Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[Tb87Bln]

Just got a 14P yesterday…
When I tried it out in store a couple weeks ago I wasn’t so sure… (but I was tired and had the slightest Headache before entering the store so not a good day for a test…)
Played a bit yesterday and a couple of hours today and so far so good… no troubles… I hope I don’t develop any symptoms…

I couldn’t tolerate the Xs and was so sad I had to give that phone back… (got headaches and sore eyes)
The 12P was perfect for me without any troubles even reading text for hours wasn’t a problem… so now I hope that my brand new 14P works just as well…

 

[karinatwork]

Do you have a favorite? All my ebooks are from Amazon so a Kindle would work for me. I have one of the very old Kindles.

Please be aware that some Kobo readers use PWM as well. Clara and Libra1 are ok. Forma is not.

 

[karinatwork]

Not sure if anyone has said that, (didn't want to read ALL of the posts) but if you consider any of the 14 line phones, wait a few more days to purchase and you may be covered under the extended return policy. I did that last year with the 13P and I was able to try it for a month. I think this holiday return period starts sometime in November (usually).

 

[usmaak]

Not sure if anyone has said that, (didn't want to read ALL of the posts) but if you consider any of the 14 line phones, wait a few more days to purchase and you may be covered under the extended return policy. I did that last year with the 13P and I was able to try it for a month. I think this holiday return period starts sometime in November (usually).

I just checked with Best Buy and their extended return policy is in effect now.

 

[Ac1d 8urn]

Question- does anyone's PWM sensitivity manifest as frequent headaches in general, not necessarily while they're using their phone? I'm wondering b/c I've been using a 13 pro with a blue-light screen protector for the past 2 months, seemingly successfully b/c I haven't been getting headaches during use, but I've been waking up with pounding headaches every other day. I don't know what else could be causing them so I'm starting to suspect the phone

 

[MICHAELSD]

Just got a 14P yesterday…
When I tried it out in store a couple weeks ago I wasn’t so sure… (but I was tired and had the slightest Headache before entering the store so not a good day for a test…)
Played a bit yesterday and a couple of hours today and so far so good… no troubles… I hope I don’t develop any symptoms…

I couldn’t tolerate the Xs and was so sad I had to give that phone back… (got headaches and sore eyes)
The 12P was perfect for me without any troubles even reading text for hours wasn’t a problem… so now I hope that my brand new 14P works just as well…

Assuming 14P means 14 Pro. If the 12 Pro worked for you, it’s possible that iPhone 14 would if you experience any sensitivity as it has a 60Hz rate similar to the 12 Pro.

Not sure if anyone has said that, (didn't want to read ALL of the posts) but if you consider any of the 14 line phones, wait a few more days to purchase and you may be covered under the extended return policy. I did that last year with the 13P and I was able to try it for a month. I think this holiday return period starts sometime in November (usually).

At this point I assume it will go into effect on Monday.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Question- does anyone's PWM sensitivity manifest as frequent headaches in general, not necessarily while they're using their phone? I'm wondering b/c I've been using a 13 pro with a blue-light screen protector for the past 2 months, seemingly successfully b/c I haven't been getting headaches during use, but I've been waking up with pounding headaches every other day. I don't know what else could be causing them so I'm starting to suspect the phone

Yes, the worst part is the persistent headaches.

As I’ve noted before, I’m getting worse headaches from the 14” MacBook Pro especially after using it for work at night so if I didn’t have that contributing to sensitivity then iPhone 14PM may not be quite as bad.

 

[nadiamo]

Just got a 14P yesterday…
When I tried it out in store a couple weeks ago I wasn’t so sure… (but I was tired and had the slightest Headache before entering the store so not a good day for a test…)
Played a bit yesterday and a couple of hours today and so far so good… no troubles… I hope I don’t develop any symptoms…

I couldn’t tolerate the Xs and was so sad I had to give that phone back… (got headaches and sore eyes)
The 12P was perfect for me without any troubles even reading text for hours wasn’t a problem… so now I hope that my brand new 14P works just as well…

Good luck! Did you try other 14 models? If so how did those go?

 

[Ac1d 8urn]

Yes, the worst part is the persistent headaches.

As I’ve noted before, I’m getting worse headaches from the 14” MacBook Pro especially after using it for work at night so if I didn’t have that contributing to sensitivity then iPhone 14PM may not be quite as bad.

Well crap I thought my eyes had either finally adjusted or the blue light screen protector did the trick b/c I haven't been having symptoms while I'm using my phone. I think I might switch back to my SE for a few days and see if the headaches get any better. Thanks for the reply, ugh this SUCKS!

 

[happy orchard]

I know what you’re saying, I feel like I mildly experienced that as well on occasion.

Thanks. That actually feels better that it's not just me. Hate to think the whole 'in my chest' thing is just in my head.

 

[happy orchard]

Please be aware that some Kobo readers use PWM as well. Clara and Libra1 are ok. Forma is not.

Oh wow, did not know that. Thanks for sharing. Glad I have one of the gentle Kobos.

 

[happy orchard]

Question- does anyone's PWM sensitivity manifest as frequent headaches in general, not necessarily while they're using their phone? I'm wondering b/c I've been using a 13 pro with a blue-light screen protector for the past 2 months, seemingly successfully b/c I haven't been getting headaches during use, but I've been waking up with pounding headaches every other day. I don't know what else could be causing them so I'm starting to suspect the phone

Me. 🙋🏼‍♀️

 

[Ac1d 8urn]

Dang I am having other symptoms too, now that I think about it. I had laser eye surgery 3 years ago and I've been worried that my eyes are regressing- 20/20 at my last exam but for the past few months I can't see for crap and my eyes are so dry they hurt. I've been blaming that on our recent move, I thought I was just allergic to something in our new state but claritin, flonase, and local honey aren't helping at all. We moved on Aug. 5th... and I bought the 13 pro on Aug. 8th 😭

 

[MICHAELSD]

eSIM transferred back to iPhone SE.

The process was easier than expected. I had some concerns about a stressful experience but it ended up being seamless.

So much more comfortable.

What sealed the deal for me was setting both displays at 50% brightness, and realizing how good iPhone SE looked. Bright whites, and really excellent colors. I’ve just turned auto-brightness back on, but otherwise smooth sailing.

My biggest issue was that I neglected to charge my iPhone SE a few times, letting the battery drop down under 1%. Thus my Battery Health is at 98% from 100%.

This isn’t a difficult transition like the one from iPhone 13 Mini. I feel no attachment to iPhone 14 Pro Max or the Deep Purple color truth be told.

iPhone SE on its own is an excellent iPhone. I’m shocked to be saying this but I love the size. As noted my biggest issues are the minimal damage I’ve done by dropping it once, and the Battery Health dropping to 98%. I would have replaced it under AppleCare, but this display is thankfully wonderful and I was concerned the second unit may not be as good. I like it so much I would purchase a second identical iPhone SE in Midnight again, but it’s probably not worth the hassle.

Back at square one. No more Apple products with PWM? Probably. My new MacBook Pro is a frustrating headache in itself, and I would have enjoyed it immensely if it weren’t for that fact.

I’ll be a responsible PWM-sensitive iPhone user and check iPhone 14 out in an Apple Store before deciding if I just want to wait to see what happens next year.

 

[nadiamo]

Placing an order for 14 now. I was just trying my family member's 13 again and felt completely okay (with Pro versions the moment I look at the screen I felt something at my temples, it's a really weird feeling but happens every time with a pro screen facing me).

I hope the 14 will work out for me..

 

[john g.]

Last time I was at an Apple store, which is not very close to where I live, I tried both the regular 14 and 14+ and the screens just didn’t look good to me no matter what setting I used. Today I went with my son to my local Verizon and tried them again and thought differently. Particularly the 14+ looked pretty nice. Who knows if there’s some screen lottery going on, but I also think that my local Verizon store has better lighting than the Apple store. At least for looking at bright OLED screens. The obvious nice thing about the plus was if you put it in zoomed and slightly pump up the text size it’s nice for someone whose eyesight isn’t what it used to be

 

[happy orchard]

Last time I was at an Apple store, which is not very close to where I live, I tried both the regular 14 and 14+ and the screens just didn’t look good to me no matter what setting I used. Today I went with my son to my local Verizon and tried them again and thought differently. Particularly the 14+ looked pretty nice. Who knows if there’s some screen lottery going on, but I also think that my local Verizon store has better lighting than the Apple store. At least for looking at bright OLED screens. The obvious nice thing about the plus was if you put it in zoomed and slightly pump up the text size it’s nice for someone whose eyesight isn’t what it used to be

Interesting that you mention that about Apple lighting…

I was checking out iPads at the Apple Store the other day, did a bit of filming to compare 11 and 12.9 screens, and wow the flicker was crazy. I could see the angle of the light flickering onto the screens, and in slo-mo, could tell that it was from the overhead lights.

So, yeah, now I’m wondering about any flickering I’ve seen on the 14 and 14 Plus may have not even been the phone. Just what I need. Another reason to try another phone.

But I do mention it now for people trying phones in Apple. Keep in mind, some of our negative reactions might be because of or exacerbated by the store’s lights.

 

[now i see it]

Who knows if there’s some screen lottery going on

There absolutely is. Read through enough of the posts on this thread and you’ll read of people having very different pain experiences with replacement iPhones of the exact same model.

There isn’t a scientific way of ensuring you’ll get a pain free display. It’s always a gamble. They’re all a little different even within the same model.

 

[john g.]

There absolutely is. Read through enough of the posts on this thread and you’ll read of people having very different pain experiences with replacement iPhones of the exact same model.

There isn’t a scientific way of ensuring you’ll get a pain free display. It’s always a gamble. They’re all a little different even within the same model.

Definitely agree with you. I was just meaning in this case. As a matter of fact, I’ve tried two 14 pros and personally experienced screen lottery. One was super bright, white and harsh, and the other one was considerably warmer, and in my opinion easier to look at.🙂

 

[MICHAELSD]

Last time I was at an Apple store, which is not very close to where I live, I tried both the regular 14 and 14+ and the screens just didn’t look good to me no matter what setting I used. Today I went with my son to my local Verizon and tried them again and thought differently. Particularly the 14+ looked pretty nice. Who knows if there’s some screen lottery going on, but I also think that my local Verizon store has better lighting than the Apple store. At least for looking at bright OLED screens. The obvious nice thing about the plus was if you put it in zoomed and slightly pump up the text size it’s nice for someone whose eyesight isn’t what it used to be

An Apple Store is going to be completely different in that the displays will be at max brightness and there’s environmental bias.

Going back to iPhone SE, the display is quite a bit better on iPhone 14 Pro Max going back and forth whereas side-by-side it compared surprisingly well.

I’ll have to figure out what to do since I still think the MacBook Pro is contributing more significantly to PWM sensitivity which is frustrating since it’s helped with productivity and feels premium to the point I don’t really want to box it up and sell it.

 

[john g.]

An Apple Store is going to be completely different in that the displays will be at max brightness and there’s environmental bias.

Going back to iPhone SE, the display is quite a bit better on iPhone 14 Pro Max going back and forth whereas side-by-side it compared surprisingly well.

I’ll have to figure out what to do since I still think the MacBook Pro is contributing more significantly to PWM sensitivity which is frustrating since it’s helped with productivity and feels premium to the point I don’t really want to box it up and sell it.

Oh, they were on full brightness at the Verizon store too.

One thing that I noticed that was strange to me is that most of the time the Verizon phones have true tone enabled, whereas they were not enabled on most of the screens I tried out in the Apple store. Just a coincidence I suppose, people trying out the phone before me. No point to make here, except that it happened enough that I noticed.

 

[jimmy_uk]

I was in town again so I popped into the Apple store. I really wanted to make a decision on what iPad I could use to complement an SE 2022. The larger iPads all seem pointless to me if not used on the magic keyboard, then if I was going to use it this way I might as well have a MBA M2. But the iPad Mini 6 really speaks to me because you can one hand it and that's important to me.

The larger iPads demand two-hand usage or resting it on something, and you have to hold it further away from your body to read vs a phone. They are too big for me as they are just blown-up mobile devices but the Mini 6 is a different ball game. After 10 minutes of trying to force myself to use Mini 6 in landscape only (because in portrait mode the jelly scroll is so bad), I felt the weight pulling sideways when trying to use it one-handed. This iPad screams to be used in portrait like a plus-sized phone but the bendy jelly scroll is unbearable, and now with the increased price I can't do it. I will never be able to live with the jelly scroll, it will just pish me off every time. No iPads for me.

Over to the phones display again. I only want a Pro Max. That's it: no iPad, Macbook or settling for an SE. Even using the SE 2022 in landscape I can see bad jelly scroll and I would want to use it this way from time to time because the display is so small in portrait. The Pro Max gives me everything I want in a mobile computing device. Should I try one over the Christmas extended returns period?

The 14 Pro was brutal on me so I have the strongest doubts I should bother with the 14PM, but it might be a scratch I have to itch. After that.........?

 

[jimmy_uk]

.....
Back at square one. No more Apple products with PWM? Probably. My new MacBook Pro is a frustrating headache in itself, and I would have enjoyed it immensely if it weren’t for that fact.

I’ll be a responsible PWM-sensitive iPhone user and check iPhone 14 out in an Apple Store before deciding if I just want to wait to see what happens next year.

Could you ditch the MBP 14" and go for the MBA M2 as this is reported to have no PWM? I understand there will be a fincial hit, but if it ain't working for you.....

I'm tempted by the MBA M2 myself but really want to sort out my mobile computing first.

 

[jm31828]

Well, I see Apple announced today that the holiday return period has begun!

Holiday Return Policy
Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between November 4, 2022 and December 25, 2022, may be returned through January 8, 2023. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased. Items purchased by carrier financing are not eligible for extended returns and are subject to the Standard Return Policy. All purchases made after December 25, 2022 are subject to the Standard Return Policy.

Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help

Find out how you can return an item, how long the refund process takes, what to do if your invoice is not with your order, and much more.

www.apple.com

 

[MICHAELSD]

Could you ditch the MBP 14" and go for the MBA M2 as this is reported to have no PWM? I understand there will be a fincial hit, but if it ain't working for you.....

I'm tempted by the MBA M2 myself but really want to sort out my mobile computing first.

I tried the MBA as well, which I wouldn’t have done had I not been getting headaches from the MBP. While I liked it, the MBP felt like such a drastic upgrade that has all the features I wanted in an even more premium build. Maybe a mistake keeping the MBP, but I still maintain that it’s amazing besides the PWM.

I’ve tried setting my MBP aside for a few days and using iPhone 14PM by itself. I can tell the display still has the ability to cause headaches, but a lot of my persistent headaches are being caused by using the MBP surprisingly enough. Regardless, I think I still need an iPhone that’s better than iPhone 14 PM in terms of flicker. Will I resist the temptation to test iPhone 14?