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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
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Xiaomi recently announced 3 new phones from their Poco range (M6 Pro, X6, X6 Pro). All three highlight 1920Hz PWM dimming, but two of them (M6 Pro, X6) explicitly highlight 3 TÜV certifications:
The interesting thing about them is that their top spec model (X6 Pro) doesn't mention these certifications. They simply describe their eye friendly specs as:
On the FAQ page for the X6 Pro, they state:
On the FAQ page for the M6 Pro, they state:
So all a bit strange, even though it's overall positive that things are moving in the right direction, at least in the Android space.
I've also found some Russian YouTube reviews that mention a flicker % of about 3 - 5% across most of the brightness range, going up to ~10% for very low brightness settings. A significant improvement!
- TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified
- TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified
- TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified
The interesting thing about them is that their top spec model (X6 Pro) doesn't mention these certifications. They simply describe their eye friendly specs as:
On the FAQ page for the X6 Pro, they state:
On the FAQ page for the M6 Pro, they state:
So all a bit strange, even though it's overall positive that things are moving in the right direction, at least in the Android space.
I've also found some Russian YouTube reviews that mention a flicker % of about 3 - 5% across most of the brightness range, going up to ~10% for very low brightness settings. A significant improvement!
An interesting article from Nicholas Sutrich on the upcoming OnePlus 12, where he talks to the president and COO of OnePlus, Kinder Liu about eye health for screens: Exclusive: Ultra-bright displays are destroying our eyes, but the OnePlus 12 gets it right
From there:
From there:
On the new Samsung Galaxy S24 range, I've had a play with them in-store, and Samsung seem to have significantly improved their displays when it comes to PWM (at least for Samsung's track record).
Their displays across the three range S24 showed a flicker % of ~16% across the brightness spectrum, going to ~19% at low brightness.
And while I didn't spend too much time in store, looking at the screen felt all right, especially when comparing to the Galaxy A25 that was also on display, which has the standard Samsung flicker % of 50%+ across the brightness spectrum. That A25 felt uncomfortable immediately.
Their displays across the three range S24 showed a flicker % of ~16% across the brightness spectrum, going to ~19% at low brightness.
And while I didn't spend too much time in store, looking at the screen felt all right, especially when comparing to the Galaxy A25 that was also on display, which has the standard Samsung flicker % of 50%+ across the brightness spectrum. That A25 felt uncomfortable immediately.
Nice article.
The cite certification from
Eye Comfort Certification
Eye comfort certified displays increase user comfort, ensure freedom of movement and reduce eye fatigue at work. Read more!
I'm going to try and do some digging to see if any laptops are certified by them.
Nice article.
The cite certification from
Eye Comfort Certification
Eye comfort certified displays increase user comfort, ensure freedom of movement and reduce eye fatigue at work. Read more!www.tuv.com
I'm going to try and do some digging to see if any laptops are certified by them.
No mention on how "flicker free certification" is measured. It only mentions the 5 star requirements, which is all colour space.
I've seen phones that have already had flicker free certification that still have PWM flicker. 🤷♂️ the cynic in me thinks this is a company cashing in on licensing/testing fees for certication labels which product manafactuers are going to need because there is growing concern/knowledge in the consumer space about health relating to gadget usage. "Oh this product is low blue light and flicker free, I feel confident making my purchase".
That's true for flicker-free LED lights as well. I think these are still useful as they at least bring awareness to the issue. Maybe the industry can work together to create some useful standards then. Although I won't hold my breath since they cannot even agree on a uniform standard for how to report the SAR for their phones.
Today I have configured the Samsung Galaxy A34 5G for a relative, and I have not had any problem with it. It is a Super AMOLED panel, at 120hz, I have not touched any option, I have been 2 hours with it and no problem, I could read well and very comfortable to use. But on the other hand, I have used Samsung's of higher range and the discomfort is immediate.
I don't understand anything anymore 😂
www.notebookcheck.net
I don't understand anything anymore 😂
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G smartphone review: Affordable all-rounder with an extra-bright OLED display
The 6.6-inch Samsung Galaxy A34 5G features a 2340 x 1080 pixel Super AMOLED display and is powered by the MediaTek SoC Dimensity 1080. The hardware includes 6 GB RAM, 128 GB UFS 2.2 storage, a 48 MP quad camera, IP67 certification and a 5000 mAh battery that can be charged at up to 25 watts.
Flicker-free certification that doesn’t mean flicker-free is misleading at best, and a roadblock to progress at worst.
I still get some migraines while not using iPhone 15 Plus that make it feel like my brain adapts too much to the display. That being said I’m getting a light migraine in my right eye staring at it now. I’m worried any amount of flicker is too much for a device that’s picked up constantly and used for hours throughout the day.
I still get some migraines while not using iPhone 15 Plus that make it feel like my brain adapts too much to the display. That being said I’m getting a light migraine in my right eye staring at it now. I’m worried any amount of flicker is too much for a device that’s picked up constantly and used for hours throughout the day.
It is nice having a newer iPhone. I’m sure I’d be a little happier with a Pro/Pro Max in my pocket specifically. Oddly the higher brightness levels during the day seem to bother me even more than the middle ranges. I really just want there to be no measurable flicker so we can be over this. These reduced modulations aren’t enough.
Sent the 15 PM back and I am officially done with the 15 series. While the PM was by far and beyond the easiest on my eyes, all symptoms left when I went back to my 11. Fun while it lasted.
I honestly don’t know and I’m more confused than ever. For 4 weeks I thought the 15 PM was the answer for me and then it went south. I’m watching Apple refurbs and if they have any 256gb 11s I’ll grab another. At this point I’m preparing myself for android. Apple has shown absolutely zero signs of addressing this as a legit issue.
Fortunately this is an issue now vs years ago when iOS was not mature. I can deal with being stuck on iOS 18 which I assume to be the last upgrade the 11 will be included on. The main thing I miss are the cameras on the new phones.
I'm kind of at the same point. The good thing is I can at least enjoy my SE for another 4-5 years, plus a lot can happen in that time. I'm hoping Apple will either start taking this issue seriously by then, or Samsung will put out a phone I can use 🤞 If I have to go back to android, I'd greatly prefer a Samsung flagship. Honestly if both my computers weren't Macs I would probably would have given up on iPhones already. Heeeeally hoping Apple opens up iCloud to android, it would make the eventual switch SO much easier.
We need Samsung to take this more seriously first as they manufacture the displays.
Agree 💯. I was hopeful with the S24 Ultra but after reading reviews I won’t even bother with it. This sucks lol.
Very similar. See here: iPhone 15 results
The S24 range seems to be more even (i.e. ~15% across the brightness range), wheras the 15 Pro seems to hover between ~12% - 20%
You'll laugh, although I tolerate the iPhone 15 Pro Max well, I'm currently using the iPhone SE 2022.
I wanted to reduce myself somehow and see if I could handle the iPhone SE 2022. And it's just great.
The size, the technology, everything is completely sufficient. I don't watch any series or films on the display, so everything's fine.
It feels so good to have such a small, handy and completely sufficient iPhone in your pocket. I'm excited.
It can do everything I need and has incredible performance. A big advantage is that you are on your smartphone much less.
I no longer feel like following every technical advance that I don't actually need. I'll stick with the iPhone SE 2022 for the next few weeks.
I was so happy with the iPhone 6,6s,7,8 back then and now I feel like I've come home.
Even though I tolerated the iPhone 15 Pro Max well, the iPhone SE 2022 somehow feels better, I can't explain it.
Maybe it's the thought that I know that the iPhone SE 2022 doesn't flicker.
I wanted to reduce myself somehow and see if I could handle the iPhone SE 2022. And it's just great.
The size, the technology, everything is completely sufficient. I don't watch any series or films on the display, so everything's fine.
It feels so good to have such a small, handy and completely sufficient iPhone in your pocket. I'm excited.
It can do everything I need and has incredible performance. A big advantage is that you are on your smartphone much less.
I no longer feel like following every technical advance that I don't actually need. I'll stick with the iPhone SE 2022 for the next few weeks.
I was so happy with the iPhone 6,6s,7,8 back then and now I feel like I've come home.
Even though I tolerated the iPhone 15 Pro Max well, the iPhone SE 2022 somehow feels better, I can't explain it.
Maybe it's the thought that I know that the iPhone SE 2022 doesn't flicker.
The jumbo phones are good in theory but too cumbersome to live with. Travelling around on the trains in London yesterday (a rare visit for work), all I noticed was everyone starring at their phones like zombies in every location. There wasn't enough room to swing a cat and yet people where holding these huge phones in their hands mindlessly watching tiktok videos or frantically messaging. The phones being so large you can see everything they are doing, zero privacy. No one is paying any attention to the world around them, it's no wonder people are having their phones snatched in public. The phone obsession is crazy to me now. Must be getting old....
I forget to inform you that the previous days i revisited 15 pro max. I stayed with it 3 days.
-120 and 60 setting made absolutely no difference at all.
-The good thing about pro max 15 compared to other oled iPhones is that IT DOESNT burn your eyes or make them fatigue.
-Another good thing is that nausea wasn’t constant and very very little evident only when at home and occasionally.
-The reason i sent it back was a constant light sense of headache….. it was not sth huge but it was there and constant. I was feeling it.
My 3 days with max showed me that when the enthusiasm with the big screen went away it’s still a heavy device….. the light weight of 15 plus makes it a lot more manageable. But they are still huge devices and most importantly thick. You can’t beat the one hand experience of my iPhone 11… and it’s also thinner with rounder edgers. So my eyes now are to 16 pro…..
Has Apple stopped developing se4 ?
-120 and 60 setting made absolutely no difference at all.
-The good thing about pro max 15 compared to other oled iPhones is that IT DOESNT burn your eyes or make them fatigue.
-Another good thing is that nausea wasn’t constant and very very little evident only when at home and occasionally.
-The reason i sent it back was a constant light sense of headache….. it was not sth huge but it was there and constant. I was feeling it.
My 3 days with max showed me that when the enthusiasm with the big screen went away it’s still a heavy device….. the light weight of 15 plus makes it a lot more manageable. But they are still huge devices and most importantly thick. You can’t beat the one hand experience of my iPhone 11… and it’s also thinner with rounder edgers. So my eyes now are to 16 pro…..
Has Apple stopped developing se4 ?
No you are not getting old. They are the ones getting out of reality and into a digital avatar. Remember back then our screen usage was 2-3 hours max and nowadays 3 to 7 hours. I am trying to keep mine at 4 hours.
I think it's the first time I see Mrwhosetheboss talking about PWM (But it was better explained in that article from android central about the new One Plus, indeed by the explanation of this video looks like the same system of other phones, mixing dc dimming, pwm and blue light filter).
6:54
6:54
You know I emailed Mrwhoistheboss, iJustine and MKBHD and I asked them to make a video about PWM. To address this issue for people like us. I also emailed Tim Cook and some other people from Apple. Obviously no one responded. But I’m very happy that Arun talks about this issue now in his video. Maybe he did listen to me 😎
Did anyone test the one plus 12?
I doubt it's because of you. OnePlus probably told him about their DC dimming feature.
But all awareness is good. The more of us that become aware of the issue, the more likely it is that companies like Apple with spend an extra buck or two to fix the issue.