the HBM widget)

Strangely, all Moto phones including the Nexus 6 have the necessary kernel interfaces for HBM, but it is never activated by the system. It can be activated with the HBM Widget. I used the code from Moto devs to port HBM to the Nexus 6P and Pixels.

 

[crazeyfeet]

I compared the Pixel with iPhone 6s. The latter was much brighter. I don't understand why the Pixel is not bright as the big brother XL.

 

[CZ Eddie]

I compared the Pixel with iPhone 6s. The latter was much brighter. I don't understand why the Pixel is not bright as the big brother XL.

Are you rooted?
If so, try installing ElementalX kernel and the high brightness widget to compare brightness again.
It gets you a NICE jump in brightness when activated.

 

[xocomaox]

I compared the Pixel with iPhone 6s. The latter was much brighter. I don't understand why the Pixel is not bright as the big brother XL.

Are you rooted?
If so, try installing ElementalX kernel and the high brightness widget to compare brightness again.
It gets you a NICE jump in brightness when activated.

I have compared my XL to a 6s and it is as bright, brighter with HBM enabled from ElementalX kernel.