Anybody getting eye strain on M1 MacBook Air?

[mysticmanix]

I'm having the strangest problem where I get eye strain and headaches when connecting an M1 air to an external monitor (Dell U3219Q) to use. Within 5 minutes of using it as a desktop I feel like vomiting. Strange I don't get any headaches using a Windows laptop attached to the monitor, nor do I when using the M1 Air on its own. I also don't get any headaches looking at an Ipad pro, iphone, Samsung Galaxy, or any Chromebooks, it's just this one thing.

Tried like 10 different resolutions (including 2160 and 1080 because the monitor has a 3840x2160 resolution by default and I've read that it shows text most clear at those resolutions?) but they all make me wanna vomit Sucks that I can't find the cause of the problem with this.

 

[audiodoc]

Does anyone think the screen could be causing dry eyes? I've noticed I'm having to use lubricating eye drops more often when using my M1 MBA.

 

[johnscully]

Couldn't use the M1 MBA at all, eye strain and dry eyes after couple of minute of usage.

 

[ghanwani]

To those who are having problems with the M1, what are you using now?

 

[jammyr]

Yes I did have trouble with eye strain using MacBook Air M1, I kept blinking, refocusing thought it was my eyes! Now on MacBook Pro M1 I would say it's better but still find the screen a little uncomfortable for all day use. Strange never had the problem with MacBook Pro 2013 or MacBook Air with Intel chip.

 

[jm31828]

Does anyone think the screen could be causing dry eyes? I've noticed I'm having to use lubricating eye drops more often when using my M1 MBA.

Yep, that's exactly what I was experiencing. I tried using it for about a month, noticing I got really dry eyes within just a couple minutes of using the device, when I can use other LCD displays (my Dell work laptop as an example) for many hours at a time without dry eyes.

I finally ended up returning my MacBook Air M1, fortunately I bought it at Costco with a 3 month return period.

It sucks, it was a fantastic device but I am not going to keep it and have it causing potential issues with my eyes.

Interestingly, I had this same problem with an iPad I tried out as well (the 10th generation iPad). That one has no PWM, no temporal dithering according to Notebookcheck- so I am at a loss as to why it causes this almost immediately.... it's the same effect I had with the MacBook Air M1.

 

[ghanwani]

Interestingly, I had this same problem with an iPad I tried out as well (the 10th generation iPad). That one has no PWM, no temporal dithering according to Notebookcheck- so I am at a loss as to why it causes this almost immediately.... it's the same effect I had with the MacBook Air M1.

Same here.

 

[jm31828]

Same here.

Thanks for sharing. I thought I was just going crazy, as it made no sense why it was making me feel this way! No real eye strain or headache, just immediate dry eyes that would persist for a while even after I stopped using the devices. Same exact experience with the MacBook Air M1 and the iPad.
For more back story- I had tried out an iPad Air M1 as well with the same exact issue- it was so bad at some points that my eyes were even watering, so I returned it.
Last Fall I had bought an iPhone SE 2022 version, and same exact dry eye situation with that as well so I returned it and bought an iPhone 13 Mini instead- which does not make me feel this way.

As noted, I use a Dell laptop for my work and I can use that all day with no issues. I also have a 27" iMac (late 2017 version) that I use for photo editing and other personal uses, and I have no trouble with it, either.

 

[ghanwani]

I use a Dell laptop for my work and I can use that all day with no issues.

Same here. Mine has a matte display.

 

[neo_cs193p]

Does anyone think the screen could be causing dry eyes? I've noticed I'm having to use lubricating eye drops more often when using my M1 MBA.

Yes. For me, this effect is the most prominent with the 16" MBP. I thought is was gorgeous but somewhat uncomfortable at first, but after a few weeks I got to a point where I didn't want to use it more than 5 minutes. Initially I thought it was because of the oversaturated colors (they look radioactive to me), but then I found out about the PWM, so I don't really know what it is. The effect is amplified in low light, when the screen lighting is dimmed down, and dark mode is even worse.
I had had mild eye fatigue previously with the 12" MB, and I get the same mild eye soreness when using the M1 MBA. But the 16" MBP is much worse for my eyes. I'd forgot how a nice Mac screen used to be, until I recently got to work on an old 2015 MBP. This display felt soothing to my eyes and I could use it without issues all day long. I used it for a few months and it was great. Most recently I met the M2 MBA and this one is much better for my eyes than any recent MB (almost as comfortable as the 2015 MBP). I can use it all day.

So for me M2 Air > M1 Air > M1p MBP.
Reading these threads is also confusing, because many different people report many different symptoms, so seemingly nobody can draw a good conclusion.

 

[asus389]

Couldn't use the M1 MBA at all, eye strain and dry eyes after couple of minute of usage.

Same. The only apple silicon machine that doesn’t have this effect on me one way or another is the M1 iMac. My 2017 MBP is also fine, however updating the OS passed Catalina also causes this issue. It’s so weird.

 

[Isamilis]

Yes. For me, this effect is the most prominent with the 16" MBP. I thought is was gorgeous but somewhat uncomfortable at first, but after a few weeks I got to a point where I didn't want to use it more than 5 minutes. Initially I thought it was because of the oversaturated colors (they look radioactive to me), but then I found out about the PWM, so I don't really know what it is. The effect is amplified in low light, when the screen lighting is dimmed down, and dark mode is even worse.
I had had mild eye fatigue previously with the 12" MB, and I get the same mild eye soreness when using the M1 MBA. But the 16" MBP is much worse for my eyes. I'd forgot how a nice Mac screen used to be, until I recently got to work on an old 2015 MBP. This display felt soothing to my eyes and I could use it without issues all day long. I used it for a few months and it was great. Most recently I met the M2 MBA and this one is much better for my eyes than any recent MB (almost as comfortable as the 2015 MBP). I can use it all day.

So for me M2 Air > M1 Air > M1p MBP.
Reading these threads is also confusing, because many different people report many different symptoms, so seemingly nobody can draw a good conclusion.

It’s probably caused by many factors, not only hardware, but also macOS version.

 

[StoneJack]

No, but for those with strain, use also apply transparent protector films etc

 

[erasr]

Does anyone else have any issues with white screens, specifically black font/text on white screen?

Yes I know, I need my eyes testing, haha, however — I don't know whether it's just me imagining it but I feel like I see more 'glowing' around black font or just glow light on white screens with my MacBook Air M2.

Happened more recently. Dark mode is fine, everything else is fine, just this white screen/black font weirdness. Medium brightness too.

 

[blueflower]

Just wanted to add my voice to this yes tremendous eye-strain after using M1 MacBook Air I now wear glasses.

 

[Euroamerican]

This issue was one of the reasons I decided against buying an M1 Air from that excellent sale that B&H has been doing. I don't need WORSE eyes caused by a computer.

 

[phrehdd]

Yes. For me, this effect is the most prominent with the 16" MBP. I thought is was gorgeous but somewhat uncomfortable at first, but after a few weeks I got to a point where I didn't want to use it more than 5 minutes. Initially I thought it was because of the oversaturated colors (they look radioactive to me), but then I found out about the PWM, so I don't really know what it is. The effect is amplified in low light, when the screen lighting is dimmed down, and dark mode is even worse.
I had had mild eye fatigue previously with the 12" MB, and I get the same mild eye soreness when using the M1 MBA. But the 16" MBP is much worse for my eyes. I'd forgot how a nice Mac screen used to be, until I recently got to work on an old 2015 MBP. This display felt soothing to my eyes and I could use it without issues all day long. I used it for a few months and it was great. Most recently I met the M2 MBA and this one is much better for my eyes than any recent MB (almost as comfortable as the 2015 MBP). I can use it all day.

So for me M2 Air > M1 Air > M1p MBP.
Reading these threads is also confusing, because many different people report many different symptoms, so seemingly nobody can draw a good conclusion.

I used as well a 2015 MBP and both its own screen and hooked up to a 4k 27" monitor (a decent one) was overall a very good experience.

Later, I opted for an M1 Mini and right away notice that video is a bit different. Due to some limitations of the M1 Mini, I moved over to the Studio Max for more RAM. This too has not been the best video experience with the same monitor I used with the 2015 MBP.

There is something a bit sad about Apple these days as we no longer can have confidence that everything will work together or that newer products will be better (or as good) as past products. No longer do we have choices but live in the realm of "trade-offs" and "sacrifices." Video should never be a sacrifice or trade-off.