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

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.

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 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. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nope. It’s FAR more simple than that.

Apple made an exaggerated claim that the Ultra 2 adds 12 hours MORE use than the Ultra 1… And the ONLY way they can substantiate that claim…is by making it EXTREMELY dim for many more of those hours…. So… They are destroying it’s usability…all in the name of convincing people with the claimed 72 hours use…that it’s a good competitor to other leading sport watches, such as Garmin…that last FAR longer per charge.

Apple is punishing us…all so thay can claim battery life “improvements.”

What’s infuriating is the fact that Apple could remedy this in about 15 minutes of code writing. Probably less, because they probably already have the code written, many different ways, knowing full well how to remedy this already. But they simply won’t… Why?? —Because our satisfaction is less important to them than the selling point of 72 hours of battery life claims. It is the ONLY conceivable reason why they REFUSE give us this most basic functionality.

This sounds like a case for a class action. There should be a proper way to adjust brightness, not only for the way this was pulled off (claims of extended battery life by lowering screen brightness to a non user changeable level) but designing a product without accessibility features for people with visual disabilities is unacceptable for Apple. I don’t know how you can justify a screen brightness setting between 1-2-3 where the brightness between the 3 modes only increases 5% between each level.

Claims of extended and exceptional battery life by lowering the screen display to an unusable display level.

It’s like marketing a car that can get 2000km distance on 1 tank of gas but when everyone buys you discover the car can only go 30KM/h.

lets be honest the only reason we purchased this over the U1 was the +1000 nit brighter screen, which is crippled and useless.

The situation with the overly dim setting in dark areas is not acceptable. At least issue an Accessibility menu to turn auto dim off, or allow similar use as in ios 16 and the Ultra 1 in dim or dark areas. Not everyone can see perfectly and needs a little help. Just make it user adjustable please! It's a no brainer at this point.

New Ultra 2 watch - Same thing, I can't read the display when in the dark. A flashlight will brighten it for a while. Also, the temperature takes a long time to display on the new modular ultra watch face. And I can't read the display on it when its in the red. Disappointing

I just rang Apple again about this. I have a Genius Bar appointment set for next week but it’s close to my 14 days so I wanted to make sure they knew all my concerns.

They told me that as far as they’re aware, there is no problem with the Ultra 2. So I really have no hope that this is going to be fixed anytime soon. I’m probably going to have to return it. And this means none of these new watches are for me, yet according to Apple, I’m the problem not the watch/es.

How can this be happening? How can Apple not acknowledge this is a problem? This is all so weird. It feels like gaslighting 101. Maybe there’s not enough of us experiencing the problem? Maybe our numbers fall within acceptable parameters…or something. I just don’t get it.

According to google Tim read ALL user emails, whether this is true or not this is another thing.

even if he does not read it personally maybe someone will get eyes on it. Send him the links to this forum so they can see what is going on. It seems that more news outlets are picking this story up as well.

this is going to be bad press for Apple product for a watch “with the brightest screen ever” that is capped at what seems 30% brightness.

i tried to send a text using Siri last night while in bed and I had to strain my eyes and bring my watch 1 foot away from my face to even read the message I had sent…

and as far as I could see in the keynote in September Tim was wearing an Ultra watch.

Very sad that they took what could have been a serious health and fitness device and turned it into a silly little toy

I bought this specifically for monitoring workouts and for use at night. I work from 7-7, so most of my outdoor activities are at night.

Running? No way. Can't see the display. Went back to a simple LED watch.

Biking? Nope. Trying to focus on the screen was so distracting I hit a pothole.

Driving? Just a distraction. It taps my wrist making me want to look at it, but the display gives me no useful information.

Hiking? I hike a lot in California. It goes dark unexpectedly when the sun goes behind the mountains. I'm supposed to rely on this to find my way out. Really?? I'll be eaten by a bear way before I get out of the forest.

Diving? I don't dive. I showed it to a friend who does. Burst out laughing. The idea that someone would take this underwater not knowing when it goes dark is beyond ridiculous.

Bought a Garmin. Ultra is going back.

FSB2105 wrote:

Hiking? I hike a lot in California. It goes dark unexpectedly when the sun goes behind the mountains. I'm supposed to rely on this to find my way out. Really?? I'll be eaten by a bear way before I get out of the forest.

you made my day.

for me the good old series 4 works better than the 9. I'll bring it back next week.

Don't forget to talk to apple support before so they know of the real number of cases and fix this issue soon.

Sounds like this design (defect) could lead to serious safety risks for those depending on it in dim light conditions .... maybe that's the premise to move complaints forward. It is one thing to have a dim screen - another to have. watch that makes bold promises but fails and someone gets hurt.

I went from a series 3 to the Ultra 2 and I can barely see the watch face at night even in the brightess setting. I never had this problem with my previous Apple watch, but if this can't be addressed either now or with a software update, I will have no choice but to return the watch.