Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[Mastrociambella]

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.

I'd actually love to have the chance to do the exact same thing, so let's use this phone and have fun!
I had high hopes due to frequency, but reports about modulation are likely true for me...testing it in store already caused a little bit of eye dryness.
I don't know if white point reduction could improve the situation, since PWM is the same at all brightness...i lowered white point on store and colors became easier on my eyes, but i don't know if it's enough

 

[pepsters3]

Update: I am still barely in my 14 day return window, but they have already shipped off my old 11 and I cannot find an 11 anywhere. Looked on walmart, they only have straight talk and some other wireless carrier 11 phones. If I order from Apple it wont get here for a month. No idea how to resolve this, does anyone have any ideas? I have a very old iphone 5C which I guess I could hook up upon returning the 13 while I wait for the 11 to arrive.........not happy.

 

[Maven1975]

Update: I am still barely in my 14 day return window, but they have already shipped off my old 11 and I cannot find an 11 anywhere. Looked on walmart, they only have straight talk and some other wireless carrier 11 phones. If I order from Apple it wont get here for a month. No idea how to resolve this, does anyone have any ideas? I have a very old iphone 5C which I guess I could hook up upon returning the 13 while I wait for the 11 to arrive.........not happy.

If you are depsperate, sign up for the carrier, then pay off the phone and cancel.

I have a feeling this will need to be done by many until stock dries up

In your position, I’d also fire off a call or letter voicing your concerns to Apple.

 

[happy orchard]

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.

Yes, I do have photophobia, and since this isn't my first concussion, the photophobia is carryover from previous injuries. Other problems resolve, but not this one. So yes, the earlier phones are much easier on my eyes, I agree.

I also agree with you that OLED is overhyped.

The camera is nice enough for me in whichever phone; however, I do use the telephoto before the wide lens more often. It's more than I enjoy the uberbig screen on the max.

I do appreciate you writing and sharing your thoughts. It is helpful. Thank you.

 

[happy orchard]

I'd actually love to have the chance to do the exact same thing, so let's use this phone and have fun!
I had high hopes due to frequency, but reports about modulation are likely true for me...testing it in store already caused a little bit of eye dryness.
I don't know if white point reduction could improve the situation, since PWM is the same at all brightness...i lowered white point on store and colors became easier on my eyes, but i don't know if it's enough

Love the 'let's have fun' sentiment.

Reducing white point is helpful: I use it indoors always and have a shortcut to turn it off when I go outside.

Frequently I use Dark Mode indoors as well if it feels too much like I'm staring at a flashlight.

I do seem to tremendously benefit from the reduced flickering. I see the rising horizontal bars in slo-mo videos, but I no longer see the flickering, and that does help. When I look at my boyfriend's 12, I squint immediately and look away. These are significantly different experiences, looking at the 12 and the 13.

The store is such a hard place to determine anything because they have such bountiful lighting there that full brightness on the screen makes sense. I love this phone when I'm outside. Inside, less. Outside, brilliant (both literally and figuratively.)

So are you trying one of the 13s? How's it going?

 

[pepsters3]

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!

Thank you. I just looked on Walmart and all I see are iphone 11's for "walmart family mobile", "Simple", Total wireless" etc. No unlocked ones. Am I missing something? Desperately searching as my 14 day return window for my 13 is quick approaching.

 

[happy orchard]

Update: I am still barely in my 14 day return window, but they have already shipped off my old 11 and I cannot find an 11 anywhere. Looked on walmart, they only have straight talk and some other wireless carrier 11 phones. If I order from Apple it wont get here for a month. No idea how to resolve this, does anyone have any ideas? I have a very old iphone 5C which I guess I could hook up upon returning the 13 while I wait for the 11 to arrive.........not happy.

That does not sound fun. Man, hard to believe even the 11 is so hard to get, to..

Have you checked Apple's refurbished store for anything that you might be able to use? At least in the interim? Or maybe an SE? Swappa?

Might be a technological adventure trying the 5C for a while until the 11 comes. Maybe an adventure that you lament, but possibly an interesting anecdote later?

 

[Maven1975]

Thank you. I just looked on Walmart and all I see are iphone 11's for "walmart family mobile", "Simple", Total wireless" etc. No unlocked ones. Am I missing something? Desperately searching as my 14 day return window for my 13 is quick approaching.

Those are gone now…
You will need to upgrade, add a line or just sign up, payoff the phone then cancel.

 

[AJAAY]

If you are looking for an iPhone 11. They will eventually return to the Apple refurbished store. It's just a waiting game at this point.

 

[Mastrociambella]

So are you trying one of the 13s? How's it going?

Not yet, i should take it via carrier upgrade program, but it doesn't let to give it back before 1 year, so I'm trying to make the most thoughtful purchase i can (2nd option is to purchase it in Apple Store, use it and return within 14 days return window).

Edit: I'm using a Samsung S21 Ultra right now, with overlay app Oled Saver to relieve my poor eyes (samsung got worse for pwm in the last 2 years)

 

[dimitricook]

I read most reply's here are about the 13pro or mini, not so much regular 13. I wonder if there is any difference, it could be a different type of screen?

I will order the regular 13 to test for myself. The 13pro is unfortunatly out for me.

 

[now i see it]

I wonder if there is any difference, it could be a different type of screen?

Get your tape ready to seal up the box and send it back to Apple. It has a flickering OLED screen too.

 

[AJTC]

I read most reply's here are about the 13pro or mini, not so much regular 13. I wonder if there is any difference, it could be a different type of screen?

I will order the regular 13 to test for myself. The 13pro is unfortunatly out for me.

I returned the 13 for migraines and pain behind my eyes that lasted for days after I stopped using it. The 13 and 13 mini seem to be the worst of a bad bunch for PWM this year.

 

[asus389]

Thank you. I just looked on Walmart and all I see are iphone 11's for "walmart family mobile", "Simple", Total wireless" etc. No unlocked ones. Am I missing something? Desperately searching as my 14 day return window for my 13 is quick approaching.

Best Buy had some stock in store near me when I looked last week. Could be different for you though. I don't think they sell unlocked phones, however.

 

[dexmoody]

I'm still a little confused about the PWM issue, but I think I am experiencing it.

I've never had an OLED device and recently bought an iPhone 13 Pro. I love everything about it, but since the first night I've been having migraine-like headaches and associated feelings of light nausea. It comes and goes and is not necessarily happening right at the same time when I'm using the phone.

I will say that I have occasionally had "proper" migraines since being teenager - by that I mean experiencing an aura, followed by a headache. It's usually no more than 1-2 times per year.

To be clear, these latest episodes are definitely a lighter headache than my previous migraines and I do not experience the aura at all, but the type of headache feels the same as when I am getting a migraine, only less intense.

Anyways, what I am confused about: unlike so many other people here, I do not experience eye strain. I actually enjoy looking at the display, and I am definitely unable to see any flickering.

Those of you who also get migraines from looking at the 13P - can you actually see any flickering?

 

[ignaciobarrena]

I'm still a little confused about the PWM issue, but I think I am experiencing it.

I've never had an OLED device and recently bought an iPhone 13 Pro. I love everything about it, but since the first night I've been having migraine-like headaches and associated feelings of light nausea. It comes and goes and is not necessarily happening right at the same time when I'm using the phone.

I will say that I have occasionally had "proper" migraines since being teenager - by that I mean experiencing an aura, followed by a headache. It's usually no more than 1-2 times per year.

To be clear, these latest episodes are definitely a lighter headache than my previous migraines and I do not experience the aura at all, but the type of headache feels the same as when I am getting a migraine, only less intense.

Anyways, what I am confused about: unlike so many other people here, I do not experience eye strain. I actually enjoy looking at the display, and I am definitely unable to see any flickering.

Those of you who also get migraines from looking at the 13P - can you actually see any flickering?

You can’t actually see the flicker, some people are definitely sensitive to it.

In your case I would get a day off the phone and try for the next few days to see if the migraines get less frequent or stop.

 

[jimmy_uk]

I'm still a little confused about the PWM issue, but I think I am experiencing it.

I've never had an OLED device and recently bought an iPhone 13 Pro. I love everything about it, but since the first night I've been having migraine-like headaches and associated feelings of light nausea. It comes and goes and is not necessarily happening right at the same time when I'm using the phone.

I will say that I have occasionally had "proper" migraines since being teenager - by that I mean experiencing an aura, followed by a headache. It's usually no more than 1-2 times per year.

To be clear, these latest episodes are definitely a lighter headache than my previous migraines and I do not experience the aura at all, but the type of headache feels the same as when I am getting a migraine, only less intense.

Anyways, what I am confused about: unlike so many other people here, I do not experience eye strain. I actually enjoy looking at the display, and I am definitely unable to see any flickering.

Those of you who also get migraines from looking at the 13P - can you actually see any flickering?

I don't see the flickering and at the rate it's pulsing/flashing, I don't imagine anyone can literally see it on the 13 Pro.

Every OLED iPhone from the X through to the 12 series gave me eye muscle strain at the side of my eyeballs. This would lead to the back of my eyes feeling sore and tired which would lead to brain tension resulting in a migraine that lasted for a minimum of a day.

The 13 Pro and 13 Mini did not make my eyes feel strained or uncomfortable while looking at them bizarrely, but the next day the back of my eyes felt like they had been punched and I had brain tension and one of the worst migraines the next day - couldn't do anything for the whole day. For the next couple of days, I could not endure looking at the 13 Pro for more than 40-50mins before feeling like my head and eye pain was coming back. Both iPhone's were returned for the 5th year in a row.

 

[ultravegeta1981]

Couldn’t use the 11 Pro at all. Was just fine with the 12 and 12 Pro.
Have now burning and watery eyes since ive got my 13 Pro… maybe the Promotion display? Gona wait if my eyes can get used to it.

otherwise i have to get my 12 Pro back, and that would suck big time as i LOVE the Promotion Display,it makes a huge difference for me..

 

[dexmoody]

You can’t actually see the flicker, some people are definitely sensitive to it.

In your case I would get a day off the phone and try for the next few days to see if the migraines get less frequent or stop.

Yes, that is my plan. Going back to my trusty iPhone 7 for 2-3 days to see if there is any change/improvement.

I don't see the flickering and at the rate it's pulsing/flashing, I don't imagine anyone can literally see it on the 13 Pro.

Every OLED iPhone from the X through to the 12 series gave me eye muscle strain at the side of my eyeballs. This would lead to the back of my eyes feeling sore and tired which would lead to brain tension resulting in a migraine that lasted for a minimum of a day.

The 13 Pro and 13 Mini did not make my eyes feel strained or uncomfortable while looking at them bizarrely, but the next day the back of my eyes felt like they had been punched and I had brain tension and one of the worst migraines the next day - couldn't do anything for the whole day. For the next couple of days, I could not endure looking at the 13 Pro for more than 40-50mins before feeling like my head and eye pain was coming back. Both iPhone's were returned for the 5th year in a row.

Got it - that's helpful. Definitely not getting any pain in or near the eyes. My migraines are actually in the back of my head. Have experienced a bit of nausea similar to motion sickness as well.

I'm usually not prone to any of this, so I am fairly confident that the 13P is causing it.

If symptoms improve while using the 7, I plan on returning the 13P to exchange for a mini. I think there is a small chance my problems could be caused by the ProMotion display. Otherwise, it's back to an LCD iPhone...

 

[super chimp]

Couldn’t use the 11 Pro at all. Was just fine with the 12 and 12 Pro.
Have now burning and watery eyes since ive got my 13 Pro… maybe the Promotion display? Gona wait if my eyes can get used to it.

otherwise i have to get my 12 Pro back, and that would suck big time as i LOVE the Promotion Display,it makes a huge difference for me..

Which just shows you how individual this is I’ve found the 11 Pro miles better than the X which I could use but did no good for my eyes.

 

[JM]

Okay… experimental question. If you have issues, do you also have blue eyes? Blue eyes are more sensitive to light, causing photophobia? (Heard about this a few random places.)

 

[JM]

And to add, might you also have astigmatism.

 

[AJTC]

Okay… experimental question. If you have issues, do you also have blue eyes? Blue eyes are more sensitive to light, causing photophobia? (Heard about this a few random places.)

I have green eyes.

 

[now i see it]

OLED screens give me red eyes

 

[suncountry]

Yes, that is my plan. Going back to my trusty iPhone 7 for 2-3 days to see if there is any change/improvement.



Got it - that's helpful. Definitely not getting any pain in or near the eyes. My migraines are actually in the back of my head. Have experienced a bit of nausea similar to motion sickness as well.

I'm usually not prone to any of this, so I am fairly confident that the 13P is causing it.

If symptoms improve while using the 7, I plan on returning the 13P to exchange for a mini. I think there is a small chance my problems could be caused by the ProMotion display. Otherwise, it's back to an LCD iPhone...

Just out of curiosity, how does one switch back to the iPhone 7 for a few days? I think they activated an eSim in the phone I got at the Apple store and deactivated my iPhone 8+. Just wondering how I might be able to switch between them.

I have the Mini and have been playing with settings to see if I can get used to it. I want to love it...