AGI No, the original OS is too slow, the custom OS is just for speed. However, some people reported they get eye strain just after software update to Android 4.4.4. The Cyanogenmod 10.2 (Android 4.3) is the oldest software I could find.

  • AGI replied to this.

      Solf Thanks.

      Guys, would you define this phone PWM-free?

      Screen flickering / PWM not detected
      In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8813 (minimum: 43 - maximum: 142900) Hz was measured.

      https://www.notebookcheck.net/Nomu-S30-Smartphone-Review.212938.0.html

      Also, is it correct that PWM cannot be ruled out if a "good" phone becomes unusable after a software / app update?

      • KM replied to this.

          AGI Not for sure. Their screenshot is strange. The chose a high voltage divider and the voltage is displayed just above zero, which makes it impossible to analyse small fluctuations. And you can see the line is not perfectly flat. While this is probably not PWM it might be some smaller flicker. It is unclear if small flicker has an effect, too.

          The OS eye strain is probably not related to PWM. But to be sure one would need to analyze a device before and after upgrading.

          • AGI likes this.
            5 days later

            AGI https://shop.oaxis.com/collections/inkcase/products/inkcase-i7-for-iphone

            Does anyone know this product? It looks like a second screen rather than a case...

            Replying to my own post. I chatted with the vendor. The item is a case which fits on the backside of a few models of IPhone and offers a second, e-ink screen just for the purpose of reading e-books via a proprietary app, and a few other minor functions, like clock, alarm, etc. etc.
            The e-ink screen cannot be used to make phone calls, surf the net and all that is typically done with a phone.
            I also read a few reviews with regard to the e-reading experience. Not so positive.
            Not what I was hoping...

              Ok, once again I am preparing to leave town for a conference and revisiting the "will I get a new device" question. My top contenders are:

              • iPhone 7 Plus. Pricey, but I can use my girlfriend's for casual use without straining my eyes overly. And she has ballistic glass. If I put a matte blue-blocking (skinomi techarmor?) on it, I should be ok for most purposes, I guess? Worth a try, at least.

              • LG G7 ThinQ. I can use my son's G6 for a few minutes without trouble, and he also has a crystal clear screen protector on it. I am thinking again that Matte might make it workable... especially since we had at least one other person who thought it was pretty comfy. I know that my mom's G3 was usable, never got a chance to see a G4 or G5 but I know we had one person who thought the G5 was ok too.

              • Buy another HTC One m8 from the Internet, unlock it and downgrade to Lollipop, hope the battery lasts another few months.

              • OR... get an HTC One m9, downgrade it to Lollipop, and hope it's one of the screens that is ok for my eyes?

              Thoughts?

                Gurm You said the Galaxy S9 might be usable? It's a very nice phone if your eyes can handle it.

                  Gurm I would try to get the battery replaced in a local store first.

                    I have Sony xperia E5, and bought second one, it is a best phone for me, there is no issues, I have been tried other Sony phones: XA1, ZX1 and there are unusable.

                    • KM likes this.

                    So my htc m8 officially died. tried the htc 10 and i felt eye strain right away and my eyes got red really fast, although the phone doesn't have pwm on any level and i downloaded a blu light blocker app. I really don't know what to do and worse than that i don't know what the cause to my eye strain is (blu light, pwm, screen type, hardware ect.). If anyone here has some good advise it will be much aprreciated. Btw i tried my brothers note 9 on max brightness so and a screen dimmer app and it wasn't helpful either.

                    • andc replied to this.

                      shimmyzv
                      Please try HTC 10 with sRGB color mode and colors set to warmer (around quarter of warmth bar in color settings). I had strain issues while in vivid colors mode, but with sRGB it came back to normal and it's perfectly fine for me. Of course your issue may be different as well as the screen used in these two units may differ, as usual these days.

                          andc Thanks for the advise but unfortunately i already tried that option for a couple of days and it didn't improve my situation

                            7 days later

                            iPhone 6 with iOS 10. My wife had this and it was the best I could use for a long time. Now we updated to iOS12 and it seems that it got worse.

                              JTL I'm really surprised to see this reach mainstream models, I really thought it was just gonna be a one off thing. A huge step backwards but I guess they are planning to funnel as many people on to XR anyways. $1100 CAD in 2k18 for the same ppi as a 2010 iPhone 4

                                degen I was using iOS10 on my 6S for over a year with no problems, mild discomfort after long use but it is a bright display.

                                Upgraded to iOS11 recently and strain was much worse and the same with iOS12, everything doesn't seem as sharp (the calendar text and clock look fuzzy), text isn't as legible as before.

                                Hopefully this will pick up momentum and prompt Apple to resolve the issue.

                                    diop This trend of "newer is worse" is happening with all of us across all platforms from phones to desktops...it has to be the same root cause.

                                      Personally I've not noticed any increased strains with my iPhone 6S and iOS12. (I'm ok for short to medium stretches with it)

                                      Gurm Did you get a new one? iPhone 7 prices have dropped.

                                        Anyone know good Android phones that have a Lineage OS image that are not straining? I don't want an expensive flagship...but also want something not ancient.

                                        @ryans Not yet. I made do with a battery pack on my HTC for the week I was away, but it's on my short list.

                                        10 days later

                                        I haven't heard of this Maximum Permissible Exposure benchmark before.

                                        I doubt either will be PWM free.

                                        !!!!! Got the Skinomi MatteSkin (don't confuse with the clear TechSkin)) !!!!!

                                        Not even close. SO much more comfortable on my iPhone. Remember I originally liked the iPhone 7 Plus which Best Buy threw a cheap plastic screen protector on. Around the same time I removed the screen protector it became much less comfortable. Now months later I installed the Skinomi MatteSkin and it's even better than the Best Buy screen protector. It's definitely not high fidelity or anything, and I'm pretty sure most people would not like the grainy appearance. It's VERY matte. But somehow it makes the screen so much easier to FOCUS on.

                                        Having said that, it still causes eye muscle tightness (although it’s better than before) and I wouldn't recommend it for long sessions. Personally I just use it in short bursts.

                                        Hey guys -- Been following this thread for a long time, thought I'd chime in. I'm pretty sensitive to PMW -- Galaxy S8 gave me awful headaches, LED lighting gives me these eye-seizures, even the LCD screens on the HTC 10 and LG G7 were basically unusable long-term.

                                        The only (modern) phone I've found that works for me is the Essential Phone (LCD) -- No eyestrain at all, and it's a pretty great phone as well. Prior to that, could only use the iPhone 5.

                                        Seriously consider it -- It took me forever to find something that actually works, so I'm hoping this can help a few people out.

                                          CCitrine As for the LG G7, I read on Notebookcheck that it has pretty significant PMW, more than the G6...

                                              CCitrine Yeah, PWM is so not my problem. It's rendering/dithering. I think...

                                                CCitrine Thanks for your recommendation. Have you actually measured there is no PWM?

                                                  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?

                                                                    dev