Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[The.Glorious.Son]

Well, I am still using the 14PM. This is easily the longest I’ve stayed with an Apple OLED phone. I have some mild discomforts but they are difficult to discern from my normal daily issues I’m beginning to see a chiropractor for.

I will say the impossible happened in that this phone has ruined the 11 for me. The camera on this thing is amazing. I also love being able to see what’s on my screen in sunlight and the speakers are amazing. Battery life, well, it’s the best I’ve ever had. I have a feeling I will ride it out with this phone. I’ve spoken to enough friends in the medical/ophthalmology fields and read enough to not have any concerns about actual physical damage using the screen. Simply put, sensitive users are said to be prone to the normal symptoms but no long-term damage has been found. I’ve passed that point of being able to happily return to my 11.

 

[john g.]

Well, I am still using the 14PM. This is easily the longest I’ve stayed with an Apple OLED phone. I have some mild discomforts but they are difficult to discern from my normal daily issues I’m beginning to see a chiropractor for.

I will say the impossible happened in that this phone has ruined the 11 for me. The camera on this thing is amazing. I also love being able to see what’s on my screen in sunlight and the speakers are amazing. Battery life, well, it’s the best I’ve ever had. I have a feeling I will ride it out with this phone. I’ve spoken to enough friends in the medical/optical fields and read enough to not have any concerns about actual physical damage using the screen. Simply put, sensitive users are said to be prone to the normal symptoms but no long-term damage has been found. I’ve passed that point of being able to happily return to my 11.

Leaning in the same direction. Though I am trying the regular 14 and not the pro. The pro bothered me a little bit more. Anyway, I can see what you are saying about the 11. The cellular modem is so much better on the 14 than 11 as well. And that is just using LTE, no 5G monkey business.
Some people think the Intel modems that were in the 11 are kind of trash.

 

[dazz87]

Just got my 14 PM and so far it’s been okay. I had this issue with the X and finally decided to give the OLED screen another shot. X was horrible for me, headaches within using it for a few minutes. Will continue to test it out

 

[Dejected]

so now which one has the highest pwm rate ( 14 -14 pro - 14 pro max ) ?

 

[Chrispy]

The cellular modem is so much better on the 14 than 11 as well. And that is just using LTE, no 5G monkey business.
Some people think the Intel modems that were in the 11 are kind of trash.

That's good to know. The modem on the XR has always been its weakest point for me. I live in an area with limited service and Verizon is the only one who can even supply a strong enough signal to reach indoors. The XR can just barely hold a signal indoors and I often drop coverage even just walking a mile to the park and back. At some point I need to move on to something with better connectivity, but these darn OLED displays keep getting in my way.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Deleted

 

[sorgo †]

That's good to know. The modem on the XR has always been its weakest point for me. I live in an area with limited service and Verizon is the only one who can even supply a strong enough signal to reach indoors. The XR can just barely hold a signal indoors and I often drop coverage even just walking a mile to the park and back. At some point I need to move on to something with better connectivity, but these darn OLED displays keep getting in my way.

Is the SE with its retro bezel/chin and shorter battery life just not an option for you? Sorry if you’ve already explained somewhere. Also do you use wi-fi calling where you can? I find it to be a lifesaver when cellular coverage is otherwise strained.

 

[edhchoe]

Blink your eyes more often.

 

[Chrispy]

Is the SE with its retro bezel/chin and shorter battery life just not an option for you? Sorry if you’ve already explained somewhere. Also do you use wi-fi calling where you can? I find it to be a lifesaver when cellular coverage is otherwise strained.

The SE is definitely a consideration now that the updated one is using the better modem. I know it doesn't have the full 4x4 antenna but it has to be an improvement over the XR. Wifi calling has been my saving grace at home and thankfully it works flawlessly. But the second I leave the house, it's pretty rough until I get closer to the next town over.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Well, I am still using the 14PM. This is easily the longest I’ve stayed with an Apple OLED phone. I have some mild discomforts but they are difficult to discern from my normal daily issues I’m beginning to see a chiropractor for.

I will say the impossible happened in that this phone has ruined the 11 for me. The camera on this thing is amazing. I also love being able to see what’s on my screen in sunlight and the speakers are amazing. Battery life, well, it’s the best I’ve ever had. I have a feeling I will ride it out with this phone. I’ve spoken to enough friends in the medical/optical fields and read enough to not have any concerns about actual physical damage using the screen. Simply put, sensitive users are said to be prone to the normal symptoms but no long-term damage has been found. I’ve passed that point of being able to happily return to my 11.

FWIW I also had my optical nerves inspected and they came back as perfectly healthy. So it’s at least good to know that despite the stabbing pain it’s probably not causing actual damage.

iPhone 14 Pro Max definitely isn’t perfect, but it is the best option thus far.

Unfortunately I spoke too soon earlier as I started getting the familiar throbbing after using this iPhone for around an hour, but perhaps not quite as constant.

The solution is a flicker-free implementation at all brightness levels that we haven’t gotten yet.

If I were CEO of Apple that would be my first order of business, but it doesn’t seem to be the priority even if the display team seems to be more cognizant of it.

 

[Mr.Simple]

Notebookcheck lists already the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on the PWM Ranking List. On both they have measured only 240 Hz PWM frequency

https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartphones-and-Tablets-with-PWM.163979.0.html?

Diffrent result on 14 Pro Max compared to DXOmark. And this is lower than what they have measured on the iPhone 13 Pro.

 

[madmozg]

I've always been sensitive to light. As a kid, I had so many pairs of sunglasses because my dad got them free from vendors at work. I was always walking around with some kind of brand logo on my face because, even on cloudy days, my eyes would get watery from the bright outdoor light. Even today whenever I'm outdoors, I'm always in shades. I can also easily detect flickering where other people don't if the frequency isn't high enough. The rest of my senses are pretty laid back and accommodating I would like to think, haha. Except sound. Sometimes sounds really annoy me depending on the day.

Same for me, I can't go out without pair of sunglasses. If i went out without them, i instantly have a tears in my eyes

 

[madmozg]

Leaning in the same direction. Though I am trying the regular 14 and not the pro. The pro bothered me a little bit more. Anyway, I can see what you are saying about the 11. The cellular modem is so much better on the 14 than 11 as well. And that is just using LTE, no 5G monkey business.
Some people think the Intel modems that were in the 11 are kind of trash.

I agree, modem is total trash on 11pro. When u at a parking garage and driving out, your cellular sometimes could not come back, so I have to manually turn airplane mode on and turn it off to make modem reregister/restart.

 

[john g.]

Notebookcheck lists already the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on the PWM Ranking List. On both they have measured only 240 Hz PWM frequency

https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartphones-and-Tablets-with-PWM.163979.0.html?

Diffrent result on 14 Pro Max compared to DXOmark. And this is lower than what they have measured on the iPhone 13 Pro.

Thank you. Looks like they haven't tested the regular 14 yet. Wonder if they will?

 

[sorgo †]

Sitting down to my trusty LCD iPad 9th gen (with Logitech Combo Touch 🫶) for the evening…and breathing a sigh of relief. 😮‍💨

 

[iCantSee]

Thank you. Looks like they haven't tested the regular 14 yet. Wonder if they will?

I do not see any of the 14 models on that list?

 

[krebphone]

Notebookcheck lists already the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on the PWM Ranking List. On both they have measured only 240 Hz PWM frequency

https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartphones-and-Tablets-with-PWM.163979.0.html?

Diffrent result on 14 Pro Max compared to DXOmark. And this is lower than what they have measured on the iPhone 13 Pro.

I don’t see any iPhone 14 in that link

 

[AJAAY]

Notebookcheck lists already the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on the PWM Ranking List. On both they have measured only 240 Hz PWM frequency

https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartphones-and-Tablets-with-PWM.163979.0.html?

Diffrent result on 14 Pro Max compared to DXOmark. And this is lower than what they have measured on the iPhone 13 Pro.

That's got to be a record for Notebookcheck. They usually don't have these measurements out until at least 3 or 4 weeks after release.

This confirms it, the 14 pro line is definitely out of the question for me. I cannot tolerate those low PWM frequency levels. I'm currently using the regular 14 and hoping for some good results with the 14 plus when it's finally released.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

So this is kinda eyeronic…..the main reason I want to keep this phone are the cameras, yet here is what looking at the screen does to my eyes lol. This blows.

 

[AlfieOrion]

Hey guys, just wanted to share.. that aside from the white point, transparency, reduce motion, dark mode, true tone, auto brightness settings… on the physical side of things, rest, moisturizing eye drops, and sugar levels also seem to affect eye-strain tolerances. Similarly, omega 3s can help with the brain fog side effects. =D

 

[happy orchard]

View attachment 2081422
So this is kinda eyeronic…..the main reason I want to keep this phone are the cameras, yet here is what looking at the screen does to my eyes lol. This blows.

Wow. That really puts things in perspective.

 

[PwmMen]

Notebookcheck lists already the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on the PWM Ranking List. On both they have measured only 240 Hz PWM frequency

https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartphones-and-Tablets-with-PWM.163979.0.html?

Diffrent result on 14 Pro Max compared to DXOmark. And this is lower than what they have measured on the iPhone 13 Pro.

Unfortunately, this shows that we don't care at all about Apple. Apple is not willing to produce healthy displays. As much as I love my Apple devices, I'm going to look elsewhere now. Samsung also manages to implement at least constant frequencies in their displays. This makes them much more tolerable. My iPhone 12 Pro is superb, and Apple has done it there like Samsung. Why they didn't keep it is beyond me.

 

[Fatal1ty666]

Notebookcheck lists already the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on the PWM Ranking List. On both they have measured only 240 Hz PWM frequency

https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartphones-and-Tablets-with-PWM.163979.0.html?

Diffrent result on 14 Pro Max compared to DXOmark. And this is lower than what they have measured on the iPhone 13 Pro.

I don´t think this is correct. I tested my Iphone 14 Pro side by side against my 13 mini. The Iphone Pro has a definitley higher PWM rate. See my Video below. For me the 14Pro is much more pleasent to my eyes.

 

[Evilxardas]

Notebookcheck lists already the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on the PWM Ranking List. On both they have measured only 240 Hz PWM frequency

https://www.notebookcheck.net/PWM-Ranking-Notebooks-Smartphones-and-Tablets-with-PWM.163979.0.html?

Diffrent result on 14 Pro Max compared to DXOmark. And this is lower than what they have measured on the iPhone 13 Pro.

Maybe different panels? How is it possible that the 14P has a PWM of 240hz like my X and I can't use the 14P?! It would mean that the problem is somewhere else in my case. Maybe i don't like the LTPO and its variable refresh rate. Or maybe different panels?

 

[Chrispy]

Unfortunately, this shows that we don't care at all about Apple. Apple is not willing to produce healthy displays. As much as I love my Apple devices, I'm going to look elsewhere now. Samsung also manages to implement at least constant frequencies in their displays. This makes them much more tolerable. My iPhone 12 Pro is superb, and Apple has done it there like Samsung. Why they didn't keep it is beyond me.

It really is disheartening to see that Apple clearly doesn't have a solution they are willing to implement for us who are sensitive to this. I'm sure it's a cost savings thing and they have crunched the numbers and found those of us who can't handle their OLED displays are so small in number compared to the additional sales those fancy displays make for them that they are willing to make that tradeoff.

My iPad is a 2017 model, my Apple watch is a Series 3, my MacBook is an old Intel model. All of my Apple devices are coming up on an upgrade in the next few years but, like you, I'm seriously considering other options. If I'm going to leave the ecosystem, now is the time. But this is still a problem in Android land with even more devices to muddy the waters. And LCD Android phones are usually pretty terrible. So I just don't know.