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

In an era dominated by OLED panels, why do some users still remain loyal to LCD displays? The answer lies in the inherent eyefriendly strengths of DC dimming and circularlypolarized light. “Three days with an OLED screen felt like sandpaper rubbing against my eyes; switching back to LCD brought instant relief.” While manufacturers chase peak display performance, this group of users prioritizes visual comfort and is willing to pay a premium for it.

OLED panels made up 63 % of global smartphone shipments and overtook LCD for the first time in 2024 with a 51 % market share. Even so, many users still hold firm to LCD technology. The secret may lie in human eyes — in this display technology deemed “outdated” by manufacturers, yet capable of soothing strained eyes through longhour nighttime usage.

Pick any smartphone that retains an LCD panel, and you will find user reviews rarely praise “vibrant colours”. Instead, the most frequent comment is “easy on the eyes”. This comfortable viewing experience originates first and foremost from LCD’s native DCdimming capability.

DC dimming adjusts brightness by modulating electric current, delivering flickerfree output that benefits people sensitive to screen flickering. In 2026, mainstream LCDequipped handsets such as the Redmi Note12 Pro, iQOO Z8 and iPhone SE3 implement fullrange DC dimming, paired with hardwarelevel lowbluelight technology.

By contrast, lowfrequency PWM dimming regulates brightness by rapidly cycling the screen on and off. At low brightness levels, it frequently triggers dry eyes, soreness and even headaches, which multiple review labs have marked as a “red line for eye health”.

What makes LCD fans even more reluctant to switch is circularlypolarizedlight technology. Though a nichesounding specification, it serves as an unsung hero for eyefriendly LCD experiences. Circularlypolarized light converts linearlypolarized light — which concentrates stimulation on a single spot on the retina — into uniformly rotating 360degree light that closely mimics natural daylight. Realworld user feedback speaks for itself: “With circularpolarized light enabled, my eyes feel far less fatigued when scrolling my phone late at night.” Devices including the iPhone SE3 fitted with circularpolarized panels also deliver notable improvements in antireflection and antiglare performance.