2021 Apple 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro with mini LED display shows poor display characteristics including reduced PWM and response times

[Redaktion]

We tested the PWM and display response times in our 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro with M1 and found that there are some downsides to Apple's transition to mini LED tech this year. The 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro not only shows lower PWM compared to the 2020 model but also has noticeably higher response times, particularly in black-to-white transitions.


https://www.notebookcheck.net/2021-Apple-12-9-inch-M1-iPad-Pro-with-mini-LED-display-shows-poor-display-characteristics-including-reduced-PWM-and-response-times.545476.0.html

[DirtyDenim]

This would seem to confirm you have already tested the 2021 M1 11 inch Ipad Pro for PWM and found none?  Can you verify?  This is a major consideration keeping me from purchasing at this time- I've been waiting for your final review for this very reason.  Thanks.

[Vaidyanathan]

This would seem to confirm you have already tested the 2021 M1 11 inch Ipad Pro for PWM and found none?  Can you verify?  This is a major consideration keeping me from purchasing at this time- I've been waiting for your final review for this very reason.  Thanks.

The 11-inch review is in progress. We haven't observed PWM in the 11-inch version.

[Ish]

Yet another reason I'm glad I canceled my order and just stuck with a refurbished 3rd gen iPad Pro 12.9.

Between the RAM limitations, screen issues, and battery just doesn't seem worth it. Sure M1 is cool... but what can you do on an iPad that is going to really utilize it that an A12X or A12Z doesn't?

For me, I compose music and I'm a programmer. Can't do the latter at all on an iPad. The former, sure screwing around with ideas, but it would never be anything more than that. The iPad is great for remote controlling the DAW on my desktop or laptop though. Don't need an M1 for that.

Any serious "creator" type workloads people will continue to do on laptops and desktops... at least until iPad OS becomes something that can actually accommodate those workloads without it being a total mess (e.g. window management, etc.)

[S.Yu]

I don't think any PWM in the multi KHz segment would pose a problem to anybody. Sony and JVC projectors have flickers in that range and never have I heard anybody raise an issue, only praise over single chip DLP.

[Klaus Hinum]

I don't think any PWM in the multi KHz segment would pose a problem to anybody.

We get a lot of readers feedback that report problems with devices with high kHz PWM or flickering, so there seems to be a problem. From one of our readers (thanks Mikko!) we also got the paper "Detection and acceptability of stroboscopic effects from flicker" where they did show that a significant amount of people did notice flickering of 10kHz.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1477153511414838

[T L]

I have the 2021 12.9 iPad Pro and thankfully do not experience any PWM symptoms.

With long term use, though my eyes do not feel any difference whatsoever, can the PWM be damaging to my eye health?

[S.Yu]

I don't think any PWM in the multi KHz segment would pose a problem to anybody.

We get a lot of readers feedback that report problems with devices with high kHz PWM or flickering, so there seems to be a problem. From one of our readers (thanks Mikko!) we also got the paper "Detection and acceptability of stroboscopic effects from flicker" where they did show that a significant amount of people did notice flickering of 10kHz.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1477153511414838

Thanks, interesting.