I have 2 models of ipads - iPad 2 and iPad mini which I can use without eye strain. These are my main device to watch youtube videos and movies on-the-go for long periods of time. Both my iPad 2 and iPad Mini was on IOS7. I wanted to install an app, but it requires a minimum IOS8. So I decided to upgrade the OS of my iPad 2 to IOS 8, and immediately I got eye strain. So for me:

IOS7 = no eye strain (on ipad 2 and ipad mini)
IOS8 = eye strain

I tried someone's ipad 2 with IOS9, also give me eye strain. What is worse, is that once upgraded the OS, there is no way to downgrade to IOS7 again. Hours spent on the internet on how to downgrade, basically it can't be done. Apple has stopped signing older IOS versions to force people to upgrade to the latest IOS.

So now I have essentially "lost" my ipad 2, I cant use it anymore. Since I now know that newer version of IOS causes eye strain to me, I thought I would use this opportunity to buy a newer ipad model, but one that came with IOS7 (i.e. that has not been upgraded to IOS9 or 10).

I found that Ipad Air and Ipad Mini 2 was originally shipped with IOS7. All newer models are shipped with IOS8 or IOS9 from factory, so there is no way to get IOS7 on newer models. So I searched a long time for a new (old stock) Ipad Air that was manufactured in 2013 (before IOS8 was released) so that I know it is shipped with IOS7 right out of the box. Finally I found one seller who still has a new, factory sealed iPad Air, manufactured in 2013. I checked the serial number from the back of the box on a website, and it confirms that the ipad was manufactured in 2013.

So I opened the new iPad Air, set it up, lo and behold, it is indeed IOS7 inside. I was happy. But then after using it a 10 minutes, I get eye strain. I stopped using it for a few hours. Use the ipad again, and still get eye strain. I tried using the ipad Air for a few days, and it still give me eye strain. Damn.

So know I know, not only newer version of IOS (IOS8) give me eye strain, but the newer iPad hardware/retina display, at least the iPad Air, even when used with IOS7, also gave me eye strain. Which is weird because the ipad does not seem to have PWM. So there must be something else in Ipad Air's hardware/retina display is causing eye strain to me. This sucks. Not only the newer IOS gave me eye strain, but their hardware as well. Looks like I am stuck with my 4-year old iPad mini (still on IOS7), which thankfully can still work without giving me eye strain.

I have not tried every model and every IOS version of iPads. I am hoping that if there are some model and IOS version of ipad that you can use without eye strain, maybe it can work for me and for others here as well.

So what iPad model and IOS version can you use without eye strain?

  • KM likes this.

I can use iPad 4 with iOS 7.1.2 without eye strain (only at minimum brightness but that's another issue). Some apps give eye strain, but thats an app thing. The stock apps are "good".
iOS 6 was good, earlier iOS 7.x versions were bad. I guess Apple read about users complaining in the Macbook eyestrain thread and reverted the video mode/PWM frequency/whatever in iOS 7.1.2. But the iOS 8 beta hurt my eyes. And some people reported the final iOS 8 version hurt them as well. That was the point where I didn't bother to upgrade anymore. Too much risk involved because it's a one way ticket. I would have tested every new iOS version, but not under these circumstances. I already replaced my iPhone with a working Android phone. I think I will use the iPad until it dies and then look for an Android tablet.

By the way: I think one can downgrade iPad 2 with Odysseus or OdysseusOTA. In the Reddit jailbreak section there are posts about this. So I think you could reactivate your iPad 2.

Edit: My iPad is an old iPad 4 I bought on release. I can not guarantee if Apple uses the same hardware in all iPad 4 devices. In fact they used different screens/display hardware/whatever in iPhones, making some models good and others eye-strainy. Pure luck to find a good iPhone (if there are any good ones nowadays).

So I opened the new iPad Air, set it up, lo and behold, it is indeed IOS7 inside. I was happy. But then after using it a 10 minutes, I get eye strain.

Maybe a version earlier than 7.1.2?

So there is no difference that you can visually perceive, yet your eye comfort is drastically different between OS versions? Quite interesting...

I got eye strain from my iPhone 3GS, 4S, and slightly from my 5S. My 6S however is not really a problem.

Ipad-wise, I got eye strain from my iPad 1,2 and 4, but not really with my Air 2 (I still get a little with extended use).

I've never related any of this to the OS - at least in my case.

What they did to iOS 7.1.2 on the iPad 4, they didn't on the iPhone 4. If I want heavy eye strain within seconds, I just have to upgrade my old iPhone 4 which currently runs on iOS 6.0.1. I tried it multiple times to be sure. Luckily one can downgrade iPhone 4. This is absolute proof that this issue exists. Maybe another factor is the type of the device's screen. We know Apple gets their parts from multiple manufacturers.

  • JTL likes this.
12 days later

This is really puzzling. I am trying to find a pattern to see what could be the cause of these eye strain, but it seems that many people have different level of eye strains and are affected by different causes of eye strain.

The only way to find a pattern (and hence the cause) is for everyone to provide a background to what they get eye strain from, what devices they get eye strain, what devices they can use without eye strain, and other health/eyes related details. Only then maybe we can find a pattern and determine the cause. Otherwise it is hard to make sense of all of this.

We need someone or some university to do a research paper on this, so that they can go through detailed historical background of people who suffer from these eye strain, and record the devices/technologies that causes eye strain to certain people, and see if there is any solution that can be found. If they can identify the cause (or all the causes of eye strain) is also good already.

    Kray We need someone or some university to do a research paper on this, so that they can go through detailed historical background of people who suffer from these eye strain, and record the devices/technologies that causes eye strain to certain people, and see if there is any solution that can be found. If they can identify the cause (or all the causes of eye strain) is also good already.

    I have lots of underlying medical records dating back from when I was born about eye/brain injuries, etc. But I never had the strain until 2011. In fact I remember when I was younger hearing my mother talking about how harsh the flicker was from fluorescent lights and calling her "crazy" because while I could see it, it never affected me bck then. 😛

      My iPhone 6s is the worst device I own
      My mom's iPad Air running iOS 9 is the best iDevice I have used apart from an old iPod Touch I have which runs iOS 6

      12 days later

      Ipad mini 2, 3 only
      ipad air 1
      ios 7 if you can find it
      ios 8 otherwise
      less preferred ios 9
      ios 10, i will not buy the above devices with ios 10

      ipad air 2, ipad mini 4 and the successors are just different, made more towards pleasing the crowd with better numbers on performance, thinner, better looking colors yada yada whatever to sell it, while sacrificing the picture quality, performance. ipad mini 2, 3, air 1 have just better picture quality, not messed with, not as manipulated,

      5 days later

      what about the new IPAD PRO 9.7 ? i need a new tablet, my ipad air 1 is getting old.

      • JTL replied to this.

        Riktor It's only 2 years old 😛 What features would you get with a new one that this one doesn't have?

          iPad Air is 3 years old, iPad Air 2 is 2 years old. I assume me and Riktor are referring to the iPad Air 1 (at least I was in my post) but your point still stands. This tablet is snappy and performs its functions reasonably well. The biggest limitation is that it has half the RAM of the iPad Air 2. For me this only becomes an issue if I have a large number of tabs open.

          8 months later

          got the new Ipad Pro 10.5 in post today.
          while i run the setup, i became headache and eyestrain 🙁 shit - already got case and screenprotector.
          now i have to send it back.

          so my old IPAD 1 is still the best.

            hector

            btw. my old username is Riktor 😃
            forget the mail and password.

            but the speed compared to the old one is increadable. the 4 loudspeakers too.

              the refreshrate is higher, but the motion blur is higher too than my old ipad air 1. cheap screen.

              I tried both of the previous model of iPad Pros and found them to cause mild headaches. The iPad Air 2 is the best I've found. Not perfect but somewhat tolerable.

              I've yet to check out the new model Pros.

              I stopped even trying to use iPads after the iPad2. Which yes, is now 5 years old.

              I heard a rumor that the new ones were ok, but the first Air as well as the iPad4 were BAD for me, that's pretty much where I threw in the towel.

              My son has whatever the first one to use Lightning was... and it's almost usable, much like an iPhone 5 is almost usable.

              • KM likes this.

              has some tried the new IPad - non pro ?

              dev