Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[Howyalikdemapls]

Hmmm. I returned a 14PM after four days (because of the size) and exchanged it for a 14P. My whole body deflates at the thought of having to go exchange the 14P for a 14PM, but I keep hearing people say the 14PM is doing better for them.

Also at about midnight, I started considering the 13 mini.

Honestly, at this point, I can't tell anything anymore. I'm tired of trying phones. Actually, part of me would love to have a whole bunch of phones and just switch them out--but that's just too ridiculous. Now I'm having that overwhelmed reaction of "I just want to choose one phone and be done!" I'm about to just take the 14P back and just use my 11 and be done with it.

My boyfriend suggested that I needed to stay off the forums and screens in general today (because it's a day off for me) to give myself a rest. Then he asked what I had planned to do with my day, "I was gonna check the forums and maybe go to the Apple Store."

Help me.

Stick with the 11.

I was struggling and debating for a while but the truth is the 11 is currently the best iPhone for your eyes and headaches. We try to justify newer phones and say “it’s not THAT bad”, but we’re often not being honest with ourselves because we want a new phone. Even if you can handle the eye strain and migraine today, there will be harder days ahead where it will affect your quality of life even more. There’s a huge sense of relief just accepting your iPhone 11 is currently the best choice for your quality of life.

Maybe the next SE or the 15 will be better, but for now stop torturing yourself. It’s not worth it.

 

[jimmy_uk]

From what I’ve gathered in this thread the consensus seems to be iPhone 14 Pro Max > iPhone 14 Pro > iPhone 14, even from those that started with iPhone 14

My impression differs as I thought more people have tried and bailed on the 14 Pro and moved to 14. Fewer people are using the 14 PM?

Most felt the 14 Pro was bad for them quite quickly. 14 took a little longer to cause issue but some have stuck with it? 14 PM is now getting reported as OK for some (although early doors)?

I guess without a recorded tally we won't have good figures.

 

[Chrispy]

This problem really is perplexing. I was playing Bravely Default 2 on my Nintendo Switch OLED with zero problems last night. In a dark room, too. And I've had that Switch for a few months and never had any discomfort. Yet I hear the OLED Switch has terrible PWM flicker and bothers a lot of people. So at this point, I'm accepting it really is just a roll of the dice if OLED will bother me or not depending on a multitude of variables it would seem.

From my experience so far this year, I would rank the 14 series (for me) in the following order:
14 Pro Max > 14 Standard > 14 Pro

14 Pro Max was the shortest test (10 mins or so in store) but the only screen that didn't show any signs of scan lines when scrolling, shimmering or focusing issues. Phone is massive but, surprisingly, about the same width as the XR. Just heavier and taller. But yeah, the XR really is chonky, haha.

14 Standard I used for about an hour and it was similar to my experience with the 13. Wasn't hard to focus but I could still detect some weirdness when scrolling and that shimmering effect was present in certain mid tones. Tells me with extended use it could start to bother me since I can detect it.

14 Pro was a no go from the start. Before I even finished the setup process, I could tell focusing was an issue and I started to feel a little dizzy. I thought I would get used to it with more use but I just ended up with one of those tension headaches that feels like someone put a rubber band around your head and my eyes were tired.

So yeah, we're all different so this probably isn't the most useful data in the world but it does seem to be tracking with what some others are finding as well. It will be interesting to see what everyone reports over time!

 

[happy orchard]

Does anyone here actually have an iPad Mini? According to Notebookcheck, this is flicker-free from a brightness of 20%. Does that mean it only uses PWM up to 20% brightness?

I have the old mini for this reason (to avoid any flickering at any brightness.) Think 5 was the last before they lost the white bezels and LCD screen.

 

[matthijst]

Now that I read about succes some had with the 14PM thought I'd order one to check. But it won't ship in another month.
Will get the 14 Plus on Friday so I think I'll either keep the regular 14 or the 14 Plus.
It's great the regular 14s are not as heavy.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Now that I read about succes some had with the 14PM thought I'd order one to check. But it won't ship in another month.
Will get the 14 Plus on Friday so I think I'll either keep the regular 14 or the 14 Plus.
It's great the regular 14s are not as heavy.

I think the aluminium body iPhones are better for the lightness, wish they had the frosted glass backs. The 14 Plus has slipped a week in the UK so I guess sales are starting to move. 14 PM slipping to a full month is crazy.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I don’t feel so great today, but I think using the MacBook Pro for 3+ hours caused more of an issue. However, attempting to watch YouTube videos afterwards on iPhone 14 Pro Max was also not comfortable.

The ideal scenario is to avoid all types of display flickering, and these devices are making that difficult.

Sometimes it feels like a switch is flipped with the OLED iPhones and the flickering is suddenly more apparent and headache-inducing.

 

[Chrispy]

I don’t feel so great today, but I think using the MacBook Pro for 3+ hours caused more of an issue. However, attempting to watch YouTube videos afterwards on iPhone 14 Pro Max was also not comfortable.

The ideal scenario is to avoid all types of display flickering, and these devices are making that difficult.

Sometimes it feels like a switch is flipped with the OLED iPhones and the flickering is suddenly more apparent and headache-inducing.

I do think jumping between different display tech probably is harder on the eyes than if everything was flicker free LCD. I gave myself a break from small screens yesterday. I only used my Dell Ultrasharp and LCD TV. Since my phone hands off messages to the Mac connected to the Dell, I just used that to reply to people. Weather has been nice so I've been going outside more to get fresh air and give my eyes things to focus on in the distance. Plus, it gives me an excuse to use the new AirPod Pros. Since today is Saturday, I've just kept that going. And I have to say, my eyes are less dry today. Less blinking is needed to grab focus on things and they were less red when I woke up this morning. So even with LCD iPhones, too much use eventually gets to me. OLED just speeds up the discomfort by adding the fun factor of flickering and intense contrast ratios.

I was curious how I did with my "phone screen free" goal yesterday, so I checked before bed. Pretty pleased with myself.

 

[john g.]

I'm out.


I'm gonna send the 14 back on Monday. The last day and a half, my newest symptom was dizziness. Just not worth it. Back on the iPhone 11 until Apple gets their crap together, or the mythical SE comes out.

I spent the last three hours on the iPhone 11 and I have to say, what a relief.

Good luck everyone!

 

[MICHAELSD]

I'm out.


I'm gonna send the 14 back on Monday. The last day and a half, my newest symptom was dizziness. Just not worth it. Back on the iPhone 11 until Apple gets their crap together, or the mythical SE comes out.

I spent the last three hours on the iPhone 11 and I have to say, what a relief.

Good luck everyone!

I may be in the same boat. iPhone SE is so much more comfortable to stare at and use.

iPhone 14 Pro Max is probably going back.

I’d like to say that I will only buy flicker-free Apple products in the future, but the constant disappointment each generation makes that an implausible statement until there’s at least one flicker-free brightness controller in the modern iPhone lineup.

 

[Gargamelus]

unfortunately I have to agree with the pessimists. I used the 14 intensively again. without success. it's just a slight headache and dizziness but I don't want to accept that. Mixture of dithering and pwm on the Display is too exhausting for me.. our health should be more important to everyone here than a new iPhone..

 

[john g.]

I may be in the same boat. iPhone SE is so much more comfortable to stare at and use.

iPhone 14 Pro Max is probably going back.

I’d like to say that I will only buy flicker-free Apple products in the future, but the constant disappointment each generation makes that an implausible statement until there’s at least one flicker-free brightness controller in the modern iPhone lineup.

What's funny is that I had to go to the Verizon store and get a physical Sim card for my 11. I just couldn't transfer service from the 14 back over to the 11 with eSIM transfer or QR code or anything. While I was waiting at Verizon I picked up the 14 pro max and looked at it. I started to think yeah the screen looks pretty good and then my inner voice said "John, you fool, walk away!"

it's gonna take a lot to lure me in again with a OLED next year. I'm going have to hear outright claims of no flickering before I even take the bait.

At least that's what I say now

 

[jimmy_uk]

What's funny is that I had to go to the Verizon store and get a physical Sim card for my 11. I just couldn't transfer service from the 14 back over to the 11 with eSIM transfer or QR code or anything. While I was waiting at Verizon I picked up the 14 pro max and looked at it. I started to think yeah the screen looks pretty good and then my inner voice said "John, you fool, walk away!"

it's gonna take a lot to lure me in again with a OLED next year. I'm going have to hear outright claims of no flickering before I even take the bait.

At least that's what I say now

Yea, I almost pre ordered a 14 Plus today but then reminded myself that the current crop of OLEDS are all the same = a headache. The little voice that says "but it might work" needs to over ruled, but it's hard!

 

[MICHAELSD]

What's funny is that I had to go to the Verizon store and get a physical Sim card for my 11. I just couldn't transfer service from the 14 back over to the 11 with eSIM transfer or QR code or anything. While I was waiting at Verizon I picked up the 14 pro max and looked at it. I started to think yeah the screen looks pretty good and then my inner voice said "John, you fool, walk away!"

it's gonna take a lot to lure me in again with a OLED next year. I'm going have to hear outright claims of no flickering before I even take the bait.

At least that's what I say now

Perhaps foolishly, if I was to set the 14” MacBook Pro aside and figure out a healthy way to mitigate PWM sensitivity it may be almost possible to keep an iPhone this generation.

But it’s slightly ridiculous to have to create a set of lifestyle rules to maybe avoid PWM headaches and migraines.

 

[JM]

Hi, my name is JM and I’ve been an Experiencer for the last year now.

kidding kidding 🤣

Anyways, I wanted to share something interesting. I had the 12 mini for three days before returning it and getting 11. Then I tried the 13 mini and it was tolerable, but still a little eye pain.

Then I got a used 11pro a month ago and didn’t experience any pain at all: it was great.

NOW, after using the 13 mini again for the last week I’ve noticed that the eye pain is back (yet still at a tolerable level).

Different years screen tech, and different flicker rates certainly make a difference.

So, in summation and to support whats been said many times: you can’t know if the PWM will affect you until yah try.

✌️ hope everyone is well otherwise. If I do ever get a 14 pro I’ll report on how the PWM is for me.

 

[Proteinaceous]

Does anyone here actually have an iPad Mini? According to Notebookcheck, this is flicker-free from a brightness of 20%. Does that mean it only uses PWM up to 20% brightness?

I use an iPad mini 6 almost every night at the lowest brightness level with zero issues. There is no visible flicker at 240 slo mo at any brightness.

 

[happy orchard]

Big day: I RETURNED THE 14 PRO....

...AND THE 11 FEELS SO GOOD.

Okay, I just needed to scream that. I feel so much better, thank you.

Logisitics: Returning the 14P to Apple was cake. Switching back the sim to the 11 was not. Two sessions of Verizon chat today, one 1 ½ hours, the other 2+hours and abruptly disconnected. Finally had to go to a real store. Long story a little shorter, I have an eSIM on my 11 and things are working.

Nice stuff to report:

1. Feels like I made the right decision, not the best or the funnest, but definitely the right decision. Chose my brain over cool technological upgrades.

2. I have worn down my boyfriend to a point that almost breaks him. I've done it through five years of OLED. If anybody has any advice on how not to drag loved ones through the torture with me, please share.

3. THANK YOU for all of the support. All of the sharing and all of the compassion. I almost held on to the 14 Pro, but after so much internal reflection and listening to my fellow support group members, I'm finding some peace. So...

@jimmy_uk: All of your posts are supportive, but one just really boosted me to try when I needed it.

@Chrispy: Your recent words sounded like the ones in my head.

@MICHAELSD: We sure keep trying to find clever ways to try to make our maybes work.

@AJTC: Your messages really helped. I hope you make it to "America" some day.

@GrumpyMom: So happy that you're enjoying the 14PM--we are all vicariously enjoying your delight (that you absolutely deserve)!

@sorgo: So many of your hearts all over this thread. <3

--Okay I'm gonna stop now that this is getting to be like a yearbook signing at the end of term. Just...thank you to everyone on here!

We all want to try, and I still believe it's good that we do try. It's good that we support each other, we listen, we understand, we let each other find our own individual way. I'm going to keep on this thread a bit longer in this iPhone season because I would like to not persuade or dissuade, but just listen and be here for support.

Long live LCD. 👑

 

[MICHAELSD]

Big day: I RETURNED THE 14 PRO....

...AND THE 11 FEELS SO GOOD.

Okay, I just needed to scream that. I feel so much better, thank you.

Logisitics: Returning the 14P to Apple was cake. Switching back the sim to the 11 was not. Two sessions of Verizon chat today, one 1 ½ hours, the other 2+hours and abruptly disconnected. Finally had to go to a real store. Long story a little shorter, I have an eSIM on my 11 and things are working.

Nice stuff to report:

1. Feels like I made the right decision, not the best or the funnest, but definitely the right decision. Chose my brain over cool technological upgrades.

2. I have worn down my boyfriend to a point that almost breaks him. I've done it through five years of OLED. If anybody has any advice on how not to drag loved ones through the torture with me, please share.

3. THANK YOU for all of the support. All of the sharing and all of the compassion. I almost held on to the 14 Pro, but after so much internal reflection and listening to my fellow support group members, I'm finding some peace. So...

@jimmy_uk: All of your posts are supportive, but one just really boosted me to try when I needed it.

@Chrispy: Your recent words sounded like the ones in my head.

@MICHAELSD: We sure keep trying finding clever ways to try to make our maybes work.

@AJTC: Your messages really helped. I hope you make it to California some day.

@GrumpyMom, so happy you're enjoying the 14PM--we are all vicariously enjoying your delight (that you absolutely deserve)!

@sorgo: So many of your hearts all over this thread. <3

--Okay I'm gonna stop now that this is getting to be like a yearbook signing at the end of term. Just...thank you!

We all want to try, and I still believe it's good that we do try. It's good that we support each other, we listen, we understand, we let each other find our own individual way. I'm going to keep on this thread a bit longer in this iPhone season because I would like to not persuade or dissuade, but just listen and be here for support.

Long live LCD. 👑

This… this is what makes this all not feel like a total waste of time and perhaps not quite as gut-wrenching. It’s relieving we’ve at least developed a little community and camaraderie over this, for better or worse.

 

[happy orchard]

This… this is what makes this all not feel like a total waste of time and perhaps not quite as gut-wrenching. It’s relieving we’ve at least developed a little community and camaraderie over this, for better or worse.

I know, right!

So yes.

My boyfriend crashed for the evening, and I was like, good night, I'm gonna go let my fellow OLED=bad peeps know what happened and thank them, too.

 

[john g.]

Seems like the group of folks keeping their 14 series phones is getting smaller and smaller. 😮

 

[Chrispy]

Glad to see everyone making choices that work best for them! Hugs to everyone struggling with finding a device that works out well long-term. I will say, and this could just be weather or something weird, but for almost an entire day after using the 14 Pro before returning it, I was getting random, almost stabbing pains in my right forehead region. Just for a second or two. Like a headache was coming on that never managed to take hold. By Friday night, all was back to normal. That's actually what inspired my phone screen free Friday. I was worried my eyes needed some recovery time.

Also, going through photos on my computer this morning that people from work have been sending over for a project, I've been randomly looking at the device used on many of them, and hardly anyone is using a phone released after 2019. Excluding the handful of Samsung and other Android devices, a lot of them were taken on iPhones from the 7 to 11 era. So for those of us still rocking our XR and 11 iPhones, we're in good company it would seem. Heck, for a lot of these folks, a new SE would be a really great upgrade.

 

[happy orchard]

Half-day later check-in:

Life is so much better back on the 11. Easy to pick up (weight) and sooooo kind to the eyes. I really do love this phone. I know its tech is not the latest, but I absolutely love what I can do with it—which is what landed me here on an apple fan forum in the first place. Yay, it’s lovely again!

 

[john g.]

Half-day later check-in:

Life is so much better back on the 11. Easy to pick up (weight) and sooooo kind to the eyes. I really do love this phone. I know its tech is not the latest, but I absolutely love what I can do with it—which is what landed me here on an apple fan forum in the first place. Yay, it’s lovely again!

Wish they would do a revision of this phone with a new modem, a newer chip, and just some camera improvements. Instant buy!

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Wish they would do a revision of this phone with a new modem, a newer chip, and just some camera improvements. Instant buy!

What frustrates me with the next SE rumors is the idea it will still be a single camera thus no night mode. I think that would still keep me on my 11 yet again.

 

[Chrispy]

What frustrates me with the next SE rumors is the idea it will still be a single camera thus no night mode. I think that would still keep me on my 11 be the next SE.

Part of me says there's no way they would use the XR single camera design over the 11 dual camera. But then I remember this is Apple. SE = 1 camera. Standard line = 2 cameras. Pro = 3 cameras. It just works out so well as a clear upsell path that I worry that's how they will go.

Other than the bad modem connectivity, terrible low light camera performance is one of my gripes about the XR that I actually notice on a regular basis. Missing DeepFusion and night mode by one phone generation has been a bummer. At the time I bought the XR I didn't care because I only expected to have it for a year... haha.