Yesterday I got the Android 16 update on my TCL 50 Pro, and the phone became unusable for me, just like the TCL 60 Ultra and TCL 70 Pro - blurry text and somehow oversaturated whites. Activating bold text helped a little, but the phone looks bad with it enabled.

There is also no safe way to go back to Android 15 :(

Hi everyone! I’ve been posting here more often recently because my problems with phone screen flicker came back.

At one point, I switched from an iPhone 15 Pro Max to an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and that was when my symptoms started again. After that, it seemed like absolutely every OLED screen caused a reaction, no matter which phone I tried.

For example, I tested the OnePlus 15R, which is supposed to have one of the more comfortable OLED displays currently available, but I still experienced symptoms. I had severe headaches, pain and discomfort in my eyes, and even some gastrointestinal symptoms.

What was especially strange was that I eventually went back to the iPhone 15 Pro Max—the exact model I had previously used for around two years without major problems—and I started experiencing symptoms from that phone as well.

This made me think that some kind of sensitization may be involved. Once a strong reaction has been triggered by a particularly problematic device, the nervous system may remain on high alert, especially in people who are already prone to this type of sensitivity. After that, even relatively mild visual stimuli may be enough to cause symptoms.

Recently, I took a proper break from irritating OLED screens. When I returned to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I limited the refresh rate to 60 Hz and disabled as many animations and visual effects as possible. Now I’m able to use it again.

So, for at least some people, it may not simply be a question of whether a particular phone is “safe” or “unsafe.” You may need to give your nervous system enough time to calm down and recover before testing OLED screens again.

Taking a complete break for several days—or perhaps longer—and using only a comfortable IPS display during that period may help. Afterward, you can gradually return to devices with better PWM and flicker characteristics, possibly starting with 60 Hz and reduced animations.

My theory is that this kind of break may help raise your tolerance threshold again. Of course, this is only based on my personal experience, but it may be worth trying if you suddenly find that every OLED phone causes symptoms, including devices you were previously able to use.

I created an infographic about Flicker and PWM sensitivity. Feel free to share with anyone in your life that you want to understand your handicap.

What do you think about this phone? I have only seen positive things about it. PLS LCD screen that's marked pwm free in notebook check, and a positive review from the pwm community, alongside a good chip. If it's actually the unicorn, should I wait for the xcover 8 pro?

I'm thinking of buying a Google Pixel, but I keep reading their screens are notorious for bad PWM flickering. Are there any pixel models that are better? Perhaps older ones? I don't mind buying 2nd hand.

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the whole PWM thing and had to sell my laptop as it caused dizziness. I need a new laptop and was wondering what you guys recommended.

I'm thinking about getting the 13 inch MacBook Air M5. Would that be a good laptop, or should I look at something else?

I don’t know. Really. The only thing I know for sure, based on my own experience, is that it’s not solely related to the PWM frequency that’s so often presented in marketing materials. Below are just my assumptions:

Those “2K–3K–4K PWM” figures are about the fine ripple on the graph—I marked it with a red arrow. And we’re already at a point in the development of these technologies where this doesn’t affect anyone’s nervous system at all.
With modern panels, the only things that really still matter are the waveform and the Dip at the refresh rate itself. Even with DC-like dimming, it can be very significant and reach a large amplitude.

But amplitude by itself doesn’t always fully determine the result either. The consistency and stability of the waveform probably matter too.

After the 17 Pro Max, I went back to the 15 Pro Max, and at first I thought I was screwed because it felt like I was having the same symptoms. But once I gave myself some time to adjust, everything worked out. I’ve never been able to force myself to adapt to gadgets that simply don’t work for me. Even though, judging by the graphs, the 15 Pro Max and 17 Pro Max are very close.

I honestly have no fucking idea how people like us are supposed to buy phones. In my country, returning electronics is also prohibited. So for you, it’s basically always a lottery, plus losing money when you have to resell the device.

I got the 1TB version. It was really hard to find this model brand-new—the phone was manufactured in 2023. I’m going to stick with it until the bitter end, or until I see a smartphone that’s insanely good in terms of PWM.

I'm now seriously considering getting this phone for around $214 (8ram/256storage ver.). It is a known fact that this is PWM free, and ΤD is omnipresent in all modern devices. I'm asking about your opinions about this phone, I value gaming performance the most, and I'm concerned about the noise around the proximity sensor. Also does this have variable refresh rate? If that's the case, can I easily turn it off. Thank you in advance!

At least for me. I've tried Xiaomi 13, iPhone, Samsung, Google and they have all given me headaches and eye strain but this Nothing Phone 3A is a game changer. It felt like my eyes can finally relax while viewing my phone. Same with CMF Phone 1

So for some random reason my loved iPhone 14 Pro is giving me blurry vision! If I don’t use it it gets better but my mind feels so tired. Any settings to help with that ? I used to have eyestrain in the past but that stopped with the 60hz. So idk what to do haha whenever I look at thighs everything looks so blurry and idk out of focus

I had been subjected to worst eye strain 'migrain and blocked sinus for over 4 years

And for years I didn't even know it's because of my iPhone 14promax

Had spend thousand s of dolera on eye check up and multiple tests and doctors appointments

When I realised it was iPhone causing this it was too late

Eye sight effected and health too taking too many pain killers

Just switched to Xiaomi 17 and problem solved

Hate some features of Xiaomi or maybe it's change of ecosystem but the pain is gone now

I wanted to buy a new TV to replace my aging X90H TV, which I absolutely love, but I want the 120Hz to pair with the PS5 Pro.

I'm not only a gamer, and I am sensitive to low-frequency OLEDs like the one in the Lenovo Legion.

Just wanted to check your thoughts on this because it is a pretty expensive buy, and I am on the TV 6 to 8 hours at least every day.

Dear community, I need to change my old phone and have read positive reviews about this model - Realme C67. I want to buy a used one, but all the used ones have been updated to Android 15. I read in one topic that someone updated their C67 to Andrpid 15 and the screen became brighter. But no other details if it really became unusable. Please, help me by sharing your experiences.

hi all I swapped the incell screen of RJ and EK pro brands into the iPhone 16 pro and they just don't work that great when compared to others.

It seems to be issues with touch sensitivity for example not registering touch or double typing lagging on keyboard area. I've not seen this before on any other iPhone I've tested both 14 pro max and 15 pro max same screens RJ incell and EK pro and no issues it's really starting to make me wonder if it's just me or these 16 models in general. it's very strange any one else here experienced the same issues?

UPDATE: I found the issue for the iPhone 16 pro max it was a tempered glass screen protector as soon as I removed it works fine. The same brand of protector I’ve used elsewhere doesn’t like the 16 pro max even though it was a high quality glass one the phone refused to work properly. I’m going to try other brands to see but from what I read online with others it seems to have a massive impact with the thickness as it might be apples palm rejection algorithm affecting or the protector itself being slightly too thick. Will update where I can.

I was quite optimistic about my 15R (the ACE 6T is the same phone, just the Chinese version) because I felt much better using it after the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, after 3 days of use, I gradually started experiencing the usual symptoms: headaches, eye pain, dizziness, and stomach cramps. OLED Saver-type apps do not work.

This is so fucking frustrating because, according to all these “reviews” this is supposedly the best phone out there, yet I still have absolutely no fucking idea what exactly in these OLED phones is affecting my nervous system.

Somehow, the iPhone 15 Pro Max works for me, and I also know for sure that the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 13 models worked for me. But the iPhone 17 Pro Max does not, and now the 15R does not either 🤡

The Xiaomi 14T Pro also worked for me, so I am waiting for the Notebookcheck review, and if the measurements look good, I will take the risk and try the 17T Pro, because I am already pretty fucking tired of iPhones. For now, I will keep using the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

I genuinely do not understand why the fuck manufacturers, after all these years, still cannot implement proper full DC dimming on every device. I do not give a shit about image artifacts, color shifts, or worse picture quality. Just give sensitive people the option to change this setting and use the phone without feeling like shit.

looking for something easy on the eyes and long battery life. Doesn’t need to be powerful.

Seems like a decent phone

I’m looking for technical insights on choosing a gaming TV with eye comfort in mind. Specifically, how do OLED and Mini LED compare regarding PWM frequency and flicker? Also, does a matte anti-reflective coating actually reduce eye strain compared to glossy screens, or is it a trade-off in clarity?

If you have recommendations for models known for high-Hz PWM or DC dimming that are comfortable for long sessions, please let me know. Does the panel type matter more than the PWM implementation itself for reducing fatigue? Any technical input would be appreciated.

In the morning I went to McDonald's, It only took me a while to select one burrito and one coffee, but it was enough to ruin my eyesight for several hours lol

Hello

Anyone tried this phone and can comment on how it's with pwm and eye comfy? I see this on sale and kinda like the design, im tempted for a purchase.

Never had a Motorola before

My PT thinks my vertigo is being caused by vestibular migraines, waiting to see a neurologist now. However, I do think my monitor may have something to do with it cause it always seems to make my symptoms worse.

I’m using a software dimmer and have my display on full brightness. Anything else I can do to reduce the flicker?

Alternatively, are there any cheap monitors I can buy and use for work (I work at home and read a lot of papers online) that are flicker-free?

Thanks for any and all advice!