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Are you experiencing this issue?


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gold///

macrumors regular
May 12, 2015
149
107
Nevada
My doctor started me on anitvert, Amodium AD and Exlax. I'm better now. Should get my iPhone X soon. LOL Silly thread for sure.
It might seem silly, but I assure you that this is a real phenomenon that affects certain people. I've been using macs, TVs, iPhones, etc and NEVER had this problem before. The only difference is that the X has OLED and PWM, what are we supposed to think?
 

tcellguy

macrumors member
Sep 20, 2017
75
45
It seems like most people don't have any issue with this, I wonder if it's possible to train our eyes for PWM? I mean, I've never used a device with PWM before, maybe we just need a few weeks to get used to it?

(You can probably see I'm grasping at straws here, I really want to keep this thing :p)

I have been able to train my eyes to tolerate higher frequencies of PWM with LED displays, but it has taken years. The trick for me was to try to actively imagine relaxing my eyes almost like un-focusing them.

I used to have problems with Phillips hue lights, which also use PWM. However, I slowly trained my eyes to be OK with it. PWM is used in many things in the work environment including fluorescent lights. The difference with florescence lights, however, is that they run in the kHZ range and they never go completely to zero during a frequency cycle. Reportedly before manufacturers switched the ballasts into the kHZ range, they were closer to 120 Hz and more people had problems with these, nausea, headaches, etc.

While I can tolerate PWM in some displays I can always tell when it is there, and in general they seem to be more fatiguing than with flicker free monitors.

Tl;dr - Yes, for me it was possible to accommodate to varying types of LED displays with PWM, but it has taken years. I have not begun the process of accommodating to OLED.
 

alent1234

macrumors 603
Jun 19, 2009
5,689
170
You probably need glasses. I had this a few years ago and thought it was my Note 3. Switched to the 6S and still the same. Ended up with reading glasses and now my distance is slight off as well.

I'm now on a 8 Plus cause the 6S and X are too small and thin for me. the 8 Plus wider screen is a lot better on my eyes with glasses too
 

Jodiuh

macrumors 6502
Sep 15, 2009
312
113
Gina norma wall of text incoming...


ILack of 'Display Zoom' was the main reason I returned my X…lots of content (including web pages) is too small for my ageing eyes without the zoom mode.
I just noticed that today after sending the X back and tho I do like the ability to close tabs easier in safari, mail’s screwed up and text’s FAR too small. Who knows if it will ever come to the X, so I’m not risking it. Zoom FTW!!!

the most annoying thing i see here is the squeezed narrow text…
Yup, that’s what I couldn’t get over. I do have an iPad and a MacBook, but still find myself using the phone for the occasional newsify, latest chatty, apollo, price matching in the store via safari, macrumoring in el toila...so I prefer being able to read text over begin able to hold the phone more easily to my ear. I should probably invest in an easily useable bluetooth headset for calls.

DWhat is that blue at the top? That looks horrible.
Just an image.

This is a very interesting thread and it has confirmed my decision to stay with the 8 and a LCD screen. I’ve never liked AMOLED screens but never knew the reason why I felt this way, now I know. I am very sensitive to flickering lights and can’t be under fluorescent lights or energy saving bulbs without becoming sick and dizzy. Neither can I use most computer screens, although I have found the iMac screen is fine. So I t looks as though my 8 will have to last me a long time as I can’t see Apple returning to LCD screens and I really cannot get on with Android OS. Just think of the money I will save!

I agree 100%. I think most people don’t get hit so hard with the change in lights, but I think a lot of people just feel “tired” after a day’s work when it’s the lights. I worked @ a call center with flouresent lighting and was able to pull the lights from my overhead. Soon after my coworkers requested the same. Eventually our entire team moved into a close room with edison’s. IMO, it’s completely unnecessary to have so much lighting and completely unhealthy.

I cannot handle being most hospitals for more than a few minutes. They are my nightmare. It’s interesting because there exist many places that have sky lights or subtle lighting and I’ve no issues.

My doctor started me on anitvert, Amodium AD and Exlax. I'm better now. Should get my iPhone X soon. LOL Silly thread for sure.
Is it worth risking the health of your eye tho?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222423/

Then why post in the thread, just ignore it.

Ryland
I’m guilty of being a little **** from time to time as well. At the very least your comment, mine, and the others may take root and sprout when he/she’s ready.

It might seem silly, but I assure you that this is a real phenomenon that affects certain people.
I think it’s silly that every single opthamologist I’ve seen and even a few doctors judge me for the comments about PWM or flourescent/led lighting causing issues in my life (nausea, inability to think clearly, buzzed like caffeine feeling, eye pain). We know our bodies best and need to trust them FIRST over what “professionals” speak about. I am my own expert and tho others may speak differently, it matters not. :D

I have been able to train my eyes to tolerate higher frequencies of PWM with LED displays…
Good luck with that, but think about bookmarking this for later…
http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/1/

Hee hee. :p

You probably need glasses. I had this a few years ago and thought it was my Note 3. Switched to the 6S and still the same. Ended up with reading glasses and now my distance is slight off as well.
I'm now on a 8 Plus cause the 6S and X are too small and thin for me. the 8 Plus wider screen is a lot better on my eyes with glasses too
Even if the X was bigger, you might still have issue with it. If you get a chance go down to your local best buy and check out the samsung and vizios…then go check out the cheap flicker free monitors and see how your eyes feel. Asus and BenQ even specifically market flicker free models with slick marketing terms! Also, maybe check out the LG B7 OLED. Pricey, but doesn’t seem to bother my eyes.
 

brad1001

macrumors newbie
Nov 12, 2017
7
8
The only way to rule out whether the symptoms are due to the OLED PWM or IR Blasters is to turn off the FaceID and all IR related functionalities and observe if the condition improves. If it does, it's most likely due to the IR. If it doesn't, then it's due to the PWM screen or some other unexplained reasons. However, IR being invisible to the naked eye, we need to observe it to make sure it's really off. One al-cheapo but unscientific method I figured is to use another iphone front facing camera to observer whether the IR blasters are still lighting up (the rear facing cameras filter away IR).
 
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mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
The only way to rule out whether the symptoms are due to the OLED PWM or IR Blasters is to turn off the FaceID and all IR related functionalities and observe if the condition improves. If it does, it's most likely due to the IR. If it doesn't, then it's due to the PWM screen or some other unexplained reasons. However, IR being invisible to the naked eye, we need to observe it to make sure it's really off. One al-cheapo but unscientific method I figured is to use another iphone front facing camera to observer whether the IR blasters are still lighting up (the rear facing cameras filter away IR).

Just use a tape to cover the notch.
 

blackberrycubed

macrumors 6502a
Feb 26, 2013
708
741
Very disappointing that this crappy PWM screen has been used and I hope next year they newer gen panels from samsung that do not have PWM.

Greedy Bastardos
 
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gold///

macrumors regular
May 12, 2015
149
107
Nevada
Yeah, from what I've seen, Apple's implementation of PWM is actually very good. It's just that the unlucky people who are PWM-sensitive have trouble with it no matter what.

Also,maybe I'm fooling myself, but I swear that my eyes are adjusting slowly to the display. I'm able to use it for 30-60 mins with minor strain, and I haven't had a bad headache in a while.

Here's hoping it keeps getting better before the return window expires this week. Too bad the holiday extended return window doesn't apply yet.
 
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badger1212

macrumors regular
Oct 10, 2016
107
140
Been watching this thread with interest. I picked my X up on launch day and had a migraine that night that lasted 2 days. I didn’t make any link at the time as I do suffer from migraines though hadn’t had one for months. I had kept my 6s plus so just started using that while the X was on charge and noticed it seemed to be easier on my eyes. Assumed it was the size. Whenever I kept going back to the X I developed a pain behind my eyes. Then I remembered the migraine and found this thread. I don’t know what could be causing it, whether it’s size or this PWM, all I do know is that it’s uncomfortable for me to use the X so I’m going to send it back before the 2 weeks are up. I’m gutted as I really liked the phone but it’s too expensive to risk trying to get my eyes used to it.
 

vannix

macrumors regular
Aug 11, 2010
132
65
Been watching this thread with interest. I picked my X up on launch day and had a migraine that night that lasted 2 days. I didn’t make any link at the time as I do suffer from migraines though hadn’t had one for months. I had kept my 6s plus so just started using that while the X was on charge and noticed it seemed to be easier on my eyes. Assumed it was the size. Whenever I kept going back to the X I developed a pain behind my eyes. Then I remembered the migraine and found this thread. I don’t know what could be causing it, whether it’s size or this PWM, all I do know is that it’s uncomfortable for me to use the X so I’m going to send it back before the 2 weeks are up. I’m gutted as I really liked the phone but it’s too expensive to risk trying to get my eyes used to it.
Same feeling, using the old 6 was refreshing and relaxing for the eyes
 

cbronfman

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2008
432
15
Washington DC
And I'm going to wait for the next generation - thank you all for the alert. I do get migraines. I bought the 8 about 10 days ago as I wanted to be sure to get the Qualcomm modem AND I have found improvements over the Intel one in my 7 Plus. As the X is not yet available Sim free - I'll be happy with my 8, and continue to monitor the migraine issue - and whether Apple really is developing its own Modem which would not reassure me. I could always get the X on Verizon at some later date AND remove the SIM card, or try out Verizon. Modems are part of Qualcomm's core competency. Apple does other things great. As I've been with AT&T since the first iPhone in 2007, I'll stick with them IF I can be sure of the Modem that is in the phone.

For those who keep repeating - see an optician - that's not the solution to what is triggering the migraines.They are very different than eye-strain headaches.
 

Harthag

macrumors 68020
Jun 20, 2009
2,018
2,573
U.S.
I returned my iPhone 10 last week due to screen issues other than PWM. But I did notice blurry text / smearing when scrolling fairly often, likely also due to PWM. Same on Pixel 2 that I tried. I've since bought the LG V30 which uses LG OLED. Screen is nowhere near as good as Samsung OLEDs and the iPhone 10, but my initial tests indicate the phone does not use PWM dimming. My tests are the basic finger wave and viewing of phone through a camera / video recorder at mid to low brightness, which always reveal PWM waves / flicker. There's also no text smearing at all when scrolling. I haven't seen any official reviews that confirm or deny PWM, if it does use it, it is set to a very high frequency that is not at all observable. Even the LG-made Pixel 2 XL implements PWM at the same brightness settings as my V30, which is even more weird. Just a suggestion for those who are really sensitive to PWM, the V30 may be an alternate option if you aren't tied to iOS.
 

brad1001

macrumors newbie
Nov 12, 2017
7
8
Anyone tried turning off the faceid to see if it helps ? I'd surely want to rule this out as a possible cause as well.
 
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vannix

macrumors regular
Aug 11, 2010
132
65
Seems that the flood lamp is constantly illuminating even when you got past the stage of faceid authentication.
From my tests that was the proximity sensor beam, if you do some tests even on the old iPhones it is constantly flashing!
 

goshindoman

macrumors member
Oct 22, 2017
59
51
Suffered Classical migraine 45 years. I don't think its possible to explain to a non migraine sufferer what a migraine is like.:(

Migraine have had an enormous negative impact on my life and without doubt made my quality of life very difficult indeed on times.

There are several different types of migraine. Classical migraine is pain on one side of the head, generally the temple, with vomiting, photo phobia a feeling like the flu with the need to lie in a dark room and just die.
Rudolph Diesel committed suicide because he found no relief. (the chap who invented the Diesel engine)
I write this as IF an attack is triggered by the iPhone X then one will not adjust to the problem. Its a trigger like smell, food, certain noise frequencies and one needs to avoid the triggers.

To those of you who do suffer from this affliction you have my sincere sympathies. PM me if you would like to continue this debate, I may be able to at least offer a little advice that may be new or some support.

Migraine is not a joke its a very serious and life changing illness that is far too often seen as a 'just a headache' or misused as a social escape excuse.

Ryland :)
 

wassup121

macrumors regular
Sep 10, 2010
135
34
Barely used my X yesterday and was feeling much better overall throughout the day. By barely used, i mean i had 60% battery by 7pm where usually it would be about 20% remaining. Was using a little today and some nausea/headaches kicked in after a few minutes. I have an 8+ coming in tonight from Swappa, and will be returning the X. "Downgrading" sucks, but hey, saves me $400, and hopefully more importantly, no headaches, but I'll report back in a few days.
 
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