Brightness is a smartphone display spec that seems to change every single year. The screen size, resolution, and refresh rate go unchanged for multiple smartphone generations, but manufacturers often give the maximum brightness a bump yearly to make you feel like you’re getting something new. It’s not a pointless upgrade — brightness is crucial to enjoying your phone daily. You want a phone that’s bright enough to maintain visibility outdoors, and can avoid thermal throttling under load. Conversely, you want a phone that can dim the display enough to protect your eyes in a dark room.
