macOS apple silicon eyestrain

KM

This is very interesting. Notebookcheck seems to have tested this device. Is this the correct model? https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Pro-16-2023-Review-M2-Max-challenges-GeForce-RTX-3080-Ti.694175.0.html
They found PWM even at 100% SDR brightness. However, what they didn't test was HDR or to manually increase the brightness further. If you had a sensor you may want to test if the flicker gets reduced at those higher brightness levels. The PWM frequency is rather low with 14 kHz, and has large amplitudes, so a cheap sensor setup would probably do. You can find devices and ideas how to measure flicker here: https://ledstrain.org/d/312-homemade-oscilloscope-to-detect-pwm-diy-guide (throughout the comments).
Temporal dithering is harder to measure. Notebookcheck tried to do that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFS7WWxKyuY

twomee

KM thanks for the detailed answer.

I’m sure the problem is on the software side because I had m1 MacBook before a year and I hadn’t this eyestrain. Also, it occurs also in my external monitor, which I don’t have problem with it in my PC with Linux running.

This is the laptop I have but with M2 Pro instead of M2 Max.

I’m not sure what is the problem but I’m sure it’s related to software and there is a solution for that

Sentiny

GBowler Is it possible to change fonts rendering with Iris on Apple Silicone?

karthi3219

twomee can you please post screenshots of your better display settings? It will be helpful for me try it out

twomee

karthi3219
sure, please tell me if you fell a relief as I felt with those settings:
https://ibb.co/X8rVYbr

twomee

duplicate message - deleted

Lauda89

twomee Interesting discovery. I have an MBA M2 that I can't use with its own display, instead with the external display it's definitely better but it's not perfect (LG 27GR95QE-B). How do you go beyond 100%? For me the slider is blocked at 100%! Thanks

EDIT: Ok i got it, i have to activate the HDR. But with 160% the image is too bright and washed out. Maybe i have to decrease the brightness with the monitor settings.

twomee

Lauda89 in my experience if I lower the brightness from the monitor It will result in pain in the eyes, I don’t know why. I forget to add that in my external monitor I put sRGB Color profile and in my MacBook screen the default profile.

You want to say that you are working with this pain for every day? How?

Lauda89

twomee Unfortunately when I have to work in the client site, I have to use the MBA monitor and to manage migraines I take a drug called Fluxarten (5mg is enough with a good number of breaks). When I work from home the symptoms are significantly less with the external monitor and I can work with a slight headache but without having taken Fluxarten. It is the best result I managed to achieve in 2023 in which I tested 4 monitors and 5 laptops.

But are you able to use the MBP build in monitor in HDR mode with a brighteness maxout at 160%? Is it not like watching the sun? 😃

GBowler

Lauda89 I need to make a separate post about this properly but I've stopped (touch wood) my migraines by taking electrolytes each morning. It's worth a try, as you wake up take some salty electrolyte powder in water.

twomee

Lauda89 and you didn’t try patching? Maybe this can help you.

By the way, if you look at the screen that make you pain, eventually you adapted to it a little or same pain as the beginning?

Regarding the brightness, yes , the brightness is bright as sunlight and eating my battery as well. But I think this is what working for me. I’m using the MacBook default color preset so it’s not an HDR mode, only in my external monitor I’m using HDR.

Lauda89

GBowler I take 400mg of magnesium every day and it helps a little. Can you link me to the product you take so I can better understand what it contains? 🙂

GBowler

Lauda89 Fasting Salts: Pure Unflavoured Electrolyte Powder. Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium. Zero Additives. Fasting Electrolytes Supplement from Nutri-Align Fasting Range. 400g. https://amzn.eu/d/cMOoxRc

this is the book that got me onto doing this Fighting The Migraine Epidemic: A Complete Guide: How To Treat & Prevent Migraines Without Medicine https://amzn.eu/d/de8cmWd

Lauda89

GBowler Thank you! when I run out of magnesium I will try to take a supplement similar to yours..

twomee Yes patching helping a lot. I can use the MBA and also my gaming PC if i patch one eye. But it's hard working 8h with only one eye. I tried to link the MBA with my portable monitor (UPFERFECT 17" 1080P) but the image quality with macos is totaly shit. I have to try a 17" 2K or 4K maybe...