iPhone's Screen Distance Feature on iOS 17 Can Help Reduce Eye Strain

[MacRumors]

iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 include a new Screen Distance feature that can alert you when you hold an iPhone or iPad too close to your eyes for an extended period. Apple says the opt-in feature is designed to help lower the risk of nearsightedness in children by encouraging healthy viewing habits, and can help reduce eye strain overall.

Screen Distance can be turned on in the Settings app under Screen Time → Screen Distance, and is available on all iPhone and iPad Pro models with Face ID. The feature uses the same TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID to measure the distance between the screen and your eyes, and a full-screen alert prompts users to move their device farther away after holding it closer than 12 inches to their eyes for an extended period.

When the feature is enabled, users will receive an "iPhone is Too Close" warning as necessary. After the iPhone is moved to a safe distance, a checkmark will appear on the screen, and users can tap the "Continue" button to proceed.

iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will be released later this year, and are currently available in beta for users with an Apple developer account. Devices compatible with Screen Distance include the iPhone XS and newer, and 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models released in 2018 and later. The feature can be turned on or off at any time.

Article Link: iPhone's Screen Distance Feature on iOS 17 Can Help Reduce Eye Strain

 

[zachz]

This feature got annoying after half a day... it would get rid of the notification only after my arm was so far out that it became annoying to hold (and my arm got sore).

Two things I took from it - I'm too addicted to my iPhone so disabled it, and owning a mini makes me hold my phone so close to see what is on there that I should probably get a regular sized iPhone next upgrade cycle...

So, that is to say, the feature works!

 

[rjp1]

This feature got annoying after half a day... it would get rid of the notification only after my arm was so far out that it became annoying to hold (and my arm got sore).

Two things I took from it - I'm too addicted to my iPhone so disabled it, and owning a mini makes me hold my phone so close to see what is on there that I should probably get a regular sized iPhone next upgrade cycle...

So, that is to say, the feature works!

To be honest, sounds like you need your vision checked.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

man this is really awesome !! wished I had that on my samsung

EDIT: who downvotes this lol @macfacts

 

[magicschoolbus]

Apple: Don't hold this device close to your face
Apple: Here's a device you can strap to your face

 

[UndefinedxJoker]

The irony of introducing this feature alongside the Vision Pro is astonishing.

 

[CC77]

The irony of introducing this feature alongside the Vision Pro is astonishing.

Lol, I thought the same thing. Your phone is too close to your face, but let’s strap a 4K screen to each eyeball. Normal!

 

[F23]

Apple Vision Pro Screen Distance feature on visionOS can help burn off your retinas slower.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

The irony of introducing this feature alongside the Vision Pro is astonishing.

It is indeed quite hilarious

 

[jahall05]

I like the concept but in practice the full screen notification that won’t go away until you hold the phone further gets annoying really quickly. Wish it was just a pop up or something, not a full screen thing.

 

[matrix07]

There is no way I will turn this feature on. I don't want to know.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

My eyes are already borked. Guess this will prevent further damage. 🤷‍♂️

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

It’s a struggle getting used to this feature. I keep getting the this 👇 and it drives me crazy.

 

[shapesinaframe]

I sense Apple’s time travelling lawyers from the future were behind this one, as they were with the screen time feature.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

There is no way I will turn this feature on. I don't want to know.

Know what? That your eyes are too close?

 

[nelloismello]

Steve was right, you're holding it wrong

/s

 

[JapanApple]

like it!

 

[dannyyankou]

Does it use any extra battery?

 

[Marshall73]

At this point I need new spectacles or longer arms 🤣

 

[Freida]

how are they going to spin this with the Vision Pro?

 

[BGPL]

It's honestly too late for me.

 

[Jim Lahey]

This apparently really is an aggravating factor in promoting shortsightedness. Young eyes especially should not be fixed at this focal length for extended periods for years on end. The solution, however, is to put the black mirror down and go outside instead. Not a fan of nanny-tech being bolted onto itself in order to mitigate the ill effects of itself. Children should be rolling around in sand pits and getting into fights over girls, not staring into the digital abyss ad infinitum.

 

[Brad7]

Does it use any extra battery?

I tried it out and didn’t see any extra drain.

 

[patent10021]

This won't do anything for people that actually have a real problem with looking at phones.

They need a warning that says, "⚠️ Your phone uses PWM to manage the Pro Motion bs. Throw it away when you see a garbage can".

 

[Jim Lahey]

RE: Comments vis-à-vis Vision Pro, this may not be as it seems. I understand it’s the focal length that is the driving factor, not the distance to the actual screen/s per se. This is evidenced by near sighted people still needing to wear their prescription when using VR/AR, despite the source of the image being inches from their eyes.