Lot of these screens “DC-dimming like” above a certain percentage. What does this actually mean? I see the screen also flickering. I asked Nick for explanation but he didn’t anwser.
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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
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A-Inc will never mention the acronym PWM. Ever. Even if they tweak it.
They’re too gun shy about class action lawsuits to get anywhere near mentioning it.
“Oh, this year the iPhone 16 has a much improved PWM waveform to help those who develop eyestrain, headaches, nausea, dizziness, vertigo and seizures when using our iPhones “
They’re too gun shy about class action lawsuits to get anywhere near mentioning it.
“Oh, this year the iPhone 16 has a much improved PWM waveform to help those who develop eyestrain, headaches, nausea, dizziness, vertigo and seizures when using our iPhones “
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/Stillcolorgithub.com
Thank you,
I will give it a try.
I’ve included a link below as it includes the development and ongoing testing. I’m a few months behind on the comments… Ignore the testing procedure it’s not worth the effort unless you are familiar with it.
https://ledstrain.org/d/2686-i-disa...e-silicon-introducing-stillcolor-macos-m1m2m3
Guys, iPhone 13 - “New Brightness Controller.” All they need to say.
Unfortunately, the doubled or more than doubled rate didn’t work for me, but they have mentioned it indirectly. They would say higher max brightness if they had meant otherwise.
How so?
If history is any indication the MBP's with LED backlit displays had the brightness controller changed without fanfare in ~2010. So unless its a display technology that changed in other ways I wouldn't expect it to be much different.
A radical solution to eye-strain and PWM is e-ink phones. Hisense has been the sole player in this segment and their phones were disappointing, barely usable outside China.
Now the new Bigme HiBreak Color E Ink Smartphone looks like a smart offer under $300, I've ordered it and will report after tests.
Now the new Bigme HiBreak Color E Ink Smartphone looks like a smart offer under $300, I've ordered it and will report after tests.
They did explicitly mention “New Brightness Controller” at the keynote then made the first push that year towards finding a solution.
If they had been referring to a higher max brightness as some users think then they would have said that instead, which I think they did note separately for that generation.
I am more and more convinced that temporal dithering is a key factor, because I’m uncomfortable using some Apple LCD screens as well. That’s why I’ve created a feedback entry on the Feedback app (iOS 18 beta) to ask them to add an accessibility option on the Reduce Motion sub-menu, to be able to disable temporal dithering.
If I share my feedback code here, will you be able to add to that feedback? Or is it better if you do it on your own? Let me know!
If I share my feedback code here, will you be able to add to that feedback? Or is it better if you do it on your own? Let me know!
They’re adding dithering to more & more products and proudly share the fact that the screens now can display Billions of colors.
To them, dithering is wonderful technology.
To them, dithering is wonderful technology.
That’s why we should stop using Apple products. Today the iPhone 16 line up will be presented. The most of us have been patiently waiting for these phones and will be disappointed (again). Enough is enough. They don’t care and won’t fix the problem. Look how cool the Honor V3 is. A very thin foldable phone with a somehow large battery. And DC dimming like screen and 4380 PWM screen. Now that’s innovation. While Apple will be presenting the iPhone 14s s today
I think so… I’m not sure but I tell you, once I had an iPhone 13 mini (the first one I bought) running iOS 15, and eye strain was never an issue. The reason why I returned it was I weren’t able to unlock it wearing a face mask (it was pandemic time), and I used to wear a mask in almost every closed space. So it wasn’t practical for me and returned it.
Many months after, Apple released an update to unlock the phone wearing a mask. When I bought one for the second time, running iOS 16 this time, I started to feel something weird on my eyes… and returned it. The last one I bought (because I knew it was the last pocketable flagship Apple was going to release), already in an advanced version of iOS 16, the tears running my eyes and the soreness made me return it after a couple of days…
Maybe the relationship between iOS 16 and my eye strain was just purely casual… or maybe it was causal. The last I’ve been reading about dithering is that Apple started to implement it in a significant way during iOS 16, and on iOS 17 it has gotten even worse. And my eyes are now suffering even on LCD displays so… draw your own conclusions.
Please someone tell me I’m not crazy.
During the last days I’ve been tinkering with several accessibility options such as reduce motion or dim flashing lights… none of them worked. Until…
Keep in mind this is an LCD display so no PWM, so probably temporal dithering is the culprit.
Yesterday, I decided to try something that is usually recommended for mitigating PWM on OLED iPhones: reduce white point. I wanted to test it, for the sake of it, so I set it to 70%. Consequently, I had to increase a bit my screen brightness, but not by much honestly, as I’m using my M2 iPad Pro indoors.
Since them, a slight ghosting effect occurs, that doesn’t bother me, but for some reason, my eyes don’t get as tired. Actually, this morning I was using it after a good sleep, and I barely noticed any effect from the screen.
So, please people tell me this isn’t some kind of placebo effect. I’m going to keep using it with the reduce white point enabled, putting the switch on the control center for when I need full brightness in the exteriors.
What do you think about this? Does it make sense? Regardless, this afternoon I’m going to write Apple an email regarding this issue with temporal dithering on iOS 16 and, especially ,17 and 18.
During the last days I’ve been tinkering with several accessibility options such as reduce motion or dim flashing lights… none of them worked. Until…
Keep in mind this is an LCD display so no PWM, so probably temporal dithering is the culprit.
Yesterday, I decided to try something that is usually recommended for mitigating PWM on OLED iPhones: reduce white point. I wanted to test it, for the sake of it, so I set it to 70%. Consequently, I had to increase a bit my screen brightness, but not by much honestly, as I’m using my M2 iPad Pro indoors.
Since them, a slight ghosting effect occurs, that doesn’t bother me, but for some reason, my eyes don’t get as tired. Actually, this morning I was using it after a good sleep, and I barely noticed any effect from the screen.
So, please people tell me this isn’t some kind of placebo effect. I’m going to keep using it with the reduce white point enabled, putting the switch on the control center for when I need full brightness in the exteriors.
What do you think about this? Does it make sense? Regardless, this afternoon I’m going to write Apple an email regarding this issue with temporal dithering on iOS 16 and, especially ,17 and 18.
Oke..
I have an iPhone 11 and I’m using it for almost 5 years. I had never problems with it. And I’m also using iOS 17 and I was also using iOS 16 without problems. While some are complaining about the iPhone 11 and iOS 16 I had never issues. But I did use once a iPad 11 pro LCD and got eyestrain. So I’m not sure if I’m sensitive for Temporal dithering. Or that my iPhone is old and doesn’t support temporal dithering and the newer 11 models did.
Keep in mind that it also depends on the screen manufacturer as well. Apple sources their screens from several manufacturers (hence the term screen lottery), and I have experience on this. My other 11” M2 iPad Pro, a base model with just 128GB, has a clearly different screen (different white tone, different color shift from angles…), and that one NEVER gave me eye strain. But I needed more storage and before the M2 iPad Pro was cleared from the stores, I decided to purchase one with bigger storage. And I’m no longer on the return window. And it gives me eye strain, sadly.Oke..
I have an iPhone 11 and I’m using it for almost 5 years. I had never problems with it. And I’m also using iOS 17 and I was also using iOS 16 without problems. While some are complaining about the iPhone 11 and iOS 16 I had never issues. But I did use once a iPad 11 pro LCD and got eyestrain. So I’m not sure if I’m sensitive for Temporal dithering. Or that my iPhone is old and doesn’t support temporal dithering and the newer 11 models did.
So no, it not always happens with the same model. It depends on the screen panel source.
Oké got it. Thanks. After tonight I’m probably switching to an another phone and leave Apple. I’m done with this BS. My 11 is also almost finished
I can totally get you, and I wish Apple could see how they’re losing loyal customers for hurting their eyesight, just by using temporal dithering (or whatever display trick) to improve the color depth. It’s a shame.
Good luck on the other side. I’m just not a fan of Google. If some day I leave the ecosystem, it will be LineageOS or AOSP. Problem is… there aren’t tablets like the iPad
Yes I get it. I don’t use a tablet or a MacBook. I do use an iPhone, AirPods and an Apple Watch. So it’s relatively easy for me to switch. Yes I don’t want to switch either and I tried to contact Apple for this issue. But they didn’t respond. They are selling 70-80 miljon phones per year. So they don’t care about couple of people. What phone are you using as a mainly driver ?I can totally get you, and I wish Apple could see how they’re losing loyal customers for hurting their eyesight, just by using temporal dithering (or whatever display trick) to improve the color depth. It’s a shame.
Good luck on the other side. I’m just not a fan of Google. If some day I leave the ecosystem, it will be LineageOS or AOSP. Problem is… there aren’t tablets like the iPad
Hi! Another PWM sufferer here
I used an Xs for a long time and it has always been somewhat bothersome but usable, then recently I started to have heavy migraines and blurry vision so I immediately stopped using it; i don't know if i'm in an acute stress phase or something, but basically as soon I look at it my eyes start to sting, a lot.
I'm now using an old SE 2020 that i desperately want to change with something more modern and I looked on the "other side", where brands like Motorola, Nothing and Honor seem the best for eye safety. I'm waiting for being disappointed again with the 16 then I will sadly switch to Android, because yes iOS is awesome and I will miss it, but my eyes are more important than an operating system.
Guessing that Apple will not say anything about it this morning, do you think that we will have already someone testing and reporting the screen frequency? Or usually do we wait until the devices release?
I used an Xs for a long time and it has always been somewhat bothersome but usable, then recently I started to have heavy migraines and blurry vision so I immediately stopped using it; i don't know if i'm in an acute stress phase or something, but basically as soon I look at it my eyes start to sting, a lot.
I'm now using an old SE 2020 that i desperately want to change with something more modern and I looked on the "other side", where brands like Motorola, Nothing and Honor seem the best for eye safety. I'm waiting for being disappointed again with the 16 then I will sadly switch to Android, because yes iOS is awesome and I will miss it, but my eyes are more important than an operating system.
Guessing that Apple will not say anything about it this morning, do you think that we will have already someone testing and reporting the screen frequency? Or usually do we wait until the devices release?
You are right. Apple won’t say anything today. So we will be sure if someone check the PWM in the stores or test them out in person.Hi! Another PWM sufferer here
I used an Xs for a long time and it has always been somewhat bothersome but usable, then recently I started to have heavy migraines and blurry vision so I immediately stopped using it; i don't know if i'm in an acute stress phase or something, but basically as soon I look at it my eyes start to sting, a lot.
I'm now using an old SE 2020 that i desperately want to change with something more modern and I looked on the "other side", where brands like Motorola, Nothing and Honor seem the best for eye safety. I'm waiting for being disappointed again with the 16 then I will sadly switch to Android, because yes iOS is awesome and I will miss it, but my eyes are more important than an operating system.
Guessing that Apple will not say anything about it this morning, do you think that we will have already someone testing and reporting the screen frequency? Or usually do we wait until the devices release?