Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutters

[jeffreii]

I am not a fan of auto adjust on the brightness of the display. I have it disabled but I still constantly notice it changing. Is this something that an app is forcing upon me rather than following my Android system setting? Maybe it's just an auto-dim that can be disabled somewhere and I've missed it?

Also, it stutters as it dims/brightens. Instead of a smooth transition between brightness levels it will noticeably stutter up up up up down down down down. Anyone else have this problem? It happens everywhere, not just in the messages app as per the "screen flicker" thread.

Thanks.

EDIT: Some things I found about this issue:

-Screen dims (and stutters while doing it) 10 seconds before shutoff. Happened at both 1m timeout and 15s timeout settings.
-Smart Stay seems to check for eyes at the same time - 10 seconds before shutoff. If it sees you looking, screen stays lit. If it doesn't, screen dims (and stutters). Then right before the screen actually turns off Smart Stay checks again.
-If you do anything to keep the phone alive after it has dimmed (either user input or Smart Stay finds you) then it will "un-dim" and stutter again.
-It's much more noticeable with a lighter background like the white of Gmail.
-Disabling Smart Stay does not stop the dim/stutter.
-Enabling auto brightness does not stop it however the transition is much smoother when auto brightness adjusts the screen...the stutter is still significant when it dims 10s before timeout though.

To repeat/clarify the stutter: it's just a non-smooth transition between two brightness levels. Instead of smoothly become brighter or dimmer it stutters unevenly in brightness until it reaches the target level.

I am still not sure why it is dimming at all. Since it happens consistently 10s before screen timeout I'd say it's not automatic brightness. Perhaps it's a warning that the screen is about to turn off? Perhaps the stutter is another way to grab your attention that the screen is about to turn off?

 

[Soundtrack to Chaos]

Are you noticing this in the browser? Because if you are bits because the browser has a different brightness setting I believe

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Android Central Forums

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

Seems to be happening just about everywhere. I just had it happen in Google Reader. It was definitely adjusting the brightness...and stuttering while doing so.

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

Is no one else having this issue? I'm wondering if there's a problem with my backlight? I'm not really too annoyed by it now but it could indicate a hardware problem...and I'd want to replace it now before my 30 days run out.

Thanks

 

[bassmig]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

My S3 is doing something similar, it seems that a few seconds before the phone is ready to turn off the screen it dims and if smart stay recognizes you looking at it the screen seems to go back to the normal brightness.

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

My S3 is doing something similar, it seems that a few seconds before the phone is ready to turn off the screen it dims and if smart stay recognizes you looking at it the screen seems to go back to the normal brightness.

Thanks for bringing this up. I tested it out and here's what I found:

-Screen dims (and stutters while doing it) 10 seconds before shutoff. Happened at both 1m timeout and 15s timeout settings.
-Smart Stay seems to check for eyes at the same time - 10 seconds before shutoff. If it sees you looking, screen stays lit. If it doesn't, screen dims (and stutters). Then right before the screen actually turns off Smart Stay checks again.
-If you do anything to keep the phone alive after it has dimmed (either user input or Smart Stay finds you) then it will "un-dim" and stutter again.
-It's much more noticeable with a lighter background like the white of Gmail.
-Disabling Smart Stay does not stop the dim/stutter.
-Enabling auto brightness does not stop it however the transition is much smoother when auto brightness adjusts the screen...the stutter is still significant when it dims 10s before timeout though.

To repeat/clarify the stutter: it's just a non-smooth transition between two brightness levels. Instead of smoothly become brighter or dimmer it stutters unevenly in brightness until it reaches the target level.

I am still not sure why it is dimming at all. Since it happens consistently 10s before screen timeout I'd say it's not automatic brightness. Perhaps it's a warning that the screen is about to turn off? Perhaps the stutter is another way to grab your attention that the screen is about to turn off?

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

It sounds like I may need to bring my phone in for a possible replacement considering I don't see anyone else having this issue...last call! Thanks

 

[derbaff#AC]

I'm seeing the same issue with the stuttering back light. Let me know if the exchange helps.

 

[jerethi]

In the display menu, there is an option for "auto adjustable screen tone". I think this may still cause some dimming/screen brightness adjustment even if you have automatic brightness off.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

I found another thread discussing the same issue:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon-galaxy-s-iii/189803-your-brightness-jittery-like-mine.html

In the display menu, there is an option for "auto adjustable screen tone". I think this may still cause some dimming/screen brightness adjustment even if you have automatic brightness off.

I tried playing with this setting and it made no difference.

I'm seeing the same issue with the stuttering back light. Let me know if the exchange helps.

I'd really like to hear if anyone here does NOT have this issue so I can decide whether we are a minority with a hardware defect or not...I still have two weeks to swap it with AT&T.

 

[Dunbar42]

I've also noticed this if you wake the phone up after its been asleep for a while. The lock screen comes up to full brightness in steps. I had to get a replacement phone due to a bad home button and both of my S3's do this so I don't think it's a defect.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

 

[jcp007]

Does this have anything to do with the Power Saving mode?

Sent From My Samsung Galaxy S III Handheld Device

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

Does this have anything to do with the Power Saving mode?

I don't think so as I don't have Power Saving mode enabled.

 

[anon(156377)]

Curious. My Note with 4.0.4 does this as well.

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

Curious. My Note with 4.0.4 does this as well.

It dims 10s before screen timeout? Or it stutters when changing the brightness? Or both?

Thanks

 

[madlaw1071]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

The screen is the biggest disappointment of this phone especially considering Samsung used to be known for their screens. I have to keep mine on max brightness to get any enjoyment out of it. I can be in the middle of a game and it will stutter and dim regardless of settings.
I'm considering other options before my remorse period is over.

 

[Dunbar42]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

It dims 10s before screen timeout?

My iPhone and iPad do the dimming thing before the screen shuts off. They dim smoothly unlike in the S3 which does it in steps.

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

My iPhone and iPad do the dimming thing before the screen shuts off. They dim smoothly unlike in the S3 which does it in steps.

Yeah it makes sense to give a "warning dim" before shutting off the screen. I don't mind that. Do you have a S3 that you confirm does the stutter/steps when dimming?

The oddity here is that it does not stutter/step when adjusting the screen brightness - even with auto brightness. It's only the dim that stutters. Clearly it can do the dimming properly it just seems buggy/strange in this instance.

 

[funkylogik]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

if you have the firmware update, the one that gives you brightness slider in the notification bar.. just un-check "auto" next to the slider

 

[jeffreii]

Re: Automatic Brightness still occurs when disabled, also stutter

if you have the firmware update, the one that gives you brightness slider in the notification bar.. just un-check "auto" next to the slider

This issue has nothing to do with auto brightness. Whether you have that on or off it still dims the screen 10s before screen timeout.