Two Sapphire Fenix 6 Pro’s, backlight / contrast issues

Question

I bought two fenix 6&rsquo;s today, both are the Carbon grey DLC coated with sapphire glass. 
 Have a look at these photos, my wife's is on the left hand side and mine the right. Her looks very yellow compared to mine which looks far crisper and sharper. Both have backlight set to 50%. 
 Any thoughts on if there&rsquo;s a setting other than backlight that could cause this before I go back to the shop where I bought them?

Former Member · Answer

I created some statistics from SN reported in this thread. 
 The report is from 24.01.2020. and is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1u18IOhfDozeSjgaRtgMs72Js71HachNO-r_aTZMyaPg/edit?usp=sharing 
 (adjust columns and rows width and hight to make the pictures bigger) There is also another report, but I dont where the rawdata comes from: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WgbNbztxmBW0D3uZ5kioyjzoW6Ov3J_DOASulEv2I1E/edit#gid=1985707860 
 Video where you can see the difference live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8XZ_lsGGtI 
 Quick overview from the document.

SN 
 Good reported 
 Bad reported

63400 
 
 4

63402 
 
 2

63403 
 
 1

63404 
 
 5

63405 
 
 6

63406 
 1 
 1

63407 
 7 
 2

63408 
 4 
 1

63409 
 
 1

63410 
 1 
 1

63411 
 4 
 1

63412 
 3

63413 
 3

63416 
 1

63418 
 1

65401 
 1 
 7

65405 
 
 2

65408 
 1 
 1

65409 
 
 1

63N00 
 
 2

63N01 
 1 
 1

63N07 
 2

63N08 
 2

63N09 
 1

63N10 
 3

63N13 
 1

63N17 
 
 1

Happy hunting :)

Candi · Answer

fenix 6x Solar 
 63411

Bandit · Answer

agree, i would try to give back the watch instead of going the RMA way. 
 i wonder how one can find out if one has the same problem with the display, if one does not have another fenix 6 to compare with?

jminar · Answer

Had the exact same impression, also bought a second watch to compare and got lucky. The difference is huge, especially if you compare the contrast between the screens at different angles. Take a look at the video I made:

Frederic_rdr · Answer

Just to let you know that I got my watch back and could test my theory, I placed and rotated polarizing filter over a non sapphire (so one that has a blue back light for sure). there is a position where the screen looks as it should (black backlight). Given that the Sapphire has polarizing property. Unless during the watch assembly the glass "tuned" for this optimal position, you will get more or less of the original blue light. That explain why some watch were ok (luck of the draw), where much were not. That explain why Garmin would not acknowledge the issue, as the watches were in spec and by the time first level support get in touch with 2 lvl support and actual engineer would reply something like "what are they babbling about we don't use different parts for the back light" then again back and forth. They would eventually realize the issue was at the assembly line level ! May be a Garmin engineer will reads this, and acknowledge that I figured it right ? ;D I'm letting you know that I don't mind at all congratulations in form of a Garmin watch :D

Former Member · Answer

I have the problem?

phn55 · Answer

5780339 said: I've just ordered a 6S sapphire from Amazon Germany (seller uhrcenter) and was wondering what do you mean buy from Amazon? 
 In the context of what user Zofia had as experience of replacing the watch - I suggested (and only use) Amazon as their return-refund proces is best in this part of galaxy...

Candi · Answer

here are some pictures of fenix 6 Solar, what do you think?

bluefish · Answer

Thats the same experience for me since i am with Garmin for years. They are best in hardware after sales service.

Former Member · Answer

What is the serial number?

Former Member · Answer

That is what it is. The device has the display it has specifically for it's uses. It's supposed to have long battery life and and always on display and that can't be achieved with a LCD or AMOLED screen. 
 
 So if that's what you're unhappy about then I agree with others that this may not be the device for you. What we've been discussing is the difference in quality of said display. There are models that have a better contrast with clear viewing angles.

HeiniFalk · Answer

Technically Yes and No. We are removing the bad quality out of the equation as Garmin / Retailer cannot resell a sent back watch as a new product. That way if you burn though 10 returns Garmin sits with 10 watches that cannot be repackaged or resold as new due to this. Long term effect; Garmin sits with a heap of blue tint screens watches no one wants and considering this forum is owned by them maybe a moderator needs to catch a wakeup and alert them of this so they can fix it or they will end up with only selective "Quality" Fenix 6 watches being kept by their consumers. Garmin is playing dumb here and hoping the mayority dont notice it so they replace the odd 500 units ppl return so this wont phase them until EVERYONE start sending them back and demanding the quality thats supposed to come with a 900$ watch 
 
 Look at the end of the day the Blue Tint is the same as all the previous versions so only someone who has seen a perfect screen will want a perfect screen. To the rest it looks great

Sam201176 · Answer

Ah it's not the Sapphire.... yes my 5x plus is sapphire but doesn't have a native blue tint in the sunshine I just checked.. 
 I've seen two 6x models with jet black screens in the sunlight turn blue when the back-light is pressed in the dark. 
 The three sapphire models I've seen that have the blue screen tint in bright sunshine, turn completely black in the dark when the light is pressed.

6071713 · Answer

Thanks! Did you asked Garmin for the replacement or did your local store took care of it? Did Garmin communicate about the quality screen of your watch?

MArio · Answer

My Fenix 6 Sapphire is OK 
 S/N: 747..

Former Member · Answer

Let's try to collect information about Backlight type and S/Ns in one place - please fill in this anonymous Google Form: 
 https://forms.gle/HxSd8egU1CQMJjUR9 
 and we can see results here: 
 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WgbNbztxmBW0D3uZ5kioyjzoW6Ov3J_DOASulEv2I1E/edit?usp=sharing 
 Garmin Support will also have access to this info - hope it will help to locate root cause and fix it.

phn55 · Answer

As it was pointed out previously, the only way to be sure you will get pitch black screen is to get solar version (applied to 6X until recently - but with launch of solar versions of 6/6S they also have it) 
 With Sapphire models - things are getting better - but its still 50-50% chance. 
 With Pro models - chances are very low... 
 P.S. launch of solar versions across the full 6 series proves that Garmin is aware of the issue - but will never publicly admit it as it would lead to massive recall of products and bad business results. 
 Instead - they are using Apple's approach they had with iPhone 4 reception (famous "antenna gate"). Approach was - negate the issue, and silently launch improved product (iPhone 4s) - and later on they even leveraged better reception as a reason for upgrade... 
 Garmin recently silently launched solar version of screen across the full 6 line of products. They are all pitch black, no issues... I havent seen any forum discussion anywhere where people were craving for solar models. Get it? 
 Lets wait month or two when first "neutral" reviewers start to praise the better screens... and our wallets starts to itch... 
 Still they make the best fitness watches - and if we had the options we would look elsewhere...

rylos78 · Answer

The upper one was my returned F6Pro. Middle & bottom are F6Sapphire on the retail store. I've got refund and bought the middle one because the bottom one had mushy buttons (and very similar screen). At least now I've a good one and end of story for me. Good luck.

Crispin_Ellisdon · Answer

Interesting. Is it possible that the backlight LEDs (or whatever does the screen illumination) just happen to be more 'powerful' in some hardware production runs for a given backlight percentage and therefore look like there is less contrast (which is what happens when I turn the backlight percentage right up - I normally use 10% not in activity and 20% in activity; anything higher starts to look washed out and is unnecessary in my opinion).

Candi · Answer

Non, correcte.

Two Sapphire Fenix 6 Pro’s, backlight / contrast issues

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