I'm going to pick up a 16 Plus today (based on the handful of people here who have had good luck) and a 16E if they have them. I've yet to have a usable OLED iPhone for me so not super hopeful but you never know.
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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
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I also emailed this address. Thanks.
Spent around 20 minutes helping my Mum set up her new 16E (a slightly painful experience as she isn't really tech savi at all) - this short period is enough to tell me I'm at the end of the road with iPhone.
The inside edge of my eyes (nearest my nose) feel strained already and I can feel my brain tense around my forehead area. This will most definitely become a headache if I continued.
It's the usual issue of the screen feeling like it's too bright in the centre of my focus - like a torch is being flashed in my vision. If I try to read posts on this thread, my focus strengthens like I'm trying to see through the phone. Any micro movements in my hand and the screen shimmers.
The inside edge of my eyes (nearest my nose) feel strained already and I can feel my brain tense around my forehead area. This will most definitely become a headache if I continued.
It's the usual issue of the screen feeling like it's too bright in the centre of my focus - like a torch is being flashed in my vision. If I try to read posts on this thread, my focus strengthens like I'm trying to see through the phone. Any micro movements in my hand and the screen shimmers.
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Does anyone feel like the later iPhone 16s pro model are now more bearable, I was using my brothers 16 pro max and experienced no symptoms whatsoever
Looks like I am ready to return the 16e. Had a bad migraine this morning from using it - was ok yesterday. Will switch back to my SE3 
. I have tried the 16 Pro and the 16. Might have to give the 16 Plus a go.
It's a great phone in my opinion and will do well for those who don't need anything fancy or for enterprises that manage their fleet of iPhones.
. I have tried the 16 Pro and the 16. Might have to give the 16 Plus a go.It's a great phone in my opinion and will do well for those who don't need anything fancy or for enterprises that manage their fleet of iPhones.
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I heard the 16 Plus worked well for PwmMen so I hope it'll work out well for you too!Looks like I am ready to return the 16e. Had a bad migraine this morning from using it - was ok yesterday. Will switch back to my SE3
It's a great phone in my opinion and will do well for those who don't need anything fancy or for enterprises that manage their fleet of iPhones.
Well Zollotech says to avoid this phone if you are sensitive to PWM. He recommends 16 Pro/Pro Max.
Because he is measuring PWM with slowmotion video (240 frames per second) the 16, 16 plus and probably 16e using a hybrid PWM frequency. A 480hz and I think 120hz. So with the slowmotion video you can detect the PWM if the 16 using a 120hz frequency. The pro models are using a steady 480hz PWM and that’s why you can’t detect the PWM on the pro models. Zollotech is not sensitive as many of us. So the 480hz works for him. Lower doesn’t.
Why bother? It isn’t going to make a big difference. It could be better but it’s still flickering. You are probably very sensitive. You might wait for the 17 and hope that Apple improves (a miracle). Or you might try the one plus 13 with anti flicker settings, honor magic 7, xiaomi 15 of the new nothing phone. These phones still flicker and they might not work for you, but they have some eye health and anti flicker settings. These phones work for some people. I think it’s better to try these phones out and instead of waisting your energy on an another 16 model.Looks like I am ready to return the 16e. Had a bad migraine this morning from using it - was ok yesterday. Will switch back to my SE3
It's a great phone in my opinion and will do well for those who don't need anything fancy or for enterprises that manage their fleet of iPhones.
Fortunately for PWM men. But he isn’t very sensitive like the most of us. He had very good results in the past with other phones too. I think after a while he got symptoms from those phones aswell and the 16 plus is the first phone works perfect for him.
That’s because there are 3 manufacturers for the iPhone screens. Samsung is the biggest one and provides the most screens. And Samsung is also the worst one. LG and BOE make more eye friendly screens. So your brother screen is probably made my LG or BOE. And sometimes you don’t get symptoms right away. Sometimes it take a little time.
Think I might give the 16 another shot, hopefully I win the display lottery like him
I helped a family member set up a 16e today and decided I may as well measure the flicker level while I'm at it. I already had a migraine so I can't speak to the effects of the display on my eyes, but it didn't feel horrible from the few minutes I used it.
The strongest flicker is the refresh rate at 60 Hz, then the PWM rate seems to be 480 Hz no matter the brightness setting, but the amount of flicker changes.
At 0% there is effectively 100% flicker.
At 10% there is about 20-50% flicker. (20% when measured at high amplification, 50% when measured at low amplification. I need to redo this test to make sure which is more accurate).
At 25% there is about 20% flicker.
At 50% there is about 20% flicker.
At 75% there is about 20% flicker.
At 100% there is about 20% flicker.
And of course I can't just state a bunch of facts without providing evidence. Screenshots from the oscilloscope below. Equipment used: Siglent SDS1000X-E oscilloscope and Thorlabs PDA100A2 amplified detector.
You'll notice that the frequency displayed on screen is a bit inaccurate because it's difficult to trigger properly with this type of signal, but counting the peaks per division puts it at close to 500 Hz, which is in agreement with the 480 Hz measurement I got at 10% brightness, which I did confirm with multiple measurements at different brightness levels.
The strongest flicker is the refresh rate at 60 Hz, then the PWM rate seems to be 480 Hz no matter the brightness setting, but the amount of flicker changes.
At 0% there is effectively 100% flicker.
At 10% there is about 20-50% flicker. (20% when measured at high amplification, 50% when measured at low amplification. I need to redo this test to make sure which is more accurate).
At 25% there is about 20% flicker.
At 50% there is about 20% flicker.
At 75% there is about 20% flicker.
At 100% there is about 20% flicker.
And of course I can't just state a bunch of facts without providing evidence. Screenshots from the oscilloscope below. Equipment used: Siglent SDS1000X-E oscilloscope and Thorlabs PDA100A2 amplified detector.
0% brightness
10% brightness
25% brightness
50% brightness
75% brightness
100% brightness
You'll notice that the frequency displayed on screen is a bit inaccurate because it's difficult to trigger properly with this type of signal, but counting the peaks per division puts it at close to 500 Hz, which is in agreement with the 480 Hz measurement I got at 10% brightness, which I did confirm with multiple measurements at different brightness levels.
Indeed Pro doesn't work for me either.
Yesterday I tried the 16e and it definitely doesn't work for me.
I don't know what I will do now when I need to buy my next phone.
I saw an infographic on Reddit that said that iPhone 16 Pro Max has the lowest modulations and likely uses direct current dimming. I don’t quite think that’s accurate, but I’m holding out for the iPhone 17 lineup.
yes. Only LCD phones. OLED phones flicker. And Samsung devices are the worst. Followed by Apple and google pixels. Apple is using a 480hz frequency for couple of years now. The modulation depth is even worse this year with the 16 pro’s.
The Vivo 200 uses a 2.160hz PWM frequency for Al bright settings. That might be interesting. Xiaomi, nothing, oneplus and honor and other Chinese brands using a hybrid system. DC like dimming above 50% and a very high PWM frequency below that. The honor uses a 3.880 hz frequency for example. That’s also interesting to try.
I'm going to replace my iPhone 11 battery this week then buy an Android with LCD, likely the Moto G75. While I want a flagship, I think we all need to learn to settle for what is likely to work. Going to have to rip off the band aid and ditch Apple eventually.Indeed Pro doesn't work for me either.
Yesterday I tried the 16e and it definitely doesn't work for me.
I don't know what I will do now when I need to buy my next phone.
I've said it before, but if eye strain wasn't an issue I'd have the best MBP, iPP, iP and AW. I was looking at buying the upcoming MBA next month, but if I'm switching to Android, I don't want to invest in any Apple gear. So if a Moto phone works, then a Lenovo tablet and laptop are in my future.
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Same here. I already gave up Apple. And I wasn’t interested in the 16e at all. It’s a very expensive budget phone. You miss lot of features and the PWM is still the same.
Ps. Are you sensitive to Temporal Dithering? I read somewhere that the Motorola phones give some people also some kind of discomfort