Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[Evilxardas]

Sorry yes, I meant Micro LED.

From my research it would be micro that supersedes OLED, hopefully.

I hope the micro LED can improve the situation but I have little hope.

In my opinion, many people in this thread have convinced themselves that OLED technology is the problem but there are many people here who can use some models of OLED iphones but not every models (like me, iphone X totaly fine, iphone 14 pro very bad). Some people have OLED TV or OLED switch but can't use iphones. Others can't use macbooks from 2016 onwards and in these cases we have LCD screens with LED or mini LED backlight etc..

In my case there is no relationship between the type of panel and my symptoms. Instead, three times I ended up with an unusable PC after a windows update, so in that case the nausea/headache symptoms were 100% induced by a software update.

Last example: i have an LG B8 OLED TV. I can use the Switch and also the PS5 with it, but not the Xbox series X.

Knowing that the problem is driver/OS related really pisses me off but I have no idea what it could be.

 

[G3Blue]

I'm at a loss, still not adjusting to iPhone se 2022 and now the iPhone 11. Instantly feel eye strain and dizzy. May have to buy another 13 pro as the issue was eyes darting around the screen but it was better than this 11. I found the 13 Pro easier on the eyes compared to 14 pro.

Maybe it's the lack of promotion which I've got used to? I'm one one those who can instantly notice the faster refresh rate on iPhones. On MacBook Pros, promotion doesn't make much difference for me.

 

[Chrispy]

I hope the micro LED can improve the situation but I have little hope.

In my opinion, many people in this thread have convinced themselves that OLED technology is the problem but there are many people here who can use some models of OLED iphones but not every models (like me, iphone X totaly fine, iphone 14 pro very bad). Some people have OLED TV or OLED switch but can't use iphones. Others can't use macbooks from 2016 onwards and in these cases we have LCD screens with LED or mini LED backlight etc..

In my case there is no relationship between the type of panel and my symptoms. Instead, three times I ended up with an unusable PC after a windows update, so in that case the nausea/headache symptoms were 100% induced by a software update.

Last example: i have an LG B8 OLED TV. I can use the Switch and also the PS5 with it, but not the Xbox series X.

Knowing that the problem is driver/OS related really pisses me off but I have no idea what it could be.

Seeing just how bad the PWM flicker is on the Switch OLED was the moment I realized it's not just PWM flicker that gets to me. I've been using the Switch OLED in bed, low light, and for hours at a time for many months with zero problems. So yeah, I wish it was as simple as PWM = bad, no PWM = always good but, for me at least, that's clearly not the case. There's definitely more at play here contributing to the issues.

 

[lindros2]

I'm at a loss, still not adjusting to iPhone se 2022 and now the iPhone 11. Instantly feel eye strain and dizzy. May have to buy another 13 pro as the issue was eyes darting around the screen but it was better than this 11. I found the 13 Pro easier on the eyes compared to 14 pro.

Maybe it's the lack of promotion which I've got used to? I'm one one those who can instantly notice the faster refresh rate on iPhones. On MacBook Pros, promotion doesn't make much difference for me.

This is a factor of getting old. Some people as young as late-30s; me late-40s; wife mid-40s.

14 and 13 and 12 are better than the 120hz 13 Pro and 14 Pro. My kids have the 12; I have 14 Pro; wife has 13 Pro. Former 11 Pro Max was a little better, but not much.

Maybe turn off 120Hz, but that won't overcome the fact that the panels are different.

1. Go to Settings on iPhone.
2. Scroll down to Accessibility.
3. Motion (under the Vision category).
4. Turn ON Limit Frame Rate.

 

[Fatal1ty666]

Turning off Pro Motion on my iPhone 14 Pro helped me. 👌 Thanks for the info.

 

[dimitricook]

I'm at a loss, still not adjusting to iPhone se 2022 and now the iPhone 11. Instantly feel eye strain and dizzy. May have to buy another 13 pro as the issue was eyes darting around the screen but it was better than this 11. I found the 13 Pro easier on the eyes compared to 14 pro.

Maybe it's the lack of promotion which I've got used to? I'm one one those who can instantly notice the faster refresh rate on iPhones. On MacBook Pros, promotion doesn't make much difference for me.

I unfortunatly have the same issue with these phones. Even with the 8 after an update, even when i used it prior to that update for 2 years without any issue.

 

[MICHAELSD]

No matter what if I adjust I wake up with migraines the next day, so it’s kind of a moot point.

 

[dimitricook]

Here is an update from my side using the 14 pro for about a week. I was using the 14pro as a second phone since i still get massive headaches / nausia from the device. Way to much to use it as a daily driver.

I did try every setting that is mentioned on the forum but nothing helped enough. Then i used the color settings in accessibility to try black and white. I did this together with an privacy screen protector and i must say its reasonable. I used the phone for 4 days on a citytrip in Stockholm and it was usable without big issues. Of course nobody buys a 1300 euro phone to use a black and white screen but i thought it was good to mention

I used the phone only mostly to take pictures and the phone is absolutly great for that! When my girlfriend got annoyed by the black and white screen i switched to normal colors.... and within 4 minutes of video recording in the outside bright environnement and still with the privacy screen protector on the screen.. again the terrible nausia/headache feeling came back.

This phone is getting back to Apple. No doubt.
Lets try the 14 pro max when available (November)

 

[MICHAELSD]

I got on okay with iPhone 14 Pro Max yesterday, but I’m suddenly more sensitive to using and focusing on the display again after using my MacBook Pro and iPhone SE last night—which has a flicker-free LCD that’s infinitely more comfortable to stare at.

The best option is still going to be avoiding flickering displays. Unfortunately we might end up on the iPhone XR-inspired iPhone SE in 2024, which is ironic since I purposely rejected iPhone XR as a solution since I really just want an iPhone with a flicker-free OLED display…

 

[G3Blue]

I unfortunatly have the same issue with these phones. Even with the 8 after an update, even when i used it prior to that update for 2 years without any issue.

I was going to try an 8 plus but wondering if something has changed in the software. Unprompted, yesterday a relative was complaining of eye strain using the se 2020.

I've ignored eye strain for a few years now. I have annual eye tests and wear glasses for long distance.
I'm heavily invested in the apple eco system, MacBook, iPhone, watch, tv, HomePods, Apple Music, iCloud, Logic Pro.

Close to throwing in the towel and gradually migrating to android / windows / Sonos etc.

My HP Book 17" G5 is amazing on my eyes to use all day, checking display settings it has a 1920x1080 6-bit RGB display.
sRGB colour setting on the MB Pro is too dim so not a workable solution for me.

11 is being returned.

 

[MICHAELSD]

What if instead of a flicker-free Accessibility option we got a Reduce Flicker Accessibility option?

The difference would be that Reduce Flicker would bring amplitudes to the lowest possible level where color accuracy is still acceptable to Apple’s display team.

Xiaomi has offered this option on multiple phones, and it appears to make a difference.

One could say Apple already does this when developing the brightness controller, but they could take it a step further and target amplitudes of under 1%.

Apparently pulse-width modulation is also used to reduce energy, so I’ll gladly take any hit to my Max-sized battery or risk of burn-in to reduce flicker to an acceptable level.

We already have Accessibility options to Reduce Transparency, Reduce Motion, and Reduce White Point so an option to Reduce Flicker isn’t asking too much if the default setting doesn’t start using true DC dimming.

 

[john g.]

Guess who doesn’t seem to learn his lesson and is trying out a 14 Pro again?

 

[DJTaurus]

I am on my second day with normal iPhone 14 and it seems it doesn’t working. On second day a little bit dizziness is kicking in. Unlike previous oleds this one doesn’t cause me headaches.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I am on my second day with normal iPhone 14 and it seems it doesn’t working. On second day a little bit dizziness is kicking in. Unlike previous oleds this one doesn’t cause me headaches.

I did previously suggest in this thread that Apple emulate the Apple Watch's brightness controller with 60Hz flicker that doesn't utilize PWM, as that doesn't seem to cause me any issues. I am intrigued to see a description of the flicker on iPhone 14, as I do think Apple reads through this thread even if they haven't been able to offer us a definitive solution.

 

[happy orchard]

Guess who doesn’t seem to learn his lesson and is trying out a 14 Pro again?

Me too!

...I mean...me too ... (where's that sheepish emoji?)

 

[DJTaurus]

And now dizziness has gone completely away. I use iPhone 14 almost pain free…. I only feel minor/tolerable pressure on the upper part of my head but it could be my mind. We shall see. I don’t understand what the f is going on 🤣

Screen is way more brighter than iPhone 11 and unlike 12/13 oleds it seems a lot more sharp when reading text. Even more sharp than my GOAT 11.

 

[JM]

And now dizziness has gone completely away. I use iPhone 14 almost pain free…. I only feel minor/tolerable pressure on the upper part of my head but it could be my mind. We shall see. I don’t understand what the f is going on 🤣

Screen is way more brighter than iPhone 11 and unlike 12/13 oleds it seems a lot more sharp when reading text. Even more sharp than my GOAT 11.

Right on.

I’m giving the 14 pro a go to see how it is for me. I’m hopeful.

Your experience sounds like me and 13 mini: a little pain that becomes tolerable and ignorable.

 

[AJTC]

Guess who doesn’t seem to learn his lesson and is trying out a 14 Pro again?

I’m tempted to do this too. I think the Pro was better overall. And I also had Covid during my time with the Pro so I’m second guessing whether the migraines were related to that.

But that’ll be the 5th phone from Apple in a year that I might have to return. At what point do they say that’s enough? I don’t want to be blacklisted or refused a refund.

 

[Chrispy]

I’m tempted to do this too. I think the Pro was better overall. And I also had Covid during my time with the Pro so I’m second guessing whether the migraines were related to that.

But that’ll be the 5th phone from Apple in a year that I might have to return. At what point do they say that’s enough? I don’t want to be blacklisted or refused a refund.

I think you would be fine with the returns, but I get it. I have to be close to 10 iPhone returns in a three year window. That high number made me stop at one attempt this year. I also worry I'm going to end up on some kind of ban list for excessive returns. Plus, when stock is hard to come by, I always feel bad having to return a technically perfectly working device when I know people are still waiting to get theirs. Yet at the same time, the only way to know is to try for an extended period so you kinda have to play the return game. I also think I'm just losing interest in iPhones at this point so I put in less effort to find one that works for me this year.

 

[dimitricook]

I also sometimes feel bad about the 3/4 returns a year to apple, but than i think about how bad we feel when using the iphones and how apple does nothing with this user feedback.. They don´t even ask why we return... if they did maybe they could discover a pattern and do something about it.

 

[john g.]

Me too!

...I mean...me too ... (where's that sheepish emoji?)

it’s too early for me to even say how I’m getting on with the pro again. Yes there’s a bit of light nausea, but I’m trying to whole bunch of different tactics. Promotion on or off. True tone on or off, night shift even. I learned a lot from playing with the 14 and, I kept going back to missing the pro with its dynamic island, but more importantly, it’s cameras. So one more go around in the circus for me.

 

[StardustRedding]

What a friggin’ mess. Apple has to be losing money with most on this thread returning their iPhone due to the headache inducing OLED screen. Apple should have switched from OLED like last year. It’s old technology. Hell Samsung had it way before Apple did.

Apple needs to partner with Samsung or even Sony and utilize a VA 4K non OLED screen in the IPhone and use local dimming rather than PWM to control the brightness

 

[happy orchard]

I’m tempted to do this too. I think the Pro was better overall. And I also had Covid during my time with the Pro so I’m second guessing whether the migraines were related to that.

But that’ll be the 5th phone from Apple in a year that I might have to return. At what point do they say that’s enough? I don’t want to be blacklisted or refused a refund.

Dude, I so worry about getting blacklisted. Every year I cry--What will I do if Apple blacklists me? Don't they know I really want to keep the phone?! Don't they know that if they let me trade out for an LCD at the Genius Bar, I absolutely would?!

 

[StardustRedding]

Dude, I so worry about getting blacklisted. Every year I cry--What will I do if Apple blacklists me? Don't they know I really want to keep the phone?! Don't they know that if they let me trade out for an LCD at the Genius Bar, I absolutely would?!

Ridiculous if Apple blacklists you

 

[dstow]

I popped into the Apple Store today to check out the 14 Plus in person - the first thing that I noticed was how light it was even though it's actually heavier than the 11 albeit by a few grams, the weight distribution is superior - in regards to PWM, it's hard to tell with only handling the phone for a few minutes to gauge.

However, handling the 14 Pro/Max/14 there is definitely a degree of discomfort, the screens are almost piercingly bright and "hurts" your eyes to view them compared with the almost softer appearing LCD counterparts such as the 11 - there was definitely the familiar headache beginning to emerge after a couple of minutes going through the line-up but impossible to say if the 14 Plus alone would cause that

I'm conflicted, the 14 Plus seems like a winner, it doesn't "feel" much bigger than the 11, and the weight is perfect - As for the SE I had to laugh at how infinitesimally small it feels compared to the 11 which ironically caused more eye-strain than the PWM laden line-up from squinting into 2016 display technology

Conclusion - Need more hands on 14 Plus PWM reviews in this thread before pulling the trigger