New to Epix (from F6) - BIG disappointment (AOD is a big failure)

Hello to all,

Am the unhappy new owner of an Epix, and was until recently the happy user of a Fenix 6. This isn't really a question as I have checked this subject at length but is to make my point to @GARMIN if they ever read posts from this Forum.

So as it turns out Epix (supposedly the best sports watch on the market) cannot keep its screen on the brightest mode always on display (AOD for the Epix users) during activities... depending on the options available, it will either dim to an unreadable low light screen or go completely black and activate if you press a button or make a big gesture to put the watch in front of your face similar to checking the time of the day.

After a week of using Epix, I can now say for sure that the gesture mode is completely inadequate during runs: the watch dims instantly as the watch goes down and the 8 seconds of brightness are significanlty shortened (or maybe you're supposed to keep your wrist in front of your eyes while sprinting) - leaving you with a nanosecond to get the information you're looking for, which in any event you won't have since the gesture mode does not anticipate (no AI on Epix yet) and activates the screen right when the arm is going down if you're running at speed... and if gesture is not activated you only have the unreadable dimmed scren or you are forced to press the light button which in any event will go dim if the watch ever makes the down movement. Hilarious right? I can picture Mr Bean training for a marathon with Epix...

And I can also say that AOD is very misleading to say the least as in reality it's always on dimmed display rather than always on display (dim screen by default and bright screen when either pressing the light button or gesturing like crazy...).

So, folks, how are you supposed to run tempos when you need your watch to tell you if you are in or out of the tempo thresholds and you cannot even see what's on the screen!! The only answers I have found so far are either to bother a big chunk and go Mr Bean or more simply not to use Epix.

Which makes Epix disapointedly unusable for runners. It was so simple GARMIN, [KEY MESSAGE FOR GARMIN:] you just have to enable the option always on the brightest display during activities with no dimming nor gesture pollution.

The fix is easy and should have been implemented when the whatch went out. Big screw up and I am really surpised that no review mentions this as a massive turn off.

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0 ogni65 over 2 years ago

I love my Epix and even with my limited short distance view capabilities i can read the display well without glasses during runs, swim and bike sessions and have it set to 15 seconds and full brightness. That the display does not stay on full brightness is a security measure to prevent OLED burn-in. Most if not all OLED devices, even my TV Screen does this. It also safes battery as you could experience i assume and one of the reasons why also an Apple Watch is not always on and has a short battery live if it is. I think most of the people buying an EPIX do well know what they are buying into and especially those on this forum. This is your view and opinion and here is mine. Its a great watch after all and i don't want to go back to my older 945LTE or such i used before since hundred years. Maybe you just set it to 15 seconds and this will change your mind.... best and happy new year

0 Jeremy over 2 years ago in reply to ogni65

So then why is it possible to get full display with full brightness during activities with the Apple Ultra, with no dimming and no gesture annoyance? And why isn't the option available on Epix?

I'm happy that you are happy with your watch ogni65 but I don't see the point: this should by no means prevent GARMIN from making the Epix better for many others, even if it involves that they burn their oled cells if it's what it takes to have a readable screen for 1 hour or have to charge their watch every 6 days.

0 7162912 over 2 years ago

Sorry, but my case is totally opposite, F6 was hard to read during sunset and GPS track was terrible while EPIX is readable even at lowest setting and GPS track is the best I have ever seen. Battery is about the same despite OLED. My vote goes to EPIX all the way.

0 Jeremy over 2 years ago in reply to 7162912

So what activities do you use the Epix for? and with which display options (during activities)?

0 Gr4z over 2 years ago

What firmware version are you on?

I have found that gesture support within activities is rubbish on the latest versions. Outside of activities it seems OK.

0 Jeremy over 2 years ago in reply to Gr4z

The latest: 10.44.

Quick feedback on ogni65's post and response to his "Maybe you just set it to 15 seconds and this will change your mind..":

The problem when you run is that the 15 seconds do not last more than 1 second, your arm goes up, you turn your wrist, your eyes spot the screen, the screen turns on (or not depending on wether the wrist move is good enough to replicate someone checking his watch for time), you search desperately for your data (time, distance, remaining time before the next interval or for the interval to end, heart rate...), and that's it, the arm is already far away, screen back to black as the moving down has inexplicably canceled the 15 seconds...

Maybe good for fast walking if not too fast or sailing I guess.