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Moved to XR from X/XS/XS Max due to Eye Strain. Do you still have eye strain on the XR?

  • No, believe the no-PWM from the LCD screen solved my issue

    Votes: 109 34.9%
  • Yes, still have eye strain.

    Votes: 44 14.1%
  • Yes, still have eye strain. However, the strain stopped once I covered the 'Notch' FaceID

    Votes: 9 2.9%
  • No, you guys are crazy!

    Votes: 150 48.1%

  • Total voters
    312
Are you sure that disabling the attention aware setting doesn’t disable the flashing IR light?

I’ve wondered about the possibility of FaceID causing sensitivity. It would make sense. While throbbing pain is congruent with PWM sensitivity, it also seems possible it could be caused by FaceID.

Yep, I disabled every face id setting and it kept on. The rep said it was the proximity sensor ir and can't be turned off :/
 
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Just having a glossy screen can cause eye fatigue, let alone LED backlit LCD screens.
I remember when I switched from a Powerbook to a Macbook Pro, and that caused
a bunch of eye strain for me personally. Staying away from glare and keeping the
brightness down might help people significantly (the opposite of the OLED iPhones cause of PWM flicker at lower levels).
 
Wow an interesting thread. I was wondering how many people were affected by PWM and/or infrared. It's a non scientific poll, and only voted by users who are aware of these things, and happen to find this discussion. I can only hope it brings to light (pardon the entendre) all the ways our devices can potentially affect our eyes. Let's hope the future brings devices that won't blind us. I have to say Face ID was amazingly brazen in it's potential for harm. Apple needs to shift back to less biologically intrusive means of security. And since PWM seems more damaging, that also need to be addressed even more so.
 
Wow an interesting thread. I was wondering how many people were affected by PWM and/or infrared. It's a non scientific poll, and only voted by users who are aware of these things, and happen to find this discussion. I can only hope it brings to light (pardon the entendre) all the ways our devices can potentially affect our eyes. Let's hope the future brings devices that won't blind us. I have to say Face ID was amazingly brazen in it's potential for harm. Apple needs to shift back to less biologically intrusive means of security. And since PWM seems more damaging, that also need to be addressed even more so.
Check out this thread as well, goes even deeper into it
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/eye-strain-while-using-iphone-x.2085427/page-100#post-27170103
 
Anyone still dealing with this? It's really frustrating, I have no idea what the problem is. I can use literally every other Apple device I have with no problems (My 8+, old iPad, macbook, etc), but the XR and 2017 iPad Pro give me eye strain and fatigue after only a few minutes of use.

Is it somehow related to the new liquid retina display? I honestly have no clue, I can stare at my other devices all day long just fine.

Anyone else have any ideas?
 
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Let's hope the future brings devices that won't blind us. I have to say Face ID was amazingly brazen in it's potential for harm. Apple needs to shift back to less biologically intrusive means of security.
Isn't infrared light in our sunlight as well? Aren't we basically surrounded by infrared light and other spectrums we can't even perceive?
 
Sunlight is mostly diffused.. normally, you don't directly stare at the Sun. Long term health effects of these light sensors, PWM are worth investigating since we tend to spend more and more time on these devices. If the research finds out that it has no adverse health effects even after long exposures then we don't lose anything, on the other hand, if it does then the companies can modify their designs to rectify these effects or come up with new technologies.
Isn't infrared light in our sunlight as well? Aren't we basically surrounded by infrared light and other spectrums we can't even perceive?
 
Sunlight is mostly diffused.. normally, you don't directly stare at the Sun. Long term health effects of these light sensors, PWM are worth investigating since we tend to spend more and more time on these devices. If the research finds out that it has no adverse health effects even after long exposures then we don't lose anything, on the other hand, if it does then the companies can modify their designs to rectify these effects or come up with new technologies.
Then again, Face ID does not scan your face all day long - only when it tries to recognise you. That‘s once when you unlock your phone, how should that affect you over hours?
 
Consider how many times a day you unlock your iPhone or use FaceID authentication for sign-in, purchases. Also, the FaceID source is much closer to your eyes and you directly looks at it unlike the diffused sunlight. It may be possible that FaceID IR tech doesn't have any adverse effects on eyes which would be nice but it needs to be verified till we draw any conclusions.
Then again, Face ID does not scan your face all day long - only when it tries to recognise you. That‘s once when you unlock your phone, how should that affect you over hours?
 
Consider how many times a day you unlock your iPhone or use FaceID authentication for sign-in, purchases. Also, the FaceID source is much closer to your eyes and you directly looks at it unlike the diffused sunlight. It may be possible that FaceID IR tech doesn't have any adverse effects on eyes which would be nice but it needs to be verified till we draw any conclusions.
Yep, I consider - and this is 90 times a day for me. This would be maybe 90 seconds over the course of a whole day where I get showered with direct infrared light. I'm with you that it needs to be verified, but I don't buy it that Face ID should be the culprit here. The IR sensor from the proximity sensor that fires all the time could be another reason, then again, not if the issue goes away when you swap the phone to another one that has the same version in it. Really puzzling.
 
Proximity sensor has been present since the original iPhone and no one was complaining back then, reports of eye strain are appearing only since the iPhone X launch with OLED display and PWM.


Yep, I consider - and this is 90 times a day for me. This would be maybe 90 seconds over the course of a whole day where I get showered with direct infrared light. I'm with you that it needs to be verified, but I don't buy it that Face ID should be the culprit here. The IR sensor from the proximity sensor that fires all the time could be another reason, then again, not if the issue goes away when you swap the phone to another one that has the same version in it. Really puzzling.
 
Anyone still dealing with this? It's really frustrating, I have no idea what the problem is. I can use literally every other Apple device I have with no problems (My 8+, old iPad, macbook, etc), but the XR and 2018 iPad Pro give me eye strain and fatigue after only a few minutes of use.

Is it somehow related to the new liquid retina display? I honestly have no clue, I can stare at my other devices all day long just fine.

Anyone else have any ideas?
"Liquid Retina" is a fancy buzzword made by Apple's marketing department. It's actually just a regular old school LCD with round corners.

Maybe it is the round corners that cause eye strain!?

(I'll see myself out...)
 
Proximity sensor has been present since the original iPhone and no one was complaining back then, reports of eye strain are appearing only since the iPhone X launch with OLED display and PWM.
I guess OLED and/or PWM are to blame here, because that's what you're staring at the whole time. Way more reasonable than Face ID in my book.
 
I guess OLED and/or PWM are to blame here, because that's what you're staring at the whole time. Way more reasonable than Face ID in my book.
This thread is about the iPhone XR which uses an LCD and therefore no PWM. If any users are still experiencing eye problems with the XR, it kinda seems like Face ID must be causing their eyestrain, doesn't it?
 
Not necessarily.
I never get eyestrain using my 6 plus, but will always get eyestrain when using my iPhone 5 or 4 even when the fonts are relatively the same size. None of these phones have FaceID. The primary difference is screen resolution: 326 vs 401 ppi. The XR screen resolution is the same as the iPhone 4 and 5.
I've never looked at an XR so I can't compare.
 
As you said, screen resolution could also be a factor.. and maybe there are different symptoms associated with eye strain caused by screen resolution, FaceID or PWM.
I don't usually read long articles on the iPhone, so XR screen seems quite okay to me.

Not necessarily.
I never get eyestrain using my 6 plus, but will always get eyestrain when using my iPhone 5 or 4 even when the fonts are relatively the same size. None of these phones have FaceID. The primary difference is screen resolution: 326 vs 401 ppi. The XR screen resolution is the same as the iPhone 4 and 5.
I've never looked at an XR so I can't compare.
 
Hi everyone - this is my first post! So I just got the XR (coming from the 6) and have been experiencing eye strain and fatigue. Something about the screen seems a little blurrier than my old iPhone and it just makes my eyes tired after mere minutes of using it. I had the same issue when I got a new MacBook Pro last year where I just couldn't use the screen for long without having night mode permanently on. I'm talking to someone on the Apple support chat right now and it sounds like the issue might be the liquid retina? The series of X iPhones seem to be the first phones with this display, while the 6, 7, 8 etc. do not have it.

I still haven't ruled out Face I.D. being the culprit (though I've never had it turned on) so I will try to cover up the notch as well as have my phone permanently on night mode, but apart from that, I feel like the best option might be to exchange my phone for the 8 or 8 Plus which I really don't wanna have to do. I'm going to buy the 8 and maybe the XS in the next few days and live with all 3 phones before deciding which one is best.
 
So I just got the XR (coming from the 6) and have been experiencing eye strain and fatigue. Something about the screen seems a little blurrier than my old iPhone and it just makes my eyes tired after mere minutes of using it
Sounds like the same issue we're having, sorry that you're affected as well.

MacBook Pro last year where I just couldn't use the screen for long without having night mode permanently on
When you say night mode, are you referring to Night Shift? Or Dark Mode? I had the same issue when I tried last year's macbook, had to return it immediately.

I still haven't ruled out Face I.D. being the culprit (though I've never had it turned on
I think we've mostly ruled out face id at this point, especially since some of the people have the same issue with the older touch ID enabled iPad pros. Might be different for you though.

I'm going to buy the 8 and maybe the XS
Just so you know, any iPhone with an OLED screen has PWM flickering, which also causes eye strain and headaches for certain people.
 
Sounds like the same issue we're having, sorry that you're affected as well.

When you say night mode, are you referring to Night Shift? Or Dark Mode? I had the same issue when I tried last year's macbook, had to return it immediately.

I think we've mostly ruled out face id at this point, especially since some of the people have the same issue with the older touch ID enabled iPad pros. Might be different for you though.

Just so you know, any iPhone with an OLED screen has PWM flickering, which also causes eye strain and headaches for certain people.

Sorry, I meant Night Shift! I need it on almost all the time or else my eyes get tired/strained quickly. Dark mode seems to be more tiring on my eyes even though I use twitter on dark mode. And thank you, I've read this whole thread and it sounds like I should be avoiding OLED screens, but I still want to explore every possible option. Are you still using your XR or have you gone with another model?
 
Sorry, I meant Night Shift! I need it on almost all the time or else my eyes get tired/strained quickly. Dark mode seems to be more tiring on my eyes even though I use twitter on dark mode. And thank you, I've read this whole thread and it sounds like I should be avoiding OLED screens, but I still want to explore every possible option. Are you still using your XR or have you gone with another model?
Just curious, does True Tone make it better or worse for your eyes on the XR? I switched to a standard 8 since the XR eye strain unfortunately never went away.
 
I hate to sound like tinfoil hat guy, but does Face ID keep tracking faces even when it's turned off? It's a great way to mine user data while we're using a particular app... a detailed 3D model of the users face and reactions while using an app seems pretty beneficial for getting feedback. I know nobody wants this eyestrain to be caused by Face ID, including myself, but we should be open to that possibility and not just toss it aside.

Someone with an XR, who has also experienced eyestrain, please tape over all the infrared emitters and let us know.
 
Just curious, does True Tone make it better or worse for your eyes on the XR? I switched to a standard 8 since the XR eye strain unfortunately never went away.

I've been mostly using the phone with True Tone, but I don't seem to see much of a difference. If any I would say that it makes it better. My 2 week return period ends next week so hopefully I'll be able to see if I should keep the XR by then :/

I hate to sound like tinfoil hat guy, but does Face ID keep tracking faces even when it's turned off? It's a great way to mine user data while we're using a particular app... a detailed 3D model of the users face and reactions while using an app seems pretty beneficial for getting feedback. I know nobody wants this eyestrain to be caused by Face ID, including myself, but we should be open to that possibility and not just toss it aside.

Someone with an XR, who has also experienced eyestrain, please tape over all the infrared emitters and let us know.

Where are all the infrared emitters located, is it just where the nudge is? I'm going to try it out!
 
Just spotted this lately, if I plug a lightning cable in and press up or down on the cable head (lightening connector side), it makes a clicking noise inside of the port. Anyone else experiencing the same ?
 
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