I almost broke my ankle running to this thread! I was at the Yungblud show tonight and just came out to a text from a friend about the PWM switch. I’ve not had time to read a single thing yet but fingers crossed!
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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
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The crazy thing is, why was this PWM feature not showcased in the announcement?
I guess its because many people dont know this problem exists and speaking about when the world is watching might give more negative hysteria than positive reaction.
If by some minor miracle it works, I will immeditely disable all software updates to ensure any IOS tweeks dont reintroduce any issues with dithering etc.
Pretty excited now whilst at the same time not trying to get my hopes up.
I guess its because many people dont know this problem exists and speaking about when the world is watching might give more negative hysteria than positive reaction.
If by some minor miracle it works, I will immeditely disable all software updates to ensure any IOS tweeks dont reintroduce any issues with dithering etc.
Pretty excited now whilst at the same time not trying to get my hopes up.
I will still stand by the fact that Apple indirectly mentioned PWM during the iPhone 13 keynote when they said that the lineup had new brightness controllers then the PWM rate was measured to be more than doubled on all of them.
I suppose since this is an Accessibility setting it’s more buried, but I have a feeling iPhone 17 Pro will have lower modulations and better rates regardless. You and I see it as a feature, but the general public still doesn’t know the benefit of a PWM-free display. I believe that they’d even make it standard rather than a setting if that were the case, but an Accessibility setting is fantastic next step assuming it works for truly sensitive users.
I'm trying to stay calm but even if this doesn't work its a huge step in the right direction and brands will now try and do the no PWM / Dithering game better than others.
I cant imagine the science behind the feature is crazy so wonder why never before.
Be good to see someone testing it in the Apple stores soon.
If this feature is successful and added to all products like Ipads and new Macbooks I have just realised my bank manager is going to think I have had my account hacked.
We are in the same boat mate. I am gonna max out everything. Even ultra 3.
So mad at Apple for making PWM switch exclusive to 17 series. It is an accessibility feature! I will never believe it requires new OLED displays or something. Should have been available as iOS 26 update for EVERY OLED iPhone. Duh...
It took whole 8 years for them to realize that it is a widespread problem. I dunno but it feels like company is falling apart, their support is USELESS. I've been flooding their feedback page with complaints about my 11 Pro displays ever since 2019, they probably never read these complaints. No wonder iOS is so slow these days: they don't care about optimizing
It took whole 8 years for them to realize that it is a widespread problem. I dunno but it feels like company is falling apart, their support is USELESS. I've been flooding their feedback page with complaints about my 11 Pro displays ever since 2019, they probably never read these complaints. No wonder iOS is so slow these days: they don't care about optimizing
Agree but we've come to expect nothing less from Apple.
Due to me having to stick on IOS 16 on my 11 I had to switch to Garmin for my watch.
Tbh I wont switch back, charge it every couple of weeks and prefer the circle face.
It's a funny, but so typical Apple thing to do, if this is true, and only on the 17 Pro (and Pro Max, presumably).
Interestingly, from the quote in the article:
It mentions this affecting low brightness levels. Which is interesting, as it could imply this switch only turns off PWM for low brightness. It's ambiguous. I guess, you could argue lower brightness has higher modulation, and may affect more people.
Also, does this mean that the phone is by default running DC or DC-like dimming at higher brightness levels, and switching to PWM only for lower brightness levels?
In any case, I'll be going to have a look at it in the shops. I'm a bit skeptical; if they really went for true DC dimming, that would be amazing. Perhaps the combination of the A19 Pro, and the significant increase in battery life on the Pro series enables this?
Interestingly, from the quote in the article:
It mentions this affecting low brightness levels. Which is interesting, as it could imply this switch only turns off PWM for low brightness. It's ambiguous. I guess, you could argue lower brightness has higher modulation, and may affect more people.
Also, does this mean that the phone is by default running DC or DC-like dimming at higher brightness levels, and switching to PWM only for lower brightness levels?
In any case, I'll be going to have a look at it in the shops. I'm a bit skeptical; if they really went for true DC dimming, that would be amazing. Perhaps the combination of the A19 Pro, and the significant increase in battery life on the Pro series enables this?
It may actually not be possible to get rid of PWM in the earlier controllers. Depends on how the hardware was designed. It could be that they have made hardware changes that make this possible.
I can't wait to put this thing on my flicker test bench and see if I can upgrade from my 11 or if it's only a partial fix. Maybe it only affects PWM at some brightness levels, or maybe it just reduces flicker but doesn't get rid of it. I won't know for sure until I test it myself.
But i am giving them the benefit of the doubt because only the new pros are using new LTPO screens.
Unfortunately rumor tells they have added PWM switcher only for 17 Pro (and probably for all 17 models since they share same display). Would be absolutely d-move to limit it to 17 Pro (and already is not good since all older iPhones will probably be left out). So no switch for X, XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Unless we can create some sort of digital unrest and force Apple to spread it to all iPhones that support iOS 26, or at least all LTPO iPhones (ones that can go to 1 nit of brightness, variable refresh rate probably)
All I know is, this is a step in the right Direction. And even if it’s not perfect. Its progress. And that works for me
Btw I don’t believe the screen wil be flicker free. The modulation dept is very bad at the iPhones. I think instead of 90% it will drop only to 20%. Still sucks but better than 90%. Google made also a promise. And they only changed to PwM to 480hz
States 'Disables PWM'
I know tech companies often use clever wording but if it only reduced it, Apple wouldn't be able to legally state that?
Hard to say because they’ve in some places referred to the 8x zoom as optical and in other places ‘optical like’. Technically it’s not a true 8x optical zoom and instead an enhanced crop yet they’ve referred it as such.
WOW! Is this really happening — can we dare to dream this is the fix?!
I’ve been teetering on the edge of leaving iPhone for a while now. If this turns out to be the real solution, Apple is about to see some frantic ordering from me: iPad Pro, MacBook, Ultra 3, AirPods Pro 3… the whole lineup.
But first things first: the iPhone 17 Pro needs to be bought and tested. No black option does take a bit of the shine off (I’m all-black-everything… never satisfied 😅).
That said, I’m still sceptical. Every OLED display uses PWM, so how exactly are they “disabling” it? Is this truly across the full brightness range, or just at lower brightness levels?
The wording is interesting:
Cautiously hopeful, but waiting on real-world testing.
I’ve been teetering on the edge of leaving iPhone for a while now. If this turns out to be the real solution, Apple is about to see some frantic ordering from me: iPad Pro, MacBook, Ultra 3, AirPods Pro 3… the whole lineup.
But first things first: the iPhone 17 Pro needs to be bought and tested. No black option does take a bit of the shine off (I’m all-black-everything… never satisfied 😅).
That said, I’m still sceptical. Every OLED display uses PWM, so how exactly are they “disabling” it? Is this truly across the full brightness range, or just at lower brightness levels?
The wording is interesting:
Cautiously hopeful, but waiting on real-world testing.
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I love the orange.
Before we even order and get one in our own hands, we will imminently be seeing videos testing this feature.
I want everything that comes with the upgrade but the camera is 95% of my reason to do it. I am a photographer and having a top spec camera alongside a non debilitating screen was a pipe dream until today.