Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[5105973]

So far according to Screen time I average 4:31 hours of use. Roughly 4 hours yesterday and a solid 3 hours today so far. I just switched to Dark Mode.

I’ve enjoyed better eye comfort on this phone than on my Xr so far. There’s less glare on the default settings it arrived with and then I was able to tweak it even more without even touching white point. Text is crisper due to the higher ppi.

I can’t yet say what might be happening in my little pea brain. I’d be tempted to say this is a keeper, but then I thought that of my Max the first couple of days, too.

Unfortunately for testing purposes, my social life kicks into high gear in a couple of hours and I won’t have any more free time to hang out on my phone until Monday. I’ll be mostly using just my camera on it.

Everyone’s vision is different. I hope the people who react more quickly to pwm than I do will start checking in and adding their experiences, as @FuzzMunky has done.

I am concerned even if this does prove to be a keeper for me, it could still be rough for someone else. We need to hear from more people!

 

[TDDM]

I am concerned even if this does prove to be a keeper for me, it could still be rough for someone else. We need to hear from more people!

Thanks for sharing your experience, I hope it keeps working for you.

It does seem like something has changed, I’ve also been seeing some other people mention how they don’t have eye strain as bad as they used to. I’m still waiting on the notebookcheck review to see if the Hz has changed, here’s the link to their review-in-progress in case anyone else wants to check.

 

[bsmr]

Yes. Please do a fast PWM check.
I think it is again 240Hz.
Tried a new pro today and the eyes fueled stressed again.
No issues with the „non“ pro version.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I’ll be closely looking at the PWM results from Notebookcheck but I’m not sure I’ll bother with the iPhone 11 Pro since I don’t expect a significant improvement over the X. It’s not really worth torturing myself over it.

 

[bsmr]

Take the non pro and everything is fine.

 

[thadoggfather]

Take the non pro and everything is fine.

At least they offer a non PWM option. I really wonder when the lineup is all oled

 

[MICHAELSD]

Take the non pro and everything is fine.

I might just keep my iPhone 8 Plus for another year. iPhone 11 isn’t a definitive upgrade. While the color and contrast on the display are improved, the step-down in resolution is noticeable to me. I’d have to give up 3D Touch (which is true on every iPhone model this year) and the Telephoto lens along with Touch ID.

Since we’re on a three-year iPhone cycle, we should see a brand new design next year which is what I’m looking forward to.

 

[jimmy_uk]

So has anyone else, who had eye strain due to the iPhone X/Xs, experiencing the same eye strain on the 11 Pro? Has Apple fixed this issue or not?

After a couple of hours of use the backs of my eyes ache using the pro Max. Definitely feel a headache coming on. 3rd year of the same OLED issue for me 😑

iPhone 11 Pro (Max) - PWM - Eye Strain

You must be getting headaches thinking you just spent $1000 for this? In iPhone 11 Pro PWM (Post World Modern or whatever it is) you will feel the same headaches because the prices are still same. If you want less headache then go for iphone 11 which is less expensive.

forums.macrumors.com

 

[user1234]

I might just keep my iPhone 8 Plus for another year. iPhone 11 isn’t a definitive upgrade. While the color and contrast on the display are improved, the step-down in resolution is noticeable to me. I’d have to give up 3D Touch (which is true on every iPhone model this year) and the Telephoto lens along with Touch ID.

Since we’re on a three-year iPhone cycle, we should see a brand new design next year which is what I’m looking forward to.

I also look forward to see what next year's iPhones will bring, but if the all OLED rumor is true there's probably not going to be any PWM free iPhones anymore. I hope I'm wrong. If that is the case I will be buying an iPhone 11 with 256 GB of storage before they go out of stock next fall.

 

[GlenK]

I think I'm going to try the 11 and keep my 8+ too just in case. Not sure what I'll do later if all iPhones cause these headaches. Look for another company I guess.

 

[brentsg]

I also look forward to see what next year's iPhones will bring, but if the all OLED rumor is true there's probably not going to be any PWM free iPhones anymore. I hope I'm wrong. If that is the case I will be buying an iPhone 11 with 256 GB of storage before they go out of stock next fall.

That was pretty much my thought. I went 128GB but it should be enough.

When I swapped my 11 Pro yesterday unopened, the guy gave me a minor amount of grief.. challenging me to show him the flicker on a display unit. He did it in a friendly "I don't believe you" manner.

My wife doesn't believe me either but we went straight to Sams Club to buy bottled water. A dude tried to sells us on the house brand over her favorite and she explained that she can tell which spring it comes from and doesn't like that kind. So yeah I'd say she and I are even on the day.

 

[jimmy_uk]

I think I'm going to try the 11 and keep my 8+ too just in case. Not sure what I'll do later if all iPhones cause these headaches. Look for another company I guess.

Returning the Pro Max due to PWM and sharp steel band. Currently test driving an 11. Still feel that I prefer using the 7 plus but I have alot of muscle memory after 4 years of use so the 11 may just need some adjustment time. The 7 plus screen width and font size is still my preference for how it displays content as the 11 is narrower.

 

[user1234]

I think I'm going to try the 11 and keep my 8+ too just in case. Not sure what I'll do later if all iPhones cause these headaches. Look for another company I guess.

Sounds like a good plan. I haven't had any issues with my XR in the past year. I have attention aware features off, but otherwise I use Face ID.

Looking for other companies is an idea, but pretty much everyone else who makes good phones are already using OLED displays and while some claim to have flicker free modes those modes affect colors negatively. Still better than suffering. I don't get all the OLED hype. LCDs are great these days

 

[jimmy_uk]

When I swapped my 11 Pro yesterday unopened, the guy gave me a minor amount of grief.. challenging me to show him the flicker on a display unit. He did it in a friendly "I don't believe you" manner.

At an Apple store? You shouldn’t have to give any reason for a return let alone get grief.

 

[user1234]

That was pretty much my thought. I went 128GB but it should be enough.

When I swapped my 11 Pro yesterday unopened, the guy gave me a minor amount of grief.. challenging me to show him the flicker on a display unit. He did it in a friendly "I don't believe you" manner.

My wife doesn't believe me either but we went straight to Sams Club to buy bottled water. A dude tried to sells us on the house brand over her favorite and she explained that she can tell which spring it comes from and doesn't like that kind. So yeah I'd say she and I are even on the day.

It's super easy to show using a phone camera, but it surprises me that the staff aren't aware that flicker can be an issue even when not immediately visible to the eye.

Too bad your wife doesn't believe you, but there are scientific papers on this. "Potential Biological and Ecological Effects of Flickering Artificial Light" by Richard Inger, Jonathan Bennie, Thomas W. Davies and Kevin J. Gaston for example.

There's also IEEE 1789-2015, "IEEE recommended practices for modulating current in high brightness LEDs for mitigating health risks to viewers"

 

[brentsg]

It's super easy to show using a phone camera, but it surprises me that the staff aren't aware that flicker can be an issue even when not immediately visible to the eye.

Too bad your wife doesn't believe you, but there are scientific papers on this. "Potential Biological and Ecological Effects of Flickering Artificial Light" by Richard Inger, Jonathan Bennie, Thomas W. Davies and Kevin J. Gaston for example.

There's also IEEE 1789-2015, "IEEE recommended practices for modulating current in high brightness LEDs for mitigating health risks to viewers"

It's not so much disbelief as "everything bothers you" sorta ****. Whatever.

This was a Verizon store, not Apple so who knows. The guy wasn't an ass but just wanted to play the "oh man, the display is great so not sure what you're talking about" stuff.

At an Apple store? You shouldn’t have to give any reason for a return let alone get grief.

As above, Verizon store and they did the swap fine. It was just that little bit of friction that wasn't necessary.

 

[5105973]

Just quick stop to say judging from how today’s use has gone, I am fine reading and composing emails and texts on this display. But as I am still setting up everything from scratch I’ve had to authenticate all my various accounts and subscriptions using Face ID. Using Face ID a lot leaves me feeling I got smacked in the eyes. I was perfectly fine before I really got going with all the account work. I think they said they juiced up the flood illuminator didn’t they?

I wish there would be a crap ton of peer reviewed studies proving beyond a shadow of a doubt the lasers or whatever the hell they are are safe to use specifically in this way. The last time I went hunting for information on the subject I came up with everything looking inconclusive.

The ache goes away pretty quickly and if I stick to just reading, I’m good. In fact this display is pretty comfortable for me to look at.

Again, it’s early for me to know how this is going to play out. Some of you definitely react very quickly to pwm. And maybe Face ID, too. When I am finished setting up I’ll turn Face ID off for a day or two and see how it goes.

 

[tonybarnaby]

Friendly reminder that in my experience of using nearly a dozen android oled phones, I never had the issue. Pretty much all oled screens are made by Samsung, and a lot look the same on paper.

Zero issues with oled Motorola phones
Zero issues with OnePlus oled phones
Zero issues with Galaxy S oled phones
Terrible headache within minutes of Xs Max

All of the above phones are Samsung Oled screens, and the pwm frequency is all very similar. In my experience, this may be something unique to Apple and how they handle the pwm implementation. I’m not informed enough to figure out the specifics. All I know is I have used oled phones for thousands of hours with no pain, but my Max caused pain within 5-10 minutes of use on launch day. Really sucks to be typing this on my 8+ because I already know the new phones won’t work for me, and the 11 isn’t what I want.

 

[newellj]

Just quick stop to say judging from how today’s use has gone, I am fine reading and composing emails and texts on this display. But as I am still setting up everything from scratch I’ve had to authenticate all my various accounts and subscriptions using Face ID. Using Face ID a lot leaves me feeling I got smacked in the eyes. I was perfectly fine before I really got going with all the account work. I think they said they juiced up the flood illuminator didn’t they?

I wish there would be a crap ton of peer reviewed studies proving beyond a shadow of a doubt the lasers or whatever the hell they are are safe to use specifically in this way. The last time I went hunting for information on the subject I came up with everything looking inconclusive.

The ache goes away pretty quickly and if I stick to just reading, I’m good. In fact this display is pretty comfortable for me to look at.

Again, it’s early for me to know how this is going to play out. Some of you definitely react very quickly to pwm. And maybe Face ID, too. When I am finished setting up I’ll turn Face ID off for a day or two and see how it goes.

Semi-OT, but I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion and research on the use of the IR illuminator on these phones. I'm guessing that part of the improvement in FaceID is making the IR illumination brighter, which could make any adverse impacts worse - again, just a guess.

 

[Tofupunch]

At least they offer a non PWM option. I really wonder when the lineup is all oled

Yeah, this has me worried. Hopefully micro led will be better. But who knows when they'll slap that on the iphone. And who knows if it'll even solve the issue.
Btw, I know I have a 14 day window to return the pro but what about the cases?

 

[BigBen2493]

Yeah, this has me worried. Hopefully micro led will be better. But who knows when they'll slap that on the iphone. And who knows if it'll even solve the issue.
Btw, I know I have a 14 day window to return the pro but what about the cases?

Same 14 days for everything

 

[user1234]

M

Yeah, this has me worried. Hopefully micro led will be better. But who knows when they'll slap that on the iphone. And who knows if it'll even solve the issue.
Btw, I know I have a 14 day window to return the pro but what about the cases?

MicroLED is basically the same underlying technology, only that the LEDs are made of the traditional materials rather than being organic. MicroLED by itself will solve nothing unfortunately. They still color shift at low brightness with DC dimming too. Other technological means are needed to get rid of the issue.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Last year I experienced headaches and eye strain while using the XS Max and subsequently returned it in favor of my 8 Plus. Was it PWM? Stress? I am not sure. But I will happily report my experience with the Max Pro as soon as I feel I have a clear-cut answer.

Well, I promised. Sadly, I experienced eye strain, aching behind my eyes, slight nausea, etc.
I recorded a video.

 

[FuzzMunky]

M

MicroLED is basically the same underlying technology, only that the LEDs are made of the traditional materials rather than being organic. MicroLED by itself will solve nothing unfortunately. They still color shift at low brightness with DC dimming too. Other technological means are needed to get rid of the issue.

Why can't they at least just increase the speed of the modulation? Double it or triple it.

 

[Tofupunch]

Well, I promised. Sadly, I experienced eye strain, aching behind my eyes, slight nausea, etc.
I recorded a video.

Man that sucks. Are you going to get the 11 instead?