s25 Ultra - Severe Eye Strain - PWM Causing TLM - Page 2

FirebirdFormula · ‎08-02-2025

Hello. I recently swapped an s21 Ultra to an s25 Ultra. I loved/love both phones, outside of the eye strain that the s25 Ultra is giving me. Unfortunately I cannot use it for more than 2-3 minutes at a time without feeling the strain which then lingers for hours and interferes with sleep. I have only ever experienced this with certain computer monitors, never with a mobile device.

The issue is referred to as temporal light modulation (which is often referenced as "flicker") theoretically caused by the use of pulse width modulation. One can read about more users having this problem here.

This has created quite a headache (no pun) with the Verizon store as my s21 Ultra that I traded in is no longer available to me. They're ordering me a new s21 Ultra and are going to be in touch this week.

I would really, really like to keep the s25 Ultra, outside of this, I love this phone and even with a trade-in, paid a premium for it as I did the s21 Ultra. I am curious if there are any efforts or plans to address this or if anyone has any ideas. I am a power user & all display options & developer options do not help.

Thank you for your time.

chrixoll · ‎10-02-2025

I am glad im not the only one having this. I switched from S24 Ultra to S25 Ultra. I cant look at the S25 Ultra for 2 minutes because i get light nausea, dizziness and eye pain and headache.

I dont think you can change the refresh rate.

I already returned my S25 Ultra and will keep the S24 Ultra. Maybe you can upgrade from S21 to S24 Ultra.

i will keep reading this post to see whats the issue

JoeD24 · ‎10-02-2025

I took a look at the available display settings on the s25 (via ADB commands), but I didn't see anything obvious that would let me lock the refresh rate. On older phones, I've seen commands to set min and max rates.

One way to lock a rate would be to watch a video or have a video chat. To your point, you'd have to wait until you're 100% before the test. Good luck.

FirebirdFormula · ‎10-02-2025

My plan is to test this app here after disabling and/or re-enabling specific gaming related APKs. I'll report back once I've done so. JoeD24 - let me know if you think this is futile based on what you've seen. Will definitely write back.

If this all fails, the s24 Ultra is definitely what I'm going to look into next. I love everything else about this phone - if there was a patch to add this option in the near future I'd wait for it.

YuriyPRO · ‎11-02-2025

I have a similar problem. I switched from S20+. I can't look at the S25 Ultra screen for a long time, I take the S20+ and immediately feel comfort for my eyes. I'm thinking of returning the S25 Ultra back. If I knew that this problem could be solved by software update, I would have kept the phone.

JoeD24 · ‎11-02-2025

@FirebirdFormula wrote:
My plan is to test this app here after disabling and/or re-enabling specific gaming related APKs. I'll report back once I've done so. JoeD24 - let me know if you think this is futile based on what you've seen. Will definitely write back.

I don't think it's futile. I'm just wondering if that app is updated for working with the latest version of One UI.

Let us know if you get it working, otherwise you could try a simpler test. E.g. keeping your camera app open will keep a steady refresh rate (it does for me at least).

I will say I get some eye strain from normal use of my S25, but during a video chat (which maintained a constant refresh of 60), I had none. So it does seem there is something to the adaptive refresh rate issue for certain people.

FirebirdFormula · ‎11-02-2025

I was able to sideload the app, but it didn't function on the device so it was a fail. Semi-wrecked my eyes again doing this last night too.

Just got back from the store to port the esim back to my s21u. Going to do your test with fresh eyes with the cam or a movie in a day or so, will definitely post back. I think this'll be very telling - thanks for staying in the loop.

CCrystalpalace · ‎12-02-2025

I'm going to need to bookmark this for later. I have/had the S22 Ultra. It's actually on the table next to me as I just got my phone Monday and haven't been near a drop off location. My eyes definitely hurt more using the S25 Ultra than the S22 Ultra. I'm gonna need to try tinkering with it a little more as I've already turned on the comfort shield, turned the brightness down, changed to vivid and lowered the blue bar, etc. And it's still bothering me.

FirebirdFormula · ‎12-02-2025

I'm sorry to hear you too are having trouble, but I appreciate your documentation here.

One of the biggest setbacks of this whole thing is the length of time it takes to fully come back. It almost acts like an injury - once it happens, any light that enters the retina is bothersome & slows recovery. Of course, here in Chicago, it's been very unseasonably sunny & it's been killin' me. Typically the sun doesn't shine here for 5 months this time of year....

Members_ktzR6pY · ‎13-02-2025

Have you found a solution to this yet? I just setup my S25 ultra and my eyes started getting strained. Wasn't sure if it was the phone or because I have been working at my laptop all day. Saying that I haven't had this before - coming from an S23 Ultra. Probably shouldn't have upgraded but managed to get a decent deal. Hoping this isn't an ongoing issue!

FirebirdFormula · ‎13-02-2025

No solution yet but will most likely test JoeD24's refresh rate theory tonight or tomorrow.

In the 20+ years I've had this problem with flat panel monitors, sadly the solution was always "return & move on." Will post back.