Anybody getting eye strain on M1 MacBook Air?

[ghanwani]

I have a Dell U2412m 2012 300 nits, attached to my 2018 mini. Are the MBA m1 displays inferior to this? I think I want to buy one.

The display itself is going to be much better. But that's not what this thread is about.

OLED screens on iPhones are much better than LCD screens in terms of things like contrast and brightness.

This thread is about sensitivity to how the display is run which causes headaches for some people.

 

[theunk]

The display itself is going to be much better. But that's not what this thread is about.

OLED screens on iPhones are much better than LCD screens in terms of things like contrast and brightness.

This thread is about sensitivity to how the display is run which causes headaches for some people.

I am wanting to understand if these issues are something that might deter me from aquiring a m1 MBA.

 

[ghanwani]

I am wanting to understand if these issues are something that might deter me from aquiring a m1 MBA.

The only way to find out if it’s not for you is to try it. It affects only a minority of people. I don’t think I have come across a single YouTube reviewer, or even a magazine/tech web review other than notebookcheck, that discusses issues with the M1 MBA’s display.

Notebookcheck also says it impacts only very sensitive users.

 

[omkarvc]

Did someone also test if the strain issues are less intense when using a Mac but logging to a virtual machine (via citrix)? I noticed this on iMac but not sure of the technical details that may explain this.

 

[theunk]

The only way to find out if it’s not for you is to try it. It affects only a minority of people. I don’t think I have come across a single YouTube reviewer, or even a magazine/tech web review other than notebookcheck, that discusses issues with the M1 MBA’s display.

Notebookcheck also says it impacts only very sensitive users.

👍👍

 

[TDDM]

From notebookcheck, 14,480 hz PWM at all levels. No mention of the constant 60hz flicker from last years models, which is encouraging. I still get eye strain from it, but I'm fairly sure that it's better than my M1 MBA 2020.

 

[asus389]

From notebookcheck, 14,480 hz PWM at all levels. No mention of the constant 60hz flicker from last years models, which is encouraging. I still get eye strain from it, but I'm fairly sure that it's better than my M1 MBA 2020.

View attachment 1900816

What settings are you using?

 

[Evilxardas]

If you think the problem is related to the PWM it could be nice to try the iMac 24 that is PWM free (from notebookcheck) and see if you still have problems or not!

 

[ghanwani]

Has this been addressed in Monterey by any chance? Has anyone that had a problem with pre-Monterey tried a machine with Monterey?

 

[yitwail]

From notebookcheck, 14,480 hz PWM at all levels. No mention of the constant 60hz flicker from last years models, which is encouraging. I still get eye strain from it, but I'm fairly sure that it's better than my M1 MBA 2020.

There's a notebookcheck article specific to M1 MBA here -- https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple...le-M1-CPU-humbles-Intel-and-AMD.508057.0.html -- and it came up with 11,700 hz PWM, which still should affect few people.

 

[ghanwani]

There's a notebookcheck article specific to M1 MBA here -- https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple...le-M1-CPU-humbles-Intel-and-AMD.508057.0.html -- and it came up with 11,700 hz PWM, which still should affect few people.

117,000 Hz

 

[yitwail]

117,000 Hz

right you are. 🤦‍♂️ (and even better )

 

[asus389]

I'm curious, do any of you who are getting eye strain on the M1 machines also get eye strain running Big Sur (or Monterey) on intel Macs? I ask because I have a 2017 MacBook Pro (intel) and booting into Big Sur causes the same kind of eye strain as reported here (can't focus, headaches, etc) but booting back into Catalina solves it. I wonder if some of this has to do with the OS software or graphics drivers and not the hardware.

 

[ghanwani]

I'm curious, do any of you who are getting eye strain on the M1 machines also get eye strain running Big Sur (or Monterey) on intel Macs? I ask because I have a 2017 MacBook Pro (intel) and booting into Big Sur causes the same kind of eye strain as reported here (can't focus, headaches, etc) but booting back into Catalina solves it. I wonder if some of this has to do with the OS software or graphics drivers and not the hardware.

I had some issues with eyestrain when I moved to Big Sur. Changing the background from default to the dark scenic one helped. I also have true tone and auto brightness disabled, but that was the case even with Catalina.

 

[asus389]

Did someone also test if the strain issues are less intense when using a Mac but logging to a virtual machine (via citrix)? I noticed this on iMac but not sure of the technical details that may explain this.

I noticed this in a different context. For whatever reason Big Sur (and presumably Monterey) changed something with the UI rendering that gives me eye strain and headaches. I've tested this on my 2017 MacBook Pro which can run Catalina and Big Sur - Catalina is fine but Big Sur causes eye strain. However, if I use Apple Remote Desktop to connect to an M1 Mac mini running Big Sur (from the 17 MBP running Catalina) I don't have this problem. So however the screen is being rendered for the remote session is different than using a local display.

 

[MBPUser21]

From notebookcheck, 14,480 hz PWM at all levels. No mention of the constant 60hz flicker from last years models, which is encouraging. I still get eye strain from it, but I'm fairly sure that it's better than my M1 MBA 2020.

View attachment 1900816

How are you doing now?

 

[TDDM]

How are you doing now?

It’s not different enough to make a difference in my case, unfortunately. I’m returning it & will wait for the next Macbook.

On a different note, I have had success with occlusion therapy. I’m able to use my Mac a lot longer with less symptoms as long as I’m covering one eye. I’d highly recommend anyone trying it for a few hours for a few days and seeing if it helps. My optometrist said that it could possibly indicate some kind of binocular vision disorder, which *can* be treated, usually. This is the first thing I’ve tried in 4 years that has actually helped.

It’s not necessarily a long-term solution, but it may help lead to the root of our issues (For some of us).

 

[MBPUser21]

It’s not different enough to make a difference in my case, unfortunately. I’m returning it & will wait for the next Macbook.

On a different note, I have had success with occlusion therapy. I’m able to use my Mac a lot longer with less symptoms as long as I’m covering one eye. I’d highly recommend anyone trying it for a few hours for a few days and seeing if it helps. My optometrist said that it could possibly indicate some kind of binocular vision disorder, which *can* be treated, usually. This is the first thing I’ve tried in 4 years that has actually helped.

It’s not necessarily a long-term solution, but it may help lead to the root of our issues (For some of us).

Thank you, that’s interesting will look it up!

What MacBook are you using in the meantime? I’ve ordered the new MBP 14 not realising about the PWM until now, I thought it was only a problem with OLED, so am now considering returning it because I ordered from a reseller where you can’t try before you return & I had to return my iPhone X for the same reason. Desperately need a new MacBook just not sure which one to go with now or to just hope the new one doesn’t effect me too much and get an external monitor to work on the majority of the time.

 

[TDDM]

Thank you, that’s interesting will look it up!

What MacBook are you using in the meantime? I’ve ordered the new MBP 14 not realising about the PWM until now, I thought it was only a problem with OLED, so am now considering returning it because I ordered from a reseller where you can’t try before you return & I had to return my iPhone X for the same reason. Desperately need a new MacBook just not sure which one to go with now or to just hope the new one doesn’t effect me too much and get an external monitor to work on the majority of the time.

I’m sticking with the M1 Air. It definitely hurts to use, but the 14” Pro isn’t worth the extra $1000 in terms of eye strain. And it may be different for you, but in my case, external monitors don’t help w/ MacOS. Whatever dithering or other software things they’ve done show up on other monitors as well

 

[MBPUser21]

I’m sticking with the M1 Air. It definitely hurts to use, but the 14” Pro isn’t worth the extra $1000 in terms of eye strain. And it may be different for you, but in my case, external monitors don’t help w/ MacOS. Whatever dithering or other software things they’ve done show up on other monitors as well

Ah ok thanks, received the MacBook today and definitely noticed an increase in headaches since looking at the screen, not sure whether to stick with it or not. Did you notice a big difference between the M1 air & 14” pro? Considering going for the M1 13” Pro or Air instead because it’s around the same Hz as the 2019 air that I use with no problems.

 

[TDDM]

Ah ok thanks, received the MacBook today and definitely noticed an increase in headaches since looking at the screen, not sure whether to stick with it or not. Did you notice a big difference between the M1 air & 14” pro? Considering going for the M1 13” Pro or Air instead because it’s around the same Hz as the 2019 air that I use with no problems.

My recommendation would be to return it, especially if it's causing worse headaches. The new features are nice, but absolutely not worth giving yourself these flicker headaches. Especially because it's also an extra ~$1000.

I'm personally going to return mine & stick with the M1 Air until a new MacBook comes out that doesn't have any flicker issues. If you have no eye strain issues with the M1 "13 Air or Pro, I would definitely suggest going with one of those (The M1 Air has been excellent for me, minus the eye strain problems). You could also try the 14" Pro for a while and see if your eyes adjust to it.

 

[ghanwani]

I'm personally going to return mine & stick with the M1 Air until a new MacBook comes out that doesn't have any flicker issues.

Is the problem with flicker or temporal dithering?

 

[TDDM]

Is the problem with flicker or temporal dithering?

For me? I have no idea, unfortunately. I have also issues with devices that have no PWM at all, so I assume dithering is a factor as well.

 

[Tikatika]

I thought it was just me! I have an 2020 M1 Air, but really wanted the larger screen, etc so got the new 14”. Gorgeous, fell instantly in love with it, but by the second day, was having problems focusing. every time I looked at a different part of the screen, I had to refocus. Bad aching eyes, no headache though. Have never experienced it before in all my years of using many different kinds of computers, tablets, phones. Tried all the different suggestions in this thread, but nothing seemed to help, so I ended up having to return it and am keeping the Air. I’m curious to know if anybody has Astigmatism like I do and if that might be the issue. Will be my first question at my next eye exam!

 

[hrMACnstuff]

no problem with the air