I do have the 22ultra in my home now and after testing for 30 min with different display setting, i do have a headache but it seems better in comparison to the iphone 12 and 13 series. What settings should i use to try to get used to the phone? i have set the refresh rate at 60hz and the resolution at max. any other thoughts?
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Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up
- Thread starter Kitkad
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You could try the PWM free app from XDA Developers:
[APP] AMOLED PWMfree
Summary: A simple application that uses a transparent overlay to dim the device brightness, effectively removing PWM. Download PWMfree More Information: Why PWM is such a headache Brief explanation about PWM Default brightness control...
forum.xda-developers.com
It´s sad that Samsung again doesn‘t give use any dc dimming/flicker free option. I have try the S22 Ultra in the store for some 10-15 min. I have not feel directly eye strain. But i feel that i lose some focus and makes me harder to concentrate to read text. I don‘t think that i it could work for me. But it is also to big for me. Next time i will try the S22. But when i see how crazy it‘s flicker on some videos i have very litte hope.
I hope that Xiaomi will bring the K50 Gaming Edition with a OLED Display from a Chinese manufacturer with a PWM Frequency up to 1920 Hz to Europe. This could be worthy to try it. Apple should also use such a OLED Display exclusive at least in one new iPhone.
The reason why iPhone X users experience eyestrain is due to its OLED screen
jimmy_uk
macrumors 68030
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MICHAELSD
macrumors 603
While a higher rate such as 1920Hz sounds good in theory, I’m slightly worried that it wouldn’t be enough.
There is definitely more Apple’s display team could be doing to address PWM, but on my second go with iPhone 13 Mini where I admittedly have less attachment I’m finding realistically that we may still need a PWM-free Accessibility option.
Don’t get me wrong, a higher rate is possible and Apple should continue focusing on improvements year-over-year but speculatively ~ 1920Hz would likely take eye strain symptoms to a 1-2 — meaning that there would likely still be some degree of headaches.
Persistent headaches with iPhone 13 Mini, which again are significantly improved over iPhone X at the least, aren’t going away over time so I see a new iPhone SE in my future. Hopefully we get a more interesting device than simply a current-generation iPhone SE with upgraded internals. I’d love to see a blue color and a further improved display. Contrast and sharpness are noticeably better on iPhone 13 Mini, but the current iPhone SE at least has comparable color accuracy.
One of the barometers to keeping an OLED iPhone should be whether I feel a need to post in this thread, and since I don’t want to continue posting about eye strain as much as I enjoy all of your company I’ll have to compromise with iPhone SE.
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I have found the first results for the S22 Ultra with the flickermeter:
This looks not good. But i have also found this articel that says that Samsung had not make any change to the OLED Tech compared to the S21 Ultra. Interesting here is that the new iPhone and foldable from Samsung should use a newer OLED Tech from Samsung Display:
www.oled-info.com
Maybe there will be hopefully improvements on the PWM implemention.
This looks not good. But i have also found this articel that says that Samsung had not make any change to the OLED Tech compared to the S21 Ultra. Interesting here is that the new iPhone and foldable from Samsung should use a newer OLED Tech from Samsung Display:
ETNews: Samsung did not update its OLED material stack for the Galaxy S22 series | OLED-Info
According to reports from Korea, Samsung decided to use the same OLED material stack (the so-called M11 stack) in its Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone (the M11 was used in the S21 Ultra phone). The lower-end Galaxy S21 still uses the M10 stack, same as in the S20.The lower-end model did get an update...
Maybe there will be hopefully improvements on the PWM implemention.
How do you get 115% flicker though 😅I have found the first results for the S22 Ultra with the flickermeter:
View attachment 1964171
This looks not good. But i have also found this articel that says that Samsung had not make any change to the OLED Tech compared to the S21 Ultra. Interesting here is that the new iPhone and foldable from Samsung should use a newer OLED Tech from Samsung Display:
ETNews: Samsung did not update its OLED material stack for the Galaxy S22 series | OLED-Info
According to reports from Korea, Samsung decided to use the same OLED material stack (the so-called M11 stack) in its Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone (the M11 was used in the S21 Ultra phone). The lower-end Galaxy S21 still uses the M10 stack, same as in the S20.The lower-end model did get an update...
Maybe there will be hopefully improvements on the PWM implemention.
On Android you can use Oled Saver app to replace system autobrightness and have a dim overlay.
In the latest firmware samsung added an "extra dim" button in quick toggles too, it's less convenient (you must change brightness manually going in a second menu), but it's official, compared to oled saver (therefore there are no UI items excluded from dim overlay, such as fingerprint scanner ot other pop-up items, as with oled saver)
MICHAELSD
macrumors 603
This would only work in theory if 100% brightness had no flickering. I’m not specifically aware of any OLED phones that do this, although there should be a handful of options out there.
Apple’s amplitudes aren’t quite as intense as what Samsung is doing. Conversely, it seems like users in general are able to use Galaxy phones with less PWM complaints. I’m amazed that my friend’s young daughter can sit on a S21 for hours playing games which admittedly look incredible on the display, or also do the same on an iPhone 12 Pro Max.
I’m consistently impressed by the OLED display on iPhone 13 Mini. Even if this display isn’t quite as punchy as my first iPhone 13 Mini, which may prevent eye strain to an extent, the cinematic experience is second-to-none. Watching a movie on the natural-looking OLED, despite its size, with convincing stereo widening is better than the average home theater.
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Okay guys, here is the deal 😀 I bought the iPhone 13 Pro Max (512GB) which cost $1800 in my country and I suffer from the eye-strain. (Coming from a LCD iPhone 8 Plus) What the hell should I do now?
Would it make any sense to see a doctor? (I have the same issue with my glasses on, tried some different settings… Nothing works out for me. 🙁
Would it make any sense to see a doctor? (I have the same issue with my glasses on, tried some different settings… Nothing works out for me. 🙁
jimmy_uk
macrumors 68030
Unfortunately your likely sensitive to PWM and so a doctor won't be able to help. Its not natural to have a light source constantly flickering in your eyes no matter how fast it does this, so there is nothing wrong with your vision medically speaking. It's possibly more odd that not everyone notices this but it must be that their brain filters it out?
You could try another OLED iphone and see if that works better as each model appears to have different PWM rates and possibly made by different manafactuers. Otherwise your alternative options is going back to LCD with the SE 2020, iPhone 11, wait for the SE 2022 or return to the 8 Plus unfortunately.
I understand.
So it is also unlikely that I could ‘get used to it?’
Could it be due to a bad screen protector? (Just my hope)
I bought really cheap clear ones as I always do. It has never been a problem so far although.
I don‘t even like the Display that much compared to the LCD ones.
Yes, colors are great, black looks insane but the viewing angels are worse (actually terrible, moving the phone a bit and the image looks weird already) than on this iPad Pro 10.5” I’m currently using to write this text for example….
It also seems like, that the OLED Displays are not able to display the color white correctly.
White looks rather like yellow…?
I wish the phone had a mini LED screen instead 🙁.
So it is also unlikely that I could ‘get used to it?’
Could it be due to a bad screen protector? (Just my hope)
I bought really cheap clear ones as I always do. It has never been a problem so far although.
I don‘t even like the Display that much compared to the LCD ones.
Yes, colors are great, black looks insane but the viewing angels are worse (actually terrible, moving the phone a bit and the image looks weird already) than on this iPad Pro 10.5” I’m currently using to write this text for example….
It also seems like, that the OLED Displays are not able to display the color white correctly.
White looks rather like yellow…?
I wish the phone had a mini LED screen instead 🙁.
I can speak for myself only, brightness above 85% on samsung devices give me no (or almost no) issues, therefore this is a viable solution.
Unfortunately reduce white point doesn't seem to be equally effective, and i don't think iOS allows 3rd party apps to set a dim layer on top of screen
Just need a tinted screen protector and use phone at 100% brightness (which will discharge battery quickly).
Problem solved. Sort of
Problem solved. Sort of
The problem is with the phone, not your eyes.
Reporting in after 2 months with the 13 Pro - zero issues. Previously had issues with most OLED displays until the 12 Mini, which surprisingly didn’t affect me too much.
These new LTPO displays seem promising (13 Pro, S22 Ultra). If it becomes the norm in a few years, our problems might all just go away. 🙂
These new LTPO displays seem promising (13 Pro, S22 Ultra). If it becomes the norm in a few years, our problems might all just go away. 🙂
MICHAELSD
macrumors 603
As much as I want to be, I definitely still get eye strain behind my eye even as I’m typing this. It’s on the verge of becoming usable which is what is frustrating and if Apple makes further improvements this generation then iPhone 14 could be viable with a further increased PWM rate. It’s more or less about whether I’d accept a phone that reduces eye strain symptoms to a 2-3. For the average person my symptoms may be rated higher but my reference point in scoring is still the 24/7 intense throbbing from iPhone X.
MICHAELSD
macrumors 603
I wish I could say I’ll try iPhone 13 Pro again and be okay, but I can tell from store demos it still affects me. I’m glad to hear it’s worked for a handful of users that previously posted in this thread.
That being said, iPhone 13 Mini is my favorite phone from this cycle. It’s a shame I experienced issues with my first iPhone 13 Mini since that display was phenomenal. It was just close enough to being usable long-term; unfortunately, I still get persistent headaches at times. I feel like I should probably give up on iPhone 13 this generation and purchase a new iPhone SE.
john g.
macrumors 6502
I tried the mini on launch day and I love the phone but couldn't get on with the screen. Just this week I tried the pro to see if it was any different and even after just two days I'm sending it back. Sticking to my 11 until Apple comes to their senses.
Dejected
macrumors regular
keep sending emails to "apple help" .. may they notice the numbers of people suffering from pwm and make changes in the Iphone 14 screens
I7guy
macrumors Westmere
iPhone 14 hardware, I’m guessing, is already set in cement.