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Fenix 7 next to Fenix 6 screen pictures ?

6447640
over 3 years ago

Hello everyone,

Like many people here, I'm torn between choosing Fenix 7 or Epix.

The issue for me is that over time I had very bad experience with OLED smartwatches (delayed and unreliable gesture-to-view, bad battery life with AOD on) and very good experiences with trans-reflective screens (Vivoactive 4, Pebble 2, Pebble Time). 

So to make sure I don't make the same mistake yet again, I am thinking of buying a Fenix 7. But I keep reading that the Fenix 7 screen looks dimmer and more washed out than the Fenix 6. 
I am thinking it's because of the sapphire lens, because the Vivoactive 4 also has a touchscreen over the trans-reflective display just like the F7 and it looks perfectly clear. But it's indeed possible that the Fenix 7 has a special kind of "denser" touchscreen layer in order to allow operation in wet environments or with gloves, etc.

Does anyone have pictures of them side by side ? I would gladly skip the sapphire lens if that is the culprit and the screen would look better without it (my Vivoactive has a silicone screen protector over regular glass and the display looks perfectly clear but I do wish it was a bit more bright), so if you have pictures of Fenix 7 (non-sapphire) vs Fenix 6 (non-sapphire) or Vivoactive series it would be even better. 

Thanks !

  • 0 over 3 years ago


    it is less readable compare to garmin chronos. Sometimes you need to find exact spot or angle to be able to read the watch. I turning backlight ON more often with F7X. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    don't have a picture, but I had a fenix 6x sapphire, and never got any problem to read the screen, in all conditions you can imagine (condensing fog on the wach, rain, night, day, sun, after 10 hours of run, etc).

    on my first run on a 7x solar sapphire, I immediately spotted the lower contrast, and higher reflections... harder to read in full sun.

    I can deal with it, it's fine, but it require a bit more effort.

    on the other hand, an epix is not even a choice for me, battery is all what matter, and the 7x strongly delivers

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    It's a tough to get good photos without controlled lighting.  The two photos show from left to right, a f6X Solar, f7X Solar Sapphire, and f6 Sapphire.  The photos were taken at slightly different angles of incidence.  If one would look orthogonal to the watches, the sapphire models have just a bit more reflectivity than the non-sapphire.  As you move off angle, the f7X Sapphire presents more reflection either f6 Sapphire or f6X solar as seen by the photo on the right.  The f7 looks worse in the photo than in reality.  Its certainly not enough for me to send it back.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    7X Sapphire (showing watchface)

    6X Sapphire (showing Time format screen)

    A whole bunch of different angles:

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Thanks everyone for the pictures until now, and keep them coming, I am sure it will help many to make their decisions. My current conclusion from what I have seen until now is that I will definitely not order before seeing one in the flesh.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 6447640

    i think it is fine.. its still very decent display. the best point if you need a backlight you just tap on the screen quickly!

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Got my F7X today and it was a step up from my F6X when it comes to the screen. My F6X must have had a «blueish backlight» that so many reported about, because my F7X was blackish. The funny thing is that my F6X screen was never as blue as the pics on these forums, so I thought I was lucky. 
    maybe they had it worse…  who knows…  no pics I’m afraid. Shipped the dinosaur F6X to some lucky guy on the west coast. He got a great watch for a good price.

    If in doubt, wait til they are physically out in the store, so you can judge by yourself. (Impossible task for me.)

    I was out in the sun and in the shades and did not have a problem viewing the contents on the F7X screen. 
    so I am a happy camper, but still ignorant to how much better the AMOLED display really is. But I will stay that way til the Epix X comes out.

    cheers