Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro screen brightness not that impressive
- Thread starter 107655
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I’m coming from iPhone X and the first thing I noticed was how bright iPhone 12 Pro is compared to X. Better colors as well
It’s an accessibility option that is on by default. Turn it off and the screen is painfully bright. After turning it off it became obvious that my 12 Pro could outdo my friend’s XR.
I suspect with the option on as it is by default, the display will only get as bright as it can for either HDR or maybe direct sunlight on the ambient light sensor?
I suspect with the option on as it is by default, the display will only get as bright as it can for either HDR or maybe direct sunlight on the ambient light sensor?
Your 12 Pro is defective. That symptom is proof. I have done massive research on this.
WTF is wrong with you? Aren’t you able to understand that people might have issues with a brand new iPhone without bashing the product or be nitpicky?
Just ask for a replacement. Hopefully it will be fine.
[automerge]1603619410[/automerge]
But since the issue is pretty widespread with Apple OLEDs, sometimes you might have to ask for multiple replacements.
When you get the replacement, start afresh. No backups.
So 100% brightness with auto brightness on should be exactly the same as 100% brightness with auto brightness off?
Even in a dimly lit environment?
Thank you! That's what I figured.
It was just throwing me off since my regular iPhone 11 behaves differently.
It's max brightness is the same regardless of auto brightness being on or off.
I wonder if it's due to LCD vs OLED.
He’s wrong.
When your brightness level is less than 100%, your brightness level should be same with AutoBrightness on or off. At 100% it may or may not be the same even in a healthy iPHone based on ambient light. But with slider at less than 100%, it will always be the same if the phone is healthy. If not return it, and do not restore from backup. In max 1-2 replacements you should find a healthy phone.
Nobody has researched this across 10+ devices like me nor has spent months researching this. If in doubt, go to an Appl store, try this on 5+ iPhones. Ensure slider is well below 100%. Like 70-90% tops. Or lower.
When your brightness level is less than 100%, your brightness level should be same with AutoBrightness on or off. At 100% it may or may not be the same even in a healthy iPHone based on ambient light. But with slider at less than 100%, it will always be the same if the phone is healthy. If not return it, and do not restore from backup. In max 1-2 replacements you should find a healthy phone.
Nobody has researched this across 10+ devices like me nor has spent months researching this. If in doubt, go to an Appl store, try this on 5+ iPhones. Ensure slider is well below 100%. Like 70-90% tops. Or lower.
Your 11 is normal. Apple’s OLEDs have this widespread issue. But it still affects only a small but significant percentage. Your phone is defective. I have discussed this with over 2 dozen people and tested 10+ iDevices personally as well as spent months researching this, I know what I’m talking about.
Replace it. In 1-2 replacements you’ll have a good piece. But don’t restore.
No.
but 99% would be the exact same.
and 100% of either would be brighter than 99% of either.
Your phone is defective.
StumpyBloke is one of the dozens I surveyed when I was researching this. He would remember getting a PM from me months ago.
I'm not sure why you think it's defective.
What happens if you try the following:
1. Take your iPhone 11 Pro into a dark room with auto brightness turned ON.
2. Max your brightness to 100%.
3. Turn auto brightness OFF and wait 10 seconds.
Does your screen get brighter?
Are you saying I’m wrong? I do remember the messages and we determined that when auto-brightness is off then maximum brightness can indeed be brighter than when it’s on.
It does not. End of.
There were dozens of posts about this last year and it was proven that brightness can be higher when the auto-brightness setting is off then when it’s on
I think I’d trust Anandtech’s actual nit measurement testing rather than what people think is happening before their eyes.
Absolutely yes. Mine always have. Every OLED screen I have had has exhibited the exact same behaviour.
And I’ve just done it again and lo and behold the same result.
Try it yourself. It’s patently obvious.
Or don’t, I don’t care. I’m just telling you what happens on mine and every one I’ve ever owned. And I’ve just tried it on a friends 11 pro (not max) which he bought 6 months ago with the same result.
Ok I will tonight. From Anandtech-“Brightness wise, my XS maxed out at 646cd/m², while my XS Max came in at 668cd/m². There is no auto-brightness boost, however at such high brightness levels, there’s no need.”
No offence to them but I couldn’t give a **** what they say. I know what I and others are seeing on every dammed OLED iPhone we try it on.
Yes please do. For reference I stayed on the screen where you disable auto-brightness so you could try the same (where I witnessed the increase).
Edit: please let us know what you find.
Last edited:
I’ve been troubleshooting my 12pro for a couple days now, worried it was a dud.
With Auto Brightness “ON” it does lower the max brightness for sure. With it turned “OFF” it has a higher max level, very noticeable.
But with Auto Brightness “ON”, if you place a light directly on the ambient light sensor it will then increase the screen brightness to max. I assume this is or when you are in a very bright environment, like outside in direct sunlight. It seems to overrides the Auto Brightness “ON” lower max level to accommodate the brighter environment.
With Auto Brightness “ON” it does lower the max brightness for sure. With it turned “OFF” it has a higher max level, very noticeable.
But with Auto Brightness “ON”, if you place a light directly on the ambient light sensor it will then increase the screen brightness to max. I assume this is or when you are in a very bright environment, like outside in direct sunlight. It seems to overrides the Auto Brightness “ON” lower max level to accommodate the brighter environment.
Yep, same exact behavior on my 12 Pro. I'm 100% sure that this is working as intended and there is nothing wrong.
I think the auto brightness is a little bit different on the OLED screens in order to prevent burn in/degradation.