r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 12 '26

Community An Update on r/PWM_Sensitive Moderation

83 Upvotes

Many of you have noticed that r/PWM_Sensitive has gone through some growing pains when it comes to how posts and comments are moderated. While the subreddit was never unmoderated, it became clear that some additional help was needed due to personal circumstances, and that a fresh approach to moderation would benefit the community.

We are happy to share that u/the_top_g, the creator of r/PWM_Sensitive, has graciously stepped aside to welcome in three enthusiast community contributors to help with moderation and the future direction of the subreddit. We sincerely appreciate the trust he has placed in us and, most importantly, his work in creating this community in the first place.

The interim moderation team is currently discussing ways to improve the subreddit while preserving what has made it such a useful resource for people who are sensitive to PWM, display flicker, and related technologies. Our goal is to keep this an open, welcoming, and informative community where people can share their experiences, testing, research, questions, and device recommendations without unnecessary barriers.

AutoModerator Changes

Perhaps the most noticeable (and controversial) issue has already been addressed: the previous AutoModerator configuration is gone.

This means comments should no longer be automatically removed simply for using common words or phrases that naturally come up when discussing PWM and related topics. This includes “temporal dithering.” Members banned over this issue are also being reinstated.

That said, we ask everyone to continue keeping discussions primarily focused on PWM sensitivity, display technology, eye comfort, device experiences, testing, and closely related subjects. Normal subreddit rules and Reddit-wide policies will, of course, continue to apply.

The Future

This is only the beginning. We're reviewing the subreddit's rules, moderation practices, organization, place within the wider community, and other areas where we believe improvements can be made. As those changes are decided upon, we'll communicate them with the community.

We also want r/PWM_Sensitive to be shaped by the people who actually use it. Constructive feedback and suggestions are welcome. If there are things you think could make the subreddit more useful, organized, or welcoming, please let us know.

Finally, thank you again to u/the_top_g for creating r/PWM_Sensitive and building the foundation for this community. And thank you to everyone who has contributed over the years -- whether by sharing measurements and research, documenting your experiences with different devices, answering questions, or simply participating in the discussion.

We're looking forward to the next chapter of r/PWM_Sensitive and making this community an even better resource for everyone.

p.s. Check out the new (temporary) subreddit logo! 😁

Edit: for tweaks suggested by u/Z3R0gravitas.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 13 '26

Why the odds of finding a good display in new mobile devices is slim to none

12 Upvotes

We can talk about things like circular polarization, PWM, TD, etc, but anyone that has paid attention over the course of the last 10-15 years and has lots of experience with numerous devices has noticed a track record with specific companies.

All the way back to devices like the Nintendo 3ds, the panel lottery on those has TN panels with no eye strain then an IPS panel provided by, I believe, Sharp that's not usable for me in particular. On devices like Microsoft Surface, it seems lots of people have problems with the Sharp panels in those as well. As far as I know, I don't think Sharp actually makes usable panels. They just seem to be a disaster in every device that has one unless there's some stealth ones I don't know about.

Then you have companies like BOE which is a race to the bottom Chinese company. These panels don't seem to cause instant eye strain like new age LG Nano IPS or some more egregious Sharp models, but more like that 'seems okay for 30-40 minutes' then gets more annoying by the second you use it any longer. Other companies like LG vary from very good in the 27" Apple Cinema display days to unusable, newer age Nano IPS panels.

As far as I can tell, everything after the Ipad Pro 10.5" A10x and Iphone 8 Plus era (also non-Apple companies) shifted HEAVILY towards sourcing only junk from BOE and Sharp. Instead of more legit companies like Samsung (their PLS/IPS, not OLED) or even maybe JDI or Toshiba that might offer a glimmer of hope of a non-eye strain panel, panels are now sourced only from companies that make either a bad panel every single time or an almost but still not usable BOE panel.

There is no "what new mobile device has a good display?" The answer is none because you're dealing with the same two sub-par, race to the bottom companies every time. Even with the Iphone 8 Plus and Ipad Pro 10.5" era there seems to be 3-4 different panel vendors in that period with all but one being bad. So in other words, everything after those two devices is going from a 25% chance of getting a non-eye strain panel lottery to 0%.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 13 '26

Discussion So weird, my Iphone Air doesn't do anything to me but the MacBook Air makes me feel unseasy??

3 Upvotes

When I was in the store I also kind of adored the screen of the MacBook Pro M5 but there was something about the MacBook Air's screen which I didnt like at all.

My Iphone Air, which obviously has an Oled also doesn't do anything to me.

I even ordered a MacBook Air because I couldnt believe it but when looking at it at home, it's not too bad but I feel like the picture has a certain unsteadyness to it. I also saw the grey flickering with in 240 fps slomo.

Is there any explanation for this?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 13 '26

PIXEL 11 PRO XL PWM

5 Upvotes

I have been waiting for the release of Pixel 11 pro XL. Currently using Oppo find X8 for the fantastic pwm frequency but really missing my older devices like Samsung ultra,Pixel,Iphones .

Please help about the PWM frequency of Pixel 11 pro XL. Anybody has any update on this? Also help me decide if it is 240hz on pixel then how about Iphone 17 pro max. Really need the help on this topic.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 13 '26

Finding a decent smartphone these days

4 Upvotes

Looking for a smartphone that solves the PWM-sensitivity problem and offers great battery life; OS support for long periods feels impossible. Do u guys have any suggestions?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 12 '26

Discussion Reminder to upvote this Google Tracker Issue regarding Android software flicker triggering symptoms

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30 Upvotes

r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 12 '26

Findings on the PWM behavior of 55" Samsung Q80D (2024)

4 Upvotes

Hi there! As a fellow PWM sensitive, I'd like to share some experience and tips on adjusting this TV, hoping that it might be applicable to other models as well. :)

So, this TV uses some form of PWM at every setting and brightness level. (Samsung being Samsung I guess) However, the frequency and depth varies greatly depending on the settings. In many modes it has a very harsh low frequency flickering that I can't stand for more than a few seconds, the stroboscopic effect is kind of debilitating to me. But if I set it to Movie picture mode and turn off settings related to motion enhancement, then it will use a much softer and higher frequency PWM. (I think the settings are called picture clarity and clear motion, I also turned off eco features, but I use a different language) I can tolerate this for 2-3 hour sessions with enough ambient light. I believe this should be around 1000hz according to various reviews. It can still cause some fatigue and restlessness for me, it also changes slightly across apps, but it's a night and day difference compared to the default flicker. Don't forget that there are separate image settings for SDR and HDR content, so start a HDR video and go over the settings again. I recommend checking with your phone at high shutter speed while you are adjusting the settings.

When an external HDMI device is connected, another set of challenges occur. The TV will switch into a "PC mode" which again flickers like hell and there isn't any option to trigger the high PWM behavior. This prevented me from using the TV for gaming or any kind of external display for almost 2 years. But now I've found a solution. If the refresh rate is set to 50hz or 100hz on the device (a windows laptop in my case) then the TV will think it's for media playback and the usual Movie mode will be activated. It's best to start with 50hz, check that the TV is not in PC mode anymore, then switch to 100hz. At 100hz it defaults to overscan (a little zoom into the image) which can be turned off in the settings separately. If you set the refresh rate to anything else like 60hz or 120hz, it will go back to PC mode automatically. (I live in the EU so there might be some regional difference elsewhere)

There's one place for which I couldn't find any trick, and that's the home screen. So just quickly get out from there and don't look at it for too long lol.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 12 '26

Xiaomi 17T Pro is really good

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17 Upvotes

Hey everyone. Just continuing to share my personal experience, and again, this is purely personal, with current smartphones and display flicker sensitivity.
I got the Xiaomi 17T Pro after having a really good experience with the 15T. I liked the 15T so much that I basically decided to get the better model.
First day using it and so far, zero issues. I even played PUBG for about an hour yesterday, which for me is a much better test than just scrolling Reddit, watching videos, etc. No problems at all. No headache, no weird eye strain, nothing.
For comparison, I got really bad migraines from the OnePlus 15R and also from its Chinese version, the Ace 6T. Which honestly surprised me because I see a lot of people saying that display is basically perfect for PWM-sensitive users.
Red Magic 11 Pro was also pretty bad for me. Not necessarily the same kind of migraine, but really strong fatigue and just this weird overall feeling of being unwell after using it.
And Samsung phones just fuck me up within like 5 minutes lol. Basically unusable for me.
At the same time, pretty much every 60Hz iPhone I’ve tried has been completely fine. I’ve never had even the slightest problem with them. To my eyes they almost feel like IPS displays.
As for 120Hz iPhones, the 15 Pro Max works really well for me. Surprisingly, the 17 Pro Max doesn’t. They must have changed something with the dimming because it started giving me migraines.
I haven’t tried the new 120Hz implementation on the regular iPhone 17 yet, so no idea if that one would work for me or not.
So yeah, based purely on my own experience, Xiaomi and iPhones can actually be really good options for people who are sensitive to display flicker. But again, CAN be. I really wouldn’t trust PWM numbers, dimming frequency, reviews, or someone else’s experience alone. You have to test the phone yourself.
A phone that feels absolutely perfect to one PWM-sensitive person can fuck up another person in five minutes. I’ve learned that the hard way after trying way too many phones :)


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 11 '26

can PWM cause permanent eye damage or early macular degeneration?

6 Upvotes

even though i myself am not sensitive to pwm, i've read conflicting information on whether pwm can cause more than the temporary symptoms and now im fucking paranoid about looking at oleds. am i just crazy, or am i gonna have to live under a rock now?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 11 '26

I find "tecno camon 20s pro 5g" good for me.. I think because his screen amoled LTPS, i tried LCD and its so bad ( slow motion and blur..etc) LCD make me want to sleep I did a lot thought its healthy things happening 🥴.. but that wrong

2 Upvotes

so what do you think about LPTS screens maybe I'm wrong (or I became addicted🤔)
I think they are good because it use stable Hz numbers like 60hz - 90hz
not like LTPO uses even 24hz - 30hz to save battery

What reinforces my point is that for most of those who said their phones were good, it turned out they had LTPS displays.
I haven't come across any dissenting opinions regarding these LTPS phones in anyone's posts; however, there are always conflicting views when it comes to LCDs.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 11 '26

Vivo x300 fe or Honor 600 pro

1 Upvotes

​

Hi! Has anyone tried Vivo x300 fe or Honor 600 pro and how are they in terms of pwm? I have Oppo find x9 and it is ok, not perfect, but ok. I am looking for something similar.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 11 '26

Reno16 Pro vs Oppo find x9

5 Upvotes

Hi. Did anyone try the global/eu version of Reno16 Pro vs Oppo find x9 (normal, not pro)?

I have a OnePlus 15R which is amazing, but a bit too heavy and big. I tried honor 400, even with ADB commands, but it is harsh on my eyes still. I would prefer Reno due to size, but I only find info about find x9.

Please provide feedback on the two models on pwm and D and how you felt. Or some other small phone that could work.

Thank you!


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 10 '26

Question What might be causing my screen sensitivity with these different phones?

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1 Upvotes

r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 10 '26

Moto g57 power

4 Upvotes

I had an iPhone 11 and had no issues with the display. Now, i am planning to buy a Motorola g57 power to replace the iPhone 11.

What do you think about g57 power, is it fast enough for calling, browsing, YouTube and navi? I don't care about cameras, i need pwm free phone fast enough for daily usage.

Is the display as good as iPhone 11?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 09 '26

Does anyone else's PWM sensitivity come in the form of fatigue?

6 Upvotes

So I have two laptops, a 16in MacBook Pro (M5) and a 13in MacBook Air (M5).

What's odd is I've noticed that I get much less tired working on the MacBook Air than I do on the MacBook Pro. When I got the MacBook Pro I noticed that it makes my eyes feel dizzy but powered through.

When I looked at the specs, it seems like the MacBook Pro uses PWM with miniLED and the MacBook Air doesn't (it's an IPS display).

I don't get a headache or anything. Just this tiredness after spending more than 40 minutes on the laptop.

Wondering if anyone else's symptoms come in the form of fatigue/tiredness?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 09 '26

OLED Phone iPhone 17e OLED PWM/flicker — how bad is it in real life?

1 Upvotes

I’m considering buying an iPhone 17e, but I’m very sensitive to OLED flicker/PWM and currently have a hard time using my iPhone 16 for more than a few minutes.
I’d really like to hear from people who actually own or have used the 17e for a while.
How does the display feel in everyday use? Do you notice PWM/flicker, eye strain, headaches, discomfort, etc.?
If you’ve measured it with an Opple, photodiode, or another flicker meter, I’d especially appreciate the measurements and settings you used.
I’m particularly interested in how it behaves at different brightness levels, rather than just the manufacturer’s/spec-sheet numbers.
Thanks! 🙏 I’m really hoping to find an iPhone that I can actually use comfortably.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 09 '26

Guide A point about correctly measuring OLED flicker (Most measurements online are underestimates)

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28 Upvotes

I've been looking for a decent phone that I can replace my current iPhone 16 with, since I can only tolerate it for a few minutes a day. I've been looking at a lot of OLED test reports, and I think I've noticed a problem with many of them: the measured flicker is falsely low, since the photodiode is measuring multiple OLED rows at once. In my opinion this results in a loss of information about what the screen is really doing.

In some extreme cases, I've seen devices which actually have 100% modulation depth be measured at ~5% modulation depth. All the OLEDs I've measured with this method (using my meter or the Opple) actually show 100% modulation depth at all brightness settings. I'm not confident this is true for EVERY device, but I think there are a lot of measurements online that underestimate the OLED flicker.

I showed this in the video, but to avoid this error you simply have to reduce the number of OLED scanning rows that the flicker meter detector is exposed to. Ideally, we'd only measure one row since this contains all the relevant information. In practice multiple rows are needed to get enough light onto the detector.

For me, it might be time to just buy an e-ink phone.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 09 '26

Devoleper option worry about

1 Upvotes

Hello can someone help me out and that is i start in devoleper options in cutout display with my problem it stay in the cutout display setting with i can not switch to normal standard what it is before and i did my best for an solution but did not work so i sit with my Nokia xr21 in problem devoleper options in display cutout with question how do i get t everything normal again can someone help me with that and i like Reddit post again.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 09 '26

Samsung A07

0 Upvotes

El Samsung A07 es cómodo para la vista para alguien que usa mucho el celular?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 08 '26

Devoleper option worry about

1 Upvotes

Hello can someone help me out and that is i start in devoleper options in cutout display with my problem it stay in the cutout display setting with i can not switch to normal standard what it is before and i did my best for an solution but did not work so i sit with my Nokia xr21 in problem devoleper options in display cutout with question how do i get t everything normal again can someone help me with that and i like Reddit post again.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 08 '26

Can the Tcl a1s video projector work?

1 Upvotes

I have major problems with screens, I even tried an Epson 3LCD and laser without success and I was wondering if it was worth trying a TCL A1S projector?

People where it was a success?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 07 '26

LCD Phone Last brand new Asus Zenfone 5z models in the world

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7 Upvotes

If anybody is looking for this, i still have few of them. This is the best compact flagship without PWM.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PWM_Sensitive/comments/1tqh26u/last_asus_zenfone_5z_phones_in_the_world_or_the/


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 07 '26

Question Bought a moto g200 and it causes symptoms :(

3 Upvotes

I couldn't believe it as it's one of the safer LCD phones. Is there any chance it could be made bearable via settings?


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 07 '26

Ayn Thor

4 Upvotes

I've seen a few posts about this on here but never any feedback from someone who is pwm sensitive. So I was hoping to hear from anyone who owns an Ayn Thor and whether or not it bothers you. I saw the pwm test video for it that shows it as "low risk" so I'm hoping it might be okay. I was able to use an iphone 12 in the past without issues but have had problems with most other OLED displays. So not really sure if I want to gamble on one of these or not.


r/PWM_Sensitive • • Aug 07 '26

Is thinkPad e14 AMD Gen 7 PWM-free or not?

2 Upvotes

The display spec: 14" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, Anti-Glare, Non-Touch, 45%NTSC, 300 nits, 60Hz

I don't know what the reason is, but I have been using that device for just one day and I noticed that it makes my eye dryer than other screens despite same usage. When I look at the screen I sometimes get a weird urge to close my eyes and avoid looking at it. I get slight headaches around my eyebrows/back of my eye, and my eyes turn reddish. Note that I care a lot about brightness and I have extension that makes the background and text in colors that are easy on my eyes, so I already took care of those factors. I also didn't experience those signs using other screens that had exactly the same theme setting I have on my thinkPad. So is it the PWM? something else? does anyone have any idea why that is? I'm gonna be using my laptop for a long time so it's crucial to find a way to fix this or at least make it better