Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[happy orchard]

I’m on day 4 of coffee withdrawal. That makes me more prone to headaches, but I’ve been using my 14 Pro Max like crazy. Sometimes I get a headache or eye ache from it. Sometimes I don’t.

But the important difference from my 13 Pro ownership is that any headaches go away without me having to take anything for them when I take a break. So I’m guessing it’s just garden variety tech induced eye strain then. With the 13 Pro I had a headache that didn’t go away no matter what pain relievers I took. After almost 3 weeks of that, I put that phone out to pasture.

Like I said, I’m not always getting discomfort when I use the 14 Pro Max. Just sometimes.

My daughter is going to let me try her 14 Pro this weekend for a little web browsing to see if there’s any difference at all. I’m pretty set on keeping this Max, though. Heavy as it is, it’s the size I really preferred this time around.

One thing I found out picking up her phone the other day, Attention Aware needed to be turned off. I suspected it might be on because she said her new phone wasn’t giving her a headache, but it was making her eyes feel “weird.” I had already told her to check it after finding my own settings had it turned on. Of course she had just said yeah then promptly dismissed me.

So I picked the phone up and I could feel right away Attention Aware must be on. She said it couldn’t possibly be on because she did a straight transfer from her 12 Pro and had that feature turned off on that phone. I asked her permission to check her settings and sure enough it was on! Then I gave her a look that could melt wax for not thinking to check it herself instead of stubbornly assuming it was already off.

So apparently somehow that feature defaults back to on, even if most of the other settings transfer over. I realize now that had happened to me, too.

I’m not going back to iPhone 11 or SE3 full time. Because the white flicker I have been complaining about is gone now. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I now think LCD use causes that for me. I don’t want that back because it bothers me when I’m driving. It extends my blind spot on the side. I’m lucky my automobiles have sensors that compensate for that, but still, who wants a white curtain flapping in their vision?

I’m glad I got this in 1 TB version. I think I can live with this phone. Goodness only knows what iPhone 15 will bring. If I can’t move on to periscope lenses or whatever it’s good to know I can stay on this one awhile.

At least I think so. I remember thinking that about my XS Max and then it kicked my head in.

A look that could melt wax….freaking love it.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Think I need to learn more about various lighting in my home, and kinda don’t want to. I have some photophobia from concussions, so I think I’ve long attributed it to that, but know some is the flickering.

Even my TV is SD. Remember trying other TVs, and I hated the screens—still don’t know how the world watches anything on those; it’s like the whole world is a soap opera. My point in bringing it up is to say that I don’t think my TV has a need for PWM? Now I’m curious am I going to have to give up Apple AND my favorite British shows when my TV dies?!

This is a real fear.

Cars manufacturers are now stuffing all screen consoles in their vehicles. Also OLED external lights is a thing.

Building and street lighting is going LED to save energy but usually they have cheap controllers with PWM.

TV, phones, tablets, laptops, monitors going OLED or mini LED.....

Back to books, fax, writing letters, looking at fires in the evening. Might move to a nice cave and raise llama 🙃

 

[happy orchard]

This is a real fear.

Cars manufacturers are now stuffing all screen consoles in their vehicles. Also OLED external lights is a thing.

Building and street lighting is going LED to save energy but usually they have cheap controllers with PWM.

TV, phones, tablets, laptops, monitors going OLED or mini LED.....

Back to books, fax, writing letters, looking at fires in the evening. Might move to a nice cave and raise llama 🙃

Thank goodness I love all of those things (okay, not faxes)

 

[Dejected]

Any updates ?

 

[Chrispy]

Any updates ?

Quiet in here today. Not exactly a useful update but I installed iOS 16 on my XR last night and paired my new AirPod Pros 2 and I feel like I have a new toy. Playing around with the lock screen was way more enjoyable than I expected - especially doing it without having to worry about a headache, haha. I have to give Apple credit for making my phone feel fresh again. And the new AirPods sound amazing. I'm no audio snob but I can tell a definite improvement in bass and high end over the original pros. So while I may not have gotten a new iPhone this year... again... at least I feel like I got some kind of upgrade. Fingers crossed for all the folks out there giving the standard 14 a try!

 

[dimitricook]

Someone able to translate the part about pwm? Starting at 5.59 might be interesting.

 

[asus389]

I went to the apple store last night and played with the 14 Pro and 14. Same effect on me as previous generations. Seems OK at first then I start getting eye strain and headaches. One of the 14 Pros seemed better than the others, but not without issue. IDK screen lottery? The Pro Max seemed worse in general.

For whatever reason I was able to use an 11 Pro Max without issue for a while on certain settings. I haven't been able to replicate that success with any other OLED phone.

 

[johhno140]

So are fellow sufferers mainly using an iPhone 11 as their go to phone? Is that currently the best available option? I’m currently on an iPhone 8 but the storage is full and battery health down to 81% hence upgrading to the 14pro in the hope it was viable. It wasn’t. Is it worth trying to pick up a refurbished 11?

 

[Expos of 1969]

So are fellow sufferers mainly using an iPhone 11 as their go to phone? Is that currently the best available option? I’m currently on an iPhone 8 but the storage is full and battery health down to 81% hence upgrading to the 14pro in the hope it was viable. It wasn’t. Is it worth trying to pick up a refurbished 11?

Depends what you need, think you need or want. I bought a SE 2022 on a sale last week. I had a 13 mini but sold it as it burned my eyes. I am not certain that I suffer from PWM as I was using a Galaxy S10e until last week and it is AMOELD and I had zero problems. I was going to get a Galaxy S22 but I read that some folks were having eye and headache issues with it after having no issues with the S10e so it made me wary.

 

[johhno140]

Depends what you need, think you need or want. I bought a SE 2022 on a sale last week. I had a 13 mini but sold it as it burned my eyes. I am not certain that I suffer from PWM as I was using a Galaxy S10e until last week and it is AMOELD and I had zero problems. I was going to get a Galaxy S22 but I read that some folks were having eye and headache issues with it after having no issues with the S10e so it made me wary.

Have lots synced between my phone, iPad and iMac so was ideally looking at Apple products. Currently doing a lot more hiking and cycling and have been taking more pictures whilst out, hence liking the look of the 14pro camera, but it’s no good as I can’t read the screen without discomfort.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Have lots synced between my phone, iPad and iMac so was ideally looking at Apple products. Currently doing a lot more hiking and cycling and have been taking more pictures whilst out, hence liking the look of the 14pro camera, but it’s no good as I can’t read the screen without discomfort.

Well, the LCD screen of the SE may be your only option if you want something newer than the 11.

 

[johhno140]

Well, the LCD screen of the SE may be your only option if you want something newer than the 11.

Thanks, will do some research between the SE and 11 and see which suits my requirements best.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

So are fellow sufferers mainly using an iPhone 11 as their go to phone? Is that currently the best available option? I’m currently on an iPhone 8 but the storage is full and battery health down to 81% hence upgrading to the 14pro in the hope it was viable. It wasn’t. Is it worth trying to pick up a refurbished 11?

I personally really enjoy the 11. I find the quality of the screen to be just fine at 326ppi and do not find the text or anything else to be fuzzy or subpar to say, the older plus models. You get a modern looking phone, a ‘night’ and day better camera system due to night mode, and I’ve found the ultra wide camera to be useful. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but for me personally it’s a better option than older models or the SE.

 

[Fatal1ty666]

Iphone 14 pro seems to be way better in terms of flickering.
That matches my personal experience.
12 mini didn’t work for me.
13 mini was oaky for me. But couldn’t use the dark mode an the brightness had to be over 30 percent all the time. When it got darker I got eye strain.
IP14 Pro works fine for me. dark mode here I come XD

 

[badger1212]

Iphone 14 pro seems to be way better in terms of flickering.
That matches my personal experience.
12 mini didn’t work for me.
13 mini was oaky for me. But couldn’t use the dark mode an the brightness had to be over 30 percent all the time. When it got darker I got eye strain.
IP14 Pro works fine for me. dark mode here I come XD

I think this goes to show that a lot of this is personal preference rather than any hard and fast rule regarding one single parameter e.g. PWM. I couldn’t handle the 14 pro at all and sent it back. I’ve been using a 14 for a couple of days now and am only getting mild symptoms.

For the person above asking about the 11, I’ve had one 3 years now and it’s still a very good phone with a comfortable screen. The main thing I wanted to upgrade for is the better camera and higher res screen but I still may go back to it. Though I am thinking of trying the Pixel 7 pro when it comes out in a couple of weeks. I’m tied into Apple with many devices but if I have to settle for old tech to get a phone that suits me then maybe I should switch.

 

[Chrispy]

Zollotech talks about PWM in the 14 Pro Max video he posted today at the 4 min mark. I think he checked for this in a first looks video as well and didn't find any clearly noticeable PWM. Lines up with the findings in the video above. Which just makes things even more confusing for those of us who didn't get along with the 14 Pro.

 

[johhno140]

Thank

I personally really enjoy the 11. I find the quality of the screen to be just fine at 326ppi and do not find the text or anything else to be fuzzy or subpar to say, the older plus models. You get a modern looking phone, a ‘night’ and day better camera system due to night mode, and I’ve found the ultra wide camera to be useful. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but for me personally it’s a better option than older models or the SE.

thanks, am being drawn to the 11 because of the better camera

 

[john g.]

I think this goes to show that a lot of this is personal preference rather than any hard and fast rule regarding one single parameter e.g. PWM. I couldn’t handle the 14 pro at all and sent it back. I’ve been using a 14 for a couple of days now and am only getting mild symptoms.

For the person above asking about the 11, I’ve had one 3 years now and it’s still a very good phone with a comfortable screen. The main thing I wanted to upgrade for is the better camera and higher res screen but I still may go back to it. Though I am thinking of trying the Pixel 7 pro when it comes out in a couple of weeks. I’m tied into Apple with many devices but if I have to settle for old tech to get a phone that suits me then maybe I should switch.

I'm in a similar boat. I have an 11 which is a good phone. I tried out a 14 pro and only had mild symptoms but sent it back.

I'm currently trying the regular 14 which I got yesterday. Not totally sure about it just yet and I wanna give it a few more days.

So are you thinking about keeping your 14 or are you gonna go back to the 11? Or do you know yet?

 

[badger1212]

I'm in a similar boat. I have an 11 which is a good phone. I tried out a 14 pro and only had mild symptoms but sent it back.

I'm currently trying the regular 14 which I got yesterday. Not totally sure about it just yet and I wanna give it a few more days.

So are you thinking about keeping your 14 or are you gonna go back to the 11? Or do you know yet?

I'm going to give the 14 a few more days. Can't quite make my mind up currently.I find it's good to switch between the 2 to see if I miss the other one.

 

[john g.]

I'm going to give the 14 a few more days. Can't quite make my mind up currently.I find it's good to switch between the 2 to see if I miss the other one.

Just curious, do you mind if I ask what your mild symptoms are?

 

[badger1212]

Just curious, do you mind if I ask what your mild symptoms are?

Mind eye pain and headaches only sometimes. Very very slight motion sickness but nowhere near any of the symptoms I had with the 14 pro.

 

[john g.]

Mind eye pain and headaches only sometimes. Very very slight motion sickness but nowhere near any of the symptoms I had with the 14 pro.

Pretty much exactly what I am encountering. Though with the 14 pro I didn't really have a pain or headaches just a tiny bit of dizziness but I had more profound motion sickness with it. With the 14 I am experiencing what you said.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Iphone 14 pro seems to be way better in terms of flickering.

I'd almost say that the camera is syncing up more with the flickering of the 14 Pro in this clip because you don't see the diagonal lines moving. More people have reported that using the 14 Pro caused issues/strain while the 14 felt easier to use (but not without some issues). But like every year there is a panel lottery so no two phones are the same (different manufacturers, different tolerances/calibration at manufacturing stage).

Zolotech has been fine with PWM since the 12 Series (so he's not that invested), DxOMark rate every new iphone with "the best display ever", Notebookcheck results are never detailed enough and don't seem very consistant.

And we are finding and discussing that flickering/PWM is likely not the only issue: dithering might be a contributing factor as well as screen lottery. Also iOS updates/changes, then there is the unknown/unmeasured.

I'd say it's obvious by now that filming an iPhone with a camera to detect flickering/PWM is not helpful anymore. All of these OLED screens have flickering/PWM, the only measure that matters is how you feel when using it.

 

[jntdroid]

I don't think I suffer from PWM, but every time I pickup my SE 2022 after using my 13 for a few days, it just feels like a relief. It's been like that for me since day 1 of OLED screens years ago. LCD's always just "feel" better to my eyes. So maybe I'm on the PWM "spectrum", it just doesn't cause me headaches? Don't know... but I just wish OEMs wouldn't ignore LCD going forward. I know OLED allows for more space inside the phone, but you'll never convince me they provide any benefit (especially battery) besides that. 🤷‍♂️

 

[sorgo †]

I don't think I suffer from PWM, but every time I pickup my SE 2022 after using my 13 for a few days, it just feels like a relief. It's been like that for me since day 1 of OLED screens years ago. LCD's always just "feel" better to my eyes. So maybe I'm on the PWM "spectrum", it just doesn't cause me headaches? Don't know... but I just wish OEMs wouldn't ignore LCD going forward. I know OLED allows for more space inside the phone, but you'll never convince me they provide any benefit (especially battery) besides that. 🤷‍♂️

Very well said. I totally know what you mean: I find myself naturally gravitating toward my 9th-gen iPad when at home, which I believe is due to its LCD display (rather than the size of the display). Yeah, maybe OLED screens can display accurate pitch-black. Other than that I don’t really get the appeal and quite miss the analogue/incandescent warmth of LCD the more I endure the cold sharpness of my 13 mini’s display.

Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get an SE rather than continue messing about with expensive iPhones that make my eyes bleed.