Apple Watch 9 is too dim at night

During the day the watch is bright when I lift it to look at it.

At dusk or in darkened rooms in the house, it has a difficult time brightening - it's very dim and unreadable.

Sometimes it will blink to bright for a second and then blink back to dim where it stays.

It doesn't seem like this is the way it's supposed to work and I have the brightness maxed.

Is there another setting to keep it at max brightness in all conditions - not just daylight? Or did I get a dud?

Thanks.

[Re-titled by Moderator]