r/PWM_Sensitive

anyone here that has divergence issues and noticed that our lovely tiny digital screens with micro details and ultra fast movements are a culprit? (Divergence is the ability to relax your eyes so the two eyes can make one picture together, and the brain can make a whole picture of it).

personally i have become weirdly screen sensitivity from a heavy concussion. It's well know in that world that digital screens are a nightmare. I am curious if in here we can make steps, besides the annoying pwm, our brain & Vision simply isn't made for these ultrafast micro movements on a screen that has a weird fake depth perception. And do this wayyy to close to our faces. Humans naturally aren't build to do this on the scale we are doing it.

I've had the luck to work with some of the best vision therapists in my country (Netherlands) and made very big steps and comparing to friends who work a lot with computers and phones, i score better... So yes, the screen itself is a culprit and must be avoided at all cost, but I believe many of us here, need to check their vision as well, and start training it if it's off. When i started, my screen time went up like crazy, without headaches etc. I was flabbergasted because i thought it was the only screen itself.. and spending thousands on failed screen experiments left me wandering.

Not saying to go do vision therapy and buying beautiful OLED screens now, I did swap my OLED ipad for a Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro Matte LCD version (loving it), but stil on my iphone pro super mega 15 and hating it.

last but not least: have your C1 spine bone proper checked, any small disturbance here is a shortcut to headaches and eye strain. every time my therapist is doing her magic there, I magically can handle screens 10x better + longer.

Now, let's make this world anti flickering again , yet in the meantime, I hope my input can help a few here where the screen itself maybe isn't the biggest enemy after all.

My brother got a phone from his provider...it's called Telekom T Phone 3. I don't know if it's available outside Germany, he got it for 3€, you can find it new in stores under 150€, but there are plenty of sealed phones on the market for like 50€ because so many people got it from T-Mobile for 3€ just to sell it right away.

It's not a flagship of course, but i'm really impressed, the system is pure android, no bloatware, very snappy for a Snapdragon 6 gen 3. You get updates till Android 18/ 5 years security. Screen is very well calibrated for eye comfort, with smooth whites/contrast, non glaring, sharp letters. Best I've seen on an LCD. Color accuracy is ok, speakers are meh. Downside is it's not very angle stable...if you look from the side the display gets a little darker...but who uses his phones from an angle really?

White background while weeping the phone looks a little weird/cheap because of that, first I was put off...but after like 15 Minutes use it was no problem anymore. If someone uses his phone mostly while jogging it could be annoying for sure lol. In dark mode it's extremely nice to use, easy to read, letters are sharp like on an OLED, but much less glaring and irritating.

On other LCDs I always had the issues that letters in dark mode were glaring, not sharp with light bleeding ...just tiring to focus on. This phone's screen is the opposite, but as i said it comes with light angle issues. I couldnt identify PWM with my camera...but its hard to tell if they don't use some very high frequency PWM, as I found no informations online and have no tools to measure it. And it's also hard to say how many panel suppliers they use...if the screens on all phones are similar. But man it's a huge relief for my eyes. And for that price I think it's also a no brainer as a second driver...for reading/surfing online, evening use etc.

Just wondering, do you think there's some recent phone or tablet out there that would be universally safe and to recommend? And for example stop recommending old iPhones 11 from 7 years ago?

I was looking here and it seems maybe some people have different sensibilities compared to others, but not a single phone/tablet can be universally recommended

Some people love the Moto G75, others say feeling migraines and eyes problems in minutes. Others say the Nothing 3A is perfect, while then you also find people saying is very harsh.

Some others like the TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus, while then others say they had to return it immediately.

It seems there isn't a real consensus about "this phone or tablet is generally safe", don't you think? If it's not PWM it's Dit, or it's the "harsh backlight" or it's...

At the end, it seems impossible to try and do a right decision (except if you are OK with going to an eInk phone which would be a very limited experience)

If anyone with the same experience can help me to figure this out. So when I switched from pixel 7 to pixel 9 pro I had very noticeable eye fatigue/burning. Never had any sensitivity to screens before.
The fix that helped me was forcing peak refresh rate (120 hrz). In a week regardless any other settings I had no symptoms.
Now I switched back to iPhone and have this burning sensation again. Tried all possible settings to adjust colors/white point/brightness, but nothing helps.

Any suggestions for my specific sensitivity? Also, trying to understand what am I sensitive to, is it changing refresh rate?

Hello everyone, I am considering buying a used HP EliteBook 855 G7 with an AMD Ryzen processor.

The hardware ID of the screen is AUOA08B, which according to Panelook points to the AUO B156HAN09.1 (60Hz, Low Power, 400 nits, native 8-bit). However, Panelook mentions a PWM frequency of 'Min. 200Hz ~ Typ. 1KHz ~ Max. 10KHz'. On the other hand, reviews and tests claim it is PWM-free.

Does anyone here have real-world experience with this specific laptop/panel or this generation of HP EliteBooks?

Any insights or measurements PWM behavior on this setup would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks !

As the title.

Is PWM a problem with OLED or just AMOLED?

If both, is one worse than the other?

My partners has a Pixel 7 with an OLED screen and this seems fine.

I am looking at an S25 Ultra which is AMOLED.

Just trying to work out if I may have an issue with the S25 before parting with a lot of money.

I have sjogrens with really severe dry eyes. also chronic complex migraines (argh!) and have been using iPhones but need a new phone thats going to be easy on my eyes

Tossing up between the following as im based in the UK:

• Motorola Edge 60 Neo (pOLED)
• Motorola G87 (Extreme AMOLED^(4))
• Motorola Edge 50 Neo (pOLED)
• Motorola g56 (LCD)
• TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G (LCD)

I can't really have other ones as they're too heavy and big for my hands

Any experiences with these options?

First - I kind of doubt this will help anyone else, but I wanted to share because there's so little information out there.

I have been diagnosed with "central sensitization + vagus nerve/autonomic dysregulation". My nerves (specifically the vagus nerve and the brainstem autonomic centers that control it) are no longer coordinating properly.

Basically my vegus nerve is causing my autonomic centers to freak out and because of that my brain amplifes normal signals (smells, flicker, gut sensations like normal movement) into discomfort/pain. It was described as my brains "volumn knob for sensory" being turned all the way up.

For clarity: I also have other issues caused by this. Esophageal/stomach/gut as well as a severe chemical sensitivity to things like perfumes.

I don't think its the actual monitor for me. I use a new virtual desktop at work using my old monitor that does not bother me at all and I immediately got symptoms. I thought it was odd so I then remote desktop'd to another windows machine that I know hurt my eyes and sure enough on my old trusty monitor I got symptoms also. What is happening. These are Windows machines.

I was just thinking about this earlier... What about kids that might be PWM sensitive and cannot express their discomfort and end up being exposed to devices that cause them eye strain and headaches?

I am PWM sensitive and have been struggling to find phones, laptops and TVs I can use. I had a baby 3 months ago and while I plan to go screen-free for a couple of years, that'a something that is on my mind.

What if she, as a toddler, experiences similar symptoms and simply thinks that's what is normal? If for many adults it is difficult to pinpoint our devices are the cause of eyestrain and discomfort, I would imagine it is even harder for small kids.

Hey everyone,
I wanted to share a major breakthrough for anyone running an aftermarket EK Pro Incell LCD panel to escape PWM/flicker.

If you’ve been lurking on r/PWM_Sensitive, you know the EK Pro is praised for its 120Hz fluid smoothness and eye comfort. However, a common, frustrating complaint across the community has been random touchscreen freezes and brightness glitching/locking up, especially when the phone is pushed hard or rendering HDR content.
Most people assume this is a bad batch, an iOS bug, or thermal throttling from the display driver. It isn't. I spent the last few days deeply testing this on my setup, and I discovered the actual physical root cause—along with a simple, 100% effective workaround that completely eliminated my freezes.

🔍 The Root Cause: Top Antenna Window EMI
On newer aluminum unibody iPhones, Apple re-introduced a specialized glass antenna window cut right into the top edge of the frame to allow high-frequency cellular signals to penetrate the metal.
This window sits exactly adjacent to the Dynamic Island area—which is precisely where the EK Pro’s internal flex cables, digitizer paths, and Touch IC (the screen's "brain") are located.

Because aftermarket LCD panels naturally have thinner electromagnetic shielding than factory OLEDs, they are highly vulnerable to EMI (Electrical Noise). When your phone is running on 5G (especially in low-signal areas like an apartment or parking garage), the modem forces that top antenna to blast radio signals at maximum power. This massive energy spike bleeds straight through the LCD's shielding, scrambling the touch signals and locking up your screen.

🛠️** The Workaround Blueprint
By treating this as a signal interference problem rather than a screen defect, I implemented two adjustments that completely stopped the freezes while maintaining full performance:
1. Lock Cellular Data to "LTE Only"
• Go to: Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data.
• Change from: 5G Auto / 5G On ➡️** LTE.
• Why it works: LTE operates on much lower, cleaner frequencies that do not emit the intense electrical noise required to bypass the EK Pro's shielding. Even when the phone is "shouting" for a signal in a dead zone, the screen stays perfectly fluid. (Note: I am on T-Mobile, so experiences may vary by carrier, but the physics of avoiding high-frequency 5G bands remain the same).

2. Turn On "Reduce White Point"
• Go to: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Reduce White Point.
• Set to: ~50% (adjust to your preference).
• Why it works: Many users notice freezes when viewing HDR content in Photos or Instagram. HDR forces sudden, massive voltage spikes to the display backlight. Reduce White Point clips those extreme digital peaks at the software level before they reach the hardware, preventing internal power surges from choking the display driver.

NOTE: To be fair, I think you can actually turn this off completely and will still work fine. The LTE really solves every issue known in my opinion.

📊 Real-World Results
After locking these settings in, I put the phone through a brutal real-world stress test: leaving my house, walking through concrete parking structures with terrible reception, running remote background shortcuts, and scrolling through full HDR media reels.
• Stability: Zero freezes. Completely vanished.
• Battery Life: Ended a massive outdoor day with 8 hours and 22 minutes of Screen-On Time (SOT) and still had 20% battery remaining. Because the EK Pro uses an ultra-efficient ESR backlight film and a modern COF driver, it is incredibly efficient—but only if you stop the battery from bleeding out due to 5G signal hunting and thermal resistance.

If you've been ready to throw your LCD mod in the trash because of constant touch crashes, try locking it to LTE and capping the white point. It completely saves the usability of the device without triggering eye strain.

Hi all,

Does any of you have experience with phones with OLED display that have anti-flicker/flicker-prevention features (like some Motorola phones do)? If so, did they work for you? I mean, were they truly effective in eliminating flicker?

I still don't know if i'm specifically PWM_Sensitive but I've been managing migraines for over 2 years now. At the moment OLED screens seem to be a no go. I am normally fine with most LCD displays. Sometimes some discomfort with my iPad Mini bug generally not. Sometimes discomfort with Macbook Pro but generally fine. Absolutely fine with my desktop monitors.

Generally no issues with phone sized e-ink devices.

I know I had some convergence and accommodation deficiencies which improved but maybe got worse but shouldn't trigger migraines quickly.

I got an iPhone SE 2022 and it worked for me for 1-2 months. Then after, and I think after an update, I can't use it at all. I get a migraine within 15 seconds. Currently relying on Boox Palma 2/Pro and iPad Mini forwarding calls/texts.

Any ideas why? Should I try to go back to another version of iOS?

I added a non reflective screen protector to see if reducing glares would help and it hasn't.

Hey everyone!

Over the last past months, I’ve been thinking about writing a letter to Apple’s CEO motivated by some people here who have posted here that they have written a feedback regarding the issues more and more people experience with PWM and OLEDs, and also with the d-word.

I’ve had a lot of success with personal letters in the past regarding different topics. Of course, in general, not the CEO other company will open the letter, but it will be forwarded to a higher level worker or even technician (so not 1st level / 2nd level etc.) who will then answer you.

My goal is not to achieve an instant improvement. However, my hope is that a letter has much more power compared to an email and maybe I can get in touch with a worker who is willing to convey.

What are your aspects you’ve mentioned when writing those feedbacks? Did you go into detail with modulation depth and so on? And is there maybe a summary here which explains most of the things like PWM, modulation depth, number of “black lines” and so on? I saw such a post some time ago with a great explanation including pictures but wasn’t able to find it anymore.

I’d be very grateful for your assistance!

Best regards,
X3nion

So i recently went to my eye dr and told him about how i was so annoyed with all this stupid PWM phones that have come out and how i cannot use any of them and his response was surprising.

He told me about one of his friends who did not have PWM sensitivity and how he bought a brand new car thats screen had pwm. Well eventually his friend developed pwm from the cars digital display and after a few months he had trouble using the car and even looking at his phone.

My eye dr is very specialised he is not the ordinary eye dr you can see in a shopping centre he is a eye specialist that charges a truck load to see but he is good. he said to me that all people are sensitive to pwm because of its flickering nature and not to believe only 30% is sensitive. He said with time everyone using a PWM phone will develop eye problems because of the way it affects the eye muscles. He also said if he had a dollar for everyone who came in complaining about eye strain from their phones he would be a millionaire lol.

He explained how the iphone 17 had a feature that was suppose to help PWM flicker but was not very effective and how samsung are trying to work on a phone now that is a OLED without PWM and that the PWM is becoming a real problem for everyone not just those who are sensitive, he said most people are having problems with PWM but they put the eye strain down to something else like their computer screen instead of the real culprit their phone.

His suggestion was to stay away from all PWM devices if i wanted to keep my eyes healthy and that these phone companies will have to find a work around sooner or later or the law suits would start piling up.

Hope this helps anyone feeling bad about not being able to use PWM phones.

Currently been using iPhone 11 for close to 7years now I tried to upgrade back then to a iPhone 13 and that when I discovered i was PWM sensitive. After trialing a few like the 12pm to Mac I went straight back to IPhone 11 and my previous one dropped in water and I could not revive it. Now I’m stuck with this iPhone. Although I love it 11 I’ve started to notice it getting slower and glitchy! I bought it in 2025 I think and was told it will no longer be sold! So now I’m stuck and don’t know what phones I can get with this eye sensitivity. Any suggestions for PWM free phone? Of that makes sence! I don’t even k ow any phone brands other than the most popular Samsung or Google’s si im stuck as I know they don’t cater to PWM sensitive people? Thanks in advance

I used the Xiaomi Pad 5 (120hz) for 3 years with 0 problems, then I tried to changed it for the Lenovo Y700 2023 (144hz) and got eye strain. I thought maybe it was the smaller screen (11inches vs 9 inches).

Then I tried the Xiaomi Pad 6 (144hz) (11inches) and also got eye strain...

So now my main suspicious is the 144hz.

Now Im getting a Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro that also has 144hz screen. I know lol, but my old Xiaomi Pad 5 can't handle new games properly anymore, so I want to get a better tablet. Wish me luck lol

In an old post someone commented that it can be happening because of LTPS screens:

"The problem is actually likely an issue with almost ALL LTPS panels since they require less power on time to keep the pixels still lit up, so manufacturers can intermittently send them power in order to increase battery life, unlike older a-Si type panels. If I'm correct about this, then virtually every LTPS panel is really a PWM screen and they're just playing stupid lawyer games with us to try and claim they aren't when really the same effect is taking place."

Someone know what can it be?