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OnePlus is about to put the Google Pixel 8 Pro to shame

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The Home Screen on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Two of the brightest smartphone displays on the market are featured on the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the OnePlus Open. However, in the ever-changing world of technology, there is always something better on the horizon.

On Tuesday, October 24, Chinese-based OnePlus and its parent company, Oppo, will announce “a new dawn” for smartphone screens. According to messages posted on Weibo by OnePlus and Digital Chat Station, the announcement is that BOE will manufacture a 3,000-nit panel for smartphones, which could be a game changer for the smartphone market. The soon-to-be-revealed display will offer 1440p resolution and support 2160Hz pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming.

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The Google Pixel 8 Pro and OnePlus Open offer displays that are among the brightest on the smartphone market, with 2,400 nits and 2,800 nits of brightness, respectively. As a comparison, the recently unveiled Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max offer 2,000 nits of brightness. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra maxes out at 1,750 nits.

Photo of a flower displayed on the Google Pixel 8 Pro's screen.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends

So, what might be the first smartphone to include 3,000 nits? It could be the OnePlus 12, which could launch early in the new year.

The brightness of a display, measured in nits, plays a crucial role in its usability. Displays with higher nit brightness are easier to view in brightly lit environments, such as direct sunlight or well-lit rooms. A display with higher nit brightness emits more light, making it easier to read or view content.

Furthermore, the contrast ratio of a display is affected by its nit brightness. A higher nit brightness translates to a more noticeable difference between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. Displays with higher nit brightness boast a higher contrast ratio, leading to more realistic and detailed images, with better color accuracy and deeper blacks. This feature is particularly crucial for images or videos with high contrast, such as movies or photographs.

A display’s nit brightness is also essential for showcasing HDR (high dynamic range) content. This content is designed to be displayed on bright displays and features a broader range of colors and brightness levels than standard content, resulting in a super-immersive and lifelike viewing experience.

The Pixel 8 Pro held the title for the brightest smartphone display when it was announced on October 4, but that title was quickly taken from it by the OnePlus Open. And now, it looks like OnePlus is getting ready to one-up Google once again — and itself in the process.

Bryan M. Wolfe
Bryan M. Wolfe
Former Mobile and A/V Freelancer
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
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