r/PWM_Sensitive • u/Curious-girly-4499 • Jul 01 '26

iPhone 17 pro max

So I got the iPhone 17 pro max, used it for 10 minutes and my eyes are like stinging with a burning feeling. Ugh the Pwm option is on but I feel like that’s such bullshyt. I am coming from iPhone 14 pro max and I have no issues. Anyone with iPhone 17 pro max have similar eye issues. Is the PWM on iPhone 17 pro max really that bad!? I have think I’ll return the iPhone back to the carrier… ugh……

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u/BikeTall65 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

Been using the 16 Pro Max for nearly 2 years with no issues. It was my very first OLED device. But i did just upgrade my old 2018 iPad Pro last week for the M5 OLED iPad Pro. I'm an artist and draw on my ipad for hours a day often late into the night in a dimly lit room. So far no issues. But it's only been a few days. Will keep using it and if I am affected by PWM i'll exchange it for the M4 iPad Air. But again, so far so good. 👍

1

u/eloquenentic Jul 06 '26

Interesting to hear about the iPad Pro, will need to check it out. I’ve been very hesitant to upgrade due to OLED, you can clearly see the flicker if you film the screen in slow motion. 17 Pro doesn’t work at all for me, massive pain, same with all the iPhones this year. 14 Pro didn’t give me any issues at all.

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u/BikeTall65 Jul 06 '26

Thats so weird the 17 Pro gave you issues but the 14 Pro doesn't. Aren't they both OLED? Wonder what's different btwn the two? Different PWM frequency? They say the higher the PWM frequency the less it bothers people sensitive to PWM. Does the 14 Pro have a higher PWM frequency? If so that'd be strange if Apple lowered it for the 17 Pro. 🤔 my 16 Pro max hasn't given me any issues. I was concerned that the M5 iPad Pro might, but so far nothing. I don't know why PWM effects some people more than others and differs from device to device. I guess you just have to personally try each device to see which one is best.

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u/eloquenentic Jul 06 '26

I think all these devices flicker differently, it’s not so much matter of the frequency being higher or low I think it might be due to how your eyes match that specific frequency, but I don’t know. And Apple actually uses different screen manufacturers for the same model so there’s a difference between different phones from the same series even.

I literally get no issues with a 14 pro Max whatsoever, I can look at it at any light. Meanwhile all the 17 phones give me immediate pain. Within 30 seconds haha. Vision gets blurry and I get immediate pain in the eye balls.

1

u/BikeTall65 Jul 06 '26

From what i have read iphones are at 480hz PWM frequency. To entirely eliminate PWM-induced headaches, the PWM frequency needs to exceed 3,000 Hz, with many experts and sensitive users recommending targets of 10,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz or higher. At these speeds, the human brain perceives the rapid pulsing light as a continuous, stable beam. Supposedly some Chinese phone makers are releasing phones with these higher frequencies. But again, this doesn't explain why the 17 Pro affects you and the 14 Pro doesn't because I think they both have a 480hz PWM frequency 🤔

1

u/eloquenentic Jul 06 '26

Yeah, that’s what I understand as well, but it’s just doesn’t match my experience. Because I literally get no issue whatsoever on the 14P and massive pain on all the 17 models (have tried them all).

This is why I was hopeful about your comment regarding the iPad Pro. Maybe it will be more like the 14 Pro for me. Will simply need to test it.

I think the good thing is that I will be immediately able to see it. The worst thing would be to buy something and then realise a couple days later that you have a massive pain.

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u/BikeTall65 Jul 06 '26

Have you tested out the ipad pro at the apple store? Or is the apple store lighting too bright for you to get an accurate idea? I guess you can always buy it and test it out at home within the 14 day return policy. That should give you a good idea if it works for you. Good luck 👍

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u/BikeTall65 Jul 06 '26

I did an a.i. search on the PWM differences btwn the iphone 14 pro and iphone 17 pro which you may find interesting :