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iPhone 16 Pro Max Screen brightness on 16 Pro/Max [MERGED]
- Thread starter mfrank29
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All the units are Pro Max. The screen on my wife’s phone, which arrived yesterday (G9N), has a warmer tint but is slightly more contrasty than the one I kept for myself, which I took over from her (GH3H). The GH3H in this particular unit is excellent, with exceptionally cool colors that I prefer and that are quite rare to come by. The G9N, being warmer, displays grays differently, but when not directly compared to the GH3H side by side, it looks very good.
I’m attaching photos, though unfortunately, they don’t accurately represent the differences—you really need to assess it with the human eye. If I were to nitpick, the GH3H unit has a slightly warmer tint at the very bottom, but that’s really being overly critical.
In summary, the display type doesn’t matter at all—each unit is different, and it’s a complete lottery which one you’ll get. In theory, G9N panels are considered the best, yet I previously received a unit that displayed rainbow colors at the slightest tilt, something that neither of the two current units—now staying with us—exhibit at all. There’s nothing left to do but accept this reality or keep exchanging them until you get the perfect one.
I’m attaching photos, though unfortunately, they don’t accurately represent the differences—you really need to assess it with the human eye. If I were to nitpick, the GH3H unit has a slightly warmer tint at the very bottom, but that’s really being overly critical.
In summary, the display type doesn’t matter at all—each unit is different, and it’s a complete lottery which one you’ll get. In theory, G9N panels are considered the best, yet I previously received a unit that displayed rainbow colors at the slightest tilt, something that neither of the two current units—now staying with us—exhibit at all. There’s nothing left to do but accept this reality or keep exchanging them until you get the perfect one.
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I can't validate that to 100%. My sister got her 16 Pro day 1 with LG GVC and it's bad with brightness and tinting. I got my 16 Pro also in first week and it has Samsung G9P just like my 14 Pro. Fantastic screen.
That was never the case.
Yeah the QC sucks. 12 and 13 pro max all had deep scratches on the stainless steel frames at the time for me. 16PM not perfect but acceptable screen and frame blemish wise.
I have never seen 100% uniformity in dark gray, low light situation. Always some red tint in different parts of the screen.
I actually got a unicorn G9N 16 Pro Max with no red tint a couple months ago but the camera autofocus was totally messed up so I had to return it. I also noticed the horizontal banding at low light so there’s really no perfect display like you said
So I got a 16PM today. I immediately felt like something was off with the screen slightly. The top half of the screen feels slightly cooler compared to the bottom. This is with true tone on. With it off, its almost 100% even.
To check if you have an issue - I am mostly asking to see if this is normal for 16P/PM screens - just do the following:
1. Turn on light mode in settings. Ensure true tone is on.
2. Goto safari. Turn of favorites frequently visited etc. So a new window show basically be white. Tap the address bar so the keyboard pops up.
3. Now just turn the phone into landscape orientation. The grey area of the keyboard above the mic and the grey area aboev the emoji icon - are they the same shade?
Test 2 - for those who use linkedin, just open the app in light mode and turn phone into landscape orientation. The area to the left of posts is different shade than the area to the right.
I guess I am secretly hoping this is how it is on most devices to some extent so I dont have to play the exchange lottery.
To check if you have an issue - I am mostly asking to see if this is normal for 16P/PM screens - just do the following:
1. Turn on light mode in settings. Ensure true tone is on.
2. Goto safari. Turn of favorites frequently visited etc. So a new window show basically be white. Tap the address bar so the keyboard pops up.
3. Now just turn the phone into landscape orientation. The grey area of the keyboard above the mic and the grey area aboev the emoji icon - are they the same shade?
Test 2 - for those who use linkedin, just open the app in light mode and turn phone into landscape orientation. The area to the left of posts is different shade than the area to the right.
I guess I am secretly hoping this is how it is on most devices to some extent so I dont have to play the exchange lottery.
Sorry my friend. It’s supposed to be even on a good panel. It’s a lottery like you say, so I’d suggest exchanging it until you get one you like. Or at least one that doesn’t bother you. Took me multiple attempts until I got a good display on my 16 Plus. They’re out there hiding.
I looked at two more phones on display in the store and both are exactly like that. I ended up switching to s25 ultra for this cycle of my tech journey lol
There are unfortunately no exchanges or returns for such 'trivial' issues in my country without a fight.
How did you take the photo of the phone? Via another iPhone with 3 seconds night mode?
I tried another 16 Pro on the last day of the trade-in promo with my carrier and received a G9P. So far uniformity is great, a little pink and a tiny bit darker towards the very bottom of the screen, but it's barely noticeable if at all. No off-axis color shifting either - the GVCH I had was awful there in comparison. Apple, if you're listening, I would've paid for the 16 PM if the panel lottery wasn't such a crapshoot. 
Really hope this is a one-off year for such variance and overall poor quality.
Really hope this is a one-off year for such variance and overall poor quality.
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It drove me nuts. Right into the arms of a S25 Ultra. Will try my luck again for 17 pro max. Its difficult here since I cant return phones in India. So buying, selling them at a loss is just not worth it.I tried another 16 Pro on the last day of the trade-in promo with my carrier and received a G9P. So far uniformity is great, a little pink and a tiny bit darker towards the very bottom of the screen, but it's barely noticeable if at all. No off-axis color shifting either - the GVCH I had was awful there in comparison. Apple, if you're listening, I would've paid for the 16 PM if the panel lottery wasn't such a crapshoot.
Really hope this is a one-off year for such variance and overall poor quality.
I just got the G9P - overall not bad but the tilt thing annoys me a little bit. The screen changes from warm to blueish.
Not sure if I it’s like that on the other panels? Exchange or keep is the question.
Not sure if I it’s like that on the other panels? Exchange or keep is the question.
@outlawarth In normal use, do you use your phone tilted? If the uniformity is good both horizontally and vertically on normal use, I would not bother exchange it and risk to get a dud panel.
Guess who got a 16 PM with a LG screen that's absolutely perfect with no tint and perfect uniformity?
I can now sell my s25U and be a happy camper again.
Crazy how a LG screen that everyone dismisses turned out to be the one for me.
I can now sell my s25U and be a happy camper again.
Crazy how a LG screen that everyone dismisses turned out to be the one for me.
I onliy got Lg Panels up to now so I cant compare to a Samsung one. Here a pictutre with a 16 pro Max with lg GH3 on the left and a 16 pro with LG GVC on thr right. Not sure wich one is better but the GH3 seems to have less tint when viewed at an angle.
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The right GVC looks better to me. At least in terms of colors. The left GH3 has yellowish glow to it + the last picture exposes also the worse tint.
G9N for me. With green tint very often (not always).
Had better displays with earlier iPhones.
The one on the right looks better to me. Doesn't have a pronounced off-axis tint shift, the one on the left looks like it does.
How’s your iPhone 16+ screen? Haven’t kept up but I assume you got a good one finally
I’ve been getting messages to post a video to check for tint. Here it is
I personally see nothing. Minor color shifts due to screen protector that are visible on my wife’s 15 plus as well. Rest happy to hear opinions. It’s a LG GVC screen. Absolutely uniform. Tried all sorts of grey.
I personally see nothing. Minor color shifts due to screen protector that are visible on my wife’s 15 plus as well. Rest happy to hear opinions. It’s a LG GVC screen. Absolutely uniform. Tried all sorts of grey.