J

JRUK

My iPhone 11 is fine but I've stayed on iOS 16.7.2 after reading all the dithering complaints with iOS 17.

My background for reference:

I still cannot use any OLED phone or iPad with pro motion displays. So I don't own any other Apple devices.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the only OLED iPhone I bought and trialled this year. After a few hours of usage in the evening I received it, all felt OK and I was excited. But the next morning when I opened my blinds and the sun hit my eyes, my vision whites out and I get intense eye strain. My vision was heavily strained for two days and I had a throbbing migraine. I immediately returned this phone.

The new iPad Pro 13 with OLED made me have dry eyes and a wave of a motion sickness feeling come over my shoulders after just 5 minutes of use in store, the fastest negative reaction I've ever felt. It took several hours for my eyes to relax back to normal.

I'm still desperate to upgrade to newer hardware. I have the funds and desire to have the best phone, tablet and laptop but they all use display technology that ruins me. But even attempting lower specced products have issues. As a graphic designer, it's not just AI that's a threat to my job but also the fact I may not be able to use the computing tools I require to do my job!

I’m reading positive comments on Macrumors from users who are sensitive and are getting on well with the new MacBook Air 15” M2.

I’ve been tempted to buy one but I’m at a point where if I cannot use the new OLED iPhones coming next month (having been unable to use any flagship iPhone since they introduced OLED), I'm planning on ditching Apple altogether.

markdotpeters5 But Apple use Samsung displays, so while the PWM numbers are reported as higher on the newer iPhones VS the equivalent Samsung phones, the eye strain is still just as bad.

Android Central has posted an article with positive results using the new Moto Edge Plus 2023/Edge 40 Pro:

Best phones for PWM/Flicker sensitive people 2023

"Motorola debuted a relatively new flicker-reduction option with the Edge Plus (2023) that ensures the phone's display is on 99.51% of the time during the duty cycle. In practice, this is identical to DC dimming, which means the phone is actually reducing the voltage to the OLED diodes instead of using PWM flickering to fake a dimmer display.

Above 35%, the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) uses DC dimming to achieve a flicker-free display. As is telling from DC dimming measurements, the brightness dips a little bit each time the display refreshes. In this case, the display is refreshing at around 120Hz. This is normal for all DC-dimmed OLED displays.

Below 35%, the phone switches to 720Hz PWM dimming to ensure the display still retains a high-quality image and correct color accuracy.

This is my personal favorite premium phone and I have no comfort issues from using this phone all day long."

I'm very tempted by this phone even if it means leaving Apple.

ryans

I logged in today to also post the thread from Android Central. Having read the positive notes about the Moto phones I'm really interested in trying the Moto Edge 40 Pro (European name for the Edge Plus 2023) ahead of the iPhone 15 release as I suspect, like every year since the launch of the OLED iPhones, I still won't be able to use them and will continue to be stuck on my iPhone 11.

"Motorola debuted a relatively new flicker-reduction option with the Edge Plus (2023) that ensures the phone's display is on 99.51% of the time during the duty cycle. In practice, this is identical to DC dimming, which means the phone is actually reducing the voltage to the OLED diodes instead of using PWM flickering to fake a dimmer display."

If I could use the Moto Edge 40 Pro then I will be free of Apple and their dithering + PWM devices but sadly in the UK, the Motorola site is run by Digital River who state you have to arrange your own returns - not something I want to risk on a £800+ device should it not work for me. Amazon EU does have it for sale but any returns would have to go back to Europe which is also risky.

Is anyone giving the Moto Edge 40 Pro/Edge Plus 2023 a chance?

I've been unable to use any OLED iPhone since the X and I been trying every year. The worst symptoms I've suffered have been migraines which have lasted for days as well as eye strain and motion sickness. Until the 13 series I could always tell my eyes and brain hated the OLED screen within the first hour.

The best result I had last year was with the standard 13 which I was able to use for a week but it kept making me feel sick in my stomach with constant burping. The feeling of unease and discomfort had me return the phone.

This year the 14 Pro didn't give me eye strain while I used it for the first evening although when setting it up I immediately felt a sweeping sensation of tension across the right side of my head. The next day I woke with an awful migraine that wiped me out for the day and the back of eyes felt like I'd been in a boxing match. So the 14 Pro was out like every year before it.

I waited a few days then tried the standard 14. I didn't feel eye strain or migraines but I did feel discomfort with my vision in the sense the screen light was bothering me while reading, something was off. It's like I can see a shimmer in my vision like someone is flashing a torch across my eyes. I've experienced the same sensation when using the iphone 11 and ipad Pro 12.9 M1 with miniLED.

I had a general feeling of unease while using it which after a few days I decided I didn't want to live with so I've returned it.

PWM and dithering are a big issue for me and I'm stuck on my 7 Plus for the 5th year. It leaves me not buying a new ipad or Macbook as these can also be problematic. It's frustrating beyond believe as I love tech and have used iPhone since day 1. Being on a 1080p phone there is no way I want to downgrade to an XR, 11 or SE 2022 with they're 828p displays.

Since the X left me feeling very unwell I started on this journey of finding out about PWM etc. Now the world is filled with PWM issues from the flashing lights in my office to the lights and screens they put in cars. It's depressing.

I've tried reduce motion, reduce white point, high brightness, attention aware off etc. Nothing makes these OLED iphone comfortable to use. In the spirit of full disclosure I am short sighted and wear contact lenses otherwise I have zero health concerns or issues. I genuinely believe it's the technology being used that is the issue, staring at flashing light cannot be good for anyone no matter how fast it does it.