Light flickering is a common concern in residential lighting, but it does not always mean that a fixture is faulty. In practice, flicker can be divided into real flicker and false flicker.

Understanding the difference helps avoid unnecessary replacements. A smartphone provides an easy way to check.

1. Real flicker

Real flicker is usually caused by hardware issues such as driver failure, unstable LED chips, or wiring problems.

Open the slow-motion mode on your smartphone and point it at the light source. If you see continuous dark bands or flickering dots, the flicker is likely real.

This type of flicker should be inspected and resolved.

2. False flicker

False flicker is more common and often barely noticeable in daily use.

If slow-motion recording shows no visible bands or anomalies, the light itself is usually functioning normally.

This effect is often caused by brief voltage fluctuations when high-power appliances are switched on.

3. What to do next

Only real flicker requires action. Accurate identification ensures stable lighting performance and peace of mind.