What is screen brightness (nits)?

Screen brightness (nits) is a unit that measures how much light a display produces. The higher the number, the easier it is to see the screen clearly, especially outdoors or in bright rooms. Most modern phones range from around 400 to 1000 nits in normal use, while some displays can reach 1500 nits or more in specific modes such as HDR content.

In daily use, higher brightness means you can read the screen outside without shading it with your hand, and colors stay visible even in daylight. Lower brightness makes the screen look washed out under the sun, and you may have to raise it manually, which drains the battery faster. High brightness also helps when watching videos and viewing photos.

When buying, look for at least 600 nits for everyday use, and prefer 1000 nits or more if you often use your phone outdoors. Keep in mind that peak brightness may only appear in certain modes like HDR or auto-brightness, not all the time. You do not need very high numbers if you mostly use your phone indoors.