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.

  • Ttsb

    • Post #2
    • Edited

    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.

            a month later

            hberg539 A recent LG ultragear can't remember the exact model is my pc monitor and it's caused me no issues but a recent LG tv qned81 which is nano ips ruined my eyes for a week.

              hberg539

              I have an Asus Pro Art 24" that I'm testing and for me it still gives me symptoms. Not as bad as some monitors so it might work for some. It claims to be true 10 bit so I thought it would be okay but so far no. There are a ton of settings so possibly I haven't found the right one. Or maybe despite it being 10 bit there is still dithering or whatever my trigger is. I'm running it off an ancient T450s that used to be fine to use but something in a Windows 10 update last may made it start giving me pretty strong symptoms. I've got the Windows 10 LTSC version on it that made it better for a while but sometime around January/February something changed again.

                hberg539

                What laptop do you have the works? I'm really struggling finding anything remotely modern that works. I'm going to need Windows 11 relatively soon for work and haven't been able to find any machine ever with Windows 11 that doesn't make me sick.

                    ocean10 The only laptop that meets this criteria for me as safe for a workplace even out-of-the-box, and runs totally up to date Windows 11, is the 2023 Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 (the only true E-Ink Laptop as of 2025!!) Of course, specifically the E-Ink side of the twistable hinge and not the OLED side.

                    I bought one recently and have pretty much the same extremely positive experience with it as what jordan posted about in his recent thread here.

                    It is also Color E-Ink BTW! (What's also great is the addition of color, compared to the black-and-white e-ink I typically use, hasn't caused any problems for me!)

                    Even as someone sensitive to GPU issues, driver and windows composition layer rendering-related issues with all modern windows versions: the way that the e-ink panel works, or the way it's connected to the GPU, somehow manages to avoid these issues entirely for me on the ThinkBook Plus — even in a fully integrated laptop setup and on latest software!

                    Don't even need to install apps to modify drivers or anything. If you're already familliar with how other e-ink devices feel and what their limitations are — the internal e-ink panel is just as comfortable (and actually even more comfortable due to a more consistently paced and faster refresh rate than usual for e-ink, an IMO far better and less hazy coating over the display compared to most e-ink devices).

                    Of course if connected to a monitor, the GPU would still likely cause the same issues as any other windows 11 laptops would lol, but specifically the laptop's internal e-ink panel is completely strain-free, and honestly feels even better than many e-ink tablets.

                    It is still sold as brand new today.

                    IMO it is the only safe fully up-to-date laptop that can easily be converted a company-managed device with no additional modifications, including the ability to remain safe even with future windows updates.

                    Especially as so many companies are already very familiar with lenovo's "think"-series of products, due to the ubiquitous thinkpad laptops, etc. so I feel it'd be pretty easy to make the case for this laptop.

                        DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs Yep!! This is literally my best purchase ever its such a comfortable machine. Definitely the best eink experience ive had and thats coming from someone who has owned over 10 or so different eink devices lol. Only way I can get on a computer right now.

                          dev