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Instinct 2 Solar (Tactical) "Washed Out" Display: Anyone else having this problem w/their display?

DevilFrog
over 3 years ago

T

The GI2 (on right) is much more "washed out" and closer to purple when compared to the original's vibrant blue (on left); both are backlit to 100%. Moreover, the viewing angle on the GI2 is simply terrible... clearly, the new "domed" PowerGlass does not add one of the primary advantages of having a domed crystal which is improving the visibility at acute angles (especially underwater) by mitigating light reflectiveness. I'm not impressed at all. As opposed to the original solar models, the new GI2s have a "full" solar panel behind the display, so this may be the cause of both the tint and viewing discrepancies; I've contacted Garmin support and am waiting for some explanation... hopefully it is just that I may have a defective watch (which can then be replaced by Garmin).  Also, much as I appreciate the improved display resolution of 176x176 (which does make the text look crisper), they've taken advantage of that to make the overall text smaller in order to fit more data displayed on the screen size; that's all well and good, but it does make it more of a strain for legibility... not all of us have a 25 y/o sight. As usual, Garmin did incorporate a font size setting; I've provided them with that feedback and feature suggestion, so hopefully they will add that in a future update.  Has anyone else noticed this issue? 

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 7618017

    Also I will point out that I'm trying this extreme angle trick with my phone and my I1s and the visibility reduces earlier through it than it does IRL

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 7618017

    I didn't discount it.  I was criticizing the unreasonable demands for higher ups at Garmin to issue public statements and engineering notes and such.

    I also only spoke of my experience with an in-store test and didn't see the issue to the stated degree here and I also believe the camera work is making the situation look worse, perhaps rhe anti-aliasing filters are accentuating the polarization and cancellation effects.

    As mentioned, when I film my I1s, the screen looks more washed out and becomes more difficult to read through the camera well before it loses visibility to the naked eye.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 7618017

    Your video is very convincing! I don't have it that way. The steep angle is harder to see, but the blue screen isn't, it's a little faded, but you're really bad. Maybe the watch will be exchanged!

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to NoTrux

    In my case external light made the difference. When there was typical light scenario screen was quite similar to IS1 (with backlight on), but if it was dark or pretty dark and I turned on watch light this "washed out" screen effect popped out with steeper angles.

    I'm not sure if you had proper conditions in store to test it.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to raf200

    Same here; wasn't seeing a very noticeable difference in sunlight or well-lit rooms. I started to notice this in low-light rooms or when there was no external light source. With my GI1 Solar, I always had 5% brightness and never needed more to read the display in all conditions. Disappointed

    Thanks  for your response and glad/sad to hear your watch is not affected.

    Guess I'll have to contact the retailer and/or Garmin to try to get the watch exchanged, hoping I get one with a better display. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to TeaRacer

    Well this is exciting to hear! If it's not too much trouble would you be able to post a similar video in low light/dark conditions to show you don't have this problem? Even with the watch sitting on a counter with no light and the backlight on at a few angles including the opposite (top side) angle to see if its washed out int he opposite direction now. If it doesn't wash out this is awesome! Might be time for me to contact Garmin again as well if the problem has been silently fixed. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to TeaRacer

    TeaRacer, could you upload short video showing your watch in mentioned above situation where washed out screen shows up? I would like to get confidence problem is solved before I'll buy Instinct 2 one more time. Thank you in advance.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to TeaRacer

    Thank you for videos. I'm afraid effect is not far from one I had with my Instinct 2. As you can see views from above are much more readable than from below. I suppose if you would go lower you could get very similar effect.

    Could you take photo like this one?

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to raf200

    The photo you provide is very misleading. The watch has a different angle, with a big difference, so it can't be compared. I asked several times for the watch to take pictures from the same angle. Unfortunately, no answer. Here are photos from complete darkness. And then in the middle of the dark.