The PWM of the Steam Deck OLED is harmful to the eyes, but Valve can patch it if we report it enough

[Sightlyjester]

CONCLUSIONS FROM MY PWM ANALYSIS OF MY STEAM DECK OLED SCREEN:

UPDATE: I have created a report on GitHub regarding this issue with evidence and proposals so that Valve's software engineers can take note and perhaps address it through software in the future if there is a possibility. Those of you who are affected or interested, I would appreciate your comment on the report, providing feedback that these effects exist. The more feedback from people, the more attention Valve is likely to give: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1337

My profesional instruments have measured on the Steam Deck OLED what my eyes perceive; it is one of the worst screens with the most aggressive flickering that can affect sensitive eyes. However, Valve could fix it with a patch in SteamOS.

In this Reddit post, I have published all my measured evidence with on the screen to demonstrate what I'm saying:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1882kys/analysis_of_the_pwmflickervisual_fatigue_of_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

The conclusion is that the Samsung OLED anti-glare panel of the Steam Deck OLED has proven to be very bad for the eyes in gaming sessions, and the damage is particularly pronounced below 45% brightness. Still, the high risk is common at all brightness levels equally. There will be a percentage of people with very low sensitivity to PWM who will not notice negative symptoms in their eyes. However, another large percentage of people, especially the most sensitive, will notice the symptoms.

The associated symptoms could include nausea, rapid eye discomfort or fatigue, a sensation of grit in the eyes, migraines, and general fatigue, blurred vision after playing.

It is important to note that each individual reacts differently, and although the measured values here offer an objective and recommended range for viewing], the response can vary from person to person. If you are especially sensitive, I cannot recommend this screen and this product in the actual state. Perhaps you try it, and it doesn't go wrong for you, but what my data says is that the risk of it not going well is VERY HIGH.

But not all the news is bad; if we send enough feedback about this issue, Valve could patch it and fix it with a new update in SteamOS and eliminating all the flickering.

This is what I think Valve could do and change now regarding the PWM of the OLED screen to solve this problem:

1- First option:

Patch SteamOS by adding an option to enable DC-Dimming: DC Dimming is an alternative software method of regulating screen brightness that eliminates almost 100% of the flicker of screens of this style where I have tried it or has been implemented.

For example, my Xiaomi Mi 9 phone with an Amoled screen and other Xiaomi Oled screens were unusable for me with the default PWM, but once DC dimming, also called "anti-flicker" mode, is activated, the phone is completely usable for hours without tiring. Valve is a company known for listening to and supporting its community and consumers by implementing their requests in software with new updates.

With this measure, Valve could reduce a high percentage of people who end up with eye fatigue and worse health playing their OLED steam decks to basically almost, It is about offering a product that takes care of your customers' eyes.

2- A second option by Valve could be instead of implementing a DC Dimming mode, that the screen still uses PWM, but increase its PWM frequency from 360% to 1100%. Look at what happens when the Hz frequency on the Steam Deck LCD reaches this value, even at its worst flicker percentage (99%), it manages to enter the yellow or green zone and be good for the 99% of eyes.

While in my use of the Steam Deck LCD Anti-Glare for hours, my eyes have never gotten tired; with Steam Deck OLED, I have already experienced eye strain and a feeling of blurry vision after playing or shortly after starting.

Please, if you care about what I explain in this post and want it to be fixed with an update or reach the most important people at Valve, you can reward, comment, and share this post to give it visibility, the same with my Reddit post. Thank you very much :)

[Best Player Ever]

I think this is really something to take into serious consideration. At least give the users an option via software to test which screen mode is better for them.

Thank you for your hard work and measurements.

[funnyduck99]

Wow this is serious

[Froz [ESP] [Linux]]

Thanks for your post.

I tried playing some games in my SD OLED and after 10 to 15 minutes it became really uncomfortable. Lightheadedness and eye fatigue kicked in.

For reference, I can play the same games in the original SD for several hours without a problem.

Hope this gets some attention from Valve.

[grzelu]

Please create issue on GitHub (https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues), bigger chance some dev will look at it. And please include all the info you provided on Reddit. Then there will be a chance of implementing this.

[Shibby]

Dr. Scientist has entered the chat.

But seriously good work on getting this information out there!

[Sightlyjester]

Originally posted by grzelu:

Please create issue on GitHub (https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues), bigger chance some dev will look at it. And please include all the info you provided on Reddit. Then there will be a chance of implementing this.

Thank you very much for the suggestion. Any advice on how to write or draft the report on GitHub? I'm planning to link directly to the Reddit post because there's too much information to include there.

[Sightlyjester]

Originally posted by Best Player Ever:

I think this is really something to take into serious consideration. At least give the users an option via software to test which screen mode is better for them.

Thank you for your hard work and measurements.

I completely agree with you; they need to create an option for users like us who are affected by this. Otherwise, I'll have to return the console because, unlike the LCD, it's impossible for me to play comfortably or without feeling unwell afterward.

It's nothing mate but thanks :), this issue affects me quite a bit, and I wanted to demonstrate with empirical evidence that it's real and not just the imagination of certain users.

[Sightlyjester]

Originally posted by Froz ESP Linux:

Thanks for your post.

I tried playing some games in my SD OLED and after 10 to 15 minutes it became really uncomfortable. Lightheadedness and eye fatigue kicked in.

For reference, I can play the same games in the original SD for several hours without a problem.

Hope this gets some attention from Valve.

I've had the same experience as you. At first, I thought maybe it wouldn't affect me, but I noticed blurry vision after playing, some dizziness or nausea, and very strained eyes in front of the screen. With the LCD, I could play for hours and hours without noticing anything.

[Kage Goomba]

So yeah going to be that guy.

What?

Please don't presume everyone has the same set of eyes and is subject to the same problem.

I really hate it when people speak for me like that.
If you don't like it - return it and get the LCD version.

You get 14 days.

I don't think its that kind of thing to scream/panic over but hey if Valve accommodates - good on them - if they don't - well that's just display A vs display B.

[Shibby]

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

So yeah going to be that guy.

What?

Please don't presume everyone has the same set of eyes and is subject to the same problem.

I really hate it when people speak for me like that.
If you don't like it - return it and get the LCD version.

You get 14 days.

I don't think its that kind of thing to scream/panic over but hey if Valve accommodates - good on them - if they don't - well that's just display A vs display B.

And I am going to be "that guy" and prove that you didn't read what they wrote:

"It is important to note that each individual reacts differently, and although the measured values here offer an objective and recommended range for viewing], the response can vary from person to person. If you are especially sensitive, I cannot recommend this screen and this product in the actual state. Perhaps you try it, and it doesn't go wrong for you, but what my data says is that the risk of it not going well is VERY HIGH."

[VastDarknyss]

You mention specifically the anti-glare OLED screen and LCD screen, I'm assuming it is the same for 512GB OLED? Sweet find! Great contribution and work.

[VastDarknyss]

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

So yeah going to be that guy.

What?

Please don't presume everyone has the same set of eyes and is subject to the same problem.

I really hate it when people speak for me like that.
If you don't like it - return it and get the LCD version.

You get 14 days.

I don't think its that kind of thing to scream/panic over but hey if Valve accommodates - good on them - if they don't - well that's just display A vs display B.

Did you even read? I know it is a lot but come on... They clearly said everyones eyes are different and they also clearly said they have the 512GB Anti-Glare LCD model as well...

Originally posted by Sightlyjester:

It is important to note that each individual reacts differently, and although the measured values here offer an objective and recommended range for viewing], the response can vary from person to person. If you are especially sensitive, I cannot recommend this screen and this product in the actual state. Perhaps you try it, and it doesn't go wrong for you, but what my data says is that the risk of it not going well is VERY HIGH.

While in my use of the Steam Deck LCD Anti-Glare for hours, my eyes have never gotten tired; with Steam Deck OLED, I have already experienced eye strain and a feeling of blurry vision after playing or shortly after starting.

[Kage Goomba]

Originally posted by VastDarknyss:

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

So yeah going to be that guy.

What?

Please don't presume everyone has the same set of eyes and is subject to the same problem.

I really hate it when people speak for me like that.
If you don't like it - return it and get the LCD version.

You get 14 days.

I don't think its that kind of thing to scream/panic over but hey if Valve accommodates - good on them - if they don't - well that's just display A vs display B.

Did you even read? I know it is a lot but come on... They clearly said everyones eyes are different and they also clearly said they have the 512GB Anti-Glare LCD model as well...

Originally posted by Sightlyjester:

It is important to note that each individual reacts differently, and although the measured values here offer an objective and recommended range for viewing], the response can vary from person to person. If you are especially sensitive, I cannot recommend this screen and this product in the actual state. Perhaps you try it, and it doesn't go wrong for you, but what my data says is that the risk of it not going well is VERY HIGH.

While in my use of the Steam Deck LCD Anti-Glare for hours, my eyes have never gotten tired; with Steam Deck OLED, I have already experienced eye strain and a feeling of blurry vision after playing or shortly after starting.

Fine - I just don't like the tone. But I surrender in this case.

But don't be surprised if you don't get much of a reception.

[Cyberbeing]

Your warning is probably appreciated but I don't believe there's anything serious here. Those head warning you get when launching seizure inducing games will not stop devs from making them or gamers from playing them.

[NapalmDest54]

Is the BOE panel on the Limited Edition not impacted?