Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 series could bring a long awaited display improvement, with a new leak suggesting that the Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra will be the company’s first smartphones to support DC dimming. Samsung Display is reportedly preparing to begin production of the series’ displays, making the latest claims potentially plausible.

Most Samsung flagship phones, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra, use pulse width modulation (PWM) to control screen brightness. This method rapidly switches the display’s light output on and off to create different brightness levels. Although effective, the flickering can cause eye fatigue and headaches for people who are sensitive to it.

DC dimming takes a different approach by adjusting the voltage supplied to the display’s light source, reducing flicker. However, implementing it on modern screens can be challenging, particularly when supporting variable refresh rates. Some manufacturers use a hybrid system, applying DC dimming at medium and high brightness levels while switching to PWM at lower brightness.

According to the leak, the Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra could introduce DC dimming, potentially through a hybrid implementation. The feature would be part of a broader display upgrade that separates the premium models from the standard Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus.

The Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra are reportedly set to use Samsung Display’s latest M16 OLED materials, while the standard S27 and S27 Plus may feature M14+ materials. The Privacy Display feature introduced with the Galaxy S26 Ultra is also expected to return on the Pro and Ultra models.

However, questions remain about Samsung’s display priorities. Privacy Display requires specialised hardware, while DC dimming could benefit users who experience discomfort from screen flicker. Hardware support for 10 bit colour is another missing feature, especially as some competing smartphones already support 12 bit colour.

Samsung is not alone in these limitations. Apple’s iPhones also lack proper hardware 10 bit colour support and instead offer a Smooth PWM setting. For now, the reported DC dimming upgrade could be a welcome change, although its final implementation remains unconfirmed.