Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[RD207]

Cool! very good that you found out that the 13pro works for you. I am still in the phase of testing the regular 13, but i think to send it back today because like you i don't get headache or migrane from the regular 13 but nausia and almost the need to vomit WTF is this screen doing...

I had to change some settings on my 12, “reduce motion” to ON; under accessibility setting for nausea. I also use reduce white point and turn off attention so that red laser isn’t flashing at me from the notch area. I’m hoping the 13 Pro is ok for me, 120hz could help and probably use same settings that helped from my 12.

 

[BigMcGuire]

@BigMcGuire
Out of curiosity —
Get a strong magnifying glass if you’ve got one and turn the iPhone display all the way down till it looks blurry to you, then examine some text (individual letters) with your magnifying glass to see if the letters actually are blurry or it’s your eyes going haywire when looking at the full dim screen in it’s flickering glory.

1. Either the drawing of the text by the display actually gets soft at low brightness

Or

2. The PWM is so nasty that your eyes can’t hold a focus.

Its sharp. So definitely my eyes losing ability to focus when dilated in extremely dark situations.

 

[MICHAELSD]

The PWM for the 13 Mini is 510.2 MHz, 13 is 609.8 MHz, 13 Pro is 510.2 MHz and 13 Pro Max is 238 MHz. Odd that the 13 Pro Max has such a different PWM then the others. Probably due to the size of the screen, the 120Hz and just squeezing as much battery as possible by using a lower backlight frequency.

Have we ever figured out if the rate of 609.8Hz for iPhone 13 is a misprint? It’s odd for it to be higher than iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Mini. iXBT reports all three as being 480Hz.

 

[now i see it]

While I don’t have an OLED iPhone, there is an interesting display change that can be made to greatly reduce the contrast of the display. It’s the accessibility feature “Low Light” that can be accessed by triple tapping the display with three fingers then choose “Choose Filter” then “Low Light”.

On a LCD iPhone, the screen will get dimmer but it also will lose a ton of contrast. Blacks become more washed out and colors and whites aren’t so vivid. The screen becomes much easier to look at in a dark room.

If you leave it like that and then increase the brightness with the regular brightness slider in Control Center, the display will get brighter, but the contrast and colors will be much more subdued. It won’t look like the normal screen no matter how high you crank the brightness.

While it definitely isn’t as punchy looking as an unfiltered display — maybe it could help for those getting nailed by OLED screens for regular use like reading text.

As I said, I don’t have an OLED iPhone to check it out, but it sure changes the display characteristics on a LCD iPhone.

Try it

 

[Taz Mangus]

For those that want to try @now i see it suggestion for low light, I have linked the instructions on how to enable it.

How to Make Your iPhone Display Dimmer Than Standard Brightness Controls Allow

If the screen of your iPhone or iPad is too bright for comfort, the usual solution is to go to Settings -> Display & Brightness and drag the...

www.macrumors.com

 

[karinatwork]

Day 4, slight headache, but it may be unrelated. I have zero eye fatigue, and the screen looks pleasing to me now. I had to get used to the promotion, although I do have an iPad Pro, but it’s an adjustment on the small phone screen. I noticed that the brightness is not as good as my 11, so I turned the whitepoint as far down as possible. It’s funny how this phone is really bright in the sunshine, but then inside it’s so much darker than my 11.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Day 4, slight headache, but it may be unrelated. I have zero eye fatigue, and the screen looks pleasing to me now. I had to get used to the promotion, although I do have an iPad Pro, but it’s an adjustment on the small phone screen. I noticed that the brightness is not as good as my 11, so I turned the whitepoint as far down as possible. It’s funny how this phone is really bright in the sunshine, but then inside it’s so much darker than my 11.

Maybe try calibrating the auto brightness and see if that helps. Once I did not the brightness on 13 Pro Max has been really good in all lighting conditions.

How to Calibrate Auto Brightness on iPhone and iPad

Here's how you can calibrate the Auto Brightness feature on your iPhone and iPad properly for the perfect display brightness.

wccftech.com

 

[Mohtaref]

When I buy the new version, I'll decide.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Have we ever figured out if the rate of 609.8Hz for iPhone 13 is a misprint? It’s odd for it to be higher than iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Mini. iXBT reports all three as being 480Hz.

I just realized that I was using MHz instead of Hz. Maybe just wishful thinking ? It is confusing to see that the reported PWM frequency is all over the place.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Day 4, slight headache, but it may be unrelated. I have zero eye fatigue, and the screen looks pleasing to me now. I had to get used to the promotion, although I do have an iPad Pro, but it’s an adjustment on the small phone screen. I noticed that the brightness is not as good as my 11, so I turned the whitepoint as far down as possible. It’s funny how this phone is really bright in the sunshine, but then inside it’s so much darker than my 11.

FWIW I’ve found Reduce White Point to provide no benefit whatsoever to this current generation — which is a good sign. Feel free to train the auto-brightness if you find low brightness levels to cause headaches, otherwise I’d recommend using it as intended.

The display does still look great at max brightness with Reduce White Point enabled. It’s a shame we can’t get a truly flicker-free display or no flicker at max brightness since I feel like that would look amazing.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I can’t completely rule out issues, but iPhone 13 Mini so far has been a drastic improvement from iPhone 12 Pro Max. I’ll have to type up another post with my experiences since I still get light migraines and tension headaches at times, but they’re not nearly as severe or persistent.

It’s been so encouraging I’d give iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro another try if I wasn’t so smitten with the size.

I do think if Apple continues making improvements rather than remaining stagnant on PWM in another 3-4 years we’ll either have a high enough rate that the most sensitive users such as myself only experience extremely minor issues, or a flicker-free display.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Need to be silly to mask my crushing disappointment!

 

[karinatwork]

Day 6, still no increase in discomfort. The faintest hint of a headache, which could very well be psychosomatic (I'm a master in thinking myself sick). I am starting to really think that the 13 Pro is an Apple OLED phone that's finally working for me... I don't care about the PWM rate, actually. There is no obvious FLICKERING visible (like on the 13 & 13 Mini, as with the 12 and lower), and my brain is ok with just the wandering black bars on the screen (my TV has those too and I'm fine). Does that make sense?

 

[dimitricook]

Day 6, still no increase in discomfort. The faintest hint of a headache, which could very well be psychosomatic (I'm a master in thinking myself sick). I am starting to really think that the 13 Pro is an Apple OLED phone that's finally working for me... I don't care about the PWM rate, actually. There is no obvious FLICKERING visible (like on the 13 & 13 Mini, as with the 12 and lower), and my brain is ok with just the wandering black bars on the screen (my TV has those too and I'm fine). Does that make sense?

it does make perfect sense! Happy it works for you, enjoy the 13 pro and never think back

 

[jimmy_uk]

Day 6, still no increase in discomfort. The faintest hint of a headache, which could very well be psychosomatic (I'm a master in thinking myself sick). I am starting to really think that the 13 Pro is an Apple OLED phone that's finally working for me... I don't care about the PWM rate, actually. There is no obvious FLICKERING visible (like on the 13 & 13 Mini, as with the 12 and lower), and my brain is ok with just the wandering black bars on the screen (my TV has those too and I'm fine). Does that make sense?

Great news. Enjoy it, it's been a long road!

 

[MICHAELSD]

I have to add that iPhone 13 Mini is the first time I’m able to seriously consider keeping an OLED iPhone.

Edit: I’m seriously loving this little iPhone. I’ve forgotten how much of a difference the little details add up to to provide that much better of an experience compared to iPhone SE.

My eye strain has mostly become limited to tension headaches, which are manageable. I’m glad to have the holiday return period to be able to use iPhone 13 Mini to see how it works for me long-term.

 

[RobinYerbank]

Day 6, still no increase in discomfort. The faintest hint of a headache, which could very well be psychosomatic (I'm a master in thinking myself sick). I am starting to really think that the 13 Pro is an Apple OLED phone that's finally working for me... I don't care about the PWM rate, actually. There is no obvious FLICKERING visible (like on the 13 & 13 Mini, as with the 12 and lower), and my brain is ok with just the wandering black bars on the screen (my TV has those too and I'm fine). Does that make sense?

I’m really glad the 13 Pro is also working out for you! I’ve been using mine happily for almost a month now and it’s such a relief to be able to use it like a normal person. ?

I’m hanging onto this phone for dear life and will be very cautious when it’s time to upgrade in a few years!

 

[JM]

I’m really glad the 13 Pro is also working out for you! I’ve been using mine happily for almost a month now and it’s such a relief to be able to use it like a normal person. ?

I’m hanging onto this phone for dear life and will be very cautious when it’s time to upgrade in a few years!

Yes I’m really happy with mini 13 too. I will probably hold onto mine for dear life as well ?

I think what would convince me of insta-buy would be ZERO PWM, and touchID in power button with true full screen.

?

 

[MICHAELSD]

So far so good with iPhone 13 Mini.

I looked at an iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro in the Apple Store, and still feel that I get more migraines/headaches from the Pro specifically, but have no issues with the size of the Mini. It may even have the best display since it’s the sharpest that Apple has put on a phone. It’s such a joy to view content on the OLED, and I enjoy using this phone so much more than iPhone SE.

The 60Hz mode works well indoors, and going out using the display at 510Hz is still a dramatic improvement from OLED iPhone’s of the past. As noted I do still get tension headaches and light migraines at times, and I’m not sure of the long-term implications, but I’m leaning towards keeping this iPhone which wouldn’t have been an option last year.

 

[JM]

So far so good with iPhone 13 Mini.

I looked at an iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro in the Apple Store, and still feel that I get more migraines/headaches from the Pro specifically, but have no issues with the size of the Mini. It may even have the best display since it’s the sharpest that Apple has put on a phone. It’s such a joy to view content on the OLED, and I enjoy using this phone so much more than iPhone SE.

The 60Hz mode works well indoors, and going out using the display at 510Hz is still a dramatic improvement from OLED iPhone’s of the past. As noted I do still get tension headaches and light migraines at times, and I’m not sure of the long-term implications, but I’m leaning towards keeping this iPhone which wouldn’t have been an option last year.

Right on. TOLERABLE seems to be the word of the day.

I actually FORGOT earlier today that there was ever this thing called PWM.

But later I noticed the dry eyes ?

510pwm improvement seems to make a difference!

Yeah the 60 hertz is only noticeable when I do a super fast scroll in safari: can’t read anything as it zooms past.

So as long as there’s slow scrolling (most of the time) the 60Hz isn’t noticeable. Which makes me wonder if the behavior of the old safari scrolling was the way it was so that you wouldn’t encounter the Uber-fast scrolling word jumble they changed it to now.

(Also, I tried my mom’s 13 pro max. I thought “cool. Promotion” but it wasn’t that big of a deal.

I ALSO noticed more pain looking at the max like you said above.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Right on. TOLERABLE seems to be the word of the day.

I actually FORGOT earlier today that there was ever this thing called PWM.

But later I noticed the dry eyes ?

510pwm improvement seems to make a difference!

Yeah the 60 hertz is only noticeable when I do a super fast scroll in safari: can’t read anything as it zooms past.

So as long as there’s slow scrolling (most of the time) the 60Hz isn’t noticeable. Which makes me wonder if the behavior of the old safari scrolling was the way it was so that you wouldn’t encounter the Uber-fast scrolling word jumble they changed it to now.

(Also, I tried my mom’s 13 pro max. I thought “cool. Promotion” but it wasn’t that big of a deal.

I ALSO noticed more pain looking at the max like you said above.

60Hz isn’t in reference to the refresh rate: Apple wisely uses a 60Hz PWM rate at below 15% brightness. 13% seems to be the sweet spot for me indoors as far as avoiding eye strain. I was going to try to avoid using apps like Dimmer, but wanted to be able to reference specific brightness levels.

The higher brightness levels do bother me more. I am slightly curious if the rate on iPhone 13 is 610Hz as reported as that could be enough to make a noticeable difference.

iPhone 13 Pro Max is more or less unchanged from the PWM rate on iPhone 12 Pro Max, so it will definitely bother those who are sensitive.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Hey fam, dropped in tonight to see what I’ve missed. It seems several of our crew have found success. That is legit cool! Enjoy those slick devices while peasants like myself rock an 11 lol. Seriously, good stuff.

 

[DJTaurus]

also to me iPhone 11 seems more relaxed if i turn off true motion. Anyone else with similar experience ?

 

[JM]

also to me iPhone 11 seems more relaxed if i turn off true motion. Anyone else with similar experience ?

I had true Tone turned off, and always used low power mode.

For whatever reason (could be all in my head) but having low power mode on helped it feel more relaxed. Like the screen wasn’t doing Extra on color representation. (Temporal dithering)

 

[MICHAELSD]

Hey fam, dropped in tonight to see what I’ve missed. It seems several of our crew have found success. That is legit cool! Enjoy those slick devices while peasants like myself rock an 11 lol. Seriously, good stuff.

Not sure if you’ve tried any phones this generation but you might be pleasantly surprised with iPhone 13.

For now I’m going to leave auto-brightness on, although worst case scenario I could figure out the brightness levels that work best for me and use brightness shortcuts. Walking around with the auto-brightness constantly changing causes the most issues albeit nowhere near debilitating, as does switching to Low Power Mode oddly. I keep running the battery down at night by watching YouTube videos, so the Mini definitely does need to be charged more often throughout the day. This size is great and the colors are more crisp and vibrant to my eyes than iPhone 13 Pro.