iPad Any actual technical difference between iPad 9th and 10th generation displays?

[jm31828]

I have a weird situation where most iPad displays (new, modern ones) seem to cause my eyes to feel dry/slightly burning within just a few minutes.

I’ve noticed this with the pro models, the air 5th generation, as well as- to a lesser extent- the 10th gen.

I know these don’t have pwm flicker, so I attributed it to temporal dithering to achieve p3 color palette on these 8 bit displays.

The odd thing is the 10th gen doesn’t have p3 colors, no temporal dithering as a result- so I’m at a loss as to why I get the slight feeling that I do even with that model.
Not asking for a diagnosis on that, just curious if anyone knows if there is truly any technical difference in these displays aside from the size.

Older apple displays like that of the MacBook Air 2015 have been completely fine for me, as has my iPhone 13 mini with the oled display.
Interestingly, also no issues at all with the dell laptop and external monitor I use for work.

I am suspecting there is something Apple is doing now in how their newer lcd displays work, so I’m trying to determine if the 9th gen display is old enough tech that it might be fine for me while the 10th gen does something a bit different/more advanced that I’m sensitive to.


Thanks!!

 

[floral]

iPad 9 uses normal Retina, where the iPad 10 uses liquid retina. I don't know how your eyes would start stinging if you look at a liquid retina display vs. a normal one, considering (afaik) liquid retina is just retina but it allows for rounded corners.

 

[jm31828]

iPad 9 uses normal Retina, where the iPad 10 uses liquid retina. I don't know how your eyes would start stinging if you look at a liquid retina display vs. a normal one, considering (afaik) liquid retina is just retina but it allows for rounded corners.

Thanks. Yeah, I have no idea on the stinging eyes, and certainly wouldn't expect anyone here to be able to explain that.... but I was curious to know if there are any technical differences between these displays.

As you said, I think I have heard as well that liquid retina really just means rounded corners.
But, I have heard blacks are darker on the 10th gen, and that it overall is a bit nicer display than the 9th gen- so there must be some sort of a technical improvement on the 10th gen, but I don't know enough about these things to understand that difference.

 

[floral]

Thanks. Yeah, I have no idea on the stinging eyes, and certainly wouldn't expect anyone here to be able to explain that.... but I was curious to know if there are any technical differences between these displays.

As you said, I think I have heard as well that liquid retina really just means rounded corners.
But, I have heard blacks are darker on the 10th gen, and that it overall is a bit nicer display than the 9th gen- so there must be some sort of a technical improvement on the 10th gen, but I don't know enough about these things to understand that difference.

This feels like less of a tech issue and more of an eye issue. You may want to visit a doctor about that.

 

[jm31828]

This feels like less of a tech issue and more of an eye issue. You may want to visit a doctor about that.

True, but it's odd that this only started when I started using a couple of different iPads since Christmas- no issues at all using my work Dell laptop, my old 2015 MacBook Air, or even my iPhone 13 Mini.... this has only been happening with the iPad Air 5th gen that I tried out, and to a bit lesser extent- the 10th gen iPad. There is something about these displays that are seemingly just a bit of a problem for me.

 

[Danoc]

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[jm31828]

Have you tried to play with the True Tone and Night Shift options? I used to use them but one day I turned them off completely on all my devices.

Or the colour profile? I had massive headaches using the MacBook Air circa 2012, finding out that the default colour profile was the cause. I changed the colour profile from default to a colder/blueish one that was presented in the options at that time.

I have tried adjusting True Tone and night shift a bit, but will keep trying.

I haven’t tried color filter changes… was it a drastic change you made. Giving the display a strongly blue hue? And did that completely eliminate any problems?

 

[qinan]

based on my experience (my activity on ipad usually for reading PDF files)
I used to use Ipad air 4, it gave me eye strain (i sold it)
after that, I bought Ipad 9 and using it. it is easier for my eyes, but because ipad pro 11 m2 was came out, then I sold my Ipad 9 and upgrade it to ipad pro 11 m2.
right now I am using Ipad Pro 11 M2. when the first time i was using the Ipad pro 11 M2, it gave me eye strain, i cannot stare and read more than half an hour. but it seems my eyes are adapting, and i can stare and read for longer time, more than one hour without eye strain.
as conclusion, in terms of convinience for reading, in my case, Ipad 9 is the best and the most easiest for my eyes.
i think ipad 10 has the same display technology with ipad 9, and maybe it is easy for my eyes.

as for mac, i have macbook air 13, 2017 (old design) and macbook air M1. macbook air 13, 2017 is more easier to my eyes, eventhough macbook air m1 not giving me eye strain, i am more comfrotable reading on my macbook air 2017.
to sum up, based on my experience, the factors that giving me comfort when reading on ipad (or mac)
1. Old LCD technology - without P3 color etc (maybe screen without diethering)
2. non laminated display - I think the reason it is easier to read on non laminated display because there is gap between LCD light and touch screen, so the light that we see maybe reduced. that would be different with laminated display.
3. true tone

i think PWM not really affect eye strain. in my case. Ipad 9 using PWM, and Ipad pro M2 and ipad air 4 without PWM. my eyes are more comfortable with Ipad 9.

 

[jm31828]

based on my experience (my activity on ipad usually for reading PDF files)
I used to use Ipad air 4, it gave me eye strain (i sold it)
after that, I bought Ipad 9 and using it. it is easier for my eyes, but because ipad pro 11 m2 was came out, then I sold my Ipad 9 and upgrade it to ipad pro 11 m2.
right now I am using Ipad Pro 11 M2. when the first time i was using the Ipad pro 11 M2, it gave me eye strain, i cannot stare and read more than half an hour. but it seems my eyes are adapting, and i can stare and read for longer time, more than one hour without eye strain.
as conclusion, in terms of convinience for reading, in my case, Ipad 9 is the best and the most easiest for my eyes.
i think ipad 10 has the same display technology with ipad 9, and maybe it is easy for my eyes.

as for mac, i have macbook air 13, 2017 (old design) and macbook air M1. macbook air 13, 2017 is more easier to my eyes, eventhough macbook air m1 not giving me eye strain, i am more comfrotable reading on my macbook air 2017.
to sum up, based on my experience, the factors that giving me comfort when reading on ipad (or mac)
1. Old LCD technology - without P3 color etc (maybe screen without diethering)
2. non laminated display - I think the reason it is easier to read on non laminated display because there is gap between LCD light and touch screen, so the light that we see maybe reduced. that would be different with laminated display.
3. true tone

i think PWM not really affect eye strain. in my case. Ipad 9 using PWM, and Ipad pro M2 and ipad air 4 without PWM. my eyes are more comfortable with Ipad 9.

Thanks for sharing!

will you end up keeping your iPad Pro since you feel you are getting more comfortable with it?

And your thoughts on why the iPad 9th generation is more comfortable makes sense… it was my thought as well, that the lack of P3 color may be the reason, with no dithering present.

Oddly for me, I now have a 10th generation ipad- which also has no laminated display, and does not have p3 color- is still making my eyes feel dry within just a couple minutes of using it, with a very mild burning or stinging, too. Same thing I felt when using an iPad Air 5th gen that I tried.
this is why I wondered if the 9th gen had something even more basic about the display that might make it easier on the eyes of some of us who are really sensitive than even the 10th gen?

 

[qinan]

Thanks for sharing!

will you end up keeping your iPad Pro since you feel you are getting more comfortable with it?

And your thoughts on why the iPad 9th generation is more comfortable makes sense… it was my thought as well, that the lack of P3 color may be the reason, with no dithering present.

Oddly for me, I now have a 10th generation ipad- which also has no laminated display, and does not have p3 color- is still making my eyes feel dry within just a couple minutes of using it, with a very mild burning or stinging, too. Same thing I felt when using an iPad Air 5th gen that I tried.
this is why I wondered if the 9th gen had something even more basic about the display that might make it easier on the eyes of some of us who are really sensitive than even the 10th gen?

I possibly will keep my ipad pro 11. I have thought to sell my pro and exchange it for ipad 9, but i changed my mind (But i dont know, for foreseable future).
I dont have any experience with ipad 10, and i assume it will fine with my eyes because it has the same technology with ipad 9. But maybe “liquid retina display” on ipad 10 make the difference compare to ipad 9..who knows..
Second thing maybe you should consider psycological factor..when you are using your ipad 10, try not to think that “this ipad will give me an eye strain”, but try to concentrate on the ”content” that you are seeing on your ipad screen. and also perhaps try not to using your ipad at all for several days, and try to forget about “the eye strain” things, just consider that “you will fine using your ipad 10”. Maybe it will helps.
the last thing try use screen protector that gives comfort for you, maybe matte clear screen protector or even clear screen protector.
eye strain are real things, but try different approach to overcome it (psychological and screen protector) maybe it will help.

 

[jm31828]

I possibly will keep my ipad pro 11. I have thought to sell my pro and exchange it for ipad 9, but i changed my mind (But i dont know, for foreseable future).
I dont have any experience with ipad 10, and i assume it will fine with my eyes because it has the same technology with ipad 9. But maybe “liquid retina display” on ipad 10 make the difference compare to ipad 9..who knows..
Second thing maybe you should consider psycological factor..when you are using your ipad 10, try not to think that “this ipad will give me an eye strain”, but try to concentrate on the ”content” that you are seeing on your ipad screen. and also perhaps try not to using your ipad at all for several days, and try to forget about “the eye strain” things, just consider that “you will fine using your ipad 10”. Maybe it will helps.
the last thing try use screen protector that gives comfort for you, maybe matte clear screen protector or even clear screen protector.
eye strain are real things, but try different approach to overcome it (psychological and screen protector) maybe it will help.

Thanks for sharing!
I am not sure where you are, but if you happen to be in the US- I see that the iPad 9 is now on sale at Costco for only $249... that sale goes through February 12th. Fantastic deal if you are interested in going back to that model.

I sat down last night with my wife's iPad 7, just to see if the display bothers my eyes in the same way my 10th generation does. I used it for about 15 minutes- I seemed to get some of that same sensation with the dry eyes, but it did not seem as bad as when I use my 10th gen.
I think I will try it again tonight for a bit more time to see what the difference really is.
If it's better than what I experience with my 10, then I will have to determine- would the iPad 9 be more similar to the 7, or more similar to the 10? I would hate to go and buy the 9 only to find out it has the same effect on me as my 10 does.

Fortunately, I bought my 10 from Costco, it has a 90 day return period "no questions asked", so I have some flexibility and time. The same window would be available if I were to try buying a 9th gen.

It is bizarre in that I felt something similar when I tried out a MacBook Air M1 a couple of months ago. However, I don't really experience that on my 2017 27" iMac, and don't experience it at all on my Dell work laptop and the attached external Dell monitor- even after many hours of use each day.

Something is definitely different with Apple's displays on these devices..... it's not severe by any means, it's completely tolerable- just something I notice. I wouldn't mind if I could know that it was 100% not causing any actual problems for my eyes.

I think as you said, I will just try using it for a few more weeks and really just see if I forget about it and it's not a problem anymore.... seemingly how things adjusted for you with your M2 iPad.

I had also wondered if buying a blue light filtering screen protector would help.... but, I doubt it's the blue light doing this, since my work device and all other devices I use have blue light as well, and I certainly don't have issues with those.

 

[Vivian125]

I didn't check too.. BTW my mom's iPad 7 tend to have deeper black than iPad 5 and 6.. but my iPad 9 has also deeper black, and red is more RED. as well as slightly less reflective than hers., maybe the SrGB or something contributed to it or whatever they put..

Now as a i have upgraded to iPad 10 it didn't hurt my eye, actually it retains the same Color, Texture and Overall display quality of what my iPad 9 has before. Though both iPad 9 and iPad 10 tend to be still more reflective than those who have iPad Air/Pros..

BTW i'm nearsighted , or perhaps my eyes is also sensitive to such a newer display technology to such P3 Wide Color that iPad Air/Pro...