I'm trying to find out why i can work on my laptop screen without issues for many hours, even at night, but not on any new IPS monitor. The panel on my laptop is MNE007ZA3-2, 2880x1880px, 14", 400 nits, IPS. Any new IPS monitor, like the Dell U2725QE create eye strain and an inability to focus. It feels like the eye is constantly trying to focus and tries to look behind the screen.

Could it be the anti-glare coating? The dell does reflect more light, and the laptop screen is more matte. How do i find monitors with good anti-glare coating?

Or could it be the color space? The laptop screen is only 78% DCI-P3, while the U2725QE is 99%. I've heard that all Dells are Nano-IPS panels, which results in higher DCI-P3 values.

Is it polarization? The screen on my laptop is vertically polarized, the screens i've checked were all horizontally polarized.

What kind of OS you have there? What graphics driver?

What is the production date of the panel? And the prod date of the notebook?

Edit: I have the same focusing problem and never found any display produced after 2017, which is good for me.

    It is a new panel, manufactured around the end of 2023. Laptop is from end of 2024. I'm using linux, with AMD graphics driver. The same laptop that works with my eyes, when connected to an external monitor, causes eye strain.

    After researching the topic a bit, i'm thinking it might be the NanoIPS or QuantumDot technology that causes issues for me. My laptop screen is neither, and i have zero issues with it. All the latest monitors seem to use NanoIPS/QuantumDot, when:

    • High refresh rate
    • High DCI-P3
    • High sRGB (over 100% seems to be always NanoIPS/IPS Black/QuantumDot)
    • Very low pixel response time

    I've found some monitors without NanoIPS and ordered them:

    • Dell S2722QC
    • LG 27GR93U-B

    Other monitors i found without NanoIPS (at least i think):

    • Gigabyte M27U
    • INNOCN 27M2V
    • LG 27UP850N-W (BOE MV270QUM-N51)
    • LG 27UQ850V-W (BOE ME270QUM-N20)
    • Asus PA279CRV (AUO M270QAN06.5)

    Panels with 60Hz refresh rate and response times of around 4-5ms seems to be mostly normal IPS, not NanoIPS.

    tsb

    The first NanoIPS panels were manufactured 2018 by LG, so it might be in your case that NanoIPS could also be a possible reason for your eye issues.

      Very interesting thanx!

      Can you update on the progress with the displays you ordered?

      I will, they should arrive this week

      What Linux distro you use btw.? I tried different Debian distros and all were bad.

      For AMD just some default drivers you use? I don't have experience with AMD GPUs, neither with the drivers, nor what they do with the eyes.

      I'm using tuxedo OS, an ubuntu based distro from the manufacturer of my laptop. I don't think the drivers have that much influence over the monitor that it could lead to eye strain (besides obvious misconfigurations). But maybe i just can't think of one at the moment (maybe FRC?).

      imho higher ppi and smaller screen i also have less issues on high ppi small monitor at pc

      • tsb likes this.

      Sadly there are no 4k 20-24" inch anymore (besides the >1000€ Asus ProArt), they would be perfect for 150-200% Scaling.

      Just today the LG 27GR93U-B arrived, and i have to say, the eye strain is noticeably better. On the Dell U2725QE i was always squinting my eyes, even on low brightness. The LG feels smoother and my eyes are more relaxed, even on higher brightness. It is a non NanoIPS / QD panel.

      It is only one day, but i'm hopeful that i found my reason for eye strain.

      dev