Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[RobinYerbank]

I took another day (and night) to give the Max another try, and compared it to an old iPhone 8 I've still got. The Max is going back, but so is the 13! I'm beginning to suspect that I've long had OLED-related eye strain, but the 13 Pro Max is particularly bad for my eyes. And it's especially intense in the dark with dark mode enabled. I think it's because of the modulation intensity? Not sure if I've understood the right terminology from this thread, but I think it's the way it fluctuates brightness between almost 0% and 100%, despite having the higher PWM frequency.

However, I think I've always found OLED iPhones to be hard on my eyes and just ignored the issue until now. I've never had trouble with LCDs; my PC monitors and TV are flicker-free LCDs and my eyes love them. I think it's about time I valued the same comfort from my phone.

So I'm doing the unthinkabable, something I've seen many here do... I've ordered an iPhone 11 (256GB Purple)! These last 9 days with the Pro Max have given me time to re-evaluate my priorities. I love gadgets, but my health and comfort is far more important than fancy features. The 11 is still an excellent phone and it costs less than half of what the Max was going to cost me (on finance)!

I'm thinking I will put the money saved towards an Apple Watch, and possibly an iPad in the near future. Gotta get a good iPad while they're still LCD-based...

Edit: I also just submitted the attached feedback to Apple. It's about all we can do, I guess!

 

[super chimp]

I’ve only used two OLED iPhones, and the two experiences with them couldn’t be more different as I definitely suffered eye strain with the X. But the 11 Pro it has been far more manageable and a very intermittent issue. Interestingly I’ve hardly had any issues with my OnePlus Six and that’s another OLED panel and therefore the issue seems incredibly random, and therefore very difficult to predict what will and won’t impact my eyes.

 

[DJTaurus]

I ll probably get an iPad mini for hone

I’m so thankful for this thread. I’m new to the issue. I bought a 13 pro and a 13 pro max for another family member (having never previously owned an OLED device). I think we are both really suffering from it. I get bad motion sickness in cars and using the 13 pro provokes the same feeling.

Questions for people with greater awareness around this issue:

1. Does the issue apply to OLED TVs like the LG C1 65”?
2. Does anyone with the issue have the 12.9” mini led iPad Pro and how do you find that?
3. Has anyone tried the new iPad mini?
4. Do you anticipate the OLED Nintendo Switch to be problematic?
5. Other devices of interest: M1 MacBook Air and LG Ultrafine 5K?
6. Lastly for people who would say they have the issue quite severely what are some of the most comfortable technology products you own?

Last year I purchased LG CX. I didn’t have nausea and eye soreness like iPhones but it made me have headaches….as days were passing I was getting used to it but never pain free.

 

[asus389]

Has anyone noticed similar eye strain with automotive heads up displays? I rented a Mazda recently and I had to turn of the HUD otherwise every time I looked at the windshield I would get similar symptoms to what I get looking at OLED phones. The Mazda dealer said I'm not the only one to complain about it. I didn't get the same problem looking at the LCD infotainment screen or the digital gauge cluster in that same car (or really most/any other cars).

 

[kargurin]

Has anyone noticed similar eye strain with automotive heads up displays? I rented a Mazda recently and I had to turn of the HUD otherwise every time I looked at the windshield I would get similar symptoms to what I get looking at OLED phones. The Mazda dealer said I'm not the only one to complain about it. I didn't get the same problem looking at the LCD infotainment screen or the digital gauge cluster in that same car (or really most/any other cars).

No. I have one. I don't spend alot of time looking at it so I'm surprised it could be a problem.

 

[ma62346234]

Like I said before, I’m unfortunately unable to get a detailed reading unless the Radex is connected to a PC, but here are the pulsation % rates:


iPhone 13 Non-Pro
100% - 5.03%
75% - 8.9%
50% - 8.12%
25% - 18.2%
0% - 16.5%

13 Mini
100% - 4.94%
75% - 8.1%
50% - 8.89%
25% - 14.9%
0% - 16.7

A percentage of less than 5-8% is what I’ve read as recommended. While the 13 pro did not reach that low, it looks like 13 and 13 mini reach it at 100% brightness. A possible solution might be to keep these phones at 100% brightness and utilize reduce white point + zoom (w/ low light filter) to get brightness to an acceptable level. After I return my pro I’m going to give the 13 mini a chance… Has anyone else measured the kpi% to verify?

 

[bsmr]

A percentage of less than 5-8% is what I’ve read as recommended. While the 13 pro did not reach that low, it looks like 13 and 13 mini reach it at 100% brightness. A possible solution might be to keep these phones at 100% brightness and utilize reduce white point + zoom (w/ low light filter) to get brightness to an acceptable level. After I return my pro I’m going to give the 13 mini a chance… Has anyone else measured the kpi% to verify?

But the values of the 13 pro are missing... How can you compare?

 

[Maven1975]

Glad I saw your post. I had an 11 128g ordered from Apple with delivery 11-5-21. I had been to 2 stores and called 3 others and no one had the 128 or 256g, until I saw your post I had given up. Even Apple wasn't showing the 256. Pulled up Walmart and ordered in 5 minutes with Del next Wed 10-6. Get the 256 and in 4 days, I'll take it, thanks!! Didn't even think of Walmart...

Wanted to give an update the Walmart did indeed ship the phone.

So, they have them. Don’t slip people, the 256gb has been killed off by Apple. This is indeed probably your last easy chance to get a new one at retail pricing.

Good luck to all!

 

[RobinYerbank]

Wanted to give an update the Walmart did indeed ship the phone.

So, they have them. Don’t slip people, the 256gb has been killed off by Apple. This is indeed probably your last easy chance to get a new one at retail pricing.

Good luck to all!

Yep, I had to order my 256GB from Amazon (UK), arriving today. Didn’t want to miss my chance!

 

[shinigamii]

The same thing happened to me. I felt dryness and irritations after a period of time. I heard that this is common for some people because of the bluelight emission. So I went the dark/true tone and minimized the blue light.
Secondly I used blue light filter glasses while using devices and that helped me much.
So you can try it

 

[ignaciobarrena]

I’ve never had any issues with the regular iPhone 12, but the 13 Pro is tiring my eyes.

How could that be? Iphone 13 Pro flicker rate is twice the iPhone 12… (480Hz..)

I got until this friday to return it.

 

[jimmy_uk]

I’ve never had any issues with the regular iPhone 12, but the 13 Pro is tiring my eyes.

How could that be? Iphone 13 Pro flicker rate is twice the iPhone 12… (480Hz..)

I got until this friday to return it.

Your 12 may have had an LG display while the 13 Pro has a Samsung display?

Or - the 13 Pro has LTPO screen technology to allow the higher refresh rate of 120hz. Perhaps your eyes don't like this change?

 

[ignaciobarrena]

Your 12 may have had an LG display while the 13 Pro has a Samsung display?

Or - the 13 Pro has LTPO screen technology to allow the higher refresh rate of 120hz. Perhaps your eyes don't like this change?

I love the phone, but I've been having little headaches behind my eyes and my eyesight is more tired than usual.

This thing is weird, I'll go to the store later today to check other phones maybe I'm suggesting myself 😅

Notebookcheck should post their review any day from now, they should help us clarifying the changes and technologies implemented in 13 Pro line.

 

[dimitricook]

Your 12 may have had an LG display while the 13 Pro has a Samsung display?

Or - the 13 Pro has LTPO screen technology to allow the higher refresh rate of 120hz. Perhaps your eyes don't like this change?

LG or Samsung screen, that could be making a difference for some people... Is there a way to check which screen you have inside you iphone? an app or tool that can read this info?

 

[RobinYerbank]

I’ve never had any issues with the regular iPhone 12, but the 13 Pro is tiring my eyes.

How could that be? Iphone 13 Pro flicker rate is twice the iPhone 12… (480Hz..)

I got until this friday to return it.

I also found that the 13 Pro (Max) is even worse for my eyes. Although it's a higher PWM frequency, the modulation is much greater (something like 95%). The flickering is faster, but much more intense than the previous displays.

I'm returning it and getting an 11!

 

[ignaciobarrena]

I also found that the 13 Pro (Max) is even worse for my eyes. Although it's a higher PWM frequency, the modulation is much greater (something like 95%). The flickering is faster, but much more intense than the previous displays.

I'm returning it and getting an 11!

Maybe... screens are different, apart from the difference in flicker rate.

Now I'm scared about the Switch OLED, no one seems to be concerned about PWM 🥲

EDIT: I was reviewing the notebookcheck review for the iPad Pro M1 12,9 that has a miniLED display, and it also has PWM! The frequency is very high, but the non miniLED model (11") doesn't have it, so I'm not sure that this issue will be fixed when iPhones change to microLED screens..

 

[JM]

Has anyone noticed similar eye strain with automotive heads up displays? I rented a Mazda recently and I had to turn of the HUD otherwise every time I looked at the windshield I would get similar symptoms to what I get looking at OLED phones. The Mazda dealer said I'm not the only one to complain about it. I didn't get the same problem looking at the LCD infotainment screen or the digital gauge cluster in that same car (or really most/any other cars).

Yup! I had to turn the HUD off as well on my 2021 rental. I can’t remember the car brand though.

 

[karinatwork]

I got a very interesting comment on my YouTube video this morning:

"I'm watching your video from China. Some reviewers in China say the flicker on the new iPhones' screen is actually worse than last year. Because on last year's 12s, if the brightness goes up to 25% and above, the panel will switch to DC mode (forgive me for my poor English I'm not sure about the tech term) instead of 240hz PWM. However, on 13s, the panel stays at 480hz PWM, which has caused lots of complaints among Chinese customers. BTW, thank you for this video. It's good to see someone really cares about details like this other than just specs on paper."

Ok, folks... if it is really true that the Chinese market is starting to complain about it, then something IS going to happen. Apple cannot ignore this any longer and has to address this issue. A glimmer of hope? Maybe not for this phone, but for the future?

 

[RobinYerbank]

I was reviewing the notebookcheck review for the iPad Pro M1 12,9 that has a miniLED display, and it also has PWM! The frequency is very high, but the non miniLED model (11") doesn't have it, so I'm not sure that this issue will be fixed when iPhones change to microLED screens..

That's a little concerning, but I see from the review that it's running at 19,190Hz. Although it's a lot less than the non-miniLED model, it's still miles above the 240/480Hz we're seeing in the OLED iPhones. Such a high frequency should be fine.

 

[RobinYerbank]

Because on last year's 12s, if the brightness goes up to 25% and above, the panel will switch to DC mode (forgive me for my poor English I'm not sure about the tech term) instead of 240hz PWM. However, on 13s, the panel stays at 480hz PWM, which has caused lots of complaints among Chinese customers.

That's really interesting and certainly matches my experience. Although I think I've been getting mild eye strain on all of the OLED iPhones, it was much more severe and very uncomfortable with the 13 Pro Max I tried for a week.

 

[ignaciobarrena]

We need the notebookcheck review asap 😅

 

[now i see it]

Not really. The only test that matters is a person looking at the screen. If it gives them trouble, the phone gets an “F”

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Not really. The only test that matters is a person looking at the screen. If it gives them trouble, the phone gets an “F”

I cannot agree with this more. We can talk about numbers, measurements, coefficients, reviews, workarounds, flicker level, etc until we’ve covered every angle known to man and in the end, the only thing they matters is how your eyes and body react to the display.

 

[happy orchard]

I may regret posting this, but here I go:

I’ve had issues with the OLED phones since before I knew what PWM was. Returned that X within a week of release because ‘I didn’t know why, but it was hurting my eyes.’ Since then, I’ve learned more and tried more phones. They seem to get a little better, but each year eventually I go back to LCD. Either I return them right away or sell them months later. But I keep trying new iPhones, hoping things will improve. And with the 13PM, it definitely seems better; I’m just not sure if it’s better enough. I am not noticing issues at this point, though I do know that I like the glowing OLED screens less than the gentle LCD ones. I can’t tell to what extent this phone might be affecting me, partly because I am still recovering from a concussion and those issues will likely eventually resolve. So it seems safer to return the phone, but then it’s "safer" to never drive or fly or try anything. Immersed in the moment of new phones, return period, loving new tech, myriad analyses, and my own life experiences, I feel I am almost no longer a good judge of my phone situation.

I hate to return again, but I hate more to abuse my eyes and brain. I can’t tell whether it’s hearing about other people’s experiences, my own past, or the truth of what’s happening now. So I’m constantly in flux over what to do.

My current plan is just to keep the phone and stop using it later if I just can’t stand it. But I also have an 8 and an 11 (one is for work) that I could use as work and personal phones. I don’t need this 13PM. But I buy new tech not because I ‘need’ it but because it brings me such joy. I use tech, need tech, but don’t need the latest and greatest tech, but I do so enjoy the latest and greatest (my definotion of) tech. I don’t travel lots, don’t spend tons of money on booze or clothes, I am in a financial position to buy and enjoy new tech like I like. I’ve already had to give up so many things that really make me happy — surfing, flour, my mother, and I’ll stop enumerating there — that I seem to have a heartbroken reflex that says I don’t want to have to give up more.

If your reaction is to criticize, dismiss, or insult me, please let it go: nobody and nothing is improved by spreading the hate. But if you have any thoughts or ideas that might undergird my decision-making, I would appreciate your words and wisdom.

 

[now i see it]

Since light sensitivity can develop after a concussion - I’d avoid flickering screens if at all possible. Just thinking that there’s a very slight chance that a flickering screen (OLED screen) can make matters worse would be enough for me to never get near one.

OLED display technology has got to be the most overhyped tech of the decade. It’s always mentioned as if it’s something great, to be coveted, whereas in reality it’s trash for a lot of people including myself.

If you can get over the camera hype of the newer iPhones, the 8, 8+, XR, SE and 11 are all great LCD choices.