Fenix 8 - 51 Amoled – Screen Too Dim in Low Light / Dark Environments

5334613 1 month ago

Hi everyone,

I’ve been having a frustrating issue with my 51 Amoled Fenix 8 display in low-light conditions or dark environments.

When I activate the watch with a wrist movement, the screen brightness is so low that it’s almost unreadable. The only way I can see the display properly is by manually shining a light (e.g., using a torch) near the screen or by pressing a button to activate the backlight.

I’ve checked my settings (software version 13.35), but nothing seems to fix this. Is this a known issue? Has Garmin acknowledged or provided a solution for this problem? Any tips or workarounds would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Top Replies

Garmin-Laurie 3 days ago in reply to 5334613 +-1 verified

Update April 25, 2025:

Our engineers investigated concerns about the ambient light sensor dimming the watch too dark. They have concluded this behavior is by design.

Your watch has an ambient light sensor…
5334613 1 month ago in reply to 2199455 +7

Same feelings from me, i cant understand Garmin's approach on this simple issue.. Dont want to make videos and photos.. i just want a solution.. the Solution is pretty simple let me DECIDE if i want…
net1994 1 month ago in reply to runningfan97 +6

I find this exceptionally hard to believe they can't reproduce it. I mean have an engineer take a watch in bright light then go into a dark room. Like a 5 second test. I think they feel its a "your…
runningfan97 1 month ago in reply to 4966757 +6

4966757 said:
will return it back tomorrow because Garmin seems not have any interest to solve this issue.

Probably the best solution.
It says a lot that Garmin is posting in all threads except for the threads…

All Replies

0 PTschofen 2 days ago in reply to Garmin-Laurie

That can't be right for a watch at this price. Any cheap Chinese watch can do better. This will probably be my last Garmin watch.

Surely it's possible to provide the user with a software switch to adjust the dimming in steps. How can I adjust the normal brightness in steps?

0 runningfan97 2 days ago in reply to PTschofen

PTschofen said:
Surely it's possible to provide the user with a software switch to adjust the dimming in steps

One would think so.

But as Garmin-Laurie wrote it is so dark and unreadable „by design“.

0 PTschofen 1 day ago in reply to runningfan97

Yes, I know, but that's a very poor design. With every sensor, including the dimming sensor and the display, there's software that controls it, and it's always controllable.

All around i really love my fenix 8, it's a great Device, but thats also a great Problem for me