Yes people are reporting that Series 9 has same issues as Ultra 2. And some people say its the software version WatchOS 10+. I am a little unsure of the last. But I got to say that I am loosing confidence in Apple. Since I wrote this post (OP) there has been two WatchOS updates. None of them had a fix included. And let´s be honest here, this is NOT something that requires months of beta testing or require a lot of programmers to compile code.
The functionality is already in place, via settings. The way I see it there really only is two ways of fixing this.
- Disable the ambient sensor.
- Boost the watch´s brightness settings (recalibrate)
I am very concerned about this as Apple has not even acknowledged the problem officially. Yesterday I did a quick google on the issue- just to see if there is a general awareness. And sure there is. Many news outlets and other places reports this via articles and so on.
This is not a feature request or demand on changing radically the watch. This is very serious request/ complaint as were to the watch become useless and worthless when in semi/ low light conditions. For me personally it ruins the entire experience! I mean I was like... ahhh should I do it? Buy a Apple watch? And then should I REALLY pay double up for a Ultra compared to regular series although I never would need the "Ultra features". So I fired the trigger and bought it. Its a big investment and I just feel so let down and cheated that basically I am only happy 12 hours of the day of the watch. The rest 12 hours its useless and something that bothers me. But the whole process to seeing the ad´s and 3000 nits screen- blah blah... And then this feature is only available if you place the sun on top of the watch lol! Now I did not for one second took note or was impressed over the "as low as 1 nit" about the display. Because I thought this was reserved for standby or other power saving features. Now I don't know if it IS 1 nit in the evening where I cannot read it due to dim, but it certainly feels like it. I am just so.... WAUV! baffled over Apple could think that this VERY low brightness settings is like "one size fits all". Not only can I not read it, but it hurts and put stress on my eyes when I try to. And then there is the fact that you want this "Ultra feeling" about your "super titanium watch". Well I am getting far from that. It looks weak and under powered and is just bad energy with this problem. I dont understand why either the auto dim is locked. On the iPhone it can be turned off, which I always do and adjust after my own prefs. And like on the phone the user is full aware that adjusting the brightness is a balance between battery life. This should 100% be the user set this and have power over this! The idea of that "Apple knows whats best for you and your eyes" are a joke! Anyway I just had the need for another rant because I am getting impatient and loosing hope!
Side note: I actually noticed yesterday for the first time that when in the low light conditions and the watch is in this "too dim" mode. If you then take your phone and slide the brightness (for the watch) down and up (from already max level) while the watch is active- It actually for a short time goes up to the "desired" level (for what is usable). This for some seconds like it should have been, it looks like. But after like 20 sec or something like that the watch dim down to the unacceptable level. So if the user could just skip at least the final dim down level it would be very likely- not an issue.
What I am trying to say is that the way I see it, it requires SO little from Apple to at least fix this to a acceptable level. And that would not even be to re-calibrate the sensor but disable the final level like described if you understand. And this "final dim level" seems like, or at least sounds like its a "feature" of the Ultra 2 and Series 9.
I have made comparisons with my son´s Series 6 watch. And his does not go down to this final dim level. Although the optimal would be total user control and a way of disabling the sensor, and on his Series 6 I would prefer a notch more brightness. His watch defiantly is on a usable and acceptable level compared to mine. And that's just another meeeeh! That an older regular Series 6 is "better" and more "powerful" than the brand new "Ultra 2". It´s a complete joke!
