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Other This is why I will not buy iPhone 12: OLED = PWM

lillo9546

lillo9546

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2020
7
57
I just hate how Apple is not understanding How serious is the argument here.
They still use OLED displays that use PWM to modulate brigtness, and so they flicker!
30/40% OLED Smartphone Owner's are claiming infact, eyestrain, headhace, nausea, dizziness, motion sickness, that is mainly caused by the screen flicker.
a DC dimmimg option, like on the android side, will not fix the problem!! Its just a fresh candy excuse to keep the consumer to buy the product!

LG has new OLED panels (on their TV lineup), that are called "Self Lit", and they claim that those panels, are not using any backlight, so there is any Flickering or PWM used.I do really hope to see a change in display technology on future Iphones.

I really hope Apple can see and hear this message, because it is not only me, but 30% of your customers having problems like this!
Imagine using a strobo flashing light, and point it to your eyes for 5h, or more, a day. How would you feel? Confused? You are okay. It is normal. We just need the right technology, and this PWM thing, on a Display, it is garbage!

Please Apple do not use any PWM or Flickering Display in the future! (not only for Iphones, both for Mac, Ipad, Macbook).
Written on my SE 1st gen

If you want a pwm free display on next Apple devices, like and comment this post, to make it notice!
 
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johnyyz

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Sep 18, 2020
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johnyyz

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kerplunknet said:
For anyone just learning about this, please see this post before you make an uneducated reply like @johnyyz has here today. @johnyyz, see #5 from that post.

forums.macrumors.com

Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

with or without (reduce white point) feature ?
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

--

Yes, it is unfortunate that Apple uses PWM in their phones now. I won't be able to buy them. Who would want to look at a screen that is constantly flickering at you (even though you may not be able to see it in real time, your body does).

The only hope is that Apple significantly raised the PWM frequency (doubtful) or have done away with PWM altogether (doubtful).
Click to expand...
Works for me. This was only a suggestion based off of something that DID work for me, and might work for others.
 
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jm31828

macrumors 65816
Sep 28, 2015
1,395
895
Bothell, Washington
johnyyz said:
Here you go:

blog.elcomsoft.com

iPhone Xs PWM Demystified: How to Reduce Eyestrain by Disabling iPhone Xs and Xs Max Display Flicker

The iPhone Xs employs a revised version of the OLED panel we’ve seen in last year’s iPhone X. The iPhone Xs Max uses a larger, higher-resolution version of the panel. Both panels feature higher peak brightness compared to the OLED panel Apple used in the iPhone X. While OLED displays are thinner and
blog.elcomsoft.com blog.elcomsoft.com
Click to expand...
I tried this on my wife's XS Max, and it does not work. It does dim the screen while having it at 100% or near 100% brightness, but the PWM flicker is in fact present even up to 100%. You can see it when taking video of the display in slow mo from another iPhone, it really doesn't seem to flicker any less at 100% than it does below 50%.... which of course translates to continuing to get eye strain, headaches, etc. when using the device vs. using another with an LCD display.
 
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iamthedudeman

macrumors 65816
Jul 7, 2007
1,385
246
lillo9546 said:
I just hate how Apple is not understanding How serious is the argument here.
They still use OLED displays that use PWM to modulate brigtness, and so they flicker!
30/40% OLED Smartphone Owner's are claiming infact, eyestrain, headhace, nausea, dizziness, motion sickness, that is mainly caused by the screen flicker.
a DC dimmimg option, like on the android side, will not fix the problem!! Its just a fresh candy excuse to keep the consumer to buy the product!

LG has new OLED panels (on their TV lineup), that are called "Self Lit", and they claim that those panels, are not using any backlight, so there is any Flickering or PWM used.I do really hope to see a change in display technology on future Iphones.

I really hope Apple can see and hear this message, because it is not only me, but 30% of your customers having problems like this!
Imagine using a strobo flashing light, and point it to your eyes for 5h, or more, a day. How would you feel? Confused? You are okay. It is normal. We just need the right technology, and this PWM thing, on a Display, it is garbage!

Please Apple do not use any PWM or Flickering Display in the future! (not only for Iphones, both for Mac, Ipad, Macbook).
Written on my SE 1st gen

If you want a pwm free display on next Apple devices, like and comment this post, to make it notice!
Click to expand...

LG doesn't have new panels that don't use a back light as all OLED panels already have no back light. They never did use one. OLED panels are self illuminating as in they create their own light. All OLED panels are self lit. PWM has nothing to do with a backlight and everything to do with light modulation and brightness control.

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) in OLED displays | OLED Info

Pulse-Width Modulation, or PWM, is one of the ways display makers can use to adjust the display's brightness. PWM is considered to be an easy (or cost-effective) way to control the brightness, but it has serious drawbacks, such as flicker that may cause eye strain and headaches. In this article...
www.oled-info.com www.oled-info.com
 
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dan98

macrumors regular
Oct 29, 2013
159
297
Yes there many many LCD and LED screens using PWM too.
The original LCD use a more 'analogue' style flicker so it is never really a problem.
LED can definitely be a problem, but I don't believe any Iphones suffer with it.
It can easily be checked using a camera with a low shutter speed. (I use Camera+ app).

OLED = total PITA. They'll immediately lose 3 IP12 orders from me if there is PWM.
 
The-Real-Deal82

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
16,476
24,238
Wales, United Kingdom
Chompineer said:
I've literally never heard of this complaint. Have had OLED phones pretty much since Samsung first started making AMOLED.
Click to expand...
Its been widely talked about on here and throughout tech forums since the release of the iPhone X. Unless you participate in this area then you wouldn't have heard of it, although I have seen articles in the national press concerning this too.
 
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left shark fan

left shark fan

macrumors member
Apr 23, 2015
30
4
Yeah I have to same issue unfortunately, really hoped the new iPhones wouldn't have PWM. They did mention something about a pixel technology in the keynote but can't remember what exactly. Pretty sure that doesn't affect the PWM issue though ?
 
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Jimmy James

Jimmy James

macrumors 603
Oct 26, 2008
5,488
4,067
Magicland
If the display still has pwm without a significant bump in frequency it’s a hard stop for me.

I love the SE but my eyes are gettting worse. XR is nice but huge. It seems to come down to that decision. At least they both come in 128GB and I’m left with an economical choice.
 
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orange23

orange23

macrumors regular
Oct 14, 2020
118
176
I'm holding on my iphone 11 now due to the LCD...I could pay the same money or extra 50 bucks for an iPhone 12 Pro with LCD screen if Apple give me the option.

We should together file law suits, short the stock and tank the stupid PWM capitalist destroyed millions of eyes rather protecting life!
 
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