Can the iPhone 13 ProMotion 120hz display cause dizziness?

It’s actually comical that apple recommended Katana~Sans’ response . The dizziness your experiencing in reference to switching to the 13pro max has to do specifically with motion sickness caused by the Pro Motion 120 hz display. This is due to the increase in the processing of frames which almost makes your screen look like it’s “moving” . In better terms your screen is able to process at a rate that is so fast it creates the illusion of the screen actually being in motion because it can scroll at a faster pace, tricking your eyes into thinking your in motion. However your not and that creates a motion sickness including many symptoms such as dizziness, Nausea, headaches and even eye strain. (especially when done for long periods of time)

• good example of this is 3rd person video games like Call of Duty or Fortnite when you perform motions such as looking left and right your eyes are following these motions in time with your movements in game. over long periods your eyes begins to adjust more and more to that platform and begins to identify with this image as you being present in the game. If you play these high intensity games for hours on end ( especially on high sensitivity and high resolution) you will begin to feel nauseous, because it thinks your performing these constant motions but your body is not detecting actual movement. This constant motion can overwhelming for some to process especially for long periods of time, therefore you become Become “sick” as a result.

• The same goes for a phone screen that is refreshing at 120 hz per second. A good example of when this motion can be seen best is If you scroll lightly in one sweeping motion and let the screen come to a stop on its own. You can see from that alone that “movement” I’m referring to where it looks as though you can actually see the screen in motion. It actually gives you the impression of it being in motion in the direction you choose to scroll. You may notice that on other displays this longer slowdown as it comes to a complete stop after scrolling is shorter whereas on the Pro Motion display (clearly stated in the name) it moves in at a more “ real life “ speed/fashion giving your eyes the illusion of motion your not action performing.

IN ORDER TO DISABLE 120HZ refresh rate on iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max

-Go to settings

-Accessibility

-Motion

-Turn ON limit motion

you will notice that when you swipe up to switch between apps you previously used it does not do a motion but instead flashes straight to showing you other apps you already have open. Other motions will be limited as well

if that is NOT enough and it still gives you motion sickness or you want the motion to remain but still want to reduce the frame rate you you can turn ON Limit frame rate which will reduce the frames to 60hz. Although this completely removes the purpose of using the Pro Motion feature with the 13 Pro/Pro Max I would rather you remove this additional feature than be sick just from simply using your phone.

Also I suggest reducing screen time and brightness. The longer you use the phone in 120hz the more likely you are to develop motion sickness and using higher brightness will only create more clarity to the screen(therefore faster motion sickness). Hope this helps!

Short answer:

Yes, high refresh rates can cause motion sickness.

Hello ~ I would encourage you to go in to your doctor and have a checkup. You might mention to them about the iPhone and let them make a determination. Don’t put yourself at risk assuming it is related to your device. Get yourself checked out just to be sure…you are valuable. Also go to Settings * Display & Brightness * True Tone…try it on and off to see if one is more comfortable for you. No kidding on the dizziness though get that checked out.

~Katana-San~

@Katana-San I did not have any issues with the iPhone 11 Pro Max for the year I had it. So I went online and did a side-by-side comparison to see what differences there were between the 11 Pro Max and the 13 Pro as it pertained to the screen. The ProMotion was the major difference I found. I followed these steps I found on https://appletoolbox.com/how-to-turn-off-promotion-on-iphone-13/

Turn off ProMotion on iPhone 13 Pro

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
3. Under the Vision section, tap Motion.
4. Tap the toggle next to Limit Frame Rate.

I've been reading there are many issues with this update because apps haven't caught up with it yet. Perhaps after all the "fixes" come out I can utilize it once again. But for now I am better off without it. And yes, all my symptoms I was experiencing are gone again once turning that off.

I came across your post as I was having the same issues! Mine started the night before when I switched from the iPhone 11 Pro Max to the iPhone 13 pro. I was on chat with Apple (no help) while I was also googling what my issue was.

I ended up turning off the ProMotion feature on my phone and have had no problems of eye fatigue, motion sickness, dizziness, etc. I highly recommend shutting off the ProMotion in settings under visibility if you have issues!

Hello ~ Had you had these problems all along on the iPhone 11 Pro …just curious. Also is that Settings *Acessibility* Under *Vision section* Tap *Motion Then tap toggle next to *Limit Frame Rate* ?

~Katana-San~

Hello stardust3812 ~ I really appreciate your post back …it increases my knowledge and that is in my opinion the purpose of this forum. I am glad to have this bit of info and glad you are no longer bothered by those symptoms. I encourage you to start helping out here in this forum yourself. Be well :)

~Katana-San~

I’m shocked to have come across this post as I am going through the same exact situation since the purchase of my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I even went to the eye doctor and my eyes seem fine — but I do feel that weird, very minor vertigo-like feeling since I got this phone.

I just went ahead and enabled the setting to limit refresh rate. I hope it helps.

Interesting. I have iPhone 13 Pro Max display enabled. I often have severe vertigo. So severe that I am incapable of standing up when it happens and the room spins out of control. I am having absolutely no issues with the promotion display on my iPhone causing any vertigo symptoms. I'm wondering how a smoother motion on the screen would trigger vertigo symptoms? I would more think that a jerky display as would be the case with non-promotion displays could be more likely to trigger vertigo?

Not doubting anyone here. Just find it interesting, especially given my vertigo issues personally.

I have Vestibular Labyrinthitis which has been under control for 4 years following 5 years of serious dizziness etc. Over the past month it has come back very badly with no lifestyle changes and I could not work it out. I limited the frame rate of my iPhone 13 Pro and after 2 weeks it is going back to normal. I would advise anyone with dizziness to go to Settings / Accessibility / Motion / Limit Frame Rate.

maqueisha wrote:

• It’s actually comical that apple recommended Katana~Sans’ response . The dizziness your experiencing in reference to switching to the 13pro max has to do specifically with motion sickness caused by the Pro Motion 120 hz display.

Is that based on your knowledge as a doctor, or are you making a diagnosis based on nothing at all without examining the patient? What you say might be true, but even if it is in this one case it is not normal. If it was there would be 50 million people who bought the newest phone with these symptoms. When anyone has unusual medical symptoms they should get medical advice. And changing settings to reduce the symptoms (if it works) is the wrong thing to do; it can mask the possibility that there is a more serious underlying condition.

Katana-San’s post is sound advice; it is far from comical. Yours isn’t comical either; it is dangerous. I hope users take Katana-San’s advice, and not yours.

I am speaking with years of medical training and experience; anything related to a symptom within the body should be checked by qualified medical personnel.. it is impossible to properly diagnose an ailment without a physical checkup by a doctor.

Whoops

+1👍