Summary

• High-quality screens significantly reduce eye strain and enhance overall comfort.
• Modern screens with high DPI and PPI can match or exceed the quality of paper.
• High refresh rates and OLED technology contribute to smoother visuals and improved contrast, minimizing eye fatigue.

For years, I detested screens, a challenging stance for a tech journalist. Staring at a screen all day used to severely strain my eyes and leave me exhausted, but since switching to a high-density OLED display, this issue has largely disappeared. It turns out that superior screens have a greater impact than I ever anticipated.

Old Screens Were Substandard

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Over my career, technology has evolved significantly. Disliking screens a decade ago was different from feeling the same way two decades ago. Back then, most computers had much lower screen resolutions.

I was among the few who purchased a Chromebook Pixel in 2013, which boasted a stunning 2,560×1,700 resolution. After moving on from it, it took a while before I encountered another screen of that caliber. Most of the displays I used were stuck at 1080p and 60Hz, a standard still prevalent in many Linux laptops I've owned.

At the time, these screens seemed adequate to me. I used to think that spending more on a better screen was unnecessary. The most affordable option was sufficient!

I've since realized my mistake. For those of us who spend hours each day looking at screens for work, investing in a quality display is crucial. The improvement a good screen brings to my quality of life was a revelation.

Modern Screens Compete with Paper

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Although paper and screens are fundamentally different technologies, both involve displaying text and images at a certain density. Printers have long achieved DPI (dots per inch) levels that screens couldn't match.

This gap is narrowing. High-quality prints often reach 300 DPI. My Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a PPI (pixels per inch) of 410 on the cover screen and 374 on the internal one. While DPI and PPI aren't identical, what's important is that both high DPI and high PPI mean the density of physical dots or digital pixels is high enough to be invisible to the naked eye at normal viewing distances.

The difference is noticeable. I frequently read eBooks and comics on my foldable phone. When comparing it to paper, physical comics now seem to have a lower resolution. The text is less sharp, the images less clear, and the colors less vibrant.

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I now prefer pixels to paper and ink.

Posts 18 #### High Refresh Rates Reduce Jitter -------------------------------------

For a long time, I didn't pay attention to refresh rates. The term meant little to me. I had a vague understanding, but I couldn't perceive the difference. Now, it's impossible for me to ignore it.

A high refresh rate makes animations smoother. This affects how apps open and close, and crucially, how they scroll. Text flows more naturally, avoiding the jerky stutter that doesn't mimic real-world motion. Real life operates at a high refresh rate.

Using a 120Hz refresh rate results in significantly less eye fatigue after a writing session compared to a standard 60Hz rate. As I type and scroll, the display jitters less.

However, there are diminishing returns. While 60Hz now feels inadequate, the benefits of going beyond 240Hz are minimal.

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Posts #### OLEDs Offer Enhanced Contrast ------------------------------

OLED, or organic light-emitting diode, is an alternative to the more common LCD (liquid crystal display) technology.

OLEDs provide superior contrast ratios compared to LCDs. Their blacks are deeper and can blend seamlessly with the device's frame, creating a more immersive viewing experience.

This is beneficial not only for movies and games but also for reading and writing. As someone who often views text editors or eBooks, black and white are the colors I see most frequently. Just as faded ink on paper isn't ideal, crisp and vivid digital contrast enhances the reading experience.

#### The Screen No Longer Causes Major Discomfort

When working now, I don't worry as much about eye strain. It's still not ideal to stare at a screen for hours, but with regular blinking and breaks, eye fatigue is less of an issue.

I now focus more on the discomfort caused by poor posture. Working on a laptop quickly tires me due to the downward angle of my eyes and the corresponding tilt of my head. Holding my phone higher, directly in front of my eyes, allows my neck to stay straight.

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Yes, I wrote this on my phone.

PostsI use the Pomodoro technique and strictly adhere to taking breaks to move around when the timer signals. I feel the difference in my body when I don't.

These aspects were always important, but I paid less attention to them when my eyes were the most irritated and uncomfortable. It's about addressing one problem at a time, I guess.

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My advice is straightforward: if you can afford it, don't compromise on the screen. While I appreciate having more storage and additional RAM, the quality of the screen has become a specification I prioritize even more. My quality of life is significantly affected without it.

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