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iPad Eye strain on iPad 9th gen?

J

johnscully

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 11, 2010
176
66
Hi,

iPads (as well as iPhones and MacBooks) with PWM displays are practically unusable to me. According to Notebookcheck the iPad Air 4 (2020) doesn't have PWM, but unfortunately that tablet gives me eye strain anyway. So how about the iPad 9th gen (2021) – what are your experiences with that particular iPad model regarding the issue of eye strain/fatigue?
 
No eye strain on the 9th gen here. Then again, I don't get eye strain from the Air 4 either.
 
johnscully said:
Hi,

iPads (as well as iPhones and MacBooks) with PWM displays are practically unusable to me. According to Notebookcheck the iPad Air 4 (2020) doesn't have PWM, but unfortunately that tablet gives me eye strain anyway. So how about the iPad 9th gen (2021) – what are your experiences with that particular iPad model regarding the issue of eye strain/fatigue?
Click to expand...
You ever think it could be something else giving you headaches then? I would be more concerned about that honestly.
 
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I can use all Apple devices from a couple of years ago perfectly fine, just the newer ones with PWM and/or Dithering giving me issues. The iPhone SE (2020) without PWM for example is fine.
 
Have you tried an 120Hz display (iPad Pro 2017 and later)? I know people who get headaches with 60Hz displays. It might make the difference to you.
 
johnscully said:
Do you have issues with PWM devices, or aren't you sensitive to that?
Click to expand...

I'm somewhat sensitive but I guess not overly so.

OLED iPhones give me a migraine within 30 minutes of use. The 2021 iPP 12.9 Mini-LED though, I had some initial discomfort but was eventually able to tolerate it.


johnscully said:
Tried the 2020 iPad Pro (11 inch) - gave me eye strain as well.
Click to expand...

I think that specific model is known to use PWM.
 
I also have Problems with the iPad Air 4, its like a Burning in my Eyes, some month ago someone wrote here, it could be because of a bad Lamination of the Display. With the iPad Pro 2018 / 2020 i get dizziness, but with the bigger Pro with 12.9 inch and Mini-LED i have no Problems. The normal iPad 8th and 9th Gen are fine for me.
 
I have a 9th gen iPad and no issues with eye strain or fatigue. I thought PWM was only produced by OLED displays? Do LED screens produce PWM as well?
 
johnscully said:
Some LCD-Screens also use PWM - for example the iPad Air 4 and a couple of Models of the iPad Pro. Notebookcheck mentions when a device uses PWM.
Click to expand...

The Air 4 shouldn't have PWM, though.

www.notebookcheck.net

Apple iPad Air 4 (2020) Review - The Air Tablet moves closer to the Pro model

We are testing the Apple iPad Air 4, which has a 10.9-inch display and is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic and also has 4 GB RAM, two speakers and it is ideal for both work and leisure
www.notebookcheck.net www.notebookcheck.net
 
I had ipad air 4, and the feeling while reading with it like burning my eyes. I cannot stare or read for long period of time with the air 4, and i had got eye strain problem (headache and cannot focus). I sold my ipad air 4 and i bought ipad 9. it is way better than my ipad air 4 before in term of comfortability for my eyes.
i dont know what causing it, technically air 4 doesnt use PWM, and ipad 9 does use PWM.
 
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qinan said:
I had ipad air 4, and the feeling while reading with it like burning my eyes. I cannot stare or read for long period of time with the air 4, and i had got eye strain problem (headache and cannot focus). I sold my ipad air 4 and i bought ipad 9. it is way better than my ipad air 4 before in term of comfortability for my eyes.
i dont know what causing it, technically air 4 doesnt use PWM, and ipad 9 does use PWM.
Click to expand...

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but you are not crazy on this! Though the Air 4 doesn't have PWM, it may actually have temporal dithering since it is a "wide color gamut" display- and it's hard to find details on this, but one way that Apple achieves this broader color spectrum on some devices is to use temporal dithering- where pixels will flash different colors quickly, which some people's eyes do not tolerate very well.

I experienced this on the iPhone SE 2022, and it drove me nuts trying to figure out why- burning, dry eye sensation just as you described with the iPad air- and that phone has no PWM, either. My only suspicion has to be temporal dithering.... alternatively, I went to an iPhone 13 Mini that does have PWM (at a higher frequency), and I have had no problems. Go figure!

But back to the iPads- Notebookcheck now on the newer devices checks for both PWM and temporal dithering- and they found NO temporal dithering or PWM on the iPad 10th generation, I suspect because it only has sRGB colors, not the "Wide Color" gamut.
I would have to think if the 10th gen has no temporal dithering, the 9th gen doesn't, either- and that would explain why you were good with the 9th gen but not the Air 4, which definitely has the "Wide color" gamut.
 
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My mom switched from a 5th gen to a 9th gen and has had no issues. Not sure if that is helpful but thought I’d chime in.
 
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This is interesting information. Staring at a display for hours is already known to be a cause of eye strain. I can only imagine what PWM might add. But unlike iPhones with OLED, it doesn't look like there are many iPads with PWM yet.
 
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