The swan song of LCD? Can the Redmi Note 17T Pro end the five-year wait of the 'eye-care advocates'?

In the age of OLED dominance, why do some users still stick with LCD panels? The secret lies in their inherent eyefriendly strengths: DC dimming and circularlypolarized light. “Three days using an OLED screen felt like sandpaper rubbing my eyes; switching back to LCD brought instant relief.” While manufacturers pursue cuttingedge display performance, this group of consumers prioritizes viewing comfort and is willing to choose it.

OLED captured 63% of global smartphone shipments and overtook LCD for the first time in 2024, claiming a 51% market share. Even so, plenty of users remain attached to LCD. The explanation could be found in our eyes — this display technology written off as “outdated” by manufacturers can still ease eye strain during allnight phone use.

The Divide in EyeFriendly Display Solutions: LCD’s Persistence vs OLED’s Progress

The EyeProtecting Cornerstone of LCD: The Innate Advantages of DC Dimming and CircularlyPolarized Light

Pick any smartphone that keeps an LCD screen, and you will notice user reviews rarely highlight “vibrant colors”. Instead, the mostmentioned praise is “easy on the eyes”. Such comfort stems first from LCD’s builtin DC dimming feature.

DC dimming adjusts brightness by modulating electric current, producing completely flickerfree output, which works much better for people sensitive to screen flicker. In 2026, mainstream LCD models including the Redmi Note12 Pro, iQOO Z8 and iPhone SE3 adopt fullrange DC dimming, combined with hardwarelevel lowbluelight technology.

By comparison, low frequency PWM dimming achieves brightness control through rapid screen onoff cycling. At low brightness levels, it often causes dry eyes, soreness and even headaches, and multiple review agencies regard it as a “red line for eye health”.

What makes LCD fans even more unwilling to switch is circularlypolarizedlight technology. Though it sounds like a niche specification, it acts as an unsung hero behind LCD’s comfortable viewing experience. By altering light polarization, it converts linearlypolarized light — which stimulates a single spot on the retina — into evenlyrotating 360degree light that closely resembles natural light. Realuser feedback speaks volumes: “With circularpolarized light turned on, my eyes get far less tired when scrolling my phone at night.” Devices such as the iPhone SE3 equipped with circularpolarized panels also deliver excellent antireflection and antiglare performance.