Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Did the M2 MBA solve the eyestrain/headache issue for you?

Does the M2 MBA display cause eye strain for you like the M1 MBA?

  • Yes

    Votes: 18 18.0%

  • No

    Votes: 17 17.0%

  • I didn't have an eye strain problem with the M1 MBA

    Votes: 65 65.0%
  • Total voters
    100
jimmy_uk said:
Like the OLED iPhones, I've abandoned hope of an iPad I can now use as I clearly have a sensitivity to PWM & dithering (fine on iphone 11). So this leaves me with the Macbook, ideally the MBA M2 for silent operation. It's disappointing to read some are suffering eye strain with these despite them not having PWM. I really don't want to drop 2k on a laptop I might have to return, it certainly wouldn't be a convenient return process.

Is anyone with PWM/OLED sensitivity having luck with the MBA M2 or is this exactly like asking about OLED iPhones - got to try it for myself?
Click to expand...
Some seem to have had luck but you got to try it for yourself. Here in the US Apple return process is pretty easy, whether in store or online.
 
ghanwani said:
I keep coming back to see if there are solutions. Not in small part because even though I have evaluated Windows laptops, I just can't seem to find something I am comfortable with when it comes to a combination of fan noise, heat, form factor, sales and support. Every now and then I pop into the local Apple store to try the newer machines/OS versions to see if anything has changed. So far, I'm not finding much difference.
Click to expand...
I am considering getting a hackintosh machine for this reason.
 
Update. I got M2 air in May (Monterey 12.6.5, 50% brightness). Surprise, the screen is very comfortable. It’s even more comfortable than my iPad Pro M1 11”. I don’t know whether it’s related to PWM or macOS version as mentioned some users here.

It’s like I am back in times where I can spend hours and hours every day in front of macbook.
 
  • Like
Reactions: asus389, ric22, Saturn007 and 1 other person
Isamilis said:
Update. I got M2 air in May (Monterey 12.6.5, 50% brightness). Surprise, the screen is very comfortable. It’s even more comfortable than my iPad Pro M1 11”. I don’t know whether it’s related to PWM or macOS version as mentioned some users here.

It’s like I am back in times where I can spend hours and hours every day in front of macbook.
Click to expand...
I was tempted, probably will give it a shot, seen one with very good price :)
 
donatas_s said:
I saw those conflicting reviews about macbook air M2, highlighting on one side notebookcheck.com PWM free claims and other side youtube videos showing clear PWM. I have a suspicion that PWM on macbook air m2 is triggered by something, obviously specific brightness setting, or it could be for example battery mode or something like that. I'm really tempted to replace macbook air m1 with macbook air m2, but just need those reassurances at least from some percentage of users. As it comes to actual stores, I personally find it difficult to test it in the store, as there is so much lighting and you need to spend considerable amount of time to feel it. Also, there will be some folks that are really triggered a lot by other factors too such as shiny screens and actual screen technology. This would obviously render any incremental improvements of minor significance. As a side note, I have researched that VA panels might be good for low eye strain as external monitors, but this is a bit off the topic, since I would assume most users appreciate mobility of these machines as key factor.
Click to expand...
Someone else posted on this forum, what seems like a good way to test for PWM with Adobe Light Room. You can set iPhone camera to 1/4000 or even 1/10000 shutter speed. Now I don't know, at that speed its probably able to detect only PWM of up to a certain frequency, but you can see PWM very clearly on MacBook Pro with anything below 6 brightness it shows clear diagonal lines indicating PWM, and annoyingly, visible vertical lines even at max brightness. When I went into the apple store and checked the 14" and 16" MacBook Pro's had this PWM, but M2 Air had neither diagonal lines at low brightness nor those vertical lines at max brightness. But I still found it uncomfortable to look at, though I didn't spend enough time to have a definitive opinion.

I wonder what that flickering screen of M2 air in the video would look like with fast shutter speed. Also I'm curious whats the limit of PWM frequency that 1/10000 shutter speed is able to detect.

Here is the post in case you wanted to check it out:

And also, did you get your M2 air?
 
Last edited:
MiAd said:
The Eye strain on the M2 Air is worse than with the M1 Air. It was worst with the M1 14 Pro. Unfortunately, the M2 Air is going back. It is not usable for me. With the M1 Air, I was able to work with White Point at 5700k and 60%-70% brightness without eye strain. But I tried all the settings with the M2. Although some display profiles are better than others, none is such that I could work with them for several hours.

Update:
After update to Mac Monterey 12.5 and calibrating the profile „LCD display“ to 5700k, I suddenly have no problems with the M2 Air. Curious. Maybe I can keep it after all. I will continue to test.
Click to expand...
Brother Help me I brought a m2 air Sonoma, 2 weeks ago i can't bear the eye pain. I am DataScientist Undergraduate now i can't change the machine. I Previously used Windows lap i5 7thgen. I look at the m2 screen for more than 5 hours everyday. I also use a good quality Blue ray filter glasses but, i still feel a eye pain. Please Any solutions?? Thankss.
 
M2 Air screen is worser than every other. Even after i stopped looking at the screen for 2 hours it still hurts in my eyes
 
minsandha said:
Brother Help me I brought a m2 air Sonoma, 2 weeks ago i can't bear the eye pain. I am DataScientist Undergraduate now i can't change the machine. I Previously used Windows lap i5 7thgen. I look at the m2 screen for more than 5 hours everyday. I also use a good quality Blue ray filter glasses but, i still feel an eye pain. Please Any solutions?? Thankss.
Click to expand...
You can try this:

(I haven’t tried it because I no longer own a Mac.)
 
minsandha said:
Brother Help me I brought a m2 air Sonoma, 2 weeks ago i can't bear the eye pain. I am DataScientist Undergraduate now i can't change the machine. I Previously used Windows lap i5 7thgen. I look at the m2 screen for more than 5 hours everyday. I also use a good quality Blue ray filter glasses but, i still feel a eye pain. Please Any solutions?? Thankss.
Click to expand...
Switch to generic RGB and dark mode. This is key things that reduce eye irritation. Install still color app and enable everything, it might help, but not a lot. M2 is definitely not a device for long sessions. I could do it 1-2 max. Usually it ends when I wake up in the morning after very poor sleep and remaining strain. But I would not get paranoid - Macbook air m2 is claimed as best device in its segment :) so its very liquid, i.e. you could cash out very fast and retain its value at least 70 percent. For this money you could gamble and get intel macbook for whatever you get from it. Usually people say even PWM intel macbook models are better.
 
I would like to know… What exactly makes my 2018 12.9 IPP the most comfortable display Apple has used in recent years? 🧐 Its very easy on the eyes.
 
Maven1975 said:
I would like to know… What exactly makes my 2018 12.9 IPP the most comfortable display Apple has used in recent years? 🧐 Its very easy on the eyes.
Click to expand...
Do you have problems with any other Apple devices like the most recent iPads?

It looks like Apple introduced the wonderful ground breaking earth shattering technology called temporal dithering around 2020 with the M1.
 
  • Like
Reactions: uacd
ghanwani said:
The 14” pro is too heavy in this day of 2-2.5 lb laptops.
Click to expand...

The 13” MBA is also too heavy in this day of 2-2.5 lb laptops!

😁

Bring on the Apple Silicon 12” MacBook!

“Never gonna happen!”, the crowd persuasively shouts.
 
I have M1 and yeah it sometimes gives me eye strain. What sorta helped: made Dock disappear as soon as I move mouse away, disabled most macOS animations thru Terminal, using screen with 70-100% brightness mostly (unless I am watching movies), using Firefox with customized site fonts, scale and even color settings (so it will always give 8 bits color).

Also the issue is very noticeable with Apple’s Pro Apps like Logic Pro, Final Cut, GarageBand, iMovie. In other apps everything seems to be good
 
Now in 2025 Mar, could someone share some feedback in terms of success from using "M2 MBA" and having severe eye strain and then perhaps resolving the issue by making computing pleasant again with some new device ? Perhaps purchase of those new macbook pros ? Or something else ?
 
donatas_s said:
Now in 2025 Mar, could someone share some feedback in terms of success from using "M2 MBA" and having severe eye strain and then perhaps resolving the issue by making computing pleasant again with some new device ? Perhaps purchase of those new macbook pros ? Or something else ?
Click to expand...
Nothing has changed as far as I can tell. I have tried all the new machines in store and they all still very much cause eyestrain, dryness, and headaches. I have since switched to Windows (a Dynabook with an EyeSafe display, I have a previous version of this which I bought about a year ago) and have zero issues now with eyestrain and headaches even after hours of continuous use. It is a 14" display and the laptop weighs 2.3 lb. Unlike Apple laptops, it doesn't feel cold and the edges are not sharp.

I still get eyestrain and headaches if I use my iPhone SE 2022 for very long. Something is very messed up with Apple's display tech. And despite complaints from many, Apple makes no effort to address the issue. This is hubris on their part and they will pay for it at some point.
 
Last edited:
ghanwani said:
Nothing has changed as far as I can tell. I have tried all the new machines in store and they all still very much cause eyestrain, dryness, and headaches. I have since switched to Windows (a Dynabook with an EyeSafe display, I have a previous version of this which I bought about a year ago) and have zero issues now with eyestrain and headaches even after hours of continuous use. It is a 14" display and the laptop weighs 2.3 lb. Unlike Apple laptops, it doesn't feel cold and the edges are not sharp.

I still get eyestrain and headaches if I use my iPhone SE 2022 for very long. Something is very messed up with Apple's display tech. And despite complaints from many, Apple makes no effort to address the issue. This is hubris on their part and they will pay for it at some point.
Click to expand...
Would you be able to share exact LCD panel model / manufacturer from your laptop ?
 
One helpful optometrist-opthalmologist recommended practice is the 20-20-20 rule.

Every 20 minutes, get up, and spend at least 20 seconds looking at objects at least 20 feet away, say out the window.

This is of use in dealing with eye strain, but also invaluable for any screen use.

Combining that with a brisk 1-2 minute walk, even indoors, is good for your general health, too. Too much sitting produces all sorts of problems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Howard2k
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back