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 ?

              I can use an iPad 2 and an iPad 3 ONLY with a Techarmor matte anti glare screen protector. With that on, zero eye strain. With it off, instant eye strain. I have never been able to determine what it is doing to the display to make it tolerable

              • Gurm replied to this.
                dev