Essential Phone PWM:

https://www.reddit.com/r/essential/comments/96v6ft/essential_phone_screen_flicker/

@Slacor the reddit link gets destroyed by the forum software

Edit: olgomar actually tested the Essential Phone here in our forums not long ago:
https://ledstrain.org/d/21-usable-smartphones/683

    @Slacor possible to disable auto embed stuff?

    I was already annoyed with it some time ago trying to embed Amazon links to a "preview" that had ads too.

      KM Thanks.
      Uhmmm, so CCitrine it might be PWM is not your problem? Or who knows? Maybe, as someone pointed out, two nominally identical phones do not behave the same way?

      I can recommend the Microsoft Lumina 650, admittedly I am not sure I can use it, but its the closest I've gotten to a usable smartphone in years having tried a great many, plus it was only £25 on ebay - because who wants a windows phone! Be fine for work use though.

      Might be worth a punt for anyone else who can pick up a cheap one on ebay.

      • Gurm replied to this.

        Seagull Yes, the cheap end of the Lumia series has 720p (or maybe even like 630p) displays and they are 100% fine on the eyes at all times. They're low powered and... y'know... Windows. But perfectly good to look at.

        Unbelievable improvement with this Skinomi matte screen protector. Using my phone for longer periods now. I can't even believe it's the same phone. Wonder if something like this might help on a monitor..

          degen how long does it take for eye strain to accumulate? Is the strain more like temporary or gives you blurry vision for days? Also which iphone do you use and which iOs version?

            I am going to be interested in taking a look at the iPhone XR to see how it is. The panel is Japan Display and they're using a plastic substrate instead of glass.

            • AGI replied to this.

              Does anyone have recommendations as to which phone operating systems are generally good vs generally bad? having a real hard time at the moment trying to find a replacement for my samsung S3 mini running android 4.2 jelly bean.

                Seagull

                Everything Android up to Lollipop 5.1 is fine for me.

                Marshmallow and later have all caused eye strain for me (tested Marshmallow on multiple devices I know are fine on Lollipop and they always became painful immediately)

                This seems to be the general consensus too.

                  randomboolean Builds up for days if I let it and vision gets blurry, a takes a few days to return to normal. It's a gradual build up as opposed to fast without the protector. iPhone 8 Plus on iOS 12. Still not nearly as good as my PC set up by I'm resigned that a comfy and modern smartphone is some years away.

                  I'm happy personally but I don't want to give the impression this is particularly easy on the eyes and have someone buy the phone and regret it. It's hard to get even close to the comfort of my primary Win 7 + GTX 650 Ti + BenQ EW2440L setup, so everything falls short.

                  Sunspark By chance I stopped by an Apple shop. To be honest I had heard there were new products out, but did not even know their names/features, so I was not really expecting anything. I played around with the Iphone XS for 20 minutes and did not feel any of the usual disturbs developing instantaneously, nor the subtle, delayed feeling of sticky eyes which I often suffer from in the absence of acute symptoms (e.g., with Iphone 7). I tested not one, but three devices.
                  Has someone else checked on that phone? Any idea why it would behave differently? If not that everyone "sees" different...but I thought of asking whether someone else experienced the same! Thanks

                  degen Is it soft? glass? blue blocking? etc. Does it change the polarization of the display? (can check with polarized glasses).

                  Seagull My Lumias have never bothered me but they don't even get security updates anymore and have few mainstream apps. Durable and easy to look at so it's a shame.

                  Google Pixel 3 is out, has anyone tried it? I'm still using Galaxy S5.

                  Have you tried iphone xr? It has the same display density as iphone 4, so in case that could be a factor, it could be useable. Letters are said to be jagged so maybe it doesnt alias so much, if that is a factor as well.

                    martin That's intriguing... reduced aliasing and lower DPI is a good thing...

                      dev