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

I noticed this problem too, i noticed it when the indirect lighting in a dim setting was somewhat bright in my environment like a TV or computer screen. If you activate the flashlight by hitting the button on the right and selecting the Flashlight button, and then tap the screen to turn on the flashlight, it temporarily fixes it I found.

I believe this is a WatchOS 10 issue, evidenced by the fact that updating my original Ultra also rendered ot unusably dark in dim lighting.

What’s frustrating about this is that now BOTH are crippled in dim lighting.

I will be returning the Ultra 2, and requesting that they down-grade my original ultra to WatchOS 9 until this issues is satisfactorily remedied.

Yes I Agree, I have raised a Case and support team told that will provide an update in the coming weeks hopefully, The auto dim is very frustrating and it straining the eyes whenever looking the watch in the low light/Dark Environments, even though the brightness is set to max in both Apple watch and in Apple watch App in the iphone. A software update is needed. This is very expensive watch in it's entire series, and hopefully apple is looking into it.

I am also having the same issue. I've got an appointment with apple tomorrow but based on the threads here I'm not feeling confident. My series 7 did not suffer from this and was very easy to read in the dark. I expected this $799 Utlra 2 to be amazing, and except at night, it is. I'm an I.T. Engineer and I've exhausted all home solutions. Just for those keeping track at home:

1. I've updated my iPhone (14 pro) to the latest iOS (17.0.2 as of this post).
2. I've updated my Ultra 2 to the latest watch os (10.0.2 as of this post).
3. I have removed it from my phone and repaired it completely.
4. I have rebooted my iPhone (not that should have any effect on this but reboot is simple enough.)
5. I have manually adjusted the brightness on the watch to max (no real effect in dark environments.)

The only workaround I've found is that I have my flashlight set to the ACTION button, so if I turn ON my flash light and let it get super bright then turn it off, I can read the display fine until the watch display goes dim (or off). Seems like a lot of effort to see my watch.

At this point I'm as frustrated as most of you here, I hope we get a fix soon.

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.

Apple support has called me at least three times and had me run diagnostics and collected logs (and simulate the issue). They are aware.

I have a series 9 watch... so it must be an OS issue. I can confirm that my Series 4 watch is much brighter (old OS) under the same conditions.

I also have the Series 9 and ended up here when searching for why the screen is so dim at night. I switched from a Series 5 which did not have the problem. When watching tv I don’t have the room very bright, but I do have a light in front of me, and my watch basically doesn’t get any brighter than the always-on brightness, even with the brightness in the settings set to max. I have to point my watch at the light for it to be bright enough for me to use it. I used the feedback left by another poster to send Apple some feedback. Hopefully if they hear it from enough people they will do something about it.

Request everyone to raise case and Apple will eventually look into the issue for a possible workaround through some fix via software update. Because this product doesn’t fulfill the primary requirement.

It is a complete desaster. I own an Apple Watch Series 6 and thought now it’s time to go for the Ultra 2. So I ordered one. 3000 Nits! Man think of that. Great. One evening I drove home with my car and had a glance at my watch. This was the first time I recognized it. The display was so dimmed. Could barely read anything. I came home and dat down on the couch. The room was at Low light. The Watch display was dim. I checked the Brightness settings. Of course they were at max. Where are the 3000 Nits when you need them?!

I activated my Series 6 and compared both side by side. My Series 6 was much brighter.

Dont get me wrong…besides this the Ultra2 is a great watch. But sry Apple. This bad low light performance is the reason why I returned the Watch within the 14 days and stay happy with my S6.

Why is it so hard for you to allow full customizable brightness settings to the Customer?

I want to have the freedom do deactivate Auto-Brightness! Let me choose the brightness when the watch is passive at 1 Hz. Let me choose the Minimum Brightness Level. And when it drains the battery and it lasts only for 10 hours. Well this is my decision!

I ordered also a Series 9. Same bad performance. Also returned it…

I will not buy any Apple Watch in the future, if this is not going to be fixed. Also when I am not able to customize the Brightness Level the way I described before.

Greetings

A. from Germany

ckmic wrote:

I guess if everyone makes a call to support and logs a complaint - that is what the lady I spoke with told me .. not sure if this was to get me off the phone :-)

let's all call her - maybe thats what she wanted 😅

seriously: i was told by my support lady that the more people complain to support (not here or else) the more likely it is they fix it and also the sooner (if at all) they fix it.

media coverage will accelerate as well i suppose...

You can email Tim, according to google he reads all his email. If he is not reading it is very possible someone else at an Executive level will receive it as I saw some users were getting replies back from an executive team about their issues.

Anyone who is having this same issue on the Ultra or Series 9. Please report or share you concerns about this issue on the Apple Feedback page. Maybe we can get this issue resolved sooner with the help of others. Feedback - Watch - Apple at www.apple.com/feedback/watch/

Anyone who is having this same issue on the Ultra or Series 9. Please report or share you concerns about this issue on the Apple Feedback page. Maybe we can get this issue resolved sooner with the help of others. Feedback - Watch - Apple at www.apple.com/feedback/watch/

My last post was deleted, Thankyou mods for trying to silence us and providing no support.

Apple rep has told me initially this was going to be fixed. Now they are saying it’s by design. I tried to return my watch and they are refusing to take the return now because it’s out of return window. I was initially mislead by Apple that this was a known issue to be addressed. Now this is not the case. 

This would be equivalent of a electric car being sold for buyers only to find out after sale is finalized that the car can only go max 30mph and the lights don’t work at night to save battery life and maximize MPG, all limited by software designed by the manufacturer.