Only difference with these devices, that I have found, is touch sample rate, which is 120Hz for devices from X and afterwards.
https://www.google.at/amp/s/wccftech.com/iphone-xs-120hz-touch-sample-rate-explained/amp/
Looking for people with similar reactions to certain Apple devices
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Can use:
Ipad 2018 - with reduce white point on the first (lowest) or higher settings. With this turned off is ok for a short time, but then I get pain in my eyes. Its like its too bright even if I lower the brightness. (I have tried to 'trick' myself that its on when its not but it always seems to hurt unless I turn it on) BUT I had this similar issue with an LG G6 but eventually was able to use it with the screen warmness OFF (not exactly the same but you get me) and I dont use the ipad as much but I've had it a couple years now.
Iphone 8 plus, seems fine but not used for significant periods of time
Cant use:
Macbook pro 13 2015, had to sell it.
Would almost immediatly (talking minutes of use) get a significant headache that was like a burning pressure within my head, my eyes would get sore and hurt all round the eye (guessing eye muscles), afterwards I would have a 'hangover' from it for 1-3 days where the pain and disorentation would persist and gradually get better without use. Tried to get use to it for more than a year, sold it. Tried Ubuntu on it, W10 and a few other random Linux versions and still had this issue even with external monitors - tried all sort of color profiles and screen filters and running in safe mode (sort of helped that) but in the end it just wasnt usable for me.
(Have exactly the same issue with a T460 that I had to sell and a work Dell lattitue, neither of which I could use for more than a few minutes without the same sort of pain, even with external monitors)
Also anything with an OLED screen, my work samsung A6 has PWM at 230ish hz and I cant use it. The Dell laptop has PWM at 1000hz but even with external screens causes me issues (PWM affects me but not as intense as whatever dithering etc the Mac / Dell uses etc)
I had a galaxy S6 years ago (broke it) that had an OLED screen that was fine though. Maybe it had PWM or maybe it didnt - maybe it caused all my problems who knows.
17 days later
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HAL9000 For what it's worth, I found the iPad 8th gen to be extremely unusable, and returned it. Same with the newest iPad mini (also A12). My girlfriend has iPad 7th gen, and I don't remember it being that bad. Actually I tried the 8th gen based on my good experience with it, and the understanding that the panel should be very similar. I will try and spend some time with it.
In my opinion the problem is software. I can use my iPhone 6 and my old iPad with iOS 10 for hours, but I have problems with my father iPhone 6s and iPad mini with iOS 13. I could use my grandma iPhone 8 plus without problems with iOS 11, but now with iOS 13 I have problems.
For the l'iPhone xs or xs max it could be an hardware problem too, maybe oled screeen? I always notice a ghost effect of the words when scrolling, and I get headache in 5 minutes.
iMac 2017 is the most eye-straining device for me. I've accustomed to it little by little, but only after applying some tweaks (Gamma Control with max brightness, color profile, native resolution, etc.). I hope one day I can find a way to switch off temporal dithering on it.
I tried to use this Mac in BootCamp recently, and to my surprise, it was much worse than under macOS. I felt strain after one hour (that didn't happen before: on the same machine BootCamp was much more relaxing). Scrolling was especially straining. I think this screen applies some PWM below max brightness. Plus it's a slow matrix. So it might be a hardware issue. People at MacRumors mentioned "screen lottery", meaning you may get a good or a bad Mac. I didn't try other Macs though, except in the store.
As to mobile, I do not have strain from iPhone SE 1st Gen and iPad 6th Gen (2018), but I generally feel that my old Moto is more relaxing for the eyes. Not that bright and vibrant. My impression is also that with every version iOS has more and more vivid and bright colors. Right after I upgraded iPhone SE to iOS 14, I had to turn the brightness down a bit. Also, scrolling is easier on the eyes on Android.
Among other Apple devices that I tried in the store, I did not like iPad Pro 2018 and MacBook Pro 16 (some sort of dizziness immediately). So this might be in line with the others' experience.
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A family member of mine who is doing visual rehab therapy at Salus University was told by the staff there that he should switch from Windows based machines to to Apple. We are currently use a macbook air and the symptoms are softer with that product.
annv
iPhone 6s: scrolling with iOS 10 is much more relaxing than with iOS 13. Since iOS 13 I notice a bad ghost effect while scrolling
The foundation is that every experience is unique to each individual. Apple works for some and not others. In other words it's trial and error. Hence it is personal.
halkatzen It would be nice to know if they think Apple is easier on the eyes because of the hardware or the OS and why.
I never used Apple before 2018. Since then I have been on a MacBook Air Early 2014 and I can handle it well. I never upgraded the OS from High Sierra, the version of April 2018, though. I struggle with an iMac 2014, but I can use it.
Instead, I instantaneously get eyestrain and weird symptoms, if I look at the MacBook Pro 2018 of a colleague of mine. He has no issues, so he always keep the OS up to date. I have no idea whether I can't tolerate the new hardware or the new OS.
I can use pretty much any Windows PC which we share at work. Some are on W7 and some on W10. I tried a 13" Dell Latitude laptop on W10 and I get symptoms similar to the MacBook Pro.
iPhone SE seems a lot better than my iPhone 8. Unsure whether it's the device or iOS 14+. Both seemed to help.
AGI have you tried to film the screens of these notebooks with the camera of your smartphone in slow-mo to check if they flicker?
Quad43 iOS 14 better than 13?
Has anyone tried the new iPad Air 4? Very curious if it’s usable for us or not. The iPad Pros were awful on my eyes, I’d love to use the Air if possible.
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Sofista90 No, to be honest. In the past I did use flickering devices all day long and never had issues.
Moreover, I develop awful symptoms also in front of some modern displays which are claimed to be flicker-free.
I suspect that for me it is something more subtle than flicker. For instance, in the case of my iMac, which I can now tolerate better, I can sort of see the pixels glowing. It is like I see each single tree of the forest and this drives my eyes and brain insane.
I should add that in the past I turned unusable screens into easy on the eyes by reducing the resolution from native to 1024 x 768. I do not think that reducing the resolution diminishes the flicker.
In any case, thanks for your suggestion. I will give it a go as it is not difficult to try!
AGI
the devices that do not give you problems and the unusable ones have the same operating system?