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

Many thanks SETM, very much appreciated, but the problem I have with your suggestion is that the alert would mean that I am already above target which translated into Garmin's algorithm could for example make an intended base run become a tempo for the assessment of the "Load Focus". My frequent HR monitoring is therefore needed to ensure that I stay below and do not hit the threshold or it will take me x seconds and minutes over threshold potentially several times during a run. 

Obviously, asking Garmin to allow for pre-thresholds alerts would be a bit ambitious if it is already too much to ask to simply allow an Epix user to enjoy full undimmed brightness during a run.

Which brings me to the oled durability rationale invoked by ogni65 as - having slept on it I must confess - it really doesn't make sense: I have never seen an oled TV dim 8 seconds into a 2-hour movie and I don't see the point of buying a 1000 earth credit running watch with such capabilities if the oled technology makes it unfit for purpose, and we know it's not really technology related since the ULTRA has the option. 

So my conclusion using common sense it that Garmin could of course very easily update its Epix firmware to make it possible but will not because this would involve possibly significantly shortening the battery charge cycles for users using full brightness on a 24/7 basis and thus bring the Epix to the same level than Apple watches. And farewell to the marketing catch that Garmin measures battery life in months and not hours. This is the only reason that would explain why the Epix is communist in terms of limiting the brightness freedom available to its users.

Which brings me now to believe that the Epix is not really fit for purpose far hardcore runners and is rather for gym goers or very smooth and forgiving Garmin lovers and the Fenix line - with all its non-oled downside - is for more exacting sports people.

NB: I wasn't aware when posting that there was the possibility to receive negative votes - so sorry to the happy Garmin fans who cannot cope with the idea that some things can be done better but as you can see from other threads listed above, there is legitimate issue that needs solving here

I think could do think but like a tv the pixels would need to continuously change. This means the fix lines would need to go and the cells that stay on for a long time like eg a 0 for time duration which could be there for an hour would need to move position. 

I guess then Fenix 7 would have been a better solution for you. This is also what Garnin says themself that Fenix line is more for the outdoor activity and Epix for the fitness and Gym even though you can use both for outdoor and  indoor activities.

During training I never expired the watch to go black on screen unless in power mode select a power scheme that turn screen off (which I have done for some activities like alpine skiing). When have wrist gesture on I get the impression that it lights up quite fast from low bright to high brightness. To do this I just make sure to turn wrist 90 degree so that the watch is pointing upward and keep the arm with watch pointing upwards while read the screen.

Now a little thing about Fenix, Epix, and AW

What you lose with Fenix 7 is that clear and crisp oled display but what you gain is better battery, a true always on display, sometimes better visibility in strong sunlight.

What you will lose if you chose AW over Garmin is: 

• No recovery time
• no training status
• no training readiness
• no training load status
• no daily suggestions toward a race
• no insight like stamina or pace pro during a race.

and a lot more useful insights and feedback on your training

when train during winter the AW will need a code every time you want to read the data on screen if not detect pulse from your wrist (when put outside on jacket and not close to your skin) unless you have not deactivated screen lock which you probably do not want to do.

Jeremy said:

NB: I wasn't aware when posting that there was the possibility to receive negative votes - so sorry to the happy Garmin fans who cannot cope with the idea that some things can be done better but as you can see from other threads listed above, there is legitimate issue that needs solving here

People are free to express their opinions and just because you're not satisfied, it doesn't mean that other people aren't happy either.

I don't experience the problems that you're coming with...i'm able to see the watch when i run Anaerobic/VO2max/Threshold/Tempo runs while i don't even watch it for Sprints because it doesn't really make sense as the intervals are really short and i'm moving my arms pretty fast.

What i got from your posts is that you want to look your watch all the time during the run and that's also something that doesn't make sense as it impacts your running form...and as someone else suggested, you can follow the vibration/audio feedbacks and just because you go under/over the target for few seconds will not drastically change your "Training Effect".

Also you're comparing different watches but there's no perfect watch for everyone:

-MIP displays have better visibility outdoor and with sunlight but you can't see anything with a bit of dark so the AOD of MIP's screens is also not a real AOD

-AMOLED displays are the opposite of MIPs so a good visibility in all conditions except in the super bright environments

-AW, never tried, but i understand it has options to have max brightness all the time but the battery is bad

You're are definitely free to express your disappointments but maybe the watch is just not for you.

None is doing miracles, yet, so you can't have a watch with the max brightness 24 hours per day(it also doesn't make any sense because there's no reasons to keep the watch on during sleep), battery of 7 days or more, lightweight and super resistant...it's just to list few examples.

I don't like the big phones that are usually the best models in the last few years but what can i do? I choose a smaller one with less battery and features or i have to live with the big sizes of "pro", "+", whatever models.

EPIX owner here since January 2022. Former (long time) forerunner and fenix owner. I have had absolutely ZERO (not once) issues with screen visibility during my (almost every single day) activities. I dunno what is different for you, but over the past year with EPIX I've trained for and raced 2 marathons with countless track sessions / intervals / you name it. For me, the AOD works great and gesture immediately brightens my screen and never has this been an issue (for me).

Having said that, your suggestion sounds like a reasonable new feature that garmin could perhap add: a setting to let the user always have a bright screen during activity, at the expense of battery plus increased risk of LED burn-in.

I agree Mladen but that also applies to me - I am free to share my feedback without being voted down by Epix devotees, which makes the entire process of exchanging experiences a bit uncomfortable.

Strange msquared2 how we can have such different feelings for the same requirement.

On my side, after a week running in Epix - for around 60+ km during both day time and night time:

- I need to catch a glimpse of some info real fast every 3/4 minutes or so,

- gesture is not fast enough to brighten the screen when I need it and goes dark too quick,

- AOD means dimmed,

- Epix dimmed is much less visible than Fenix normal,

In other words, Epix seems to be a bad choice for running. Great for all my other activities but not for running. There is a quick fix but Garmin seems unwilling to implement it.