Display dim w/o backlight in medium light conditions

Trying my new 5x after happily owning a 3. Not sure if it's the sapphire glass or what but the 5x seems much harder to see inside, when driving w sunglasses, or even outdoors in the shade (all without backlight). I have to tilt it to read it from an angle a lot, looking directly at it seems really dark. Don't remember this being such an issue w my 3. May not can keep it if this is the best it gets. Is it just me?

It's not just you, I too came from a non-saphire f3 (that I got used to even though I felt it too had a somewhat disappointing display). I think it has a lot to do with the sapphire, but I know it also has a lot to do with extending battery life. The type of display on the f5x vs say that of an apple watch is what allows it to go weeks between charges instead of daily. I'm ok with that tradeoff, I don't want something else I have to charge daily that has a unique charging cable

Sapphire vs. Non-Sapphire Comparison (Part 1)

Here is my tactix Bravo (Left) with sapphire crystal and my fenix 3 (Right) with mineral glass crystal:



The difference is slight, but definitely noticeable in real life - the sapphire crystal display is slightly darker than the mineral crystal display.

Pics were taken one after another with a Canon DSLR w/ 50mm Macro lens mounted on a copy stand. Backlights were OFF for both. Exposures were the same for both: 1/5 sec @ f8.0 ISO 100. No post exposure adjustments were made to the two pics other than cropping so they could be compared side by side.

Here are the two pics withouit any adjustments at all:

tactix Bravo (Sapphire):


fenix 3 (Mineral Glass):


Continued in next post.

Sapphire vs. Non-Sapphire Comparison (Part 2)

Finally, here are two tight crops showing the tactix Bravo (Sapphire) on top and the fenix 3 (Mineral Glass) on the bottom:




You be the judge as to whether the difference is significant or not for your use. I noticed the difference at first when I switched from daily wearing the fenix 3 to the tactix Bravo, but I don't notice it any more.

HTH

I also have a 3 sapphire and a 5x. The 5x is definitely not as bright as the 3. There's another thread some where about this and the consensus is that it's normal. A bit annoying, but not a defect.

So, the new question

So, given that the sapphire, which is virtually scratch free, vs. the mineral glass, which does scratch. I wonder what the addition of one of the "94% Light efficiency" screen protectors do? I'd venture to say once you get the screen protector on the mineral glass, and do the same test, they would be very nearly identical. Anyone game for that one?

Here is my tactix Bravo (Left) with sapphire crystal and my fenix 3 (Right) with mineral glass crystal:



The difference is slight, but definitely noticeable in real life - the sapphire crystal display is slightly darker than the mineral crystal display.

Pics were taken one after another with a Canon DSLR w/ 50mm Macro lens mounted on a copy stand. Backlights were OFF for both. Exposures were the same for both: 1/5 sec @ f8.0 ISO 100. No post exposure adjustments were made to the two pics other than cropping so they could be compared side by side.

Here are the two pics withouit any adjustments at all:

tactix Bravo (Sapphire):


fenix 3 (Mineral Glass):


Continued in next post.

Gotta hand it to you, I appreciate the effort it took to give us a good comparison. You can definitely tell the difference in the images, and it's even more pronounced in real life. Like I said above, I'd rather have a slightly dimmer display and weeks of battery life than the alternative.. Just wish there were a happier medium

Personally, I thought the display was a little dim too. Enabled gestures with a low % and it's fine for me now.

IdI'post few pics if there was a way too. The site has become very buggy. But i can tell you the issue is the F5x. I have a 3 sapphire and a chronos as well. Both have a sapphire display . The 5x is very noticeably dimmer. I sent pics and an email to garmin. Never got a response thought. Its very disappointing as it is a large step back in the way it appears

same issues i have the 5x is way darker than my hr3 and not too happy with the situation i have to admit and this photographic comparisons are useless i have to say 5x is definitely darker than any of my previous garmin the epix had the brightest sapphire glass by far