Also everyone, don't forget that Apple plans to switch things over to Micro-LED once it's available. They will be doing testing in 2019 supposedly with the Apple Watch, and should go from there (LG manufacturing). I'm not certain whether this means if all goes well it could be available to use in the iPhone the very next year, as there are large variations in manufacturing volume between the watch and iphones. I'm also not certain whether they will even be able to look to include it as soon as possible because they start finalizing iPhone design about a year before release, and they'll likely want to see how the micro led does on the watch first.
Either way, optimistically, I don't think Apple will stick with OLED very long. It could be 2-4 years though.
There is still hope.
Developers have been able to hack some of Samsung’s phones/tablets to disable PWM and make the display flicker-free.
We have to keep contacting Apple until we get a proper response.
Would microled eliminate PWM?
What was the screen quality like after removing PWM? I’ve read that PWM for OLED hides uneven brightness of the panel.
I had an ocular migraine for the first time on Saturday, which quickly had me on my way to the ER! It really scared me, I thought I was having a stroke or some other significant medical event. It started off as a small blurry spot in the center of my vision, then progressed into a rainbow zigzag mess of colors taking almost half of my field of view. In about 25 min it subsided but left me completely worn out and in the ER. After a CT scan, I was sent on my way with a diagnosis of ocular migraine.
I still have a followup this week with an ophthalmologist for a complete eye exam but I'm leaning towards my iPhone X having something to do with it. I've been using the X since launch and have noticed slight eye strain towards the end of the day, which is something I normally do not experience.
After a complete eye exam, my vision is great and better than 20/20. I easily read both the distance and up close charts at 20/20. They dialated my pupils, a first for me, and all was well.
My ophthalmologist also suffers from ocular migraines. He said that I need to find my trigger, whether it be stress, alcohol, certain lighting, foods, etc... I’ve been thinking long and hard, but the only thing different is my iPhone X. However, I am working long hours and finishing up my engineering degree, but I’ve been on the same schedule for the last few years.
So it’s either my hectic schedule finally catching up with me or my iPhone X.
I contacted Apple, explained my situation, and they quickly offered me a full refund even though I was way past the 14-day return window! I know Apple has excellent customer service and I hope that is what is happening in my case, but I can't help thinking this may be a known issue and larger than we think.
I've already placed my order for an 8 Plus. However, I keep going back and forth with myself. On one side, I think there is no way the PWM could be causing me any issues. On the other, I don't think my symptoms are coincidence.
What is even worse, I assume PWM and OLED is going to be implemented in the flagship iPhones moving forward, at least for the next few iterations.
[doublepost=1512226174][/doublepost]Does anyone know at what frequency the PWM of the iPhone X operates at and at what frequency people become susceptible to the flicker?
I stopped watching TV around the time we went from Plasma to the Samsung LED one. Part of the reason was that I didn’t care for contemporary programming anyway. I prefer to read. But I did find it very hard to pay attention to the screen for any length of time. I never had a good attention span for tv or movies but now it’s abysmal. And I get horrible fatigue. I tire out watching the tv. I preferred watching movies on my 7 Plus. Not even on my Samsung phone.I am not sure how accurate it is, but I used my iPhone's SLO-MO camera to test some other displays/lights around my home. The good news is that my 2017 iMac and RMBP do not appear to use PWM. Also, my fiancés iPhone 7 Plus is flicker free. Unfortunately, it appears that just about every other display and light in my home uses PWM. Both of my high end Panasonic TVs, every single light in my house (all CREE LEDs), even my 2017 Sierra Denali uses PWM for the digital gauge cluster. Thankfully, the front LED headlights appear to be ok.
I know that I have been sensitive to the lighting used in large stores like Costco, Was-Mart, etc... since my 20s. I try to get in and out as quickly as possible and hopefully avoid the nausea. I've known that watching too much TV would make my eyes a little tired and the LED lights around my house seemed a little irritating, but I never considered it was because PWM.
It appears that most of my home uses PWM. I work long hours and have been going to school for the last several years so when I'm home I'm usually working on homework or sleeping. I don't have much time for TV anymore. I do use my iPhone and RMBP a ton though.
jump ship to android lol!same PWM issue.just buy the 8 plus or razer phone or the older phonesThis is literally heartbreaking for me, having owned every single iPhone since gen 1. I should want to use my new, expensive iPhone rather than having to put it down after a few minutes after being in pain (eye strain, headaches, etc.) the whole time.
I would have stuck with my Jet Black 7 Plus, which was a great phone, if I knew it was going to be this bad. Unfortunately I see no reason to spend $1000 (with tax) on iPhone 8 Plus when I happily paid $1200 for iPhone X unaware of the issues with the display for those with sensitive eyes — and I’ve never had issues with my vision or sensitivity to strobe lights, etc.
If I have to get rid of iPhone X I may be forced to jump ship... I doubt I will really move to Android but I can’t keep a phone that’s damaging my health. I’m going to try to continue contacting Apple so that they can respond to this issue. I’m surprised they even shipped the phone like this, and that nobody in their testing had issues with the PWM. Seems like a major compromise was made to get it out this year.
lol
jump ship to android lol!same PWM issue.just buy the 8 plus or razer phone or the older phones
I’ve read that PWM for OLED hides uneven brightness of the panel.
Yes, Samsung phones are worse but there are plenty of other options without PWM. I honestly don’t want to spend $1000 on iPhone 8 Plus, for the first time ever I would have kept my 7 Plus. However, I will continue trying to make light of this issue so that Apple is forced to respond. I don’t see myself being able to keep this phone for the next year without a detrimental effect on my health if this isn’t rectified.
I’d gladly take a “disables PWM but may cause uneven brightness” option in Accessibility if that’s all they’re willing to do. My eye is literally throbbing staring at the display, they should acknowledge that some people are sensitive to PWM.
As I said in my previous post, I switched to another device and I do not have any more issues now. Since users are talking about PWM and OLED, I will say that my new phone is a Samsung Note 8. This thing has also an OLED, and it does not cause the same effects as the Iphone X. I really hate not being able to have IOS but there is something wrong with the X and I will not risk my eyes over it.
If you look at the video reviews of the iPhone X, you can see the face id laser flashing in the videos when it turns on. I am wondering if it is too strong and it is causing the issue. Nevertheless, I am not going to assume is the screen or else. My empirical evidence says that when I used another device with OLED screen I did not have the same issue.
[doublepost=1512306375][/doublepost]
I switched to a note 8 and I am not having the issue. You should probably try the note 8 instead of going by assumptions.
Based on tests I’ve seen floating in this forum the note 8 actually has stronger PWM than the iPhone. Sure it’s not placebo? It switches all the way to 0 brightness even at 50-60% brightness vs the iPhone that flickers maybe 5-10% at 50% brightness
Why not organise a poll, like turn this thread into a simple Yes/No poll so that there can be a clear count on how many are suffering.Is it possible we’re not sensitive and there’s just something defective about our devices? It seems to be such a small group of people that I’ll have to test my buddy’s iPhone X to see if I have the same pain. Though I doubt it.
I disabled FaceID and my situation didn’t improve so I’m not sure that’s the issue. It seems to be with the display but I won’t entirely rule out the possibility.
[doublepost=1512321505][/doublepost]Is it possible we’re not sensitive and there’s just something defective about our devices? It seems to be such a small group of people that I’ll have to test my buddy’s iPhone X to see if I have the same pain. Though I doubt it.
Why not organise a poll, like turn this thread into a simple Yes/No poll so that there can be a clear count on how many are suffering.
Same here, but I feel for the people affected by it!I stare at my X much more than I should every day since I got it. No eye strain whatsoever to report.
Thought it was the slower rate causing more problems?Here’s a video of the PWM/flickering:
Previous iPhones would be flat with no flicker.
Interestingly, at 50%-100% brightness the display flickers at 60Hz and at 0-49% it flickers at 240Hz.
If I’m reading that right, the effect would be less pronounced at >50% brightness.
Please fix this, Apple.
Thought it was the slower rate causing more problems?