Why is my iPhone 14 Pro causing headache, nausea and eye strain? PWM Complaint...

oleksii_ wrote:

FFS, stop sending people who have nothing wrong with their eyesight to doctors! There is nothing wrong with their eyes if the issue goes away when they switch to LCD screens without PWM.

These people do not know, until they have seen a doctor, what the cause of the problem is. Sudden headaches, for example, can be a symptom of brain tumors. Any sudden new pain or loss of function should be seen by a doctor. To recommend people do otherwise is morally wrong.

Yes, that's part of why Apple puts the demo phones out day one.

Now stores may be busy enough on launch day to only allow people picking up in, but it will calm down not long afterwards, plus you can also try other retailer like cellular carriers and chains like Best Buy.

I've had this issue for a while now. (about 5 years now) Took me a while to figure it out, and it's not unique to apple; it's any screen utilizing PWM for brightness control.

As an Apple user, Im sticking with an older MacBook Pro, and for phone, an iPhone 8 (still), and will most likely get an SE by the end of the year.

Most people I know are fine with it. My kids, for example, have no issues. Even friends that wear glasses for reading...not an issue.

For those that do get headaches though, there is one thing we have in common; a lazy eye. I have one eye, not that you can tell by looking at me, that is classified as "lazy". This impacts my depth perception, and typically forces my good eye to do all the work. (the brain is good at adjusting). Seeing those hidden images in a stereogram photo for example? Impossible for me. Anyway, that's what I get for not wearing the eye patch as a kid.

That said, please don't take this as medical advice. It's simply my own personal observation, and experience. All I know is, PWM controlled displays do not play well with my eyes.

Symptoms:

Eye strain/pressure (like I'm staying cross eyed too long)

Nausea/dizzy

Headaches/migraines

blurred vision

Recovery: usually takes a day

Remediation:

I just turn up the brightness. Doesn't work all the time though. iPhone 12 for example, doesn't help, and the symptoms described above tend to come on quickly (few minutes).

I am having exactly exactly exactly the same symptoms

Did you fix your problem and if you did, how?

Just few minutes ago I was thinking to take 14 Pro max back to the Apple shops and 12 Pro max ( I didn't have no issues with that phone)

iPhone 11 is LCD, the 11 pro is OLED.

I tried both and stuck with the 11. I just tried the 15 plus but massive headaches and eye strain. Apple needs to release a dimming update or just make a lcd phone. I’d buy it in a minute. Don’t care of the price.

What I did, I turned off my favourite Dark mode and activated Lite mode...that's kind of made things better

I am also going to delete my Esim and add a normal sim. I think that's also making a difference

I have the same issue with the 14 and also the 15 (both returned)

I wonder if it's more that the "wavelength" or "frequency" the 14 and 15 use is different/stronger than the previous models. These are the first ones that communicate with satellites, and let whomever know if you're in an accident. So my question is - is the "wavelength" they're on stronger than the previous models?

I went back to my 13.

Saying "wavelength" is like saying "feet" or "meters." It's a unit of measure, as is frequency. What sort of waves do you think are the issue here?

It is likely that you have the problem with PWM that other people in this thread have described.

Obviously not the right words, BUT tech at Apple Store agreed 14 and 15 do "communicate" or whatever the technical term is, differently, or possibly with more strength, because of the safety features that began with the 14 i.e. if you're lost, out of range, let's say in the mountains, 14 or 15 will find a satellite. If you're in an accident they will notify.

Not PWM because it happens while just holding and not looking at the screen.

The only available iPhone with an IPS screen is the SE.

Note like all LCD screens, they use PWM for the backlight LEDs, so it's not a matter of just avoiding PWM, you really do have to test whatever device you are considering to see if it bothers you.

Your local Apple Store will be happy to let you use the devices on display.

I swapped out my iPhone 14 for an iPhone SE 3 to go back to an LCD screen. My eye strain improved with the iPhone SE3 until the iOS version 17. My eye strain returned, similar to the iPhone 14. 

Before returning to an Apple product, I had a Galaxy 9S+ since 2019. I did not have eye strain issues with the Galaxy phone and it is an OLED display. 

I am not trying to debate technology. I am just sharing what helped my eye strain. I only have my search engine allowed to refresh in the background. I still have many features turned off. Blue light reduced, night shift allowed. (Night shift was recommended by Apple Support and did help some.) My experience, turning off many background refresh apps has helped me. 

If anyone else is helped by reducing background refresh apps, please post.

Are you able to use your iPhone SE with a later version of iOS 16 or iOS 17? Something happened for me with one of the iOS updates that makes previously comfortable Apple LCD screens give me similar bad symptoms like OLED screens do.

i bought iphone 15 in April 2024, and ever since i feel like whenever i use it i get headache, even 10-20min usage of it is too much, i am regretting buying it, androids are better than this heating (literally burning) machine.

it heats so high that its tough to even hold it in hand worst experience

I have the exact same problem. Once I upgraded to one of the new iPhones with OLED and had to return it and go back to my 7. I ended up “upgrading” to a xr but it seems I won’t be able to get anything else new since they aren’t releasing anything I can use without feeling nauseous and constant migraines. Really sad because I would love to get a new phone. I hope apple hears our calls for help on this and puts out a newer phone that we can use as PWM sensitive people.

iphone 14 pro have an OLED screen not a AMOLED

if it was me then I would stop using the phone and maybe reach out to apple

Apple Support