MacBook Pro 14” 2021 PWM screen flickering?

[throAU]

I already own a device with pro motion: the iPad Pro 2018.

I'm quite sensitive to PWM but the iPad Pro 2018 doesn't give me any headaches at all. I can easily use it as an e-reader. My iPhone 12 is a totally different story though... How does the new Macbook Pro 16-inch compare?

I have an iPad Pro and a 14" and don't have issues with PWM with either.

 

[Hessel89]

I have an iPad Pro and a 14" and don't have issues with PWM with either.

I've had the 14-inch for two days and didn't notice any issues either but from what I gather on here the 16-inch is somehow worse in the PWM department?

Anyone else willing to chime in?

 

[MICHAELSD]

Despite being extremely sensitive to PWM on OLED iPhone's, I went into the 14" MacBook Pro with an open mind honestly not expecting the 15Hz PWM rate to give me issues. PWM withstanding, I knew that either this or the 16" MacBook Pro were the Mac's I would normally choose.

Unfortunately, it does seem to onset minimal tension headaches and migraines. Probably 1-2/10 on the iPhone X eye strain scale, with 10 being 24/7 migraines and headaches.

I'm using it at 100% brightness now, and it doesn't seem to be quite as much of an issue as it is at night. I'm not sure whether duty cycles are lower at higher brightness levels as is typically the case with PWM flickering.

This is the computer that makes the most sense when compared with the M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, so this is certainly getting frustrating. The former is measured to be PWM-free, and the latter has no PWM above a certain level. I may have to initiate a return and await my MacBook Air to be delivered, albeit with 8GB of RAM. Apple does seem to be aware this could be an issue, thus the relatively high rate, but unfortunately the 10,000 Mini-LED's may not lend themselves well to a flicker-free brightness controller.

 

[Mac.chat]

I’ve recently upgraded my 15 inch MacBook Pro retina with 16inch MacBook Pro M1 Max. My previous MacBook Pro (DC dimming) didn’t cause any eye strain but unfortunately the M1 Max hurts my eyes. I didn’t know recent Apple displays uses PWM (Pulse-Width-Modulation) for dimming their display which means MacBook Pro’s screens are NOT flicker-free. If I knew this I would never have upgraded. This must be the reason Apple screens causes eye strain, discomfort and headaches.

I thought in time that I could adapt to the new 16” M1 Max screen, but after months of use I haven’t. It’s so difficult to even read an article on this screen. It hurts my eyes. It’s unbearable. Sadly I am going to sell it with a loss of money. This is a huge disappointment.


Also, the display response time is slow. I can’t believe Apple uses this poor display technology with a market leading ultra high end product. We are paying a premium price for a something using a bad screen, unacceptable. No thanks.


In the market some companies such as Dell, Hp, Benq, etc. use TUV Certified Low Blue Light(hardware solution) and Flicker Free displays on their products. Its’ very unfortunate for a company like Apple to use eye disturbing/damaging PWM tech on their displays.


Unless you have a separate external monitor I don’t recommend this product.


Watch the videos to see what I am talking about

 

[MICHAELSD]

I’ve recently upgraded my 15 inch MacBook Pro retina with 16inch MacBook Pro M1 Max. My previous MacBook Pro (DC dimming) didn’t cause any eye strain but unfortunately the M1 Max hurts my eyes. I didn’t know recent Apple displays uses PWM (Pulse-Width-Modulation) for dimming their display which means MacBook Pro’s screens are NOT flicker-free. If I knew this I would never have upgraded. This must be the reason Apple screens causes eye strain, discomfort and headaches.

I thought in time that I could adapt to the new 16” M1 Max screen, but after months of use I haven’t. It’s so difficult to even read an article on this screen. It hurts my eyes. It’s unbearable. Sadly I am going to sell it with a loss of money. This is a huge disappointment.


Also, the display response time is slow. I can’t believe Apple uses this poor display technology with a market leading ultra high end product. We are paying a premium price for a something using a bad screen, unacceptable. No thanks.


In the market some companies such as Dell, Hp, Benq, etc. use TUV Certified Low Blue Light(hardware solution) and Flicker Free displays on their products. Its’ very unfortunate for a company like Apple to use eye disturbing/damaging PWM tech on their displays.


Unless you have a separate external monitor I don’t recommend this product.


Watch the videos to see what I am talking about


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The new MacBook Pro display is bothering me more than I was expecting. I have all of the same issues you're describing, and fairly constant headaches along with a sharpness at times.

It is getting frustrating that we can't use the Apple products we want simply because of PWM flickering making it impossible not to get tension headaches or migraines.

Hopefully Apple fixes this on the second-generation M2 Pro machines since it seems like they're really making a push for large generational improvements with the Pro lineup.

 

[Hessel89]

I got a 16-inch two weeks ago and the PWM issues do seem worse then on the 14-inch I had.
Today I got a debilitating migraine after working on my 16-inch again. Since I got my 16-inch it has happened a couple times more, but I couldn't quite pinpoint it to the screen of the MBP..
So I don't know.. Is it just a coincidence and am I just confirmatively biased? Maybe.. But I do know that when I switch to my LG Ultrafine 5K monitor the migraine symptoms usually subside. Take that for what it's worth..

 

[kibepo73]

There can be multiple reasons for the screen flickering issue on a Mac. Some common reasons for the issue are in-display resolution, inappropriate working of Energy Saver, etc.

However, whatever the reason is, you can try to resolve the screen flickering issue on your own with the below few quick fixes:

Fix 1: Reboot your Mac
Fix 2: Update your Mac
Fix 3: Deactivate automatic graphics switching
Fix 4: Deactivate True Tone
Fix 5: Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
Fix 6: Reset NVRAM/PRAM

Hope this will help!!!

 

[engseng]

Hi everyone. I just got my new MacBook Pro M1 Pro machine. The keyboard is great, MagSafe is back (and it is even more sticker than the last time!), very fast and responsive, the Notch doesn't look too distracting and the screen is very large and beautiful. Photos look so good on this display.

Now this is what I am here to complain about. The screen may be so beautiful but it gives me a very bad headache and nausea after five minutes. I also checked for flicker using the iPhone slow motion camera like @Mac.chat did, I can see the flicker on my iPhone when the display brightness is set very low. When the brightness is closer to 50%, the flicker doesn't appear on my phone anymore.

I read around a lot to see what others did about the screen. This is what I did:
1. System Preferences->Displays, Presets->Customise Presets. Select Internet & Web (sRGB) then plus to create a custom preset.
Color Gamut: Rec.709/sRGB
White Point: D65
SDR Transfer Function: sRGB ICC V2
Check Apply System Gamma Boost, then enter 2.2
Maximum Luminance: SDR 80
Check Limit Luminance to Full-Screen Capability

Save Preset.
2. Refresh Rate set to 60 Hertz.

I am trying out these settings now. It seems to be helping a lot. However, I cannot enable Night Shift anymore. Please let me know if these settings work for you too.

 

[Hessel89]

There can be multiple reasons for the screen flickering issue on a Mac. Some common reasons for the issue are in-display resolution, inappropriate working of Energy Saver, etc.

However, whatever the reason is, you can try to resolve the screen flickering issue on your own with the below few quick fixes:

Fix 1: Reboot your Mac
Fix 2: Update your Mac
Fix 3: Deactivate automatic graphics switching
Fix 4: Deactivate True Tone
Fix 5: Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
Fix 6: Reset NVRAM/PRAM

Hope this will help!!!

I appreciate your advice but it's only applicable to Intel Macs. On M1, SMC and NVRAM/PRAM can’t be reset, or rather, they are reset automatically every time your reboot your Mac. Automatic graphics switching does not exist on M1 Macs. Deactivating True Tone is a good one though as this somehow makes the nausea worse.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Hi everyone. I just got my new MacBook Pro M1 Pro machine. The keyboard is great, MagSafe is back (and it is even more sticker than the last time!), very fast and responsive, the Notch doesn't look too distracting and the screen is very large and beautiful. Photos look so good on this display.

Now this is what I am here to complain about. The screen may be so beautiful but it gives me a very bad headache and nausea after five minutes. I also checked for flicker using the iPhone slow motion camera like @Mac.chat did, I can see the flicker on my iPhone when the display brightness is set very low. When the brightness is closer to 50%, the flicker doesn't appear on my phone anymore.

I read around a lot to see what others did about the screen. This is what I did:
1. System Preferences->Displays, Presets->Customise Presets. Select Internet & Web (sRGB) then plus to create a custom preset.
Color Gamut: Rec.709/sRGB
White Point: D65
SDR Transfer Function: sRGB ICC V2
Check Apply System Gamma Boost, then enter 2.2
Maximum Luminance: SDR 80
Check Limit Luminance to Full-Screen Capability

Save Preset.
2. Refresh Rate set to 60 Hertz.

I am trying out these settings now. It seems to be helping a lot. However, I cannot enable Night Shift anymore. Please let me know if these settings work for you too.

I’ve tested a few settings and don’t see an immediate improvement. My observation has been that the display looks distinctly different with purer whites at 50% and up, but that hasn’t correlated to eliminating headaches.

Even 100% and apps that increase the brightness higher up to HDR levels don’t seem to improve the flickering.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Hi everyone. I just got my new MacBook Pro M1 Pro machine. The keyboard is great, MagSafe is back (and it is even more sticker than the last time!), very fast and responsive, the Notch doesn't look too distracting and the screen is very large and beautiful. Photos look so good on this display.

Now this is what I am here to complain about. The screen may be so beautiful but it gives me a very bad headache and nausea after five minutes. I also checked for flicker using the iPhone slow motion camera like @Mac.chat did, I can see the flicker on my iPhone when the display brightness is set very low. When the brightness is closer to 50%, the flicker doesn't appear on my phone anymore.

I read around a lot to see what others did about the screen. This is what I did:
1. System Preferences->Displays, Presets->Customise Presets. Select Internet & Web (sRGB) then plus to create a custom preset.
Color Gamut: Rec.709/sRGB
White Point: D65
SDR Transfer Function: sRGB ICC V2
Check Apply System Gamma Boost, then enter 2.2
Maximum Luminance: SDR 80
Check Limit Luminance to Full-Screen Capability

Save Preset.
2. Refresh Rate set to 60 Hertz.

I am trying out these settings now. It seems to be helping a lot. However, I cannot enable Night Shift anymore. Please let me know if these settings work for you too.

Hmm, the Limit Luminance setting locks the brightness and seems to help in particular.

I have the White Point set to D50, HDR enabled, and no additional gamma boost. Also Refresh Rate at 120Hz as I'm not sure this affects the flicker rate. This seems to make a noticeable difference. It would be ideal if we could enable True Tone and Night Shift on top of this.

Edit: An app like f.lux essentially restores night shift functionality, and can be used to mimic True Tone. Oddly, this setting seems to be helping. I may have to do a rudimentary iPhone flicker measurement.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Starting at a brighter display isn't ever the answer in these scenarios, so I'm back to letting the sensor dictate brightness.

It's unfortunate that modern day Apple means tension headaches on all of the best devices.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Ugh, I've been enjoying the 14" MacBook Pro but the eye strain is killing me to the point I almost dread using it.

It would be just about perfect, aside from some innovative suggestions I could make, had it not incorporated PWM.

 

[engseng]

The 2021 MacBook Pro screen is very sharp, has great colours and deep blacks. When I switch to the 2019 MacBook Pro, the screen looks greyer and colours look lighter.

I agree that the 2021 MacBook Pro machines are near perfect and that the screen may be a deal killer for some. The user experience is indeed important, and if you can't use the screen comfortably you will have to use an external display. I am still not able to get used to the screen. Also, the screen is much brighter than the other Mac machines, if you use it in a dark environment, you will have to lower the brightness to 30-40% and the PWM flicker will be more visible at that brightness level. I hope Apple will solve this problem in future MacBooks, for now I wish they followed Dell and provided options to customise the screen type.

 

[tallsean]

I'm getting desperate because I really need to upgrade my aging 2015 MacBook Pro, but all of the newer models give me PMW migraines. Does anyone know of a modern laptop that doesn't use PWM? I prefer Mac, but at this point I'll use any brand. Help!

 

[neo_cs193p]

I'm getting desperate because I really need to upgrade my aging 2015 MacBook Pro, but all of the newer models give me PMW migraines. Does anyone know of a modern laptop that doesn't use PWM? I prefer Mac, but at this point I'll use any brand. Help!

The M2 MacBook Air display has been the most comfortable to my eyes, and notebookcheck says it has no PWM.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Here we go already. Everyone trying to find flaws in ultra slow mo videos. Get it. Use it, don’t look for fault and if you can’t see any, don’t concern yourself with those that can.

Here we go already, Apple apologists flocking to discredit the legitimate fears and concerns of affected or soon to be affected users.

 

[stwentyplus]

Any updates on the eye strain issue of the MacBook Pro 14" 2021?

I have a Dell XPS 15" laptop myself, sitting on the fence to see whether people approve the new Mac for sensitive eyes or not. The Dell XPS I am currently using caused eye strain in the beginning as well, but after I got blue light blocking glasses, it more or less disappeared.

Worth mentioning, I sit 8-10 hours in front of the screen every day, most days several hours in a row without pauses.. Grew up with CRT-screens in the 90's, and have gradually become more and more sensitive to the effects of excessive screen time.

Looking forward to hearing your experience regarding the new MacBook Pro.

Is it OLED screen on the XPS? Full-HD IPS has been flicker-free in recent models.

 

[RiverOak]

Just started my 14" MBP today and upon seeing the "Hello" screen I thought to myself "Oh ****, not again!".
It has the same kind of display issue that my 5k iMac had that was causing me a major nightmare with my eyes.
Hard to describe what I'm experiencing, but it's as if the picture isn't solid. It looks like a sort of "buzzing" or "tingling" as if the colours aren't stable. I have a hard time focusing on the screen and my eyes start hurting.

The iMac caused me such issues and pain that I had to stay home in the dark for two weeks before I recovered. And I sold it at a loss. I've had no such problem with any other Mac.

So I was not happy to discover that my new $3600 machine is plagued by the same issue. It is such a wonderful machine in every other way. Which makes it even more painful. Not sure what to do to be honest. I wasn't able to open it for a week because I was away and now I'm going away tomorrow again so I will miss my 14 day return window.

I was never able to figure out what the issue was with the iMac but I think that it had to do with the dithering. And that could very much be the case with this machine as well. Especially since the "buzzing" is more noticeable with gradients.
Not sure if exchanging it will help if that's the case. If I'm even able to convince them to allow for that after the 14 day window.
I'm so disappointed right now. I've only heard praises about this screen so I never bothered to check if anyone had issues with it. Looks like I'm not alone at least. Back in 2014 when I bought the 5K iMac I felt very alone in my experience.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Just started my 14" MBP today and upon seeing the "Hello" screen I thought to myself "Oh ****, not again!".
It has the same kind of display issue that my 5k iMac had that was causing me a major nightmare with my eyes.
Hard to describe what I'm experiencing, but it's as if the picture isn't solid. It looks like a sort of "buzzing" or "tingling" as if the colours aren't stable. I have a hard time focusing on the screen and my eyes start hurting.

The iMac caused me such issues and pain that I had to stay home in the dark for two weeks before I recovered. And I sold it at a loss. I've had no such problem with any other Mac.

So I was not happy to discover that my new $3600 machine is plagued by the same issue. It is such a wonderful machine in every other way. Which makes it even more painful. Not sure what to do to be honest. I wasn't able to open it for a week because I was away and now I'm going away tomorrow again so I will miss my 14 day return window.

I was never able to figure out what the issue was with the iMac but I think that it had to do with the dithering. And that could very much be the case with this machine as well. Especially since the "buzzing" is more noticeable with gradients.
Not sure if exchanging it will help if that's the case. If I'm even able to convince them to allow for that after the 14 day window.
I'm so disappointed right now. I've only heard praises about this screen so I never bothered to check if anyone had issues with it. Looks like I'm not alone at least. Back in 2014 when I bought the 5K iMac I felt very alone in my experience.

If you purchased it from Apple you can initiate a return and ship it back whenever is convenient for you within a reasonable timeframe.

Another machine would have the same issue.

It’s disappointing since I can even see the PWM lines at times, and it can become quite irritating.

 

[tallsean]

I feel for you. I've had to return 3 laptops in the past year due to eyestrain and headaches that I suspect were caused by flicker. My desktop computer with a BenQ monitor causes no problems whatsoever. But if I use a flickering laptop for just 5-10 minutes I'll get a major migraine.

 

[davedvdy]

I haven't really figured out the full details of my issue yet. But I'm thinking there's a correlation between screen size, PWM frequency and eye strain. I've never had the slightest of issues with the OLED iPhones while I've read that many others with the PWM there has driven people insane. Meanwhile this MBP 16" is *brutal* for me.

So I'm guessing that the eye strain is a function of the `total amount of light`, the `PWM magnitude`, the `PWM frequency` and `placeholder X` for all other unknowns.

It could be blue light too. I put on a blue light shield/glass screen protector on my iPhone 14 Pro Max and it stopped the migraines and nausea (along with the PWM adjustments). No longer suffering at all as a result. I used to have to use it in a well lit room, and even then it was an eye sore. I have similar issues on the MBP too, but haven't purchased a blue light shield just yet. I realize that is a different issue, but some of the symptoms reported come up very similarly.

 

[RiverOak]

Odd thing. I thought I had tried all possible things to fix the flickering issue. Even spoke with the Apple support, which was a waste of time.
But yesterday, I for some reason decided to switch the "Low power mode" to "Always", and boom! The screen became so much calmer and the flicker is much less intense. I can see the "noise" from the PWM of the backlight still. But it's all at a level that doesn't seem to cause me any eye strain. I decided to keep the machine. If it stays like this then I will be perfectly fine with it.
So I'm guessing that there was something wrong with the power management on my machine that caused it to flicker more than usual. If it occurs again then it should be covered by AppleCare anyway.
Glad I was able to find a solution at the last minute.

Not sure if the flicker that is still there is caused by the backlighting or the temporal dithering. I'm guessing the latter because the PWM flicker appears like more of a "noise" to me.
I hope they improve both of these in a future update.

 

[jrajpaul]

Hi all. Has anyone found the perfect setting to reduce flicker and minimise the effects of PWM. The display calibration tool has many settings which could impact the screen? Terrible migraines from just 15 minutes of use.

 

[nicolasmasset]

Has anybody used the Iris-tech app? Apparently it gets rid of dithering by forcing an 8bit colour profile and uses whitepoint to lower brightness so the pwm stays at the 14.8 max and not lower.