Usable Smartphones?

Sunspark

BloodyHell619 How come lower brightness is less straining?

Because of reduced blooming. The problem with 100% on an OLED if you're not in a brightly lit environment is that it makes a glow behind/around the edges of stuff. You can see that happening if you move the brightness slider up and down and notice elements get too bright or too dim especially if the background is black. The sweet spot is usually where the blooming effect is least visible while contrast is decent. Under regular light conditions this is generally the 40-60% range on my device.

You still have the blooming even if you're slapping an overlay tint on top. It makes things fuzzier.

I also use night mode in the evening set to a warm tint. One click to the left from the right side of the slider on my Samsung. It does also have a slight dimming effect without changing the brightness.

eyestrainsolutions

Iphone se 2020 (and se 2022) is probably the most eye friendly smartphone mention here. I also use an iphone 2020.

Clokwork

eyestrainsolutions This is what I will likely have to "upgrade" to when my current iphone dies. I was able to use it in store with no major issues. The only apple device of which I can say that.

Vividblu99

BloodyHell619

Currently - I chop & change between a Realme 9 pro, Nord CE 2 Lite & a Nokia G60.

I've seemed to have resonated well with the Realme 9 pro - though I did notice a slight text sharpness increase since the android update. But no strain induced so far….

I've had to tweak all these devices to make them suitable as nothing has worked for me right out of the box (tweaks: matte screen protectors/dark mode/60hz only/blue light filter apps etc).

I've seen the Honor x8 in store. The display seemed ok though I didn't think much of it, due to the really weak specs.

I've loved previous honor devices in the past - such as the view 20 & the cheaper honor 8x & 10 lite. They were very comfortable. They were all TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certified too.

Interesting to see that the new Magic5 Lite is also TUV Rheinland low blue light certified - but at a hardware level**.** Usually it's software based. But for me, this device is D.O.A due to the amoled screen/1920 PWM.

Regarding the X4 GT - Poco have decided not to release this in the UK. So I haven't had a chance to test yet. I've seen a few on ebay/aliexpress, but they are costly, and I'm not sure if it'll work correctly with a UK sim.

qb74

Vividblu99

Interesting to see that the new Magic5 Lite is also TUV Rheinland low blue light certified - but at a hardware level. Usually it's software based. But for me, this device is D.O.A due to the amoled screen/1920 PWM.

Link to the review (X9A is the same phone as the Magic5 Lite supposedly, doesn't mean they use the same display though)
I love the new trend of higher PWM dimming curves on these new panels! I hope they manage to completely switch to DC dimming (the usual OLED brief black flicker) in the next few years.

Vividblu99

qb74

Yes the new panels do look quite nice!

I hope they eventually erradicate the need for PWM and switch to permanent DC dimming (if possible).

One thing that really appeals to me with all the recent mid range budget honor devices (x8, x8a, x8 5g, magic4 lite 5g etc) are their very low contrast displays. (All seem to be under the value of 800). Slapping on a high quality matte screen protector - I can only imagine these will become very very comfortable for viewing/reading).

Monotonexx

Using any phone on 90hz or 120hz messes with my eyes. I have to use 60hz

Anyone else have this issue?

Rui

Well after been using a phone with 1920 Hz pwm for a few days (Xiaomi 12T Pro) all I can say it's almost that same… problem. It's not so agressive to my eyes as other phones. But the discomfort it's still there. I'll change to 60 Hz to see if it helps. But I'll sell it.

Next phone has to have DC dimming. I had no problems with Xiaomi 11T pro that had antiflicker option. But it's getting old and I like to have latest security updates. Xiaomi just released Xiaomi 13 with DC dimming and Xiaomi 13 pro with 1920 Hz pwm. I'll probably buy the normal version because it has DC dimming

Conclusion. If it mentions PWM, even to say 1920 Hz or whatever, there's a good chance you'll feel discomfort.

BloodyHell619

Rui Well after been using a phone with 1920 Hz pwm for a few days (Xiaomi 12T Pro) all I can say it's almost that same… problem. It's not so agressive to my eyes as other phones. But the discomfort it's still there. I'll change to 60 Hz to see if it helps. But I'll sell it.

Next phone has to have DC dimming. I had no problems with Xiaomi 11T pro that had antiflicker option. But it's getting old and I like to have latest security updates. Xiaomi just released Xiaomi 13 with DC dimming and Xiaomi 13 pro with 1920 Hz pwm. I'll probably buy the normal version because it has DC dimming

Conclusion. If it mentions PWM, even to say 1920 Hz or whatever, there's a good chance you'll feel discomfort.

I think the base PWM on which the DC Dimming is applied over matters too. In the Case of the 12T Pro the base PWM is only 120Hz while with the 11T Pro it is above 240Hz. This is why it's been a few days, I am crazily tempted to make one last leap of faith and go for the Xiaomi 11 Ultra. The screen is said to be true 10-bit if I am correct and the base PWM that the DC Dimming is applied to is over 400Hz. Plus the DC Dimming works even at 120 refresh rate.

Has anyone herer tried this phone?

Sunspark

Don't worry so much about "security updates". Better to use a comfortable device than not. My device was released in 2019 and you're already talking about replacing a 2 years newer device that works fine? You should reconsider this. Good luck with the 13 tho.

Rui

The problem is that I sold my Xiaomi 11T Pro to buy a Pixel 7, which didn't work out. Since my experience was so good with Xiaomi 11T Pro I decided to buy Xiaomi 12T Pro. Now I know 1920 PWM (from 12T Pro) is no match for DC Dimming (from 11T Pro I sold). I could buy again 11T Pro. But it's still way to expensive (almost the same price as 12T Pro), the updates are taking more time to arrive and something I've learned recently. Some people use a phone with no problems. But for whatever reason they decide to buy the exact same phone (as a secondary phone, to replace a broken one,…). And they have all kind of PWM problems despite it's the same phone. I'm so tired of spending money that I don't to risk to buy an expensive "old" phone, have PWM problems, and have to sell it half the price that I bought. That doesn't happen with newer models.

After all the money I spent It can be 1.000.000 PWM that I won't buy. I'll go for DC Dimming any day.

Monotonexx

Rui I used DC dimming anti flicker mode on moto g82 and realme gt & my eyes hurt very badly still. Always headache after using. Did not change much if dc mode was on or off. Why did this happen. Is xiaomi dc dim better?

pavelbures

After several years I have started using again Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 and Mix 2 SE. Mix 2 SE has 8 GB of RAM a SD 835 is still fast CPU. It supports lot of Custom ROMs, so you can have latest Android without bloatware. I replaced battery with Cameron Sino and now I have 8-10 hours of SOT (I had just 4 hours with old original battery). The LCD panel I have in my unit has PWM flicker, but only on low brightness and does not bother me. And Lineage OS has color reading mode option.

P650SE

pavelbures I had been interested in buying either the Mi Mix 2 or 2S for a number of years. But I was always put off by reports of very poor pixel response times from the LCD panel. I read comments online of people saying the panel has ghosting trails whilst scrolling. In the review on AnandTech the author complains about the pixel response time and claims it "very much results in visible ghosting and smearing, especially in scrolling text"

Within the past couple of years I purchased both a HTC U11 and a HTC U12+ but I sold both of them due to this same issue. The ghosting/smearing whilst scrolling was unbearable in particular with white text on a dark background. I also had the opportunity to use a Sony Xperia XA2 and I observed the same issue.

The phone I currently use, a Lenovo ZUK Z2 Plus, does not have any noticeable ghosting/smearing whilst scrolling on a dark background. I have also used a Razer Phone 1 which does not have this issue.

dawidd6

dawidd6 had to return it after all. Was using it for a few days and headache kicked in eventually. I've tried tweaking various settings - no luck. So, a PWM free device with an IPS display gives me headaches nevertheless, fun. Thought it would be the one finally but no 🙁. Back to the ol' reliable pain free phone…

Vividblu99

I had another chance to play around with the Honor x8a earlier today in a store.

I really like the display. Like really really like it. It's vivid & high contrasty (which I usually hate), but it felt so comfortable to use, & the brightness can be lowered all the way down using the slider.

I was SO damn tempted to get it. I had to hold myself (& my wallet) back. I couldn't justify the price, considering the poor performance/specs.

The G88 processor barely gets 200k on Antutu. Lower than the budget snapdragon 680.

Why did they have to release such a nice looking LCD device with such awful poor specs. It's very annoying.

Sunspark

Vividblu99 My device gets 210k according to a site, except I don't use it for games so I don't notice any speed issues, so I am thinking if you truly found something comfortable you should probably get it.

Looking at the specs, the display is 90 Hz and the GPU is the Mali-G52 MC2.

Vividblu99

Sunspark

I guess you're right.. But it just feels too much of a downgrade, even in the budget segment. Issues like network download speeds, app opening times, sound/volume etc etc all play a role in the user experience, and in this case, the G88 along with very dated eMMC storage, just doesn't cut it.

Vividblu99

I've just played around with a Motorola G73 5g. It was a display model at a John Lewis store.

Sad to say.. I couldn't tolerate the screen. It was way too sharp - the text felt really really piercing, and the colors were very oversaturated. It wasn't a pleasant experience.

However the performance seemed great though - very snappy and fluid.

The benchmark results for the Dimensity 930 are lackluster. It's only ever so slightly more powerful than the Snapdragon 695g, otherwise, it's in the same category, and no where near an actual midrange chip like the SD 778G/Dimensity 920 etc.

engineer

Vividblu99 So you're saying the Ralme 9 PRO has a more eye-pleasing display than the Motorola G73? Because the parameters of both phones are very similar

Vividblu99

I wonder if things would improve with a matte screen protector.

The price in the UK (£269.99) is quite a bargain - considering it comes with stereo speakers, headphone jack, 5000mah battery and 30w fast charge, 120hz screen, 8GB Ram and 256GB ufs 2.2 storage.

I Wish Realme would hurry up and release the 10 pro. Keen to know the UK pricing. I wonder what's causing them a delay

Vividblu99

engineer

I've used a realme 9 pro for quite a few months and with some tweaks, I find the display very comfortable.

I played around with the G73 for around 15 minutes in store - but immediately, the display didn't sit right with me. The text felt very very sharp and high contrast. I set the screen to 60hz from 120hz, altered the color modes and balance, but nothing much changed.

I had high hopes - as I (wrongly) assumed the D930 processor was a direct successor to the D920, and in upper mid range territory - & a change from all the low mid range 695g's/Dimensity 810's/700's etc. But I was wrong.

But I guess one can't complain much considering the price (in the UK) is very economical. Just wish the screen felt more pleasing to the eye upon use. First impressions count!

Who knows, If the price drops I might pick one up - or buy one used - and tweak it with a matte screen protector and the color calibrator app.

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