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I realize I'm dominating the thread with this journey I've been on today so my apologies! I called the number back just to say I really appreciated the customer service rep having them reach out. I always assume the "manager" who gets tasked with such things mostly deals with upset people so I thought I would share something nice. To my surprise, she was very interested in why I returned the 14 Pro. I mentioned eye strain and how it's been an issue ever since OLED iPhones. She wanted to know more so I went into detail about my issues with OLED screens and some of the common ones I've read about. Not that she can really do anything with this information, but it was a very nice chat and she really did seem somewhat fascinated with the entire thing. Clearly she had never encountered a customer returning an iPhone for this reason. Or at least not one who got to the manager level and could articulate the issue. In a weird way, that manager genuinely asking me about my issues with OLED made me feel better. Like.. I don't know.. at least someone at Apple pretended to care about our OLED plight, lol.
 
Great to hear that!! how was it for you? did you needed time to adjust, did you get issues the first days of usage?
I'm curious to hear this as well. And from anybody that is keeping their 14 series phones.


Most of the time I'm of the mindset that I'm going to keep it but if I get on a tear iand I'm on it a long time or especially if I'm going back-and-forth between that and an LCD phone then my eyes get wonky and I start questioning it. Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but I wonder if I just dedicated myself to using that phone if I would accommodate.

To reiterate I could never even do this with a previous OLED iPhone. Not even the 13 series and especially not the iPhone X.
 
I’m going to echo the sentiment here that it’s not free of issues, but iPhone 14 Pro Max has been the best of any OLED iPhone as far as eye strain symptoms. I can watch videos and use it for longer periods than I could with past OLED iPhones, and the persistent headaches are less common.

Notebookcheck’s review states that iPhone 13 Pro incorporated DC dimming, but my experience with that iPhone was migraine-inducting. I’m curious what they’ll find this year.

I’m not decided yet on keeping it, but it makes me hopeful that Apple will continue making progress and next year could be an iPhone that we’ll be okay with using. Truth be told I also don’t feel an attachment to this iPhone that I usually do.
 
Hearing everybody gush about their 14 pro as well as all the reviews makes me think I should have evaluated it for longer. It was weird though, I have less symptoms with the regular 14 which the tech world is making it seem like the “peasant“ phone. The weird thing about the pro is that it really gave me motion sickness symptoms harder than any OLED iPhone. I wonder if it was some screen stuff along with the promotion? Totally weird. In a perfect world I would have the 14 and 14 Pro side-by-side and be doing evaluations and making myself and all of you crazy :)
 
Hearing everybody gush about their 14 pro as well as all the reviews makes me think I should have evaluated it for longer. It was weird though, I have less symptoms with the regular 14 which the tech world is making it seem like the “peasant“ phone. The weird thing about the pro is that it really gave me motion sickness symptoms harder than any OLED iPhone. I wonder if it was some screen stuff along with the promotion? Totally weird. In a perfect world I would have the 14 and 14 Pro side-by-side and be doing evaluations and making myself and all of you crazy :)
Having had the opportunity to use both a 14 Pro and 14 next to each other, you aren't crazy in thinking the screen is easier to look at. I only had about an hour with the regular 14, but it never bothered me during the time I was messing with it. The 14 Pro was almost immediate discomfort. Who knows, maybe I would have been fine with the regular 14 - or the wildcard that's still out there, the 14 Plus. But I'm out of energy to find out right now, lol.
 
Great to hear that!! how was it for you? did you needed time to adjust, did you get issues the first days of usage?
My eyes did hurt a bit at the first day of using the 14PM, but never to the point where i had to put down the phone. The X was so bad that my head and eyes started hurting within minutes of using the phone. I feel bad for everyone who are still having an issue with the 14.
 
Having had the opportunity to use both a 14 Pro and 14 next to each other, you aren't crazy in thinking the screen is easier to look at. I only had about an hour with the regular 14, but it never bothered me during the time I was messing with it. The 14 Pro was almost immediate discomfort. Who knows, maybe I would have been fine with the regular 14 - or the wildcard that's still out there, the 14 Plus. But I'm out of energy to find out right now, lol.
That’s what I recall. but memory is a funny thing. Thanks for the validation because I think you’re right
 
Hearing everybody gush about their 14 pro as well as all the reviews makes me think I should have evaluated it for longer. It was weird though, I have less symptoms with the regular 14 which the tech world is making it seem like the “peasant“ phone. The weird thing about the pro is that it really gave me motion sickness symptoms harder than any OLED iPhone. I wonder if it was some screen stuff along with the promotion? Totally weird. In a perfect world I would have the 14 and 14 Pro side-by-side and be doing evaluations and making myself and all of you crazy :)
Going back to this comparison posted earlier of iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 13 Mini, it looks like Apple is at least taking a different approach on this generation:


We already know it’s not DC dimming as amplitudes range from 10%-38%, but maybe Notebookcheck will equate it to the quasi-DC dimming on iPhone 13 Pro.

It appears that iPhone 14 on the other hand is still using more conventional PWM, at a rate that may have been doubled:

 
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This is my current world:

Just got home from yoga. In class, when we lay back and the back of our heads lay on the mat, I got mad dizziness. Had to sit up to get it to calm down, which took awhile and a few people around me kindly asking after me. By the time, I walked out, I had (and have now) a horrible headache.

Problem: I don't know if it's the slight weather change, the fluctuating PCS, that freakin' phone with OLED, OR worrying about deciding if I'm going to keep that freakin' phone with OLED.

Bloody over this.
 
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This is my current world:

Just got home from yoga. In class, when we lay back and the back of our heads lay on the mat, I got mad dizziness. Had to sit up to get it to calm down, which took awhile and a few people around me kindly asking after me. By the time, I walked out, I had (and have now) a horrible headache.

Problem: I don't know if it's the slight weather change, the fluctuating PCS, that freakin' phone with OLED, OR worrying about deciding if I'm going to keep that phone with OLED.

Bloody over this.
For me it’s pretty simple since I can recognize the PWM headaches, and that they originate from an OLED iPhone.

However, I’m starting to believe that iPhone 14 Pro Max is quite a bit better. While I do still get light throbbing and headaches at times that I can definitively attribute to the display, my overall experience is at least doubly improved over iPhone 13/Pro/Mini, and a world of improvement compared to iPhone X.
 
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For me it’s pretty simple since I can recognize the PWM headaches, and that they originate from an OLED iPhone.

However, I’m starting to believe that iPhone 14 Pro Max is quite a bit better. While I do still get light throbbing and headaches at times that I can definitively attribute to the display, my overall experience is at least doubly improved over iPhone 13/Pro/Mini, and a world of improvement compared to iPhone X.
I'm with you on this. The early OLEDs were so ridiculously and instantly painful; I knew I couldn't use them. I am convinced that these latest models are better.

Just don't know if they're better enough for me.

Just don't know if I want to feed the beast of 'mostly good enough' or 'give up and go back'? Obviously, I need to and will reframe those choices.

It's good to know that for someone--for you--you can clearly discern. Yay!
 
Yeah, it's clear as mud at the moment. Not that you asked but my vote would be stick with the 13 Pro if your eyes get along with it. Plus, then you have even more reason to upgrade next year!
Yeah, agreed. I finally made that decision last night. I am going to go to my carrier store tonight to return the 14 Pro. I like the phone, but it's nice going back to the 13 Pro that is so easy on my eyes.
 
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Yeah, agreed. I finally made that decision last night. I am going to go to my carrier store tonight to return the 14 Pro. I like the phone, but it's nice going back to the 13 Pro that is so easy on my eyes.
It seems that these models are similar enough, so if one definitely feels better—go for it! Hope you enjoy your 13 Pro!
 
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I'm with you on this. The early OLEDs were so ridiculously and instantly painful; I knew I couldn't use them. I am convinced that these latest models are better.

Just don't know if they're better enough for me.

Just don't know if I want to feed the beast of 'mostly good enough' or 'give up and go back'? Obviously, I need to and will reframe those choices.

It's good to know that for someone--for you--you can clearly discern. Yay!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

I hypothesized last year that if Apple doubled the rate again then headaches might go down to a 2/10. I’m not quite sure they’ve done that, but headaches are at around a 2/10 compared to iPhone X’s 24/7 headaches.

I’m just not sure that it’s worth keeping an iPhone that’s almost good enough and settling, rather than waiting for no headaches at all as it should be on an iPhone.
 
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

I hypothesized last year that if Apple doubled the rate again then headaches might go down to a 2/10. I’m not quite sure they’ve done that, but headaches are at around a 2/10 compared to iPhone X’s 24/7 headaches.

I’m just not sure that it’s worth keeping an iPhone that’s almost good enough and settling, rather than waiting for no headaches at all as it should be on an iPhone.
My day 14 is Sunday. I’m actually looking forward to Monday so the decision will be over. (🤞🏻) When’s your decision date? Or have you made a decision you’re comfortable with already?
 
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

I hypothesized last year that if Apple doubled the rate again then headaches might go down to a 2/10. I’m not quite sure they’ve done that, but headaches are at around a 2/10 compared to iPhone X’s 24/7 headaches.

I’m just not sure that it’s worth keeping an iPhone that’s almost good enough and settling, rather than waiting for no headaches at all as it should be on an iPhone.
Settling has been one of my biggest dilemmas. I feel like I am settling either way. I am either settling for a dated phone that no longer holds up to current models the way it once did (to me), or, settling for minor bouts of discomfort at the cost of $1400. I feel like it is damned if I do, damned if I don't.
 
Early report from me: whats different from previous years is I could use the 14 Pro for hours without feeling like my eyes where strained or gritty, the first for a Pro OLED iphone. Also no involuntary burping from motion sickness like the standard 13 gave me. Sadly and sickeningly, I have woken to a terrible migraine.

The back of my eye balls feel like they are being gripped and poked at the same time. Behind my eyes and in the right hemisphere of my brain I feel like someone is punching me and the skull pressure is intense. I also have a deep sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach. Waking like this leaves me feeling like I haven't slept. I've taken medication to help but I will feel rough for the rest of the day, I have been here before....FFS!

Now the standard dilemmas:
• Do I wait a day and try again to rule out other factors?
• Do I write off the 14 Pro and open the standard 14?
• Do I give up, return phones and never buy OLED iphone again?

Naturally I don't want to feel this rough again, but I'm also desperate to get a new phone and having waited another year, full of anticipation, I have 2 phones in hand. 😵‍💫 5 years of this is soul destroying, and I feel stupid and depressed for saying this as it's just a phone.....(Yay to over sharing).
I know exactly how you feel. I’m so sick of using my iPhone SE 2 and just want to be able to use the latest and greatest.
 
Reduce white noise even at my iPhone 11 has been a game changer. How wrong i was all these years for not using it…… display has been a lot easier to my eyes. No more blooming ultra bright white letters! Specially on wake up it’s a must!
 
Any of us sensitive folk tried the 13 mini? Someone asked me about it, and I realized I'd never even tried it. How did it go for those of you who tried it?
 
My Iphone 14 Pro Max is in the process of being set up. I've discovered something that may be the reason why some tolerate the Max better. Compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, the PWM bars are brighter, narrower and run diagonally across the display. On the iPhone 14 Pro, they run top to bottom and are much thicker. Maybe that triggers the eyes more. I will report later how I tolerate the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
 
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