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iPhone 15 Pro Max 480 Hz PWM

JPack

JPack

macrumors G5
Original poster
Mar 27, 2017
13,626
26,391
Both the iPhone 15/Plus and Pro/Max are 480 Hz for those wondering.

Last year's iPhone 14/Plus and Pro/Max were 60 Hz and 240 Hz respectively, so this is a big increase.

Screenshot 2023-09-14 at 9.03.37 PM (2).png
Screenshot 2023-09-14 at 9.04.17 PM (2).png

 
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Don't know much about PWM. As I dont usually have a problem with any displays but when I read books (6+ hour sittings) I find that OLED does usually strain my eyes much more even at the same PPI. Regular use doesnt cause an affect.

Is a higher rate worse or better for the eyes?
 
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Man, this is great news hopefully! There’s only been one iPhone I had issues with PWM and I believe it was the 13pro max. What sucked was I traded in my 12 pro max immediately. So couldn’t get the 12 pro back and used an iPhone 11 for the year.. now every year, I get the phone shipped to the house. So I can try it for a few days before having to ship out my old phone
 
JPack said:
Both the iPhone 15/Plus and Pro/Max are 480 Hz for those wondering.

Last year's iPhone 14/Plus and Pro/Max were 60 Hz and 240 Hz respectively, so this is a big increase.
Click to expand...

Honest question: what are the practical and real benefit in everyday or professional use? Care to elaborate in some details?
 
JPack said:
Some people are sensitive to low Hz dimming and get headaches. In theory, the higher the PWM rate, the less likely they're able to feel the flickering effects.
Click to expand...

Never had such problem with all my previous phones/monitors. I guess I'm fine without higher Hz. Still glad to see the refinement and enhancement in the new phones.
 
MICHAELSD said:
If Notebookcheck is accurate then Apple has been using 480Hz since iPhone 13 Pro. No improvement there.
Click to expand...
Here's Notebookcheck list of iPhones OLED PWM:
ModelPWM
Apple iPhone 132532x1170OLED610
Apple iPhone 13 mini2340x1080OLED510
Apple iPhone 13 Pro2532x1170OLED510
Apple iPhone 11 Pro2436x1125OLED290.7
Apple iPhone 12 Pro2532x1170OLED277.8
Apple iPhone 12 mini2340x1080OLED250
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max2688x1242OLED245.1
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max2796x1290Super Retina XDR OLED240.9
Apple iPhone XS2436x1125OLED240.4
Apple iPhone X2436x1125Super AMOLED240
Apple iPhone Xs Max2688x1242OLED240
Apple iPhone 14 Pro2556x1179Super Retina XDR OLED240
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238.1
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238
Apple iPhone 122532x1170OLED226.2
Apple iPhone 142532x1170OLED60
Apple iPhone 14 Plus2778x1284OLED60
 
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melliflu said:
Here's Notebookcheck list of iPhones OLED PWM:
ModelPWM
Apple iPhone 132532x1170OLED610
Apple iPhone 13 mini2340x1080OLED510
Apple iPhone 13 Pro2532x1170OLED510
Apple iPhone 11 Pro2436x1125OLED290.7
Apple iPhone 12 Pro2532x1170OLED277.8
Apple iPhone 12 mini2340x1080OLED250
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max2688x1242OLED245.1
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max2796x1290Super Retina XDR OLED240.9
Apple iPhone XS2436x1125OLED240.4
Apple iPhone X2436x1125Super AMOLED240
Apple iPhone Xs Max2688x1242OLED240
Apple iPhone 14 Pro2556x1179Super Retina XDR OLED240
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238.1
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238
Apple iPhone 122532x1170OLED226.2
Apple iPhone 142532x1170OLED60
Apple iPhone 14 Plus2778x1284OLED60
Click to expand...

I used the X without issue and it’s the first time I’ve seen others listed like that. I wonder if I may have luck with the IPhone 14pro as it’s matches the X frequency exactly
 
melliflu said:
Here's Notebookcheck list of iPhones OLED PWM:
ModelPWM
Apple iPhone 132532x1170OLED610
Apple iPhone 13 mini2340x1080OLED510
Apple iPhone 13 Pro2532x1170OLED510
Apple iPhone 11 Pro2436x1125OLED290.7
Apple iPhone 12 Pro2532x1170OLED277.8
Apple iPhone 12 mini2340x1080OLED250
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max2688x1242OLED245.1
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max2796x1290Super Retina XDR OLED240.9
Apple iPhone XS2436x1125OLED240.4
Apple iPhone X2436x1125Super AMOLED240
Apple iPhone Xs Max2688x1242OLED240
Apple iPhone 14 Pro2556x1179Super Retina XDR OLED240
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238.1
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238
Apple iPhone 122532x1170OLED226.2
Apple iPhone 142532x1170OLED60
Apple iPhone 14 Plus2778x1284OLED60
Click to expand...
Interesting. I remembered it being more dynamic like iPhone 13 Pro where it switched between 240Hz-480Hz, but I suppose my mind played tricks on me.

I had the best luck with iPhone 13 mini out of all of those, but even then it caused enough constant headaches not to be practical or smart to continue using long-term.

iPhone 14 Pro Max was fine when used in short bursts, maybe a slight improvement, but any extended use caused familiar headaches.
 
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Wait, isn't what's in the video BAD news? I don't understand Chinese, but the captions seem to indicate that nothing's changed?
 
If your sensitive to PWM on OLED screens (like me), then try disabling auto-brightness and set the brightness to at least 50%, this works for me and no headaches. Most of the flickering occurs around 30% brightness.
 
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Abiyork said:
I used the X without issue and it’s the first time I’ve seen others listed like that. I wonder if I may have luck with the IPhone 14pro as it’s matches the X frequency exactly
Click to expand...
Never had probs with the X, I could stare the screen for hours. but 14PM is different for me. I reduced a bit the „white point” which helped. Contrast is much much higher on the 14PM.
 
We all had the ideal state for many years: No PWM.

Then they brought us PWM with a horribly slow frequency.

Now they bring us PWM with a little bit than horribly slow frequency.

—

Here’s an ice cream cone.

Here’s an ice cream cone that 10 people spit in.

Here’s an ice cream cone that only 9 people spit in.
 
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snipr125 said:
If your sensitive to PWM on OLED screens (like me), then try disabling auto-brightness and set the brightness to at least 50%, this works for me and no headaches. Most of the flickering occurs around 30% brightness.
Click to expand...
Problem is, for me when doing that the screen looks so bright it's like staring at the sun- I can't really use these with brightness above 20% or so (at least indoors, especially in the evening when it's not super bright in the house).
 
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melliflu said:
Here's Notebookcheck list of iPhones OLED PWM:
ModelPWM
Apple iPhone 132532x1170OLED610
Apple iPhone 13 mini2340x1080OLED510
Apple iPhone 13 Pro2532x1170OLED510
Apple iPhone 11 Pro2436x1125OLED290.7
Apple iPhone 12 Pro2532x1170OLED277.8
Apple iPhone 12 mini2340x1080OLED250
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max2688x1242OLED245.1
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max2796x1290Super Retina XDR OLED240.9
Apple iPhone XS2436x1125OLED240.4
Apple iPhone X2436x1125Super AMOLED240
Apple iPhone Xs Max2688x1242OLED240
Apple iPhone 14 Pro2556x1179Super Retina XDR OLED240
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238.1
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max2778x1284OLED238
Apple iPhone 122532x1170OLED226.2
Apple iPhone 142532x1170OLED60
Apple iPhone 14 Plus2778x1284OLED60
Click to expand...

What's the deal with the PWM being 60 for the 14 series phones? I had read that those were in the 400's or low 500's as well? 60 would be extremely low, tearing up almost anyone's eyes, I would think if that was accurate.
 
jm31828 said:
What's the deal with the PWM being 60 for the 14 series phones? I had read that those were in the 400's or low 500's as well? 60 would be extremely low, tearing up almost anyone's eyes, I would think if that was accurate.
Click to expand...
My theory is that apple was experimenting with synced PWM, matching it to the refresh rate. If you look at the graphs they look much closer to DC dimming than other iPhones.
 
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I will say what I always say: NotebookCheck should NOT be trusted with PWM ratings.

They said the 60hz if the iPhone 14 Plus was reflective of DC dimming. Any slow motion video shows that is clearly untrue.

They said the 60hz of the iPhone 14 was so low even non-sensitive people should be cautious.

They said the 14 Pro goes to 480hz above 39% brightness in the text of their review. The test screen they show reflect 480hz at 100%, anything less is 240hz.

They also will not respond to these discrepancies.
 
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du57in said:
I will say what I always say: NotebookCheck should NOT be trusted with PWM ratings.

They said the 60hz if the iPhone 14 Plus was reflective of DC dimming. Any slow motion video shows that is clearly untrue.

They said the 60hz of the iPhone 14 was so low even non-sensitive people should be cautious.

They said the 14 Pro goes to 480hz above 39% brightness in the text of their review. The test screen they show reflect 480hz at 100%, anything less is 240hz.

They also will not respond to these discrepancies.
Click to expand...
Yes, NotebookCheck unfortunately has lost credibility in that area.
 
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