Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[now i see it]

If only we had a switch on iOS accessibility settings to switch it off… (Temporal Dithering)

There is a switch, but the price is kinda high.
View the display in Grayscale.

Grayscale only uses 256 shades of gray and a human eye can only see about half of that.
It’s hard to imagine that the GPU would be dithering only 256 different shades of gray.

I view all my Apple devices in grayscale only and I’ve got to say, they are a lot easier to look at compared to when they are displaying color.
Of course sometimes you’ve got to see color to differentiate certain things, but it’s easy to flip grayscale on & off on any device.

I’ve gotten to the point where if I was faced with choosing only one method of display forever, Color or Grayscale, I’d choose grayscale in a second and never look back and never miss color.

 

[Populus]

There is a switch, but the price is kinda high.
View the display in Grayscale.

Grayscale only uses 256 shades of gray and a human eye can only see about half of that.
It’s hard to imagine that the GPU would be dithering only 256 different shades of gray.

I view all my Apple devices in grayscale only and I’ve got to say, they are a lot easier to look at compared to when they are displaying color.
Of course sometimes you’ve got to see color to differentiate certain things, but it’s easy to flip grayscale on & off on any device.

I’ve gotten to the point where if I was faced with choosing only one method of display forever, Color or Grayscale, I’d choose grayscale in a second and never look back and never miss color.

The good news is that in iOS 18 it’s even easier to switch, because there are many accessibility features available to be placed in the Control Center. And I think color filters is one of those. For those who don’t like to triple-click.

But you’re right, the price to pay is quite high. I’m not sure I’m ready to use my devices in grayscale

 

[DJTaurus]

There is a switch, but the price is kinda high.
View the display in Grayscale.

Grayscale only uses 256 shades of gray and a human eye can only see about half of that.
It’s hard to imagine that the GPU would be dithering only 256 different shades of gray.

I view all my Apple devices in grayscale only and I’ve got to say, they are a lot easier to look at compared to when they are displaying color.
Of course sometimes you’ve got to see color to differentiate certain things, but it’s easy to flip grayscale on & off on any device.

I’ve gotten to the point where if I was faced with choosing only one method of display forever, Color or Grayscale, I’d choose grayscale in a second and never look back and never miss color.

Does it help with oled iphones ? Do the symptoms go away?

 

[Martius]

One of the saddest threads here on MR.

All that Apple crap about health, and seven years after the iPhone X was introduced, PWM is still a problem. The bad thing is that the iPhone SE 2020 just doesn't cut it for me anymore, especially the camera. With iOS 18 being horribly slow (I know, it's just Beta, but I still don't think it's going to get any pervasively better), so I'll probably buy a 16 Pro this year. I generally don't look at my phone that much (like 30 min a day max), the main thing for me is a good camera. And I will hope that iPhone 17 will finally do something about the PWM problem (someone here mentioned some rumors about it).

 

[Abiyork]

And I will hope that iPhone 17 will finally do something about the PWM problem........

 

[Heman87]

What makes me really sad is that I bought 2 flicker free LCD monitors from Dell and Samsung. Both gave me an eyestrain. It’s not just OLED phones or tablets. But also now on LCD screens from other manufacturers besides Apple. This is so frustrating. Instead of fixing the problem. The problem is getting widespread

 

[snipr125]

One of the saddest threads here on MR.

All that Apple crap about health, and seven years after the iPhone X was introduced, PWM is still a problem. The bad thing is that the iPhone SE 2020 just doesn't cut it for me anymore, especially the camera. With iOS 18 being horribly slow (I know, it's just Beta, but I still don't think it's going to get any pervasively better), so I'll probably buy a 16 Pro this year. I generally don't look at my phone that much (like 30 min a day max), the main thing for me is a good camera. And I will hope that iPhone 17 will finally do something about the PWM problem (someone here mentioned some rumors about it).

Why not upgrade to the SE3 2022 with the A15 chip? Great performance and price and no PWM! I highly doubt PWM is going to get any better with the 17 series and will probably be at the low 240 hz flicker as it is now on the Pro models.

 

[Martius]

Why not upgrade to the SE3 2022 with the A15 chip? Great performance and price and no PWM! I highly doubt PWM is going to get any better with the 17 series and will probably be at the low 240 hz flicker as it is now on the Pro models.

I was thinking about it, but I won't be paying another $$$ for the same phone. I was using iPhone 6S since 2016, then SE since 2020... it surely is faster, but no. That would feel wrong. I need better cameras.

The SE 2022 is two years old, the next SE will be OLED one. The waiting game is over for me, I have to get use to the OLED iPhones. I don't watch YT / movies on iPhone. I just check messages, instagram, take calls, use maps and take a lot of photos.

 

[Abiyork]

I was thinking about it, but I won't be paying another $$$ for the same phone. I was using iPhone 6S since 2016, then SE since 2020... it surely is faster, but no. That would feel wrong. I need better cameras.

The SE 2022 is two years old, the next SE will be OLED one. The waiting game is over for me, I have to get use to the OLED iPhones. I don't watch YT / movies on iPhone. I just check messages, instagram, take calls, use maps and take a lot of photos.

I'm a photographer and whilst my iPhone 11 isnt a bad camera, missing out on the new camera tech is the biggest, if not the only, major disappointment for me.

 

[Heman87]

I was thinking about it, but I won't be paying another $$$ for the same phone. I was using iPhone 6S since 2016, then SE since 2020... it surely is faster, but no. That would feel wrong. I need better cameras.

The SE 2022 is two years old, the next SE will be OLED one. The waiting game is over for me, I have to get use to the OLED iPhones. I don't watch YT / movies on iPhone. I just check messages, instagram, take calls, use maps and take a lot of photos.

If you really want to stay in the Apple Ecosystem. Why not use 2 phones? A new iPhone 16 with the newest cameras and a SE. Or an Android phone with better screen for your eyes. I’m considering to buy a iPhone 16 pro or the regular 16 and use a second one with a good screen for sensitive users. Or just buy an android phone with good high PWM hz.

 

[super chimp]

Anyone wanting a basic Android phone without an OLED screen could consider this.

Samsung Galaxy A06 in for review

No frills but also no worries either. This is the Samsung Galaxy A06 and it has everything you'd ever need of a phone. It has a big screen, a...

m.gsmarena.com

 

[Martius]

If you really want to stay in the Apple Ecosystem. Why not use 2 phones? A new iPhone 16 with the newest cameras and a SE. Or an Android phone with better screen for your eyes. I’m considering to buy a iPhone 16 pro or the regular 16 and use a second one with a good screen for sensitive users. Or just buy an android phone with good high PWM hz.

I don't like Android and carrying two phones doesn't really make sense for me. It's the same like carrying my SE + Ricoh GRIIIx (or Olympus Mju II). I want one device with a good camera in my pocket.

 

[user1234]

What makes me really sad is that I bought 2 flicker free LCD monitors from Dell and Samsung. Both gave me an eyestrain. It’s not just OLED phones or tablets. But also now on LCD screens from other manufacturers besides Apple. This is so frustrating. Instead of fixing the problem. The problem is getting widespread

About the LCDs, I have noticed this too. I have had a flicker free Dell monitor for years, and suddenly after a MacOS update I started getting some eyestrain. It's not so bad I can't use it, but it's definitely not as comfortable as before and after a couple of hours of photo editing my eyes definitely need a rest.

This is with my 2017 iMac 27" connected to that monitor. With my MacBook Air M1 I have always had eye strain with this monitor. Dithering seems to be a likely cause.

 

[now i see it]

What makes me really sad is that I bought 2 flicker free LCD monitors

“Flicker Free” is a marketing term. Not a scientific fact. The geniuses in the display marketing departments decided that a backlight or pixel frequency above an arbitrary threshold shall be labeled “Flicker Free” since the higher frequency doesn’t bother MOST people.

Basically (it’s a lie)

 

[CocoPlops999]

Managed to pick up a pretty much brand new iPhone 13 on iOS 17.6.

At this point I can upgrade it to the iOS 18 beta then revert back to iOS 17.6?

I’m going to run some tests with my opple light master 4, I tried it briefly last night… it was a lot more comfortable to use.

 

[mrkapqa]

sign the petition

 

[DJTaurus]

sign the petition

View attachment 2412818

If i am not wrong i believe that has been debunked ?

 

[oneMadRssn]

sign the petition

View attachment 2412818

This is just dumb. Even if everything shown in the video is taken at face value, it's still dumb.

First, EMF is non-ionizing, meaning the most it does to your tissue is heating it. My ears don't get noticeably hot when using AirPods.

Second, this video is comparing apples and oranges. Wifi and Bluetooth use different spectrums, different energy levels, and transmission techniques.

 

[CocoPlops999]

Just stuck up on a post on the PWM sensitive reddit about 2 iPhone 13s, one on iOS 18 and the other on 17.

Would it be worth my updating the iOS 17 phone up to 18 to see if anything changes?

I can still roll back to iOS 17 right?

Please have a look and give me some feedback if possible.

Thanks in advance

 

[Populus]

Just stuck up on a post on the PWM sensitive reddit about 2 iPhone 13s, one on iOS 18 and the other on 17.

Would it be worth my updating the iOS 17 phone up to 18 to see if anything changes?

I can still roll back to iOS 17 right?

Please have a look and give me some feedback if possible.

Thanks in advance

I did that with my M2 iPad Pro, and I’m not sure if it’s placebo but I feel better using it on iPadOS 18 than the 17.6.1. I’ve been playing Turmoil+ for a while and my eyes are fine. So… maybe it’s worth a try.

Yeah, you can revert to iOS 17.6.1 or the latest signed IPSW as long as Apple doesn’t stop signing it, which will probably happen a few days/weeks after iOS 18 release.

If i am not wrong i believe that has been debunked ?

This is just dumb. Even if everything shown in the video is taken at face value, it's still dumb.

I think this user is comparing our sensitivity to flickering screens/temporal dithering, with users who claim WiFi/Bluetooth/sub-6GHz 5G electromagnetic waves are harmful. Yeah, mixing two very different topics just to make fun of us, a clear example of a straw man fallacy. I’m getting used to those lately…

And, of course, you can sign the petition:

Sign the Petition

Apple: Accessibility Options to Reduce Eye Strain and Support Vision Disability Sufferers

chng.it

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Hi all. Hope everyone is well and perhaps we’ll be pleasantly surprised by at least one of the 16 model screens. Even if just a few end up like me, finding a screen that works with no explanation, rhyme or reason. Fingers crossed for all of us. But hey I need your help. I’ve decided I want to get an iPad Pro model. I have a lot of reading up to do but before hand since I need to get to bed, I wanna ask which generation you suggest I try? Is the latest the layered OLED? I don’t even want to try it if so. What is the most recent version with micro LED or LED? Is it typically easier on the eyes than OLED? How does it compare to LCD?

Sorry for all the questions. I’m gonna read up tomorrow but not gonna lie….if I can leverage your experiences and expertise I’m all for that. Thanks!

 

[Wig321]

About the LCDs, I have noticed this too. I have had a flicker free Dell monitor for years, and suddenly after a MacOS update I started getting some eyestrain. It's not so bad I can't use it, but it's definitely not as comfortable as before and after a couple of hours of photo editing my eyes definitely need a rest.

This is with my 2017 iMac 27" connected to that monitor. With my MacBook Air M1 I have always had eye strain with this monitor. Dithering seems to be a likely cause.

Try the Stillcolor app if you haven’t already:

GitHub - aiaf/Stillcolor: Disable temporal dithering on your Mac with this lightweight menu bar app. Designed for Apple silicon Macs.

Disable temporal dithering on your Mac with this lightweight menu bar app. Designed for Apple silicon Macs. - aiaf/Stillcolor

github.com

 

[Heman87]

This doesn’t have to mean anything.

But today I sat with a friend who is working for the marketing team of Apple here in a Europe. She saw the keynote for upcoming Monday and she has the translate the presentation for the website here. She told me there was no mentioning of a PWM, flickering or better screens for your eyes. This was obviously as expected

 

[jtl_]

This doesn’t have to mean anything.

But today I sat with a friend who is working for the marketing team of Apple here in a Europe. She saw the keynote for upcoming Monday and she has the translate the presentation for the website here. She told me there was no mentioning of a PWM, flickering or better screens for your eyes. This was obviously as aspected

if true it *does* mean a lack of progress. Unless they quietly make a change without announcing it in PR copy (and there have been other precedents for this)

 

[DJTaurus]