Apple Watch Ultra 2 VERY dim inside and dark enviroments..

15 Pro Max…

But I feel certain this is a WatchOS 10 issue. Updating my original Ultra to O10 rendered ot similarly dim. Extremely irritating. I’ll be returning the Ultra 2, as brightness was the ONLY reason I tried the 2.

Most irritating of all though? It broke my original Ultra…so I’m screwed even after returning this one.

So I am on the third watch. Maybe I’m getting there.

I went to the store yesterday

I would suggest asking to borrow a floor model to compare in a dark room (I took it to the bathroom). You will likely see a dramatic difference

Ask to exchange the watch but make sure they process it as a return and repurchase. This way it gets sent in for a repair and will be examined for flaws

My third watch is much better and has some quirks that the other two didn’t

This watch didn’t mandate OS 10.0.2 before finishing the setup. The other two did. So there is a different baseline software present

My calendar looks different. The other two were color on color (light lavender on slightly darker lavender…)

This one is white on color with the background showing a fading effect which wasn’t on the other watches

Like you I tried all of those maneuvers and a few more. The Apple analytics program didn’t pick up any flaw. Therefore they still aren’t aware of what is going on

Hope this helps.

I exchanged my new Apple Ultra Watch 2 for a replacement one this weekend, it is also affected by the same issue. The screen inside is still too dim and I'm frustrated that I can't increase the brightness. I can't read anything in the messaging app at all. Someone from Apple called me over the weekend to get some diagnostics. It was great to know apple is at least listening to some of the complaints, i was left dissatisfied though because he did not provide a solution.

UPDATE

So I did install 10.0.2 and things are still working better on this watch (ie, number 3)

I can't say fixed as I haven't yet compared it to the one my friend has to see if the display is as good. This will happen tomorrow.

I spent an hour today with Apple. We went over all the maneuvers and observations that I've made. They installed a monitoring program on the watch/phone so that if the problem persists, I can take a screen shot and then they can see what the watch is up to.

As of now, they have at least one of the bad actors in their possession, so hopefully they can do a detailed analysis. The remote program they used before would only pick up on known issues and obvious sensor malfunctions, so hopefully with a device in hand they will have a better understanding of the issue.

The good news is that it seems Apple is now aware and is on it.

I also cannot see most of my complications on my watch. They are just far too dim in low light or night to see. And it’s not just the night mode, it’s everything in those conditions.

My series 6 had no issues with this. I could always see everything. I didn’t even think about it. I’m perplexed that with a brighter display it’s not readable because of software! Or so I hope it’s software.

I went back and forth about purchasing this ultra 2 watch and finally convinced myself that coming from the stainless steel 7 would be a considerable upgrade and it was until the sun went down. Now I know I need readers but did I need to get a stronger strength I asked myself. But then I looked at my Series 7 side by side and realized that the Ultra was a fail in dark settings. Cmon Apple you'd better fix this in the next 12 days or it's going back.

I am sorry to hear that you are all experiencing this issue but I am now joining you, as I've received my Ultra 2 a few days ago upgrading from a series 7 and I'm disappointed with what I've purchased. What a let down Apple. If this is not rectified in the next few days it is going back before my 14 days make your mind up time has run out. Sort it or lose me , simple!!!

I got an update from the case I have created with the Apple support stating regarding the auto dim issue, they were telling it’s the built in feature of the product, and unique for this ultra-2, however, if as many feedback’s about the issue reaches them, hopefully they will look around and provide a software fix for this. Awaiting progress in this.

I actually sold the AW Ultra 1 becouse the Dimming was not on all the time. I want the watch to be dimmed at 1 nits ALL THE TIME regadles of enviorment lighting etc, until i flick my wrist or tap the screen then it should light up.

This should be a Setting so the user can have it how ever they would like the dimming to work for them:

Dimming On/Off

Dimming Dynamic/Static (static = dimmed all the time unless wrist flick or touching screen/wheel)

Dimming level 1-10 (10 dimmest)

Dimming responsiviness

I think it’s fairly obvious that no one thought to test them in a dark room. And whatever script was edited/removed was overlooked when the time came.

As a former website designer, I’ve had similar happen to me. It wasn’t until the client tried to do something that was originally available, and not something I would’ve tested, was broken. It happens. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I returned my Ultra2 yesterday and tried another.

The tech at Apple called it a software issue, and his Ultra 1 was also dim.

I believe the cause is very simple:

—Apple made a new claim about battery life with Ultra 2…an improvement of 60 hours on U1, to 72 on Ultra 2.

In order to “prove” this claim… They are screwing all of us…with unusably-dim displays in dark conditions…in order to say the 72 hour claim is true.

I can tell you that NONE of the updates have helped AT ALL.

This is NOT a hardware issue.

It is a CHOICE by Apple…proven by the fact that WatchOS 10 also rendered my Ultra 1 suddenly DIM as well, post update to 10 or above.

This is unacceptable.

If this is not remedied in my new 14 day window with this second Ultra 2…I’ll be returning this one as well.

I’ve been having dimming issues on my new Ultra 2 as well. I don’t leave the always on function on, but when I raised my wrist to wake it I would see the screen bright, then it would quickly dim and bounce back like it was trying to determine the light level. However this morning I noticed that when I disabled the auto Night Mode that it seemed to stop it. I know the auto Night Mode is a new feature and I hope they implement a fix for this quickly.

Just switched from a Series 3 and it legit looks better indoors and dark. Agree with everyone on here. Premium price with a marketed brightest screen yet. This thing is BRUTAL. What a joke. Please fix. It’s comically bad.