Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[Drj44]

You can do it right from the iPhone. Go to Settings, Accessibility, Touch, Turn on AssistiveTouch and choose Analytics for Single-Tap. Press the AssistiveTouch button on your screen and it will start gathering analytics. Once it’s done go to Privacy & Security, Analytics & Improvements, Analytics Data and you should see a file at the bottom beginning with sysdiagnose, click on it and save it to your Files. Go into the Files app and click on sysdiagnose, next ioreg, IODeviceTree, now search for raw-panel. It will give you a serial number for your iPhone’s panel but all you need is the first 3 letters to tell if you have a Samsung or LG.

Wow, how did you figure it out. It starts with G9NHL. Do you know which it is then?

 

[cgolca]

Wow, how did you figure it out. It starts with G9NHL. Do you know which it is then?

It’s a Samsung. Learned it after someone else posted it on Reddit a month or two ago.

 

[DJTaurus]

Another week. Another experiment by my side. Loosing money non stop

So as suggested from some redditors iPhone Air with Samsung panel is almost usable and usable in some cases.

So i got one with G9Q Samsung. After 2 days this thing is more tolerable than the first air i got in the launch with LG GVH panel and more tolerable than my current iPhone 16e also with LG panel. Most airs in my county are with LG panel so you must hunt it down in the used market.

I also tested a 15 pro max with Samsung G9N panel and it was not tolerable.

I will update again in the next couple of days.

Things are very very weird

 

[Heman87]

Another week. Another experiment by my side. Loosing money non stop

So as suggested from some redditors iPhone Air with Samsung panel is almost usable and usable in some cases.

So i got one with G9Q Samsung. After 2 days this thing is more tolerable than the first air i got in the launch with LG GVH panel and more tolerable than my current iPhone 16e also with LG panel. Most airs in my county are with LG panel so you must hunt it down in the used market.

I also tested a 15 pro max with Samsung G9N panel and it was not tolerable.

I will update again in the next couple of days.

Things are very very weird

Keep going strong 💪🏼. I have noticed there is also a difference between screens of the same manufactures. So that’s maybe why?

 

[cgolca]

Another week. Another experiment by my side. Loosing money non stop

So as suggested from some redditors iPhone Air with Samsung panel is almost usable and usable in some cases.

So i got one with G9Q Samsung. After 2 days this thing is more tolerable than the first air i got in the launch with LG GVH panel and more tolerable than my current iPhone 16e also with LG panel. Most airs in my county are with LG panel so you must hunt it down in the used market.

I also tested a 15 pro max with Samsung G9N panel and it was not tolerable.

I will update again in the next couple of days.

Things are very very weird

Yes, the Air has been the most tolerable OLED phone I’ve ever tried. Unfortunately not all panels are the same though. Tried a few all with GVC LG panels and one was good and the others weren’t.

 

[cgolca]

Like Jimmy UK, I have elected to initiate a return for my 17 pro. Pretty bummed because the cameras were great and something I could've used with my work. Back to the 16e.
I didn't get headaches or anything but I was feeling like my nervous system was accelerated, almost tachycardia, and I was grouchy and not sleeping well and also just felt like a certain kind of dizziness. Very mild and sporadic but once I went back to the 16e I felt much more relaxed.

Hopefully, Apple can change some software algorithms with this PWM switch or even better try DC dimming or something.

Glad for those that it works for though.

Is Pwmmen the only one?

Same here. I love the iPhone 17 Pro for photography, but after just a few minutes I start getting noticeable heart palpitations, like an increased heart rate and skipped beats. I experience the same thing with the base 17, but the Air is the most tolerable with the fewest symptoms.

 

[dannyh5319]

Same here. I love the iPhone 17 Pro for photography, but after just a few minutes I start getting noticeable heart palpitations, like an increased heart rate and skipped beats. I experience the same thing with the base 17, but the Air is the most tolerable with the fewest symptoms.

I experience that too, does it also have to do with ui being hdr?

 

[john g.]

Same here. I love the iPhone 17 Pro for photography, but after just a few minutes I start getting noticeable heart palpitations, like an increased heart rate and skipped beats. I experience the same thing with the base 17, but the Air is the most tolerable with the fewest symptoms.

I'm the original poster that you quoted. I did send back the launch day 17 pro in cosmic orange.
Funny story, we decided to get my wife a 17 pro silver 256 gig. She said to me, when you're setting it up, if you feel like it does you well, you take this one and I'll get another one.
Guess what?
Day 3 into messing around with the new phone I think this one works where the cosmic orange did not.
So, I might be back in the running for a 17 pro.
Of course I'm gonna give it a few more days but so far, it seems good.
Definitely feels different than the first 17 pro that I tried.

 

[cgolca]

I'm the original poster that you quoted. I did send back the launch day 17 pro in cosmic orange.
Funny story, we decided to get my wife a 17 pro silver 256 gig. She said to me, when you're setting it up, if you feel like it does you well, you take this one and I'll get another one.
Guess what?
Day 3 into messing around with the new phone I think this one works where the cosmic orange did not.
So, I might be back in the running for a 17 pro.
Of course I'm gonna give it a few more days but so far, it seems good.
Definitely feels different than the first 17 pro that I tried.

I tried a few 17 Pro’s and all of them had G9N displays, except the most recent one, which has a G9Q. Apparently, the G9Q is considered one of the lower quality panels, but this one is actually much easier on my eyes. Probably not good enough to use full time, but maybe good enough to keep as my “out and about” iPhone for calls, messages, emails, and photography.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I'm the original poster that you quoted. I did send back the launch day 17 pro in cosmic orange.
Funny story, we decided to get my wife a 17 pro silver 256 gig. She said to me, when you're setting it up, if you feel like it does you well, you take this one and I'll get another one.
Guess what?
Day 3 into messing around with the new phone I think this one works where the cosmic orange did not.
So, I might be back in the running for a 17 pro.
Of course I'm gonna give it a few more days but so far, it seems good.
Definitely feels different than the first 17 pro that I tried.

Could it be possible these panel variances have different modulations, etc. rather than identical brightness controller calibrations?

 

[DJTaurus]

I tried a few 17 Pro’s and all of them had G9N displays, except the most recent one, which has a G9Q. Apparently, the G9Q is considered one of the lower quality panels, but this one is actually much easier on my eyes. Probably not good enough to use full time, but maybe good enough to keep as my “out and about” iPhone for calls, messages, emails, and photography.

5th day with my 17 Air G9Q…..most comfortable oled iPhone ever used. It doesn’t give me headaches or head irritations like most. No blurry vision. Only occasionally dry eyes. We shall see how it goes. Wonderful device to hold and use. I am even using 120hz.

 

[Abiyork]

This is mad.

Now 2+ weeks with my TCL NXTPAPER 60 ULTRA and its going great.

Yesterday I needed to use my trusty old Iphone 11 to move some photos out of an app onto the cloud, within 5 mins I had a headache. Once your eyes get used to a new screen it simply doesn't like the old one until you've gone through an adaption period.

 

[ghanwani]

Now 2+ weeks with my TCL NXTPAPER 60 ULTRA and its going great.

Glad to hear the TCL is working great. Ever since I started using a laptop with an EyeSafe display, I've been forced to minimize screen time on the iPhone (SE 2022). I can tell it's messing up my vision, even though it's not as bad as when I use the new ones in store. By contrast, a friend's SE 2020 didn't cause any problems for me.

 

[now i see it]

but after just a few minutes I start getting noticeable heart palpitations, like an increased heart rate and skipped beats.

@cgolca
You're not alone. This is one of the manifestations of nervous system stress. In this case: the flickering screen. But LED iPhone screens and LED computer screens can cause the same symptoms too.

Try this tip:
If you notice that your heart is getting unstable (using the damn iPhone), drink a pint of water (not all at once). The extra water flowing into the blood stream creates a temporary increased blood volume which can help the heart stabilize itself. This trick works for me.
But the main point to remember is .... stop using the damn phone.

 

[Heman87]

5th day with my 17 Air G9Q…..most comfortable oled iPhone ever used. It doesn’t give me headaches or head irritations like most. No blurry vision. Only occasionally dry eyes. We shall see how it goes. Wonderful device to hold and use. I am even using 120hz.

Is it possible you can do some test to measure the modulation depth?

 

[MICHAELSD]

I’m gearing up to order an iPhone 17 Pro or Air, it’s just so incredibly frustrating know that there’s a higher likelihood it’s going to be the same as every recent year where it’ll cause some mild discomfort during setup which will eventually turn into the usual if not subdued throbbing behind my eyes. My only consolation is that I can plead with Apple’s Accessibility team to create an improved setting that works for sensitive users on the next generation once I have feedback to provide.

Only two years left till the next anniversary iPhone…

 

[ghanwani]

My only consolation is that I can plead with Apple’s Accessibility team to create an improved setting that works for sensitive users on the next generation once I have feedback to provide.

How do you do this? I don't think anyone reads normal product feedback from the new owner surveys.

 

[MICHAELSD]

How do you do this? I don't think anyone reads normal product feedback from the new owner surveys.

We should get as many people as we can to email accessibility@apple.com
to create a more effective Accessibility setting that works as comprehensively as possible to disable or mitigate all forms of display flickering.

 

[Corncab44]

Tried a bunch of different 17s. They all have bad PWM. Guess I'll buy an SE 2022 on eBay. So much for the PWM toggle.

 

[Omega Mac]

Is there perhaps a shortlist of the zero and/or least PWM iPhones models based on user votes in this topic or online anywhere?

 

[ghanwani]

Is there perhaps a shortlist of the zero and/or least PWM iPhones models based on user votes in this topic or online anywhere?

At this time, there are zero iPhones with zero PWM. I think a lot of people who think they are sensitive to PWM are actually reacting to temporal dithering. Which is again present on all iPhones that are currently being sold.

 

[Omega Mac]

At this time, there are zero iPhones with zero PWM. I think a lot of people who think they are sensitive to PWM are actually reacting to temporal dithering. Which is again present on all iPhones that are currently being sold.

Oh, my understanding was LCD didn't suffer from this problem, other than maybe the SE and later LCD might with temporal dithering interaction in later iOS releases.

I'm on a ip8 so that' iOS 16

I did find this poll a few minutes ago:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/poll-for-those-who-are-pwm-sensitive-which-of-the-latest-generation-phones-are-usable-for-you.2370237/

One with more models + latest models and bigger vote base would be useful.

Maybe I will see if I can create and post a poll to MR... ah jsut found a limited to hoe many poll options you can list. Hmmm... 🤔

 

[DJTaurus]

Is it possible you can do some test to measure the modulation depth?

I don’t have opplo. Sorry
Air is holding great(Samsung G9Q)….day six in and considering to switch. Yesterday it was a full day use of 4 hours. First days were 2, 2 and a half around.

One thing to note is that i am using it with PWM on. I know it’s placebo but when I turned it off it seemed to get worse. Time will tell…..

I also tried it with double invert off and also became worse….

Also to note i have installed a matte screen protector and brightness is always at 85-90%!

 

[thejadedmonkey]

One thing to note is that i am using it with PWM on. I know it’s placebo but when I turned it off it seemed to get worse. Time will tell…..

I have a 17, and I find it's worse with the reduce PWM toggle on, too.

I keep it off, turn up the brightness, and use reduce white point. Anything else hurts.

But mostly I just keep using my iPhone 13. It's better in every way but CPU speed.

 

[DJTaurus]

I have a 17, and I find it's worse with the reduce PWM toggle on, too.

I keep it off, turn up the brightness, and use reduce white point. Anything else hurts.

But mostly I just keep using my iPhone 13. It's better in every way but CPU speed.

I have an opposite experience. I can’t use it with PWM toggle off….. i get instant eye pressure. Only on for the toggle to me….. and this thing supposedly works only below 25% brightness….. very weird.