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Dim backlight

i know we are a very few and small group, but i wanted to open a dialog here regarding the backlight on the FR230. traditionally, with my prior Forerunners, i've only used the watch during running in daylight hours, so the backlight has been something i've never paid much attention to. but now that i am trying out the FR230 as a daily watch, i've noticed what was mentioned on DC Rainmaker: the backlight is dim with a noticeable spotlight effect from the lower part of the screen.

last night, before boxing my FR220, i compared the 220 and 230 side by side and the backlight on the 220 is significantly brighter than the 230's. the 230's is certainly functional, but the difference was striking.

what do your backlights look like?

UPDATE: spoke with Garmin and they put a note in to the engineers. the rep thought that this was likely a power consideration issue. but if there is enough feedback from people that it should be brighter, this could be updated in the firmware. (and maybe be an optional setting)

i wouldn't mind it being brighter even if it drained a little more battery. i typically leave it "off" for alerts and button hits, but would love the ability to manually illuminate at a brighter level when i wished.

so if you guys agree it should be brighter: chime in to Garmin! :)

0 webvan over 9 years ago

So Garmin (make that all known) GPS watches had been flashlights for 11 years? Interesting...let's thank Garmin for showing us the... light by reviving the sidelight of the Casio's of the 80s like Indiglo never existed ;-)

0 dcrainmaker over 9 years ago

So Garmin (make that all known) GPS watches had been flashlights for 11 years? Interesting...let's thank Garmin for showing us the... light by reviving the sidelight of the Casio's of the 80s like Indiglo never existed ;-)

Random trivia: The Fenix actually did have a 'Flashlight' option in the menu. :)

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I had my first run with the FR230 yesterday night.

For me the back light it's ok compared to my previous GPS watch, the timex run rainer 1.0.

I substancially agree with what DCrainmaker wrote about on his review.

What I miss from the back light function is the possibility to activate the always-on mode directly by pressing the buttons.

Maybe it's possible but until now I did not discover.

0 derek87 over 9 years ago

I had my first run with the FR230 yesterday night.

For me the back light it's ok compared to my previous GPS watch, the timex run rainer 1.0.

I substancially agree with what DCrainmaker wrote about on his review.

What I miss from the back light function is the possibility to activate the always-on mode directly by pressing the buttons.

Maybe it's possible but until now I did not discover.

i'm not sure i understood your question correctly, but i believe there are several settings for the backlight:

- always on when a button is pushed (this is the default my watch came with) or
- only when hit manually.

also, one can choose the time out duration (8 sec default)

and finally, one can have it activate with a wrist turn.

this is all within the System Setting menu.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

When I run in the dark I like to have the display with the light always turned on.

It's the 'stays on' option I can choose from the backlight timeout menu.

My doubt is if it's possible to activate the 'stays on' option pressing buttons.

Or if there is a shortcut to access the backlight menu more quickly.

0 timgrose over 9 years ago

It seems on a 230 to access Settings (to change the timeout) while an activity is running you have to stop the timer then press and hold the up arrow.

As such best to select your desired timeout before you set off.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

So yesterday I set the 'stays on' backlight timeout.

When the 'stays on' timeout is activated the BL during an activity stays always on.
You can turn it off pressing the light button.

When you exit from activities to watch mode the BL doesn't stays always on but it returns to a fixed timeout (I think 5 seconds).

That's good for me as I mainly run in the dark and I need the light on when I'm running.

During the day I use the FR230 as a everyday watch and don't need the light.

I noticed that the watch mode is the FR230 'energy saving' mode so that's make sense.

0 TomJubb over 9 years ago

Just got my 230 yesterday and I am extremely disappointed in the lack of brightness. The watch is very difficult to read while running especially at night. I have not done a daytime run yet but a bright day helps with the readability. All the smart phone notifications are unusable because I really have to work hard at trying to read any notification coming from my phone. I was hoping to replace my Galaxy Gear 2 as my every day watch but sadly I don't think that will be the case. So, I'm considering a return of this watch. What other Garmin watches in the same price range can offer similar functions?

0 vador_ over 9 years ago

I am extremely disappointed lighting my 235.
Very low brightness and light leakage at the bottom of the screen
I requested a exchange because I thought it was a flaw, and although unfortunately not.
I do not understand this choice, we do not see much at night, notifications are virtually useless .............

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Just updated it to 'Good', from 'Great'.

That said, I don't really see an issue. Yes, the FR620 screen is brighter, but I'm not really seeing that be of any actual use when outside running. Meaning, I can see the FR230/235/630 screens just fine in the dark (almost all my running is at night).

I'm not sure how you could consider it even "good". It might be acceptable, but surely not good. I mean look at this video, and tell me which one is leagues better in regards to brightness than the other. If you think the 230/235/630 are all great, then what do consider the backlight of the 310XT??? I have a Garmin 405 and the backlight on it also blows these last watches out of the water.

And it's not only max brightness, but also consistency across the screen. The consistency on these new watches is horrid, and deserving of any comparison to an 80's Casio. Neither the 310XT or 405 have as bad an issue with a "bright spot". The new watches do glaringly. The older watches also allow you to change the brightness level (because it can get so freakin bright). The new watches don't, because frankly, anything dimmer would simply be "off".

I'm just shocked that you would consider the brightness on these new watches as a 8/10 type scenario. It frankly makes me question your reviews as a whole. I mean, what is a "bad" backlight in your opinion if this one is good?