[tommyer]

Originally Posted by tommyer

My question is more specific. Are the screens of the IPad pro devices much superior to the average phone or computer screen with regards to eye strain? Furthermore, are they so much superior that they can almost or actually match Eink screens with regards to eye strain?

Originally Posted by Jmirko

Disclaimer: I do not own an Ipad, and I don't work with pdf documents simultaneously.
However: I think if your budget is tight, you should consider other LCD tablets as well. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Tabs have similar features to the Ipad Pro, including pen support, for about half of the price.

Originally Posted by downeaster59

Now that I have an iPad Pro 9.7, I use those eInk devices a lot less. Later, I discovered this neat trick that reduces the brightness even more when desired.
The iPad Pro feels light enough for prolonged reading, has good battery life (even better with that trick enabled), and doesn't affect my eyes like a typical LCD screen. It comes very, very close to an eInk display for me now.

It is quite interesting that, in a rather renowned magazine for testing consumer goods in Germany (‘Stiftung Warentest’ - subscription required & as independent from commercial interests as it gets – at least that’s conventional wisdom in my country), the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7’’ (2048 x 1536) heads up the field with regards to display quality, being in a class of its own (‘very good’ instead of just ‘good’ like the ones that follow) and beating the IPad Pro 9.7’’ (2.048 x 1.536), [& the Galaxy Tab A6 10.1’’, only 1.920 x 1.200, which is available now for a very reasonable 200€, and another IPad without Pro 9,7’’ (32GB, 2048 x 1536, much cheaper than the Pro)].

Now, after looking into how they tested the display, I noticed that long reading sessions and their effects on eye-strain were not included in the testing. It’s more like they tested how the display looked to them.
[Google translates their method for display testing thus: “The picture quality was judged in the presentation of texts and different test pictures. Display delineation and usability in bright environments were also evaluated. Furthermore, the maximum viewing angles were determined with regard to the recognizability of colors and contrasts. In addition, the response times, the black level, the color and brightness distribution, the maximum brightness and the reproduction of grayscale.” https://www.test.de/Tablets-im-Test-...urzurl.tablets]

But:
It should also be noted that the new IPad Pro 10.5 has not been tested yet, with its much faster display (120Hz) and its higher resolution 2224 x 1668.

It has been indicated that higher frequency is not relevant for reading:

Originally Posted by David Munch

They say that the 120hz the screen is now capable of, is almost as much of an improvement as when the screen greatly increased their resolution. I wonder if it will help people who don't like reading on the iPad - If the 120hz are actually active when reading of course.. It is apparently quite dynamic with the update frequency.

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't think it would have any impact when reading. LCD screens don't flicker - they maintain a stable image as long as power is applied to the display - so the update frequency only has an impact on moving images, like video.

Comparison between the IPad Pro 9.7’’ and the 10.5’’ can be found here:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes. I have a 10.5" iPad and it's great for PDFs. Far more portable than a 13" device.

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

You used the 9.7 previously, right? I'm still on that model but have been curious about the new one. What are the significant difference for you? Asking because we both use them mainly for academic work.

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you have an iPad Pro 9.7", there's not a lot in it, but I had a 9.7" iPad Air 2, and the differences between that and the newer iPad Pro are considerable: much faster CPU, better screen, better audio, better camera, and of course compatibility with things like the Apple Pencil. The extra 0.8" screen size may not sound like much, but it does make a significant difference when it comes to reading PDFs.

If all – Stiftung Warentest & HarryT (never having made comparison between the displays of the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7’’ and the Pro 10.5’’) – were correct and relevant to the subject of displays & eye-friendliness, Galaxy Tab S2 9.7’’ would still rank first in this field.
[Of course, you will get 10.5’’ instead of 9.7’’, screen size being relevant for pdfs.]