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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
- Thread starter Kitkad
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Honestly I was going to publicize this if Apple support didn’t help to make sure Apple was aware of the severity for some users.
Thankfully I am impressed with how seriously Apple is taking this issue after I contacted them and explained it in detail. If a resolution is possible we will find out soon.
I'm actually kinda surprised that they consider it a "high priority issue", since most of the population doesn't even notice it. If there is one company that would do something like this, it would be Apple though. Major props to them for taking us seriously and trying to help us.
Also, I'm definitely confident they'll have a solution. Considering that some phones can disable PWM naturally or be rooted to disable it, it seems like there are possible solutions out there. My only concern is if Apple will actually be okay with an accessibility setting that makes the screen look worse. IIRC, disabling PWM messes with the display uniformity.
Apple is considering this a matter of safety thus the high-priority status. iPhone X is negatively affecting my health when I’m using the device and more alarmingly sporadically for hours afterwards as well.
I’m thankful it was taken seriously and escalated up to the main engineering team. That’s an impressive level of support even if only a small percentage of users are suffering. Apple cares about its customers and I think they’ll reach a resolution that will make iPhone X usable for people sensitive to the new display.
Not to be pessimistic, but do you think Apple could just be blowing you off? I hope not. I’d really like to go back to my X (typing this on my 8 Plus).
Also, re: the compromises that disabling PWM may lead to may require approval from upper management for the engineering team to implement.
No, they seem to be genuinely looking into it. I’m supposed to receive daily updates (likely in a few hours) so will keep the group posted.
No, they seem to be genuinely looking into it. I’m supposed to receive daily updates (likely in a few hours) so will keep the group posted.
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I've been thinking about that, and I was originally concerned, but I think this is a special case.
This isn't a display option like Night Shift, True Tone, etc. This is more akin to Color Filters or other accessibility options. I think they'd be a little more lax considering it's strictly for accessibility and not just a optional thing like night shift, true tone, etc.
Either way, thanks for keeping us updated, we appreciate it
Chiming in after a couple of hours of using the iPhone X I am also experiencing some eye strain.
Funny I’ve been scrolling pass this thread thinking people were just looking for something to complain about lol.
Sorry...
Funny I’ve been scrolling pass this thread thinking people were just looking for something to complain about lol.
Sorry...
At least you owned up to it. That's all that matters. Hope it gets better for you.
But it still will not change the PWM dimming.
Also the lower the brightness the slower the flickering
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xff8k2nc6opem0j/X_SLOW.MOV?dl=0
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Unfortunately you’re correct — this is the tech support equivalent of “your call is very important to us...” It has to be treated seriously at the support level because it’s a health-related complaint, but Apple is not confused about whether or not they’ve used PWM on these displays, nor are they unaware that PWM is a problem for some people.
Sorry to be a source of negativity, but it is incredibly unrealistic to expect anything to come directly from this support interaction. The support people involved are clueless and following scripts.
HOWEVER — making Apple aware of how many people find it to be a problem IS critical, as this could eventually result in Apple deciding that they must address the matter, even if that only means they they continue to offer non-PWM LCD alternatives going forward.
Of course.
My apple fanboyism isn’t that strong lol. If there’s something wrong with the product there’s nothing wrong in pointing it out. The iPhone X isn’t hands down, top to bottom a better iPhone than any other iPhone that has been produced.
I’ve had every iPhone since the original and this is the only iPhone that’s ever caused physical irritation. This is actually the only mobile phone that’s caused a physical irritation just by using it lol.
I had a chat with Apple about this and they said to take a video of the issue. I said it doesn't show up in video since it was subtle and not showing in video playback They said to take a video of a video and i tried explaining again. And I'm not exaggerating when they said take a video of a video of a video. It was at this point I disconnected.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xff8k2nc6opem0j/X_SLOW.MOV?dl=0
The same slowmotion video with LCD iphones show a perfect flicker free screen
Hi . I am selling my X due to PWM and buying 8+ . Is 8+ screen free of flicker and pwm ? Easy on eyes ?
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Hi . I am selling my X due to PWM and buying 8+ . Is 8+ screen free of flicker and pwm ? Easy on eyes ?
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Hi . I am selling my X due to PWM and buying 8+ . Is 8+ screen free of flicker and pwm ? Easy on eyes ?Yeah, I had the same problem dude. You'll eventually get used to it, just gotta train your eyes to not read while things are scrolling. It's annoying at first, but I eventually stopped even noticing.
Still had to ditch the X due to PWM though
Yes, yes, and yes.
Call Apple and tell them your issues. They may go ahead and return the X even if your past the 14 days. I think I was around 30 days and they took mine back, no questions asked.
Hi . I am selling my X due to PWM and buying 8+ . Is 8+ screen free of flicker and pwm ? Easy on eyes ?
I understand what you're saying, and normally I'd completely agree. I'm still hopeful something may come of it though. Other phones have had their PWM disabled with software modifications, so we at least know it's possible.
I dunno, I just feel like this isn't some frivolous feature request, it's strictly an accessibility setting, so hopefully they'd take it seriously and provide a fix.
Some of the galaxy phones have 0 PWM at brightness above 94%. Also, someone was able to make an unofficial custom kernel for the S7 that removed PWM altogether. It just proves that there are ways of combating PWM with software fixes. I guess it all depends on if Apple is okay with the negative side effects of it though.
Thanks - but PWM is usually most troublesome at lower brightness levels, say, 50% or so. So eliminating the effect above 94% isn't really much help. And as far as tweaks for in-service hardware, has Samsung or any other manufacturer reconfigured a phone with an OLED display after release? I'm not an EE but I have some familiarity with transceivers and portable illumination and I don't think there are typically hardware workarounds in electronics designs that would allow a change from PWM via firmware.