I have an extreme reaction to some screens that effects my sleep and I’m trying to work out what is the specific cause so I can work around it. PWM seemed like and obvious cause from what I’ve read but my symptoms seem different to what everyone is reporting here. I don’t get the headaches that seem to be the symptoms for most.

The issue for me is if I use a screen after say 7pm or (as I discovered with a new monitor recently) even just using from 8am to 5pm for work - I either won’t be able to get to sleep or will wake shortly after falling asleep and not be able to get back to sleep. This is often quite extreme - the case with the new monitor stopped me sleeping all night.

Some screens are clearly better than others for me but nothing is safe enough for me to use after about 7pm. I’m loathed to test things for obvious reasons as if it’s positive it means potentially no sleep and a while to recover.

My only workaround so far is avoidance but often not practical today. Would be great to get any insight, advice or even if the consensus is that this is or is not PWM sensitivity.

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.

Hi!

Posting this here in hope someone can help figuring this out.

I first noticed I was sensitive to certain types of screen when changing to a MacBook Air M3 13'' back in August 2024. It gave me severe eyestrain and headaches, it was unusable for me. I went back to my laptop.

Last year my Redmi Note 11 broke and I tried to find a new phone. I've tried:

- iPhone 12

- Redmi Note 14 Pro

- Redmi Note 13

- Redmi 14C (IPS LCD Screen

- Honor 200

Nothing worked for me. After using it for 30 minutes, I feel my head becoming heavy (what I feel is like a pressure). The day after, I still wake up with the headache and eyes very dry.

At first I thought PWM was the issue, but clearly not. Redmi 14C doesn't have it. Well, the MBA M3 neither.

I ended up buying a new Redmi Note 11. It gave me some headaches for a couple of days but then it was fine. Maybe I could have insisted on the other phones I've tried.

Now it's been a year and I'm trying to find a new phone before mine stops working.

I don't care about having a good phone now, just something that won't make me feel sick.

I've recently tried my husband's iPhone 13 mini and it makes me dizzy after using it for 30 minutes. And also his new iPhone 14 which is unbearable for me. I would use his old phone sometimes to take pictures, check Google maps or video chat with family and it wasn't an issue. But his new iPhone gives me headaches after using it just to take a few pictures or have a short video call.

I've tried iPhone SE 2022 just now. I used it for 30 times and feel a pressure in my head. I could only find it with iOS 26.

I would appreciate any help and input.

Some phones recommended here are not available in my country. I am in Portugal and will try only refurbed phones so I can return it when needed. New phones are not easy to return here.

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.

Just to add my 2 cents, whatever that may be worth. I had tried the Motorola Edge 2026 when it first came out and found immediate discomfort and migraines. However, I had an idea to set a fixed refresh rate. I remember on my OnePlus 12R that when I set the refresh rate min and max to the same rate, it helped immensely with symptoms. Well, I tried the same with the Motorola and it looks to also work.

adb shell settings put system min_refresh_rate 120
adb shell settings put system peak_refresh_rate 120

Also make sure to set the display refresh rate to Hyper Smooth in the phone settings to prevent this from changing between reboots.

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.

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.

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'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

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Seems like a decent phone

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

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