Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[john g.]

I updated my glasses prescription and I’m getting even more headaches focusing on this iPhone 14 Pro Max, which leads me to believe my eyes still don’t like to focus fully on the flickering display. I’m surprised I’ve been able to use it for as long as I have, but in retrospect my eyes do still go out of focus after a few seconds of staring at the display perhaps to prevent headaches. Once I attempt to fully focus it leads to constant migraines.

That’s a bummer.

Yesterday I was thinking about giving the 14 pro another chance, and I went back through the last three weeks of comments on this thread, and saw myself and everyone else very hopeful, but kind of kidding ourselves, and to see my words written down reinforced that my temptation to give it another chance is only going to end one way.

 

[Charadis]

^^That's surprising that Apple would screw it up too!! Guess I better get used to seeing that 1.

I get the same error and I had mine replaced in an Apple Store. Now I have to drive 90 minutes back to get yet another battery put in. They told me before leaving it would recalibrate and the warning would be gone within 24 hours. That was a week ago.

Sadly, going through Apple is the only sure way to get it removed unless your 3rd party repair properly transferred the battery management system (bms) board and reprogrammed it to the new battery. Sounds like your Apple Store may not have properly paired the new one with your phone.

Battery data is encrypted, and cannot easily be transferred across phones. Video below by REWA shows how this would be properly done if your 3rd party has the proper tools and takes the time to transfer the bms to new battery cell:

 

[AlfieOrion]

Agreed, the current 11 inch iPad Pro works well for me. The iPad 8th gen was really good also. For whatever reason the iPad Air isn’t as good. /shrug

Absolutely. I tried the iPad Air M1 first because it seemed to be the same thing as the Pro 11” but cheaper… turns out the screen on the iPad Air is actually very much like the M1 MacBook Air LCD and seems to be constantly shifting and is difficult to focus on. Not all Apple LCDs are equal or issue free.

 

[JM]

Do the oled phones like 13 pro use temporal dithering? And what about se 2022?

I wish I could just get an lcd phone with a safe display like my 7 had, with the new processor in it. Why can’t that be what the SE is, without things like temporal dithering?? I’d get rid of my 13 pro and buy an SE 2022 today if I knew it was harmless with no temporal dithering.

Good question. I am of the impression that OLED can reach a wider color range on its own, but LCD has limitations in color representation and so needs the dithering to have more colors.

It all went downhill when they introduced the P3 wide color with the LCD’s. I’m curious why the 8 is okay for so many people and it had the p3 wide color.

But to answer the question, I don’t know if the OLED needs temporal dithering to get more colors.

 

[5105973]

Does the standard iPhone 11 use temporal dithering? I’ve stayed away from the 11 all day, no eye pain at all, picked it up and 2 mins later feels like I’m looking at bright lights (screen is on 30% brightness with 60% reduced white point).

Unfortunately I believe it does. Oddly enough my original iphone Xr bought when they were first released made me feel like I was always staring straight at a fluorescent light bulb. I couldn't stand it. My second one bought last year was fine. But I do think it affected me in a way I didn't realize in that it contributed to the flickering in my left eye.

In other news:

I'm typing this from my Pixel 6 Pro. After being used to my 14 Pro Max I can't focus on this OLED display and I feel seasick.

I was just curious about jumping between my different OLED displays. Ugh. Not going to happen easily I guess. I'm still going to use the Pixel camera though. I can manage that much. Ok I'm going back to my iphone 14 Pro Max now.

Edit okay back on the Max. So much better. I thought I was going either throw up or pass out. I got that dizzy. Sigh. I used to be fine on the Pixel display.

 

[Chrispy]

Does the standard iPhone 11 use temporal dithering? I’ve stayed away from the 11 all day, no eye pain at all, picked it up and 2 mins later feels like I’m looking at bright lights (screen is on 30% brightness with 60% reduced white point).

I'm no expert so someone else please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the color space used for iOS goes beyond what LCD can handle vs new OLED technology. To get around this, Apple uses temporal dithering on the older LCD devices that support modern iOS as well as the SE. The newest 14 Pro line was tested by notebookcheck to not have dithering but I'm not sure about the OLED models from prior years.

I also recall reading that the XR/11 do something weird with scaling that bothers some people. If you put the 6.1 XR/11 screen next to a modern OLED 6.1 display with both at standard text size, you can clearly see the XR/11 is rendering things slightly smaller. Doesn't bother me but some notice right away. There are so many variables at play with these screens as the manufactures keep pushing the envelope of what they can do, and it just seems to be introducing more problems for people with sensitive vision.

 

[QuattroRS6]

Okay my short Story

iPhone X, XS and 11 Pro = no Problems
iPhone 12 Pro = dizziness, nausea, vomitting
iPhone 13 Pro = Perfect for me, no Problems

With the iPhone 14 Pro i have light dizziness and light nausea. I thought Apple learned from the problems with the iPhone 12 Pro, so I find it very disappointing that the iPhone 14 Pro is now back to 240Hz PWM frequency. What i find interessting, i had more Problems with dizziness above 39% Brightness where the PWM Frequency should be higher.

 

[PwmMen]

iPhone 12 Pro = Schwindel, Übelkeit, Erbrechen

It is so crazy, because the iPhone 12 Pro is the only OLED iPhone that doesn't cause me any problems.

 

[5105973]

I was okay on 12 Pro Max. I couldn’t use 13 Pro as it was giving me a headache that would not go away.

 

[DJTaurus]

It is so crazy, because the iPhone 12 Pro is the only OLED iPhone that doesn't cause me any problems.

If not mistaken 14 plus has the 12 pro max screen. How did it go ?

 

[MICHAELSD]

Okay my short Story

iPhone X, XS and 11 Pro = no Problems
iPhone 12 Pro = dizziness, nausea, vomitting
iPhone 13 Pro = Perfect for me, no Problems

With the iPhone 14 Pro i have light dizziness and light nausea. I thought Apple learned from the problems with the iPhone 12 Pro, so I find it very disappointing that the iPhone 14 Pro is now back to 240Hz PWM frequency. What i find interessting, i had more Problems with dizziness above 39% Brightness where the PWM Frequency should be higher.

I’m skeptical that Notebookcheck mixed the frequencies up and it’s 480Hz at below 39% and 240Hz above, except max brightness. I also have more issues above 39%, but it’s causing additional eye strain by having the brightness higher than it should be.

I’ve found in all my time testing iPhones that there’s been no correlation to a specific frequency being better than the other, or rather one that leads to a more usable experience where I could keep the brightness at one specific level and be okay.

I am having a better experience today with the brightness at a lower level. I went directly from a 14” MacBook Pro to the iPhone 14 Pro Max last night, which causes more headaches. It seems like my eyes are more open to adapting and focusing on either display with a new glasses prescription, as my eyes are essentially being re-trained at the same time. But it’s still not ideal and I doubt I’ll adapt to both devices. Switching between them definitely becomes a problem, as is the use of at least two different frequencies on iPhone 14 Pro Max.

I am intrigued that Notebookcheck reported a 60Hz rate on iPhone 14 to see a detailed version of what they found. Apple Watch has a 60Hz flicker that causes me no issues whatsoever, albeit I believe the amplitudes were measured at around or under 1%.

 

[jm31828]

Good question. I am of the impression that OLED can reach a wider color range on its own, but LCD has limitations in color representation and so needs the dithering to have more colors.

It all went downhill when they introduced the P3 wide color with the LCD’s. I’m curious why the 8 is okay for so many people and it had the p3 wide color.

But to answer the question, I don’t know if the OLED needs temporal dithering to get more colors.

Thanks. Is it a pretty small number of people here who are reporting issues with the SE, XR, and 11 due to temporal dithering?


I’m tempted to order an SE ti replace my 13 pro to see if I have a reduction in the almost daily headaches I get… I prefer Touch ID and a smaller form factor anyway…

 

[john g.]

I feel like notebookcheck is full of crap.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I feel like notebookcheck is full of crap.

It does feel like their explanations aren’t lining up with their measurements.

If I read the descriptions of DC dimming and higher frequencies I would get excited thinking that at least one of these iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 series phones would be fine.

I am curious why some users are getting on better with iPhone 14 than iPhone 14 Pro, so I’ll still look to them as the most reliable source.

 

[JM]

Thanks. Is it a pretty small number of people here who are reporting issues with the SE, XR, and 11 due to temporal dithering?


I’m tempted to order an SE ti replace my 13 pro to see if I have a reduction in the almost daily headaches I get… I prefer Touch ID and a smaller form factor anyway…

From the multitudes of pages, you’ll find that everyone is different and you’ll just have to give it go. You can always return within 14 days no questions asked from Apple.

 

[john g.]

It does feel like their explanations aren’t lining up with their measurements.

If I read the descriptions of DC dimming and higher frequencies I would get excited thinking that at least one of these iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 series phones would be fine.

I am curious why some users are getting on better with iPhone 14 than iPhone 14 Pro, so I’ll still look to them as the most reliable source.

Yeah, my post was a little harsh, but I feel like their numbers are all over the place. And I have great difficulty extrapolating any of that as useful information with any of my experiences with the phones.

 

[DJTaurus]

I went again to an Apple Store and tried every iPhone since 13. Don’t know why (maybe promotion) but all the pros mess with my head after a few minutes even the newer ones. They didn’t have 14 plus but the most easy to my eyes was iPhone 14. The worst was 13 pro max.

 

[PwmMen]

If not mistaken 14 plus has the 12 pro max screen. How did it go ?

I can't tell you that because I haven't tested the iPhone 14 Plus yet. I don't feel like it anymore either. I'm already excited because it would be here the next day. But the fear of being disappointed again is greater and is currently preventing me from ordering it.

 

[matthijst]

Been using the 14 Plus for 3 days, 4 hours a day.
Seems to be the best yet. Had issues with XR, X, and some of the Pro Maxes (can't recall which ones I ordered anymore). 14 Pro was annoying me as well.
Checked the Pro Max 14 in store and think that was similar to the 14 Pro.

Can't wait to get the notebookcheck review of the regular 14 and Plus. No ideas why they are easier on the eyes even though pwm may be similar.
Screen is not as white it seems.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Looks like no SE for 2023. 2024 makes sense for the usual cycle I guess.

 

[Chrispy]

I can't tell you that because I haven't tested the iPhone 14 Plus yet. I don't feel like it anymore either. I'm already excited because it would be here the next day. But the fear of being disappointed again is greater and is currently preventing me from ordering it.

I know exactly how you feel. I can get the 14 Plus next day from Apple's website or I can go grab one in store today. And that's nice to know, but at the same time I would rather stay in this place where there's still a phone out there with a chance. If I never try it, I can pretend there's still an option out there for me that could work, haha.

 

[mrkapqa]

i am using bluelight-filter when using computer, tablet for longer period, since i noticed some eyestrain lately; largely due to prolonged sitting and using computers, and partly blame the LED technology; with CCFL have much less strain, have to admit;

 

[Evilxardas]

Okay my short Story

iPhone X, XS and 11 Pro = no Problems
iPhone 12 Pro = dizziness, nausea, vomitting
iPhone 13 Pro = Perfect for me, no Problems

With the iPhone 14 Pro i have light dizziness and light nausea. I thought Apple learned from the problems with the iPhone 12 Pro, so I find it very disappointing that the iPhone 14 Pro is now back to 240Hz PWM frequency. What i find interessting, i had more Problems with dizziness above 39% Brightness where the PWM Frequency should be higher.

I can use the iphone X too (never tried XS and 11 PRO) but not the 14 pro like you. I don't think the PWM is the problem, also our iphone X use a 240hz frequency!

I will try to buy an iphone 13 pro and let's see if it works fine also for me

 

[john g.]

Been using the 14 Plus for 3 days, 4 hours a day.
Seems to be the best yet. Had issues with XR, X, and some of the Pro Maxes (can't recall which ones I ordered anymore). 14 Pro was annoying me as well.
Checked the Pro Max 14 in store and think that was similar to the 14 Pro.

Can't wait to get the notebookcheck review of the regular 14 and Plus. No ideas why they are easier on the eyes even though pwm may be similar.
Screen is not as white it seems.

That’s great and it seems to be working out for you.
When you say the best yet, does that mean you are symptom free or just that you have less symptoms than the other 14 series? If so, may I ask what your symptoms are with the 14+?

 

[matthijst]

The older ones gave me terrible headaches.
The 14 Pro gave me dry eyes, sand in your eye feeling. And bags under my eyes when waking up (it felt as if my eyes had been focusing for hours when using the display, if that makes sense).

Dont get those symptoms from the 14 Plus yet. Sometimes eyes water a bit, but don't know if it's 14 Plus. watching TV, ereader, or iPad.
As long as I dont get headaches, dry eyes, or irritated eyes in the morning I'm happy. So far so good. Would still rather have the 14 Pro because of the camera's en island. So may give that a try. Only problem is I can only return the 14 Plus until the 21st and the Pro wont deliver until november 1st or so.