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Crwmlw

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 18, 2011
151
29
Chicago,Il
Good morning everybody. I have the 12 pro max and for the past few weeks the screen dims down then back up then dims etc. Not the normal dimming due to surrounding light etc. I notice it more when the phone is being used for watching movies, surfing web etc. When I go to display and brightness the its all the way up. Restarting the phone makes it bright again but after a little time it starts up again. Took it to Apple and figures it wasn't doing then. Anyone else have these issues?
 
I've had this I think. Pro Max 12, and randomly it seems to think it's at max brightness when it's about a third of the way up the bar on control centre. the top 2 thirds make no difference. It seems to happen in bright sunshine mostly, but that could be because that's when I need extra brightness!
 
Mine does this…. Mainly because it is overheating outdoors when taking and editing raw photos in Lightroom. I took the iPhone to an Apple store after two calls to Apple and running diagnostics. The rep told me that there could be software corruption and that iOS is working too hard to complete the tasks etc; he did a factory reset and installed the current iOS directly and thinks that will help. I haven’t put my iPhone to the same tests yet since the restore, but to some degree it seems better. If it fails again, I will request a replacement. I buy AppleCare + (theft and loss) so there should not be an issue with getting a replacement.
 
This may or may not be related; My iPhone 12 Pro is having a problem where the screen randomly get's brighter or darker, but I want to be clear, this is not a 'brightness' issue in the normal sense. it's more like the contrast turns way up or down occasionally, and it snaps between the two looks. It's a really odd thing, that I'm having a lot of trouble finding solutions too, because all the search results are always based on people who are having auto brightness setting problems, but this isn't that.
 
This may or may not be related; My iPhone 12 Pro is having a problem where the screen randomly get's brighter or darker, but I want to be clear, this is not a 'brightness' issue in the normal sense. it's more like the contrast turns way up or down occasionally, and it snaps between the two looks. It's a really odd thing, that I'm having a lot of trouble finding solutions too, because all the search results are always based on people who are having auto brightness setting problems, but this isn't that.
I have the same problem. Have you found out why it’s doing that?
 
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Disable/Enable Auto-Brightness

Open the Settings app. Scroll for Display & Brightness. Check the status of the Automatic setting. If it's enabled disable it, force restarts your device, and re-enable it after the iPhone reboots.
 
Disable/Enable Auto-Brightness

Open the Settings app. Scroll for Display & Brightness. Check the status of the Automatic setting. If it's enabled disable it, force restarts your device, and re-enable it after the iPhone reboots.
It’s not auto brightness it’s been off since the first day I got my phone.
 
The same happens to me regularly outdoors and in my case its heat related, the screen dims when the phone is hot. For me this is usually related to the air temperature outside or when I'm in direct sunlight.
 
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I noticed the same thing happening with my iPad Air 4. I could see the brightness lowering while out in direct sunlight. Initially thought it was auto-adjusting but when I went to control center, brightness was at MAX. Went inside, in a dark room and it didn't get any brighter nor could I up the brightness. Doing a restart on it had it back working as intended at max brightness.
 
OP: Does the iPhone feel warm/hot when the screen dims and you are watching these movies. Any specific about these movies? VR, AR? Codec? HEVC, VP9? Streaming, stored locally? What do you have the brightness set to when this happens?

Apple will dim the screen (sometimes turn it off) if the batteries temp sensor exceeds a specific threshold to reduce the current draw that being applied to it.

If that is the case Apple is doing it specifically for UL 60950-1. Long and short of that listing in relation to an iPhone screening dimming (Apple implementation) is it requires the manufacturer of the device to assume the user of the device is untrained/not a technician and have automated systems in place to bring temperatures under control if there is otherwise the potential for injury (ie the battery blowing up).

Hopefully its just a screen bug, lol.

EDIT: I found this old article from Apple. Apple specifically state they will dim the screen.


I know its still valid because I know that Underwriters listing is still valid.
 
My 12 pro (non max) does this a lot outside in the sun. It’s definitely due to the heat but seems more sensitive than my previous iPhone 9 with LCD. In fact can hardly to the phone for long outside on a hot sunny day.
 
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Same problem here with my Mini. I go outside and the phone is nice and bright but after a few minutes it dims down. Max brightness is all the way up, i have all the automatic screen crap off.
 
I had my phone replaced for this issue and now the new phone is doing the same. I’ve also noticed it’s pretty warm when being used. Ridiculous.
 
It may be defective. You’re not the only one. A YouTube channel named Max Tech experienced dimming problems with a 12 Pro Max and crashed a drone while controlling it with the phone. They never crash drones. Max stated it could be possible that he has a defective iPhone 12 Pro Max. You may wanna get it replaced under warranty. Do you have AppleCare?
 
It may be defective. You’re not the only one. A YouTube channel named Max Tech experienced dimming problems with a 12 Pro Max and crashed a drone while controlling it with the phone. They never crash drones. Max stated it could be possible that he has a defective iPhone 12 Pro Max. You may wanna get it replaced under warranty. Do you have AppleCare?
It is not about defective devices. It is about Apple’s stubbornness. Each year , they introduce faster and faster and more powerful chips with bigger screens, but they are not thinking about cooling at all. Their only solution to heat as always is the stupid passive heat dissipation. Now with big demanding screens and resolutions, powerful A14 and no form of active cooling, the phones does this so the chip run cooler which is the dumbest solution ever. I pay to use my stuff and not to put it in my pocket after 5 mins outside because the phone cant cool itself and makes the screen pitch black! We are in for a “ treat” with the 13 pro and pro max ! They will be even more powerful, with bigger batteries and with AOD and 120hz and guess what, still no active form of cooling! Who gives a crap about having the fastest rocket chip in a phone if i cant even use my screen for more than 5 mins gaming or 10 mins outside in the sun. Apple are absolute ignorants on active cooling matter! What is the point to put this space rocket power inside a tiny phone and such good displays and everything if you cant even use it in the summer. Who cares that it can go to 1200 nits brighteness outside when after 4 mins it gets pitch black. Sort your hardware Apple.. cause right now… we have the most powerful phone on earth that we can just read emails with or it will dimms the screen cause it wants to stay cooler. Go figure!
 
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