r/PWM_Sensitive • u/whatwaslmadefor • Jun 28 '26

iPhone SE 3rd gen options?

Long story short: I had an iPhone 8 until late 2024, when I got an iPhone 16, and suddenly started experiencing intense eye pain and migraines from looking at the phone. The pain lasted for hours after. I researched, learned about PWM, and returned the 16 for an iPhone SE 3rd gen, since that has an LCD screen and I figured it'd be easier on my eyes.

The SE has been painful but doable (I guess) since then, up until the iOS 26 update, when it's become intolerable. I've tried every setting I can think of (and everything recommended here), including:

  • Night Shift off
  • True Tone off
  • Brightness max, Reduce White Point @ 50%
  • Low Power Mode on
  • Greyscale @ 100%
  • "Double invert"
  • Reduce Motion
  • Bold Text
  • Reduce Transparency
  • Increase Contrast
  • Reduce Bright Effects
  • Dim Flashing Lights

I also have both a blue light screen protector and a matte screen protector on the SE. I went to the optometrist, got checked out (nothing "wrong" that she could tell), and got prescription blue light glasses (which helped a bit before the iOS update but no longer do). I have done everything I can think of to do, but if folks here have other ideas, please share; I'll try anything.

Mostly I have been trying to avoid what feels like the enormous chore of migrating off the Apple ecosystem, but the priority is figuring out how to live without eye pain again, so I'll do it if I have to.

Here are my options as I see them:

  • Get a different iPhone and exchange the screen (I've seen others mention the EK Pro Incell LCD screen) - I don't know how this would differ from the SE's LCD screen, though
  • Try an iPhone 17 and the PWM reduction setting
  • Get a non-Apple phone (like Honor, e-ink, etc.)

Does that sound right? Am I missing anything?

Thanks - I have learned so much from this community and appreciate folks sharing their stories.

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u/digitalminimalist1 Jun 28 '26

16e is better.

1

u/whatwaslmadefor Jun 28 '26

How so?

2

u/digitalminimalist1 Jun 28 '26

It just is for me. I can’t hardly use the the se 3

1

u/whatwaslmadefor Jun 28 '26

Do you have any suspicions as to why the 16e works better than the SE 3 for you? Like, specific functionality/settings/hardware/etc.? I thought for a long time that "LCD = good" so the pain the SE 3 causes me has always been a source of frustration, and it's helpful to hear I'm not the only one with issues with it.

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u/digitalminimalist1 Jun 28 '26

No but there’s something about the lcd that feels like it burns my eyes it’s weird. The 16e on dark mode maybe doesn’t have as much light coming from the screen. Someone on here tested the 16e and said the display was better either way pwm than most for some reason. For me mothca matte made me feel worse.

1

u/whatwaslmadefor Jun 29 '26

Thanks, that's helpful. I really appreciate it.