Smartphone display brightness performance under direct sunlight compared

This test evaluates the display brightness and thermal performance of six flagship smartphones under direct sunlight. The iPhone 18 Pro Max maintains the highest brightness levels throughout the test, demonstrating improved performance over the iPhone 17 Pro Max. While the Samsung S24 Ultra initially dims, it can be forced to maintain maximum brightness using the "Display Assistant" Good Lock module from the Samsung Store. The OnePlus 15 experiences a temporary display glitch that is resolved during the test. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max show varying degrees of dimming as the devices heat up. The test concludes with a thermal stress test using the selfie camera, where the Samsung S24 Ultra is the first to display a heat warning and shut down, followed by the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max remains operational the longest under these conditions.

Tech4K StaffVideo report

This test evaluates the display brightness and thermal performance of six flagship smartphones under direct sunlight. The iPhone 18 Pro Max maintains the highest brightness levels throughout the test, demonstrating improved performance over the iPhone 17 Pro Max. While the Samsung S24 Ultra initially dims, it can be forced to maintain maximum brightness using the "Display Assistant" Good Lock module from the Samsung Store. The OnePlus 15 experiences a temporary display glitch that is resolved during the test. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max show varying degrees of dimming as the devices heat up. The test concludes with a thermal stress test using the selfie camera, where the Samsung S24 Ultra is the first to display a heat warning and shut down, followed by the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max remains operational the longest under these conditions.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max maintains the highest display brightness among the tested devices under direct sunlight. Samsung S24 Ultra users can bypass automatic dimming by utilizing the Display Assistant Good Lock module.

The OnePlus 15 experienced a brief display glitch that resolved itself during the testing process. The Samsung S24 Ultra was the first device to trigger a heat warning and shut down during the camera stress test.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max demonstrated the most endurance during the camera-based thermal stress test. The iPhone 18 Pro Max shows improved brightness performance compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Chapter guide

Test SetupIntroduction of the six flagship smartphones being tested under direct sunlight.Initial PerformanceObservation of how each device manages display brightness and dimming in real-time.Samsung Brightness HackDemonstration of using the Display Assistant Good Lock module to force maximum brightness on Samsung devices.Camera Stress TestTesting the devices by recording video with the selfie camera to induce thermal throttling.Thermal ShutdownsRecording the order in which devices shut down due to heat warnings.

Worth noting

  • The test methodology relies on a single, non-scientific observation of device behavior under specific environmental conditions.
  • The "Display Assistant" module is a third-party customization tool that may not be officially supported or recommended by Samsung.

Watch the original video ↗