That’s the million dollar question. Mind boggling.
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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
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That’s the million dollar question. Mind boggling.
Yes, your assumption is correct: iPhone 13 enters a 60Hz mode above 10% apparently and a higher-frequency PWM mode below 10%. Those charts correspond to that.
PWM is a much more complex method of modulating brightness that is essentially flickering the display on and off with calculated levels of amplitude. In theory 60Hz flicker that doesn’t utilize PWM should be better for those who are sensitive, although those with severe levels of sensitivity such as myself may have to wait for a flicker-free display or an implementation with a lower amplitude ideally of under 1%.
iPhone X utilized a 60Hz mode from 50%-100% brightness so I’m not sure this would help unless it’s drastically different. I could possibly be persuaded to try iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Mini since this is a different approach than iPhone 13 Pro. I do get migraines from looking at a video on my friend’s iPhone 13 Pro Max so that’s probably also out of the question this generation for me.
A few reasons:
- Apple has specifically attributed the resolution to battery life and performance. It’s a practical decision meant for the average consumer.
- 326ppi is the standard PPI that’s been utilized on non-Plus LCD iPhone’s for years. A non-standard PPI requires complex downscaling which looks less natural as it does on the Plus modes comparatively, unless they used 3x rendering…
- 458ppi would make the LCD iPhone 11 sharper than the OLED iPhone 11 Pro due to the way sub-pixels are arranged on the OLED. Obviously not ideal for comparison shopping when the main difference is the display.
- It also enables a lower cost target.
Thank you!
As I look back at Notebookcheck's review of the iPhone 12, it appears that any brightness below 100% had varying levels of PWM flicker, the lower the brightness the worse the amplitude was if I was translating their data correctly.
The 12 Mini looked similar, and so I suppose that then proves why I find that when I turn the brightness way up- 95% or so- it is much easier on my eyes aside from the retina-burning brightness at that point, which is then mitigated by cranking up the reduce white point.
When I had tried a 13 Mini for a week or so, I just assumed it was going to be the same so I had the brightness up at the same level, but had a bit of a different experience- it was not bad, but I just had some slight irritation- grittiness, even some slight eye watering- that would happen that I don't have in the slightest on the 12 Mini.
Given that the 13 Mini may be more in line with what we saw on the results here for the 13, I should have tried bringing the brightness down and seeing if I was maybe just reacting to the brightness/contrast vs. PWM, to see if there was a sweet spot down more towards 50%..... it's just been so engrained in what little I have learned over the last couple of years on PWM that highest brightness is best to reduce the flicker.
I dunno.. when I slow motion checked the Mini.. it was WAY more active (ripples) than the 13.
I want a 13 anything… but just think it’s a pipe dream at this point.
Very interesting read on Notebookcheck.. when I checked the 13 and 13 pro, they both looked the same.
Yeah, I will look forward to Notebookcheck's review of the 13 Mini to see if it indeed is any different than the regular 13 in regards to the display.
People were saying anecdotally that the 12 Mini was the worst of the bunch last year for flicker, and it's been easy on my eyes after that initial couple of weeks to adjust, and finding the right brightness setting. Makes me think I could successfully move up to 13 Mini, or even 13 Pro as I had been considering- but I dread getting one and feeling stuck in case somehow it's different enough that my eyes don't like it.
Do you think you might give it a shot, with one of the 13 series?
I see Apple is about a month out on 13 pros, and about 10 days to 2 weeks out on 13 Minis- but my carrier has both in stock to ship today per their website... plus side would be not having to wait, but down side is that the carriers charge a restocking fee if returning, even within the 2 week window. What will win out- being cautious, or being impatient? lol
Well… I traded in my XR for the 13 Mini. Plan to use it and then just profit the $230 they gave me on the XR.
I will take one for the team and see how bad it is. From what I saw on slow motion, I’m not looking forward to it.
Oh, you went all in, no holding onto the XR in case you need to return? That is one way to nudge yourself forward, I suppose!
That was my problem when I tried the 13 Mini before, I had my 12 Mini sitting here still, and I talked myself into buyer's remorse, even though the 13 mini was an amazing phone. I should have just done the trade in, and I am sure by now I would have been absolutely fine with the 13 mini in regards to that bit of initial eye discomfort I was experiencing.
Good luck, I hope it is not problematic for you- please let us know how things go!
I have a brand new iPhone 11 too. Just needed to get something for the XROh, you went all in, no holding onto the XR in case you need to return? That is one way to nudge yourself forward, I suppose!
That was my problem when I tried the 13 Mini before, I had my 12 Mini sitting here still, and I talked myself into buyer's remorse, even though the 13 mini was an amazing phone. I should have just done the trade in, and I am sure by now I would have been absolutely fine with the 13 mini in regards to that bit of initial eye discomfort I was experiencing.
Good luck, I hope it is not problematic for you- please let us know how things go!
It's interesting how no flicker or bars at all show when you do slow-mo video of the 13 Pro. I am so tempted to give it a try, but would not be thrilled about moving up to a larger phone again.
iPhone 13 mini.
Above gif was converted to gif from a YouTube video clip titled:
“iPhone Mini 13 PWM Flickering screen”
Right? I wish I had gotten the 11pro. (And that it theoretically would not give me PWM pain)
WTH. It’s like they’re not even trying with the low end iPhone anymore. That looks so terrible.
I do not consider 500 or 600 Hz high. There are many TVs that use 960 Hz and even that is bad.
It’s like this folks…
PWM frequency is like someone pinching your arm. The higher the frequency, the press pressure used… but regardless, you’re still getting pinched. Would you be OK with constantly being pinched when there are “no pinch” options available?
It’s like this folks…
PWM frequency is like someone pinching your arm. The higher the frequency, the press pressure used… but regardless, you’re still getting pinched. Would you be OK with constantly being pinched when there are “no pinch” options available?
If anyone is interested, I’ve recently purchased an iPhone 12 regular with a broken screen off eBay. Found a place that installs LCD screens and have been using the new combo all day today. No flicker/pwm at all with the LCD. No headaches. But the colors are definitely more stale compared to iPhone 8.
I may be walking around with a phone that could melt at any moment. But I’ll take the risk. Will post more info if interested, and will update if phone dies.
I may be walking around with a phone that could melt at any moment. But I’ll take the risk. Will post more info if interested, and will update if phone dies.
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On the bright side it sounds like Apple may be using a 60Hz DC dimming approach on iPhone 13.
I forgot to add to my iPhone 13 Pro PWM conclusion that I found there’s no benefit to using brightness shortcuts or Reduce White Point settings: it seems to be relatively consistent across all brightness levels.
That seems to be accurate based on Notebookcheck’s review, with the exception of levels under 10% which aren’t necessarily more problematic in my experience. Lower brightness levels are dramatically improved compared to past years much to the benefit of the average user who may not be sensitive but could still get a headache from those previously-errant PWM levels.
That’s what I was thinking about…consistent PWM brightness stops this workaround option.
I wondered if pulsation modulation would be the same across all levels too, and you’re confirming this
Thanks for sharing! I see the pro doesn't show any visible flicker on slow-mo video, and some who were sensitive to PWM on past devices did not have trouble with the 13 Pro.
I wonder if it's safe to say that only the most sensitive will have issues on the 13 pro, and those who were borderline might find this model to be a winner?
Is the idea that this is likely better- and that it indeed- in theory- should be easier on the eyes for most of us, all but maybe the most sensitive?
Its definitely worth giving it a try this year for anybody who’s sensitive since Apple made the most changes to the brightness controller that they’ve made to date. Our observation from the keynote was correct that that’s what the new display engine was in reference to.
Surprisingly iPhone 13 may be an even better bet than the Pro model since it flickers at 60Hz with what appears to be a DC dimming-type of setup.
What’s odd is that Notebookcheck still measures the colors to be significantly better on the standard 13 as opposed to the 13 Pro. I thought that was an anomaly due to panel variance that they found the same to be true on the 12 and 12 Pro.
This may be enough for me to give the iPhone 13 Mini a try if not for science to compare/contrast the 60Hz quasi-DC dimming to the higher-frequency flickering on the iPhone 13 Pro.