High Resolution Is the Source of the Problem for Many?

K-Moss

I was talking now with one, and he told me:

"I don't like smooth edges on displays. Higher resolutions only add to eye and mental strain. Nobody ever had eye strain from a digital wristwatch."

I notice the Moto G 2025, considered far more comfortable than most phones, has a low resolution screen.

Is it possible much of the eye strain problems people have are from the ultra high resolutions typical now?

Asked him how high res would increase strain. He said:

"Greater volume and density of information."

K-Moss

K-Moss Also read this:

"Higher DPI will make text more clear and easier to read. This of course assumes your 2 hypothetical monitors are scaled the same way, as in the text size is the same just one has more pixels.

People often say high DPI would be wasted on bad eye sight, the opposite is true, I'm short sighted (mild prescription) my eyes require more data to see clearly at the same size.

A good example is if you compare your phone, the DPI for most phones is so high, text is noticeably clearer and easier to read.

Whether or not this translates into eye strain is probably going to depend on how small you like to have your text and how far you sit etc. but a higher DPI will let you go smaller to where it's comfortable for you."

Also, I read this:

"Also the panel technology is a factor. TN panels cause the same problems for me. That's why I went with IPS which is awesome."

That's very different than what the eye strain sufferers on here report. Some of the members here say IPS is so hellishly bad and they find salvation through TN.

Also, I read this:

"My eyes also started to hurt like that and i tried everything to fix that and for me it worked if i just lower the brightness by 2-3 "ticks??" when playing games and it helped a lot. Maybe this isnt the answer u are looking for im just saying my experience."

This corroborates my belief OLED is not good. You can't dim it properly, and too much brightness is a known eye strain factor and brain irritant.

Also, I just noticed this thread I made from 5 years ago:

Eye Strain Caused by Resolution Too High: https://ledstrain.org/d/873-eye-strain-caused-by-resolution-too-high/

Donux

K-Moss I had this consideration long time ago, but more regarding laptop screens. And it backfired. FHD, was not better than WQHD or 4K when to comes to laptops. It was absolute nightmare with HP elitebook 845 G8 for me. Even with better option of FHD screen which I had. And I can compare it to lenovo X1 Yoga gen 3 which has WQHD touch screen with 1415Hz PWM. I can use it with windows 10 without major issues. It is significally better then HP elitebook 845 G8 FHD, note also the fact that HP was way never, and fairly expensive for its specs.

And also I had this asus zenscreen FHD, which I later regret buying. I would be in better position if I bought Arzopa WQHD, which probably use PWM.

jordan

This is actually something I have been thinking about a lot. My VA ccfl tv is comfortable and its 1080p. I mean I think the ccfl backlight is a huge part to the comfort but I think maybe also the res? Every LCD I have tried past that is at least 1440p which has not been great. I remember I once had a Alienware 13 r2 with a 1366x768 TN lcd and I dont remember ever having issues on that when I use to play forza horizon 2 and bf1 on it. Maybe higher res cause more of a pattern glare effect that isnt perceivable? or could it be that high res screens are clear and its making our eyes try to crave more clarity? I had a vision therapist doc tell me that some people wear slightly blurred glasses to get the eyes to back off from wanting to crave more and more clarity overworking the eyes/brain. hmm

AshX

I have a different take:

If your brain and eyes are used to high PPI and high resolution screens, it will be more challenging to use a lower resolution screen. And vice versa. If your vision is very good you’re also more likely to notice differences in quality. As some have said, “Once you go 4k you don’t go back.”

K-Moss

AshX There's so much more data to process with higher resolution. The reason Bedtime Mode helps a lot supposedly is because it makes the screen much simpler for the eyes and brain. Having said that, I have encountered many anecdotes of people deciding a phone doesn't work for them after trying it for only 1 day. I sincerely believe it takes much longer for the eyes and brain to adapt to a new device. People need to be more patient.

Also, as I am using a physical calculator, I realize no one ever got eye strain from a calculator. The resolution is terrible. But the eyes love simplicity when it comes to man-made visual contraptions. We're meant to get visual richness from the natural world, not from fake plastic artificial imitations of it. Reminds me of the Tower of Babel. The more man tries to match and rise above the Supreme, the more pain he brings upon himself. Just is a kind of arrogant foolishness to do with screens what has so rapidly been done without expecting negative repercussions. More modest resolution exhibits humility and seems to work well for many reasons.

When I was a programmer we had very few colors and the graphics were blocky and primitive, but as long as the refresh rate was high enough there was no eye strain.

AshX

K-Moss Having said that, I have encountered many anecdotes of people deciding a phone doesn't work for them after trying it for only 1 day. I sincerely believe it takes much longer for the eyes and brain to adapt to a new device. People need to be more patient.

Some definitely have success over the course of a week. But I think you have to differentiate between Eyestrain as in eyes feeling a bit tired and uncomfortable vs. migraine/seizure/my eyes feel like they’re being stabbed.

Example: My mom has a Dell Latitude laptop. It doesn’t seem to have any flicker. I don’t like the laptop screen or Windows 11. The text isn’t sharp on all the programs and the colors are irritating. But that device doesn’t make me feel like I’m going to land in the hospital. Apple laptops? Yeah. One landed me in the ER.

Once a device affects you severely you become really cautious. And since we aren’t aware of what exactly is under the hood of every device it’s understandable why people just bail after a day. I usually try for 2-3 days and then take a few days and try again. But I’ve learned the longer you try to force it especially if there’s flicker you can’t disable, the worse it will get.

Regarding resolution and PPI, my point is I wonder if the brain is used to seeing sharper text in particular, that it may be difficult to tolerate worse resolutions if the text is not sharp. Windows does a better job at this most of the time than Mac. I can’t speak to that experience.

K-Moss

AshX You went to the ER for what and what did they do?

AshX

K-Moss

I wrote about it in another thread.

K-Moss

AshX Helpful to refresh us here as well.