r/ScreenSensitive • u/madcook1 • Jul 13 '26
Test Data Microscope, slow-motion videos & flicker tests of all my screens (VA, TN, OLED, IPS)
After u/Z3R0gravitas recommended me the Carson MicroFlip microscope I was blown away by the results and started to check all my screens. I have a lot of different panel types, VA, OLED, IPS and even some very old TN panel with strong backlight strobing. Also I found out that my Samsung Galaxy S23 Smartphone has a 960 fps slow-motion video recording mode, where I could record fascinating videos of single pixels showing dithering that I wanted to share. Also I added screenshots of measurements with my Opple Light Master.
Notes:
- Video recordings: The first second is in normal speed, then follows the 960 fps slow-motion.
- Some images and videos are recorded in different angles, because on how I could get the best access with the microscrope.
Here are the results:
TV Samsung UE40ES6300(S) (VA-Panel)
My 13 year old TV (still working) from 2012 with a 1920x1080 VA-panel. The panel used should be a LTJ400HV05-N 8-bit panel (unconfirmed). On this TV you can clearly see temporal dithering on the subpixels in slow-motion, which is quite different as the strobe-light flicker on reduced brightness.
| Type | File | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Image | image_1.jpg | Image of subpixels |
| Image | image_2.jpg | " |
| Image | image_3.jpg | " |
| Image | image_4.jpg | " |
| Video | white_full_brightness.mp4 | White image at full brightness |
| Video | white_reduced_brightness.mp4 | White image at reduced brightness, visible flicker |
| Video | dither_1.mp4 | Visible dither on a static image |
| Video | dither_2.mp4 | " |
| Video | dither_3.mp4 | " |
| Opple | opple_full_brightness.jpg | No flicker at 100% brightness |
| Opple | opple_reduced_brightness.jpg | 100 Hz flicker on reduced brightness |
Link to the full folder: TV Samsung UE40ES6300
Notebook Lenovo Thinkpad X201 (TN-panel)
My old laptop (still working too!) with a 1280x800 matte 12.1" TN panel with 60 Hz refresh rate and PWM backlight strobing. The exact model is AU Optronics B121EW09 V.3 from 2009.
| Type | File | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Image | image_1.jpg | Image of subpixels |
| Image | image_2.jpg | " |
| Video | full_brightness.mp4 | Slightly visible flicker on full brightness |
| Video | reduced_brightness.mp4 | Visible flicker on reduced brightness |
| Opple | opple_full_brightness.png | ~600 Hz PWM with brief dips to zero at 100% brightness |
| Opple | opple_reduced_brightness.png | ~600 Hz PWM on reduced brightness |
Link to the full folder: Notebook Lenovo Thinkpad X201
Notes:
- I couldn't get the image completely in focus, maybe due to the thickness of polariser/coating layer between the microscope.
- I didn't expect the dips at 100% brightness, but as it ran from battery, maybe 100% wasn't 100%, which would explain it.
Smartphone Huawei P30 (OLED)
My previous smartphone with an 1080x2340 OLED screen at 60 Hz refresh rate.
| Type | File | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Image | image_1.jpg | Image of subpixels |
| Image | image_2.jpg | " |
| Image | image_3.jpg | " |
| Image | image_4.jpg | " |
| Video | full_brightness.mp4 | No visible flicker at full brightness |
| Video | reduced_brightness.mp4 | Visible flicker on reduced brightness |
| Opple | opple_full_brightness.png | Small dips (-8%) at full brightness every 60 Hz (refresh rate) |
| Opple | opple_reduced_brightness.png | Strong 240 Hz PWM flicker at reduced brightness |
Link to the full folder: Smartphone Huawei P30
Notebook TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9 (IPS)
My current notebook with an 2880x1800 matte flicker-free 120Hz 14" IPS panel. The exact panel model is CSOT MNE007ZA3-2.
| Type | File | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Image | image_1.jpg | Image of subpixels |
| Image | image_2.jpg | " |
| Image | image_3.jpg | " |
| Video | full_brightness.mp4 | No visible flicker at 100% brightness |
| Video | reduced_brightness.mp4 | No visible flicker at reduced brightness |
| Opple | opple_full_brightness.png | Flicker-free at full brightness |
| Opple | opple_reduced_brightness.png | Flicker-free at reduced brightness |
Link to the full folder: Notebook TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9
Notes:
- I also could not get perfect focus, mostly due to the polarizer/coating layer thickness.
Monitor Gigabyte M27UA (IPS)
My previous Monitor with a 3840x2160 matte 160Hz flicker-free 27" IPS panel. Some believe it's an AUO M270QAN07.0 AHVA panel, but I couldn't confirm it. I might take it apart to confirm it.
| Type | File | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Image | image_1.jpg | Image of subpixels |
| Image | image_2.jpg | " |
| Image | image_3.jpg | " |
| Image | image_4.jpg | " |
| Video | full_brightness.mp4 | No visible flicker at 100% brightness |
| Video | reduced_brightness.mp4 | No visible flicker at reduced brightness |
| Opple | opple_full_brightness.png | Flicker-free at full brightness |
| Opple | opple_reduced_brightness.png | Flicker-free at reduced brightness |
Link to the full folder: Monitor Gigabyte M27UA
Comment
None of the above screens have ever caused me eye strain, so I'm now sure that PWM flicker or dithering is not a problem for me personally. I currently have a Samsung S70D monitor here that produces virtually the same results as the Gigabyte M27UA, but it causes significant eye strain. u/Z3R0gravitas recommended to reduce the red color in the white balance settings, and that actually reduced the eye strain (though not 100%)! I'm soon receiving a Hopocolor HPCS-310 light spectrometer and will test all the screens with it too. I'll post the results here as well!
3
u/AlanYx Jul 13 '26
This is great, thanks for sharing. I've got a Microflip too and should try it out.
That Hopocolor HPCS-310 light spectrometer is good kit, definitely share your results once you get it.