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Apple Watch Ultra Display Too Dim in Low Light, Say Some Users
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Definitely a Watch OS10 issue. The night face on my AWU1 used to be nice and bright. Now it’s a very dull red, even orange you could argue.
The Apple Watch Ultra display is too difficult to read in low light conditions, report some users, an ambient light sensor issue that is likely linked to Apple's watchOS 10 software update last month.
There are multiple complaints from MacRumors readers (1, 2), Reddit users (1, 2, 3, 4), and Apple Community users who say that they are unable to read information on the Apple Watch Ultra display in dark environments because the screen is too dim, suggesting the device's ambient light sensor has not been properly calibrated to increase brightness to an adequate level.
Launched last month, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 pushes the maximum screen brightness to 3,000 nits, making it the brightest Apple Watch ever, according to Apple. The display is also capable of reducing brightness to as low as 1 nits.
Some Ultra 2 owners have pinned the blame on this new hardware specification, however the recent uptick in reports also includes users of the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, suggesting it is an issue with Apple's watchOS 10 software update, which was released in September.
Users say the issue is particularly pronounced when quickly moving from a bright room to a dark area, and when the Wayfinder and Ultra Modular watch face is set to Night mode, which puts a red filter on the display. Legibility issues persist despite manual adjustments to the brightness level in the watch's Settings. Both Ultra and Ultra 2 owners say the problem is evident on models updated with watchOS 10.0.1 and the latest watchOS 10.0.2 update.
Apple is reportedly aware of the issue, so hopefully a future software update will remedy the situation. Have you experienced difficulty reading information on the Apple Watch Ultra's screen in low light? Let us know in the comments.
(Thanks, Joshua!)
Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra Display Too Dim in Low Light, Say Some Users
Exactly. I just marked a bunch of repeating reminders off in the new iCloud web interface, and they got stripped of their repeating status, put in the 'Completed' folder never to be seen again. I had to spend half an hour un-completing them on my iPad, and adding all the - sometimes complex - repetition details back in again.
But it's also true. My watch alarm complication states ALL ALARMS OFF, when my regular Sleep alarm is set for 07:00. It always showed on OS9 and earlier.
Apple would like us to understand that the new Ultra 2 is technically just an upgrade to a large decorative bracelet. Time is a metaphor. Look at it more as a wrist brooch.
It’s only a “watch” in theory when being observed. The clock-like aesthetic is best viewed with peripheral vision.
If you really need to know the current time you can ask Siri. It’s that elegant.
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If the "red" is the problem, you know you can turn it off right?
This has been an issue in prior generations of the watch. My biggest issue with the watch. There should be a user setting (for all views, not just red/night vision). Let me worry about battery usage. Some of us have different eyesight capabilities.
It would be nice if they had more than one watch face that supports night mode. Unless I have readers on, I can't see most of the complications. If Apple would enable at least one other night watch face that was less complex with larger print...that would be fantastic.
You do have a choice to use it or not. So if this solves your problem, what is the issue? Just switch it off.
Apple needs allow more customization. For example, Night Mode could enable a totally different face where you can choose one with large font size. Ultra modular face is great during day time, but when everything turns red it's almost impossible to read.
The very reason that the setting should be user adjustable. We know the watch has the needed range to suit virtually everyone. Making the setting a one-size-fits-all was just a boneheaded software move by Apple's design team. It doesn't need to be an accessibility setting. It is simply a display setting where people could choose their low-light settings. Of course this will be available on the AWU3 and will be touted as a major technology breakthrough that redefines the AW!
Apple is just “existing” in a world where there’s a lot of folks that need attention in order to pay their bills. Nothing against them, it’s the path they chose and they’re likely content with it. However, it DOES mean that issues that affect hundreds or thousands of users (out of millions) that used to zoom under the radar now get blown up to OMG the SKY is FALLING status. The time after Apple releases a thing is a prime time and those folks have no option other than to get on the bandwagon OR miss the revenue that would come from the clicks.
Or it could actually work properly for those that want to have it switched on.
The Apple Watch Ultra display is too difficult to read in low light conditions, report some users, an ambient light sensor issue that is likely linked to Apple's watchOS 10 software update last month.
There are multiple complaints from MacRumors readers (1, 2), Reddit users (1, 2, 3, 4), and Apple Community users who say that they are unable to read information on the Apple Watch Ultra display in dark environments because the screen is too dim, suggesting the device's ambient light sensor has not been properly calibrated to increase brightness to an adequate level.
Launched last month, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 pushes the maximum screen brightness to 3,000 nits, making it the brightest Apple Watch ever, according to Apple. The display is also capable of reducing brightness to as low as 1 nits.
Some Ultra 2 owners have pinned the blame on this new hardware specification, however the recent uptick in reports also includes users of the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, suggesting it is an issue with Apple's watchOS 10 software update, which was released in September.
Users say the issue is particularly pronounced when quickly moving from a bright room to a dark area, and when the Wayfinder and Ultra Modular watch face is set to Night mode, which puts a red filter on the display. Legibility issues persist despite manual adjustments to the brightness level in the watch's Settings. Both Ultra and Ultra 2 owners say the problem is evident on models updated with watchOS 10.0.1 and the latest watchOS 10.0.2 update.
Apple is reportedly aware of the issue, so hopefully a future software update will remedy the situation. Have you experienced difficulty reading information on the Apple Watch Ultra's screen in low light? Let us know in the comments.
(Thanks, Joshua!)
Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra Display Too Dim in Low Light, Say Some User
I have actually stopped using the red light (night mode) on my Ultra 2. I had Ultra (1st gen), and loved that I could roll the crown to switch to night mode. The new automatic change has left me not using it at all...I simply cannot read it. With my now aging eyes, the level it is at by default is just too dim and the reds blur together. I always have my Ultra on the highest brightness setting, so that is not the issue...and it was fine on my Ultra 2 weeks ago.
Might I add, also a little peeved that they took away the "favorites" dock and made the app view (list) return to "A" every time you hit the crown to activate selection...it used to return to where you last left it. My most used app, (which used to be in favorites), starts with an "S"...if I scroll to select it and ANYTHING happens that moves me out of the list, I need to scroll down again to select it.
