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AMOLED (Epix 2): sumptuous contrast, crisp fonts, energy efficiency
What you see first: black. A real one. Complications float, cards click, icons breathe. On theEpix 2AMOLED displays a resolution and saturation which make the data “appetizing”. In the dining room, in the office, at night: royal.
Honestly, it’s hard to go back. But AMOLED requires juice — especially in Always-On. My outings on September 7 and 10, 2025 at Lake Gaube (Cauterets) confirmed it: to keep the same readability as a Fenix 7 at midday, I held the Epix 2 between 80% and 100% brightness AOD. It’s readable, it’s beautiful, but it costs.
When you pass through the undergrowth, the result remains clean; the backlighting follows, the animations remain fluid. The topographic map gains micro-contrasts (reliefs, trails).
For an overview of outdoor-oriented “screen + autonomy” uses, I am including here our complete guide to Garmin solar GPS watches in order to frame the impact of an energy-intensive panel compared to solar.
Where AMOLED excels
Quick consultation of notifications, in-room coaching, timely health monitoring: visual comfort is immediate. Basically, as soon as the ambient light is medium or low, the Epix 2 crushes the competition. Brief.
Transflective MIP (Fenix 7): full sun, “paper” reading, sobriety
There Fenix 7 does the opposite: it “returns” the light. The more it hits, the more it wins. HAS full noon, September 10, 2025, Lake GaubeI cut off almost all backlighting (0–10%) and kept a clear reading of the 1-sec uphill fields. Feeling similar to a printed dial. This is valuable when you run, cycle, or walk at altitude. And no, it wasn’t an overcast day. Real harsh sun.
Yes, the MIP looks “dull” indoors.
This is the price of its energy frugality and its stability in broad daylight. To better understand the logic of the “readability > wow effect” panels, review this in-house comparison, detailed differences between Garmin Vivoactive 4 and 4S: same screen philosophy, same terrain priority.
Where the MIP dominates
Long outings in the sun, ultra, map navigation in strong light, aggressive energy savings. We read, we forget the screen, we move forward. So, zero distractions.
