Honor plans to introduce the Magic V3 smartphone to global customers at an upcoming IFA 2024event as the world's first phone with AI Defocus technology to help prevent nearsightedness. Myopia is a growing health problem that affects up to 80% of children worldwide. Besides genetics, insufficient daylight exposure and long hours studying indoors also contribute to nearsightedness.

Myopia also increases the risk of developing long-term eye-health problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment. Bright sunlight exposure for two hours or more a day slows the progression of myopia, but prolonged reading of books and smartphones up-close quickens it.

AI Defocus selectively blurs the screen image to help reduce myopia progression. The technology borrows from a unique lens design called the Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) lens. A DIMS lens has a properly focused center, while the surrounding area becomes increasingly defocused as the distance from the center increases. The partially blurry image apparently slows myopia progression in the short term (0-6 years), but the long-term effect (decades) is unknown.

Temporary nearsightedness after reading for 25 minutes is improved by 0.13D to 0.75D (13 to 75 degrees) when using AI Defocus based on an internal Honor study. When compared to defocusing glasses, AI Defocus provides a similar level of benefit across 50 minutes of use.

Readers should note that defocusing of smartphone displays has not been well-researched, and the health benefits of such devices have not been validated. The Honor Magic V3 is not a medical device and is not marketed to have any therapeutic functions. Unexpected side-effects might also occur from prolonged usage.

Readers who use smartphones constantly should consider buying a larger phone, setting a large font size, and holding the phone about 20 inches (~50 cm) away or greater. Also, try to spend several hours outdoors each day, perhaps doing some healthy walking in good shoes (like these on Amazon). Those already suffering from macular degeneration due to myopia can try vision supplements (like this one on Amazon).

Readers can watch a YouTube video byPhoneBufffor more sample images of Honor AI Defocus in action. Readers who understand Chinese can watchBiliBili videos of胜利文绉绉and先看评测visiting the Honor R&D lab in China for behind-the-scenes coverage.