Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[badger1212]

This is why apple doesn't care. You have told Apple that after three returns, you are completely okay with terrible PWM and LTPO strobing.

I have submitted feedback to Apple online but when you submit your return there is no option to explain why you are dissatisfied so I'm sure most don't. Most people aren't even aware of this issue and are probably not aware of what is causing their symptoms.

In contrast, when I returned my Honor Magic 8 Pro, I could state why and actually received a follow up phone call to ask for feedback which I thought was great.

 

[scooterdooter]

I have submitted feedback to Apple online but when you submit your return there is no option to explain why you are dissatisfied so I'm sure most don't. Most people aren't even aware of this issue and are probably not aware of what is causing their symptoms.

In contrast, when I returned my Honor Magic 8 Pro, I could state why and actually received a follow up phone call to ask for feedback which I thought was great.

The feedback is not constructive unless you tell them exactly what other non-Apple models work + you actually leave the apple ecosystem (at least on the phone side). If you can't find any device from any manufacturer that works, Apple has absolutely nothing to even look at.

1. badger1212 returned 3 iphones, but still ended up with the 17 Pro Max; Apple sales 📈, Apple revenue 📈
2. badger1212 returns an iphone each year and still goes back to the 11/SE2; Apple revenue 📈
3. badger1212 returned the iphone, told us Oneplus15r works, and we just lost a 20+ year customer; Apple sales and revenue 📉

Apple only cares about #3.

 

[pdoherty]

Just curious why Light mode over Dark mode? Would figure Dark mode would be less intense?

Dark mode is worse for your eyes than light mode. It makes your pupils dilate more which makes your eyes work harder to focus (smaller aperture means greater depth of focus - larger aperture is less depth of focus). Also creates 'halos' for people with any astigmatism.

 

[jimmy_uk]

From my research, and thrashing it out with various AI, all roads lead to the Honor Magic 8 Pro as being the only viable flagship option worth trying.

Has anyone switched/tried this phone with any success? I see some feedback suggesting it doesn't work despite the various eyecare features and DC dimming.

I've only paused a purchase as I'd have buy direct from Honor to get the best price, and they have some of the worst reviews for customer service I've ever read. It feels like a £900 gamble.

The only other option I haven’t tried is the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I struggle to see why that would be any different from the other OLED iPhones I’ve already used - but I'm desperate.

 

[PwmMen]

The only other option I haven’t tried is the iPhone 17 Pro Max,

My iPhone 17 Pro Max with the LG GH3 display
still works perfectly. I'm sure it's worth a try. It just has to be the LG GH3 display.

 

[jimmy_uk]

My iPhone 17 Pro Max with the LG GH3 display
still works perfectly. I'm sure it's worth a try. It just has to be the LG GH3 display.

That's great to read. You have been an OLED iPhone user before though, right? I think my sensitivity is high.

 

[PwmMen]

Yes, the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 16 Plus didn't cause me any problems.
With all other OLED iPhones, I had severe problems and unfortunately couldn't use them.

 

[johhno140]

From my research, and thrashing it out with various AI, all roads lead to the Honor Magic 8 Pro as being the only viable flagship option worth trying.

Has anyone switched/tried this phone with any success? I see some feedback suggesting it doesn't work despite the various eyecare features and DC dimming.

I've only paused a purchase as I'd have buy direct from Honor to get the best price, and they have some of the worst reviews for customer service I've ever read. It feels like a £900 gamble.

The only other option I haven’t tried is the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I struggle to see why that would be any different from the other OLED iPhones I’ve already used - but I'm desperate.

I tried the Honor Magic 8 Pro, but to no avail.
No issues with customer service though, was able to return and they refunded promptly. Also to their credit they did subsequently contact me with various questions regarding my symptoms to better understand the issue. I’ve never had such a follow up from Apple.

 

[Leindt]

I’ve tried the Vivo X300, and although it’s a perfect, compact and very attractive phone, after 40 minutes I started getting a headache. I can tolerate it better than other OLED screens, but it’s not worth using.

 

[badger1212]

From my research, and thrashing it out with various AI, all roads lead to the Honor Magic 8 Pro as being the only viable flagship option worth trying.

Has anyone switched/tried this phone with any success? I see some feedback suggesting it doesn't work despite the various eyecare features and DC dimming.

I've only paused a purchase as I'd have buy direct from Honor to get the best price, and they have some of the worst reviews for customer service I've ever read. It feels like a £900 gamble.

The only other option I haven’t tried is the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I struggle to see why that would be any different from the other OLED iPhones I’ve already used - but I'm desperate.

I tried the Magic 8 Pro and despite being fine with the 6 and 7pro this one didn't work for me after a few days.

I'd echo what PwmMen said about the iPhone 17 Pro Max with the LG display. I've been using one for about a week now and I'm going to keep it. I am a very sensitive user and this still does give me some issues sometimes but it's by far the most comfortable OLED iPhone I've used (along with my LG panel work phone - iPhone 15). I looked at the 17 PM in the Apple Store before and immediately felt pain but thought I'd try and get an LG panel one and fortunately I got one the first time I ordered. I knew it was an LG panel before I'd checked as it felt very different for me than the one in the store. I'd not realised how much difference a panel manufacturer could make.

 

[Populus]

I tried the Magic 8 Pro and despite being fine with the 6 and 7pro this one didn't work for me after a few days.

I'd echo what PwmMen said about the iPhone 17 Pro Max with the LG display. I've been using one for about a week now and I'm going to keep it. I am a very sensitive user and this still does give me some issues sometimes but it's by far the most comfortable OLED iPhone I've used (along with my LG panel work phone - iPhone 15). I looked at the 17 PM in the Apple Store before and immediately felt pain but thought I'd try and get an LG panel one and fortunately I got one the first time I ordered. I knew it was an LG panel before I'd checked as it felt very different for me than the one in the store. I'd not realised how much difference a panel manufacturer could make.

Any easy way to know the panel manufacturer?

 

[badger1212]

Any easy way to know the panel manufacturer?

There's a description a few pages back in this thread.

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.

 

[DJTaurus]

After the latest update for some reason PWM toggle was auto switched off. On the 3rd day eye dryness came back….. i checked the settings and found that the toggle was off. It has happened again in a previous update. Don’t know why……

Nevertheless i am still rocking my iPhone 17 with a Samsung screen perfectly fine. G9Q for the win. 🏆

 

[Populus]

After the latest update for some reason PWM toggle was auto switched off. On the 3rd day eye dryness came back….. i checked the settings and found that the toggle was off. It has happened again in a previous update. Don’t know why……

Nevertheless i am still rocking my iPhone 17 with a Samsung screen perfectly fine. G9Q for the win. 🏆

What I’ve noticed on the Store devices is that the toggle only works at low brightness. At 50% of brightness or higher, using the toggle doesn’t change the way the screen flickers. This happens on the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and even 17e.

 

[jimmy_uk]

What I’ve noticed on the Store devices is that the toggle only works at low brightness. At 50% of brightness or higher, using the toggle doesn’t change the way the screen flickers. This happens on the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and even 17e.

It's only uses PAM at 25% or less.

 

[Populus]

It's only uses PAM at 25% or less.

What exactly is PAM? A different dimming technique?

 

[MICHAELSD]

What exactly is PAM? A different dimming technique?

Not really, it just gives a slightly different shape to the waveform. Everybody’s sensitivity can vary slightly so it’s hit or miss whether this would have any effect. It’s a minimal difference at best.

 

[now i see it]

Yeah they love to mess with settings on updates- switching stuff from how you had it

 

[MICHAELSD]

No measurable flickering. iPhone 18. LTPO+. Or even just on the more advanced display on iPhone Fold and reportedly iPhone Air 2.

It’s getting disheartening that an extremely smartphone PWM-sensitive user such as myself can’t even use a base iPhone 17. At least the concept of finally having an Accessibility setting is encouraging, even if a lot of work needs to be done for it to function how it has to to definitively not cause sensitivity.

 

[Populus]

No measurable flickering. iPhone 18. LTPO+. Or even just on the more advanced display on iPhone Fold and reportedly iPhone Air 2.

It’s getting disheartening that an extremely smartphone PWM-sensitive user such as myself can’t even use a base iPhone 17. At least the concept of finally having an Accessibility setting is encouraging, even if a lot of work needs to be done for it to function how it has to to definitively not cause sensitivity.

What? Is there any report that the iPhone 18 has no flickering?

 

[Populus]

Guys… I’ve been trying a 17e and… I’m afraid I cannot adapt myself. I can look up what’s the display manufacturer, but the angles are horrible and there’s a green hue overall. Also it is huge, difficult to use one handed.

Back to my SE 3, the first thing I noticed is that whites are WHITE in the LCD, not greenish. My eyes love this display. And the size is just perfect. Touch ID is 👌

 

[jaapnl]

531 pages. Seriously, can't they get this fixed already? Many of us have waited for almost 10 years for this to be solved. Does nobody at Apple actually see that this is a problem? Like, I know they don't manufacture the panels, and the new toggle is a step in the right direction. But it's just ridiculous that they keep missing the mark. I don't know, sell it as a feature, there's at least something new you can invent.

 

[jtl_]

Many of us have waited for almost 10 years for this to be solved. Does nobody at Apple actually see that this is a problem?

Samsung devices have had OLED panels with PWM for ~15 years at this point, so the grass isn't always greener on the other side. 🙁

 

[Populus]

Quick question: for those that have experimented with different phones to get one that’s tolerable, what manufacturer is better (PWM wise), Samsung or LG?

 

[PwmMen]

I can use an iPhone 17 Pro Max with an LG GH3 display without any issues.
All other displays cause me problems with my head and eyes after a very short time.