This is all I needed to see. Thanks!
Another generation of garbage OLED displays.
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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
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Another generation of garbage OLED displays.
Iphone 15 Pro Max PWM with the Opple Light Master G3 tool. Frequency is confirmed at 480 Hz. Modulation varies depending on the brightness and tool proximity but is almost always labeled "High Risk". Reducing white point often reduces the modulation by half.
I'll use the phone a few days and report about eye-strain. It's a big jump coming from the 11, so I hope my eyes will adapt to it.
The tool indicated No Risk for my iPhone 11, Macbook pro M1 14" and 8 out of 10 of my light bulbs.
I'll use the phone a few days and report about eye-strain. It's a big jump coming from the 11, so I hope my eyes will adapt to it.
The tool indicated No Risk for my iPhone 11, Macbook pro M1 14" and 8 out of 10 of my light bulbs.
CHeers for this, do you know anywhere I could see the same test and result representation from previous phones? Especially the Iphone X.
Look on the bright side — at least it’s mostly carbon neutral PWM! 😁
Will be probably picking up an IPhone 15 pro max. I’ll give you guys a heads up on if I experience any issues
I've now tested my iPhone 15 Pro Max for 2,5 hours straight and can say,
that it is a huge step forward from the iPhone 13/14 Pro Max. I can't feel my eyes.
No matter what was measured here, Apple must have done something so that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is excellent.
I will definitely keep it and can finally switch from my iPhone 12 Pro to a current iPhone.
I can only advise everyone else here to at least try it with the new iPhones.
that it is a huge step forward from the iPhone 13/14 Pro Max. I can't feel my eyes.
No matter what was measured here, Apple must have done something so that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is excellent.
I will definitely keep it and can finally switch from my iPhone 12 Pro to a current iPhone.
I can only advise everyone else here to at least try it with the new iPhones.
Has anyone seen any actual measurements on the frequency or modulation on the regular (non-pro) 15?
Why do screens need to be so bright now? I'm sure it's not good for you. I even turn the screen on my monitor down all the way as it bothers me. I have the same issue with the OLED switch, compared to a non OLED switch its too bright. My SE3 is constantly at this brightness unless I'm outside in the sun.
I know I'm going to be stuck at some point if nothing changes, but I'm not getting an OLED iPhone and having the have the brightness really bright just to avoid PWM, that would actually probably hurt me even more given I'm used to low brightness on all screens.
I know I'm going to be stuck at some point if nothing changes, but I'm not getting an OLED iPhone and having the have the brightness really bright just to avoid PWM, that would actually probably hurt me even more given I'm used to low brightness on all screens.
Regular iPhone 11 (LCD not OLED) will probably get to iOS 19 and be good for a few years after that. So that is an option. Its still super fast.
UP this and I will add my PWM tests of the full 15 line soon (and the 14 and 13). Note that these figures can vary much depending on the room conditions, the distance of the flicker-meter etc. One sure thing, only a frequency above 1000 (some chinese brands) may reduce the risks whatever the modulation.
With the same tool I got in store a frequency of 480Hz for the iPhone 14 and 240Hz for Galaxy S23+ and Pixel 7 Pro.
I sincerely hope your new phone works well for you.
With that said, there is no technical reason it should be any different than any other OLED iPhone generation, and I anticipate seeing a follow up post from you with a gloomier state of the union regarding your iPhone 15 Pro Max experience in the next few days.
Sorry to be negative, but we shouldn’t kid ourselves. No great strides were made with iPhone 15 regarding this topic.
Again, all the best, but iPhone 11 and SE will be there to pick up the pieces. 😁
iPhone 15 doesn’t look usable compared to other previous OLED iPhones, but it’s difficult to say. All I know is I want/need a new smartphone and want/need to avoid flicker, and that statement is still oxymoronical.
iPhone 15 Pro on the other hand… I guess I’ll hold out false hope. There are devices on both sides available for pickup, besides the Max, so I might at least go look at them today.
iPhone 15 Pro on the other hand… I guess I’ll hold out false hope. There are devices on both sides available for pickup, besides the Max, so I might at least go look at them today.
I have a fascination with Accessibility settings that could solve this, even if it’s just tweaks to Reduce White Point.
Pro tip: the Action button can be programmed to both shortcuts and Accessibility settings, so at least we can enable/disable Reduce White Point quicker than ever.
Takeaways from Reddit: iPhone 15 Pro Max has a higher frequency of 480Hz, which has been used before on iPhone 13 Pro for those keeping track, and the most stable sine wave at 100% brightness. Otherwise modulation varies from 15%-25% throughout most of the brightness range, which isn’t too different from previous iPhones.
iPhone 15 apparently has a much lower modulation depth and a lower frequency, which may indicate more of an iPhone 14 quasi-DC dimming approach.
Edit: iPhone 15 has a preliminary measurement of a 60Hz rate, which again indicates more of a DC dimming-like approach like iPhone 14, as well as a modulation depth of between 12.77%-2.67%, which is in theory better than the Pro devices.
iPhone 15 apparently has a much lower modulation depth and a lower frequency, which may indicate more of an iPhone 14 quasi-DC dimming approach.
Edit: iPhone 15 has a preliminary measurement of a 60Hz rate, which again indicates more of a DC dimming-like approach like iPhone 14, as well as a modulation depth of between 12.77%-2.67%, which is in theory better than the Pro devices.
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I’m looking forward to @pwm away’s flicker results. These are very useful metrics.
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I’ve had a theory about just setting the brightness at 100% from day one and using Reduce White Point, since demo iPhones in store lighting at 100% tend not to cause immediate headaches. No matter what 100% brightness is the most stable with the lowest modulation depth on both devices.
However, Reduce White Point can mess with the modulation depth as @pwmaway has so astutely measured in the past.
I’m also proposing this as if I haven’t already tried it on every OLED iPhone, to no success.
I’m admittedly sick of this iPhone SE, despite it being a well-built device, and tempted to just go pick up an iPhone 15 Plus. It’s just unfortunate reminding myself that I can usually perceive changes in brightness, and the likelihood of these devices being much better to the point I’m no longer debilitatingly sensitive is low.
I am coming to the end of my first day with iPhone 15. Symptoms have increased a little bit but still manageable. My symptoms are: eyes becoming a little bit tired/foggy and tiny head pressure kicked in. The good thing about iPhone 15 compared to previous ones is that as soon as i stop using it i feel better and sooner than previous OLED iPhones. Tomorrow is gonna be the most important day.
Last year started off promising too then symptoms got progressively worse throughout the week after, and we have to ask: is it really worth keeping a device you’ll use daily that causes light fatigue and head pressure?
Comparing the Razr flip to the iPhone 15 (the first image), at 50 pct brightness. I culled these images from Reddit so it's not apples to apples so to speak. Note a couple of things. As brightness goes down so does the pwm frequency. Both phones look similar in frequency but the modulation is different. The iPhone at 50% brightness actually had a higher max frequency but the Moto modulates less. Which is why I think it feels better to my eyes. I don't think Apple fixes this with OLED. They need to employ a new technology which is probably a couple years away.
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