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beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
815
615
If you returned(or are planning to return) your iPhone 13 Pro Max, what was the reason? What will you get instead?

I drove 346 miles to pick up my iPhone 13 Pro Max 256gb from the nearest Apple Store last week. I just came back from driving the same 346 miles to return it to the same Apple Store an hour ago. The screen was causing me severe headaches, in addition to making my eyes "de-focus" after staring at it for more than 10 to 15 minutes(but only if the brightness is high... probably due to the PWM issue that affect a few people like me) :( I'm not affected by this issue if I'm using my spare iPhone SE(2016) and XR, no matter how bright the screen is or how long I stare at it. :(

I ended up getting a new iPad Mini 6 while I was there, so it wasn't a wasted trip. When the rest of my $1200 Apple Gift Card balance refund shows in my account, I'll probably end up ordering a 13 Mini.(still the same issues, but a slightly smaller screen makes it less painful... and I still can use my two other spare older iPhones)
 

RobinYerbank

Cancelled
Sep 16, 2021
119
422
You're far from the only one. I tried the 13 Pro Max and sent it back after a week for the same reason. I've seen quite a few posts since launch from others saying the same thing. I tried a 13 and it gives me nausea after a few minutes (yes, really).

This is the first generation of iPhone that's caused me such severe problems and I'm attributing it to the higher PWM frequency and/or different modulation of these new displays, both the 13 and 13 Pro.

I've been using an 11 problem-free since returning the 13 Pro Max, but I've got a 12 Pro Max coming tomorrow. Never had issues with that model in the past and wish I still had my original one (sold it to prepare for the 13 Pro Max).

I've been detailing my experiences in the long-running 'Eye-stain while using iPhone X' thread, which you've probably seen. It's full of anecdotes from all sorts of people and covering every OLED iPhone model to date.
 

now i see it

macrumors G4
Jan 2, 2002
11,241
24,230
There’s no way I can look at that dreadful flickering screen. But this thread will soon mirror the “eye strain while using iPhone X” thread. Nobody who’s posted on that thread can deal with the 13 Max display either.

 

beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
815
615
You're far from the only one. I tried the 13 Pro Max and sent it back after a week for the same reason. I've seen quite a few posts since launch from others saying the same thing. I tried a 13 and it gives me nausea after a few minutes (yes, really).

This is the first generation of iPhone that's caused me such severe problems and I'm attributing it to the higher PWM frequency and/or different modulation of these new displays, both the 13 and 13 Pro.

I've been using an 11 problem-free since returning the 13 Pro Max, but I've got a 12 Pro Max coming tomorrow. Never had issues with that model in the past and wish I still had my original one (sold it to prepare for the 13 Pro Max).

I've been detailing my experiences in the long-running 'Eye-stain while using iPhone X' thread, which you've probably seen. It's full of anecdotes from all sorts of people and covering every OLED iPhone model to date.

I assume the problem doesn't apply to Samsung phones? My other phone is a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and no matter how long I stare at the screen, I don't get any headaches or eye issues. I also don't have any issues when looking at the screen of my spare iPhones(SE 2016 and XR) as well as the iPhone 12 Pro. I wonder if the problem is made more noticeable by iPhone 13 Pro Max's 120Hz screen?
 

Shadowbech

macrumors G3
Oct 18, 2011
9,038
5,894
If you returned(or are planning to return) your iPhone 13 Pro Max, what was the reason? What will you get instead?

I drove 346 miles to pick up my iPhone 13 Pro Max 256gb from the nearest Apple Store last week. I just came back from driving the same 346 miles to return it to the same Apple Store an hour ago. The screen was causing me severe headaches, in addition to making my eyes "de-focus" after staring at it for more than 10 to 15 minutes(but only if the brightness is high... probably due to the PWM issue that affect a few people like me) :( I'm not affected by this issue if I'm using my spare iPhone SE(2016) and XR, no matter how bright the screen is or how long I stare at it. :(

I ended up getting a new iPad Mini 6 while I was there, so it wasn't a wasted trip. When the rest of my $1200 Apple Gift Card balance refund shows in my account, I'll probably end up ordering a 13 Mini.(still the same issues, but a slightly smaller screen makes it less painful... and I still can use my two other spare older iPhones)
You know you could have returned it to a different apple store closest to you. Didn't have to be that same apple store you got it from. Also you could have just initiated a return via apple.com if it was a web order and Apple would have provided you a shipping label that is fully insured by Apple and you could have saved that 7 hour trip. LMAO.

But since you said it wasn't a wasted trip because of the iPad mini 6. Enjoy that iPad.
 
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RobinYerbank

Cancelled
Sep 16, 2021
119
422
I assume the problem doesn't apply to Samsung phones? My other phone is a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and no matter how long I stare at the screen, I don't get any headaches or eye issues. I also don't have any issues when looking at the screen of my spare iPhones(SE 2016 and XR) as well as the iPhone 12 Pro. I wonder if the problem is made more noticeable by iPhone 13 Pro Max's 120Hz screen?
I've tried a Note20 Ultra and Z Flip3 and didn't notice any issues at all. I didn't get on with those phones because of Android and Samsung's software, but that's a different story.

I'm not sure what it is about Apple's OLED implementation that's so problematic for some, and I'm not sure why the 13 series is so much worse for me! It's such a bizarre issue, to be honest, and I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I'm suddenly impacted by it this year.
 

beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
815
615
I've tried a Note20 Ultra and Z Flip3 and didn't notice any issues at all. I didn't get on with those phones because of Android and Samsung's software, but that's a different story.

I'm not sure what it is about Apple's OLED implementation that's so problematic for some, and I'm not sure why the 13 series is so much worse for me! It's such a bizarre issue, to be honest, and I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I'm suddenly impacted by it this year.

what's even more interesting to me is that Samsung is the one that supplies OLED screens to Apple.... but I guess Samsung just produces whatever OLED screens that Apple orders... :)
 

RobinYerbank

Cancelled
Sep 16, 2021
119
422
what's even more interesting to me is that Samsung is the one that supplies OLED screens to Apple.... but I guess Samsung just produces whatever OLED screens that Apple orders... :)
Yeah, I’ve seen people insist that Apple just buys “off the shelf” displays from Samsung, which is silly and inaccurate.

The way I’ve always understood it is that Apple designs the displays with Samsung’s technology as the basis, sends off the designs to Samsung and Samsung manufactures them.

It’s similar to Apple’s relationship with TSMC, although more of the core technology is Samsung’s. They’re basically custom displays built on Samsung’s tech.

So even though they’re essentially the same display tech as on Samsung phones, Apple has designed their own display engines, chosen their own pixel density, sizes etc. It’s plausible that Apple’s displays flicker in a significantly different way to Samsung’s, hence affecting some people differently.
 
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beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
815
615
Are there people who returned the iPhone 13 Pro Max and bought the iPhone 13 Mini instead? or am I the only one here?

judgmental, funny or sarcastic remarks welcomed! :)
 

beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
815
615
You aren't the only one. There have been a several on the forum that had gone that route. The 13 mini is a great phone.

I wish Apple didn't abandon the iPhone SE(2016).... which I'm holding in my hand right now. It still a great phone... but at 5 years old, it's slower..... it really just needs a slightly bigger screen(without increasing the overall size), a faster processor(A13 or A14 will do nicely) and a newer camera(f1.8 12mp single camera) :(
 
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Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,593
52,339
In a van down by the river
I wish Apple didn't abandon the iPhone SE(2016).... which I'm holding in my hand right now. It still a great phone... but at 5 years old, it's slower..... it really just needs a slightly bigger screen(without increasing the overall size), a faster processor(A13 or A14 will do nicely) and a newer camera(f1.8 12mp single camera) :(
I still have an OG SE as well. I keep it for backup purposes. Great size if you just need a phone and health tracking and don't need to surf the web.
 
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beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
815
615
I still have an OG SE as well. I keep it for backup purposes. Great size if you just need a phone and health tracking and don't need to surf the web.

don't judge me... but I have 4 iPhone SE(2016).... 1 was bought from Verizon 5 years ago... the other 3 are prepaid ones that I bought for $29 to $49 from Best Buy. All work great.... one of them is in the bathroom all the time because no other phone can be controlled 100% with just ONE hand.(or more precisely, just one thumb) :)
 

ctjack

macrumors 68000
Mar 8, 2020
1,528
1,546
Out of curiosity, what prompted you to move from the Max to the Mini? Did you consider the 6.1”, or is that not a size you like?
Yeah, people do like extremes. Downsize from Pro Max to the regular 12, 13 feels also great and you don't lose that much in screen estate.
 
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snipr125

macrumors 68010
Oct 17, 2015
2,002
3,109
UK
I wish Apple didn't abandon the iPhone SE(2016).... which I'm holding in my hand right now. It still a great phone... but at 5 years old, it's slower..... it really just needs a slightly bigger screen(without increasing the overall size), a faster processor(A13 or A14 will do nicely) and a newer camera(f1.8 12mp single camera) :(

Ha, the 12/13 mini almost fits this description apart from the chassis size being slightly larger (12/13 mini is in-between size of the SE1 and SE2, and you also get an additional camera as a bonus. But i know what you mean though, an SE1 with a current day A chip would be amazing.
 

beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
815
615
Ha, the 12/13 mini almost fits this description apart from the chassis size being slightly larger (12/13 mini is in-between size of the SE1 and SE2, and you also get an additional camera as a bonus. But i know what you mean though, an SE1 with a current day A chip would be amazing.

true... this is what my iPhone SE(2016) looks like inside the iPhone 13 clear case, inside the iphone 13(regular) case, inside the iPhone Xs Max case. too many old phone cases.... :(

cases.jpg
 
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