Go to Apple‘s website and under tech specs, it will tell you exactly what you’re looking for. Enough, indeed, that some of the details about the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE … Indoor residential lighting typically ranges from 100 to 500 lux, while office, commercial, and task lighting typically ranges 500 to 1,500 lux. The sport model uses Ion-X glass which is … Both sapphire and glass each have many distinctive and important properties besides the Reflectance, and what is particularly interesting and relevant is that by using some new advanced technologies, the Reflectance of not only Sapphire but also Glass will be reduced significantly in the very near future for some displays, with major implications and improvements for both the visual and optical display performance, which we will discuss below. But is there a visual difference between a watch that uses sapphire versus glass? Android app Contact us The primary goal of this Display Technology Shoot-Out article series has always been to publicize and promote display excellence so that consumers, journalists and even manufacturers are aware of and appreciate the very best in displays and display technology. In this Results section we provide Highlights of the comprehensive DisplayMate Lab tests and measurements and extensive visual comparisons using test photos, test images, and test patterns that are covered in the advanced sections. The Apple Watch Sport on the left has anodized aluminum with a matte finish that diffusely reflects light from all directions and therefore has a more uniform appearance. The background is much brighter on the right Sapphire display due to its 74% higher Reflectance compared to the Glass display on the left. This means that they may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. For the Apple Watch Sport with Ion-X Glass we measured the Screen Reflectance to be 4.7 percent, while for the Apple Watch with Sapphire we measured 8.2 percent Screen Reflectance, which is 74 percent higher than with Glass. The display coating on the Apple Watch 6 aluminum is Ion-X strengthened glass, which is also softer than the sapphire crystal, used on the stainless steel version. Dr. Soneira obtained his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Princeton University, spent 5 years as a Long-Term Member of the world famous Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, another 5 years as a Principal Investigator in the Computer Systems Research Laboratory at AT&T Bell Laboratories, and has also designed, tested, and installed color television broadcast equipment for the CBS Television Network Engineering and Development Department. At just 500 lux, the Color Gamut is 93% with Glass and 85% with Sapphire (with the displays set to their Maximum Brightness of about 480 nits by fooling the Ambient Light Sensor, otherwise it is about 15% less), as shown in Figure 2. Stainless steel and titanium models have sapphire crystal displays. RSS feed So if you don’t look closely it looks as if the Apple Watch on the right is smaller, but it’s just an optical illusion from the differing brightness reflections from the cases. Clearly the best (and smartest) way to improve display performance, image contrast, color saturation, screen visibility and readability in ambient light is to lower the Screen Reflectance. See the Viewing Angle Variations section for details. The Photo below is a side-by-side screen shot of the Apple Watch Sport with Ion-X Glass on the left, and the Apple Watch with Sapphire on the right. It was from a different supplier from the last batch, he told me. The same test performed on … They were taken together simultaneously inside an Integrating Hemisphere that provides a very uniform light distribution coming from all directions at an ambient light level of 2,000 lux, which corresponds to moderate outdoor lighting in the shade or an overcast sky. Apple remains committed to sapphire glass, despite the fiasco. The displays, technologies, and manufacturers that succeed in implementing these new high ambient light display performance strategies will take the lead in the next generations of displays… Follow DisplayMate on Twitter to learn about these developments and our upcoming display technology coverage. That’s indoors…. Virtually all displays work by emitting image light rather than by reflecting ambient light like traditional watches. The primary goal of this Display Technology Shoot-Out article series has always been to publicize and promote display excellence so that consumers, journalists and even manufacturers are aware of and appreciate the very best in displays and display technology. For both the Sapphire and Glass displays we measured similar small to medium shifts in Brightness and Color with Viewing Angles up through 30 degrees. Although their internal OLED displays are identical, they have significant differences in optical performance due to the sapphire and glass covers. You should see the part number that begins with "M." Tap the Model field. If you were to hold up two identical watches side-by-side, the one with a glass crystal would be about 20% brighter than the one with sapphire (due to fundamental principles of optics that reduce its light transmission), so it appears somewhat darker and duller, particularly because the light has to pass through the crystal twice. To examine the display performance for the Apple Watches we ran our in-depth series of Mobile Display Technology Shoot-Out Lab tests and measurements in order to determine how the displays performed. The extraordinary durability of sapphire glass makes it ideal for consumer electronic devices that use digital output displays such as smartphones and tablet computers. At an ambient light level of 2,000 lux, which corresponds to moderate outdoor lighting in the shade or an overcast sky, the display Contrast Ratios are just 12 with Glass and 7 with Sapphire. If you are a display or product manufacturer and want to turn your display into a spectacular one to surpass your competition then Contact DisplayMate Technologies to learn more. Aluminum models have Ion-X glass displays. The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ does not have an always-on display, meaning that users will have to raise their wrist or tap the display to see their watch face. If you bump the watch against a hard surface like a wall, chances are that it will register some damage. Privacy We’ll focus primarily on how differently they perform in ambient light with both Lab measurements and a side-by-side screen shot photo for a pure visual demonstration. Our test results and conclusions apply to all displays that are used in ambient lighting, including smartphones, smart watches, tablets, laptops, PC and video monitors, even TVs (if you watch during the day or with room lights on at night), and especially for displays that are mostly used in outdoor environments like digital signage and automobile displays. Inside, the Apple Watch Series 4 has a new S4 chip that's twice as fast as the S3 chip in the Series 3, and the back of the device has been improved with a black ceramic and sapphire … The large differences between displays are very obvious and striking. If you have any comments or questions about the article, you can contact him at dtso.info@displaymate.com. While Apple is indeed using sapphire, it’s not the best quality. That’s indoors…. The aluminum Apple Watch is designed with athletes in mind, which is why apple sticks to Ion-X every year. See our world renown Display Technology Shoot-Out public article series for an introduction and preview. It is unlikely to be noticeable except possibly in high ambient light that is itself neutral in color. Read more. $18.90 $ 18. See the Caption or the Photo Link for a detailed explanation of the photo. The sport model Apple Watch does _not_ have the Sapphire display, it uses the Ion-X Glass, only the stainless uses Sapphire displays. At an ambient light level of 2,000 lux, which corresponds to moderate outdoor lighting in the shade or an overcast sky, the display Contrast Ratios are just 17 with Glass and 10 with Sapphire (again with the displays set to their Maximum Brightness by fooling the Ambient Light Sensor, otherwise it is about 70% of the values). Get it as soon as Tue, Feb 2. The world’s best (and most expensive) watches all have a sapphire crystal, because sapphire is incredibly hard, making them extremely scratch-resistant and almost scratch-proof under normal use. For manufacturers we offer Consulting Services that include advanced Lab testing and evaluations, confidential Shoot-Outs with competing products, calibration and optimization for displays, cameras and their User Interface, plus on-site and factory visits. Youtube The 74 percent higher Reflectance of the Apple Watch with Sapphire means that its screen will reflect almost twice as much surrounding ambient light as the Apple Watch Sport with Glass. The Lab tests quantitatively evaluate display performance with measurements of a large number of display parameters using specialized instruments and test patterns. Apple Watch SE has an Ion-X glass display. The 74 percent higher Reflectance of the Apple Watch with Sapphire means that its screen will reflect almost twice as much surrounding ambient light as the Apple Watch Sport with Glass. The Lab measurements like the Contrast Ratios and Color Gamuts above quantitatively evaluate display performance, but it’s also nice to see a screen shot of the displays under test to visually compare the results and differences. See the Brightness and Contrast and Color Gamut sections andFigure 1 for measurements and details. We help manufacturers with expert display procurement, prototype development, and production quality control so they don’t make mistakes similar to those that are exposed in our Display Technology Shoot-Out series. One very important and significant result from testing the two watch displays in the dark at 0 lux is that their photometry and colorimetry calibration measurements were both very good to excellent, and almost identical to one another, indicating a careful and accurate systematic factory calibration – Apple typically has each display individually calibrated. It’s nice that you’re all smart, thorough, and all, but next time we don’t need to read a masters thesis when Apple comes out with its next doodad. We point out who is leading, who is behind, who is improving, and sometimes (unfortunately) who is back pedaling… all based solely on the extensive objective careful Lab measurements that we also publish, so that everyone can judge the data for themselves as well… See the Display Shoot-Out Comparison Table for all of the Lab measurements and testing details, and the Results Highlights section above for a more general overview with explanations. If you are watching a display in total darkness then the screen Reflectance doesn’t matter, but it has a surprisingly large effect on every display, even in subdued indoor ambient lighting, and it makes an enormous difference outdoors. Swark LCD Display Compatible with Apple Watch Sapphire Crystal Version Series 1 A1803 and (1st Generation) A1554 Screen 42mm LCD Screen and Digitizer. Tap the My Watch tab, then tap General > About. On the other hand, the visual consequences from using sapphire and glass are considerably greater when they are used on displays, including smartphones and smartwatches, because minimizing screen reflections is especially important for displays, and sapphire has almost double (191%) the reflectance of glass. Apple Watch Series 6 watch. Dr. Raymond Soneira - DisplayMate Technologies, Apple Watch OLED Display Technology Shoot-Out, DisplayMate High Ambient Light Display Test Lab, Brightness and Contrast with Ambient Light, Apple Watch Sapphire vs Glass Conclusions, Display Technology Shoot-Out article series, 2014 Innovative Displays and Display Technology. Below we examine in-depth the relative display performance of the Apple Watch that has a Sapphire Crystal with the display on the Apple Watch Sport that has an Ion-X Cover Glass, using objective Lab measurement data and criteria. Apple Watch Sapphire vs Glass Display Conclusions. The Apple Watch models are perfect for this comparison because they are identical except for their sapphire and glass covers. Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 3 have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. With some new advanced technologies that will be introduced soon, the Reflectance of not only Sapphire but also Glass will be reduced significantly for some displays, and they will be available in the very near future, with major implications and improvements for both visual and optical display performance. We will provide more information on Low Reflectance Sapphire and Glass in our upcoming 2015 Innovative Displays and Display Technologiesarticle. All displays can be significantly improved using DisplayMate’s proprietary very advanced scientific analysis and mathematical display modeling and optimization of the display hardware, factory calibration, and driver parameters. Twitter Dr. Raymond Soneira is President of DisplayMate Technologies Corporation of Amherst, New Hampshire, which produces display calibration, evaluation, and diagnostic products for consumers, technicians, and manufacturers. However, Full Daylight that is not in direct sunlight ranges from 10,000 to 25,000 lux – for 10,000 lux the Contrast Ratios are 3 and 2 respectively. We’ll show that the best (and smartest) way to improve display performance, image contrast, color saturation, screen visibility and readability in ambient light is to lower the Screen Reflectance. However, Full Daylight that is not in direct sunlight ranges from 10,000 to 25,000 lux – for 10,000 lux the Contrast Ratios are 3 and 2 respectively. Finally, on a technical note, the slight green tint visible in the photo for the Apple Watch with Sapphire on the right is due to a variation in its Reflectance Spectrum for ambient light, which is stronger in the green portion of the spectrum and weaker in the red and blue portions of the spectrum compared to the Apple Watch Sport with Glass display on the left. DisplayMate Technologies specializes in proprietary advanced scientific display calibration and mathematical display optimization to deliver unsurpassed objective performance, picture quality and accuracy for all types of displays including video and computer monitors, projectors, HDTVs, mobile displays such as smartphones, smart watches, and tablets, and all display technologies including LCD, OLED, 3D, LED, LCoS, Plasma, DLP and CRT. Right: Apple with Sapphire. As I said on two occasions I have shattered sapphire crystals (but I've had a lot of watches with sapphire crystals). DisplayMate’s advanced scientific optimizations can make lower cost panels look as good or better than more expensive higher performance displays. This is because not all Apple Watch Series 5 models automatically come equipped with sapphire screens. In the Photo below the ambient light penetrates and reflects from different layers in the display so some of its internal structures are visible. This means that they may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. The reflected ambient light reduces the image contrast of the white text and graphics, and also the color saturation and vibrancy of the red second hand. ... PolyWatch Glass Polish Glass Polish Scratch Remover Watch Glass Scratch Remover. At much larger Viewing Angles sapphire shows larger shifts than glass. 3.5 out of 5 stars 3. In order to increase the use of sapphire for displays, the sapphire industry will need to modify the optical properties of sapphire without significantly affecting its scratch resistance and other mechanical properties. In the dark both watches appear identical. To see how other displays perform in up to 40,000 lux see this article on Displays in High Ambient Light. Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 3 have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. Impurities make it more fragile than the sapphire crystal used on a typical Swiss watch. Subscribe for 2 years and get an extra 1-month, 1-year-, or 2-year plan added to your cart at checkout. It can’t be done using traditional Anti-Reflection optical coatings which scratch easily. Even if you like comparing Contrast Ratios, Color Gamuts, and other parameters, it’s also nice to see a screen shot of the displays under test to visually compare the results and differences. Features 1.78″ display, Apple S6 chipset, 304 mAh battery, 32 GB storage, 1000 MB RAM, Sapphire crystal glass. Even without iPhone 12, Apple squeezed a lot into its hour-long Apple Watch and iPad event today. Coverage News The standard way that has generally been used to improve display performance in ambient light is to fight fire-with-fire and just continue increasing the display’s Maximum Brightness. Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch Series 3 have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. Do not sell my data, The devices our readers are most likely to research together with Apple Watch Series 6, Apple brings out Limited Edition Black Unity Apple Watch 6, Apple’s homepage gets (RED) makeover, proceeds go to COVID-19 relief through June 2021, Ming-Chi Kuo: Demand for iPhone 12 Pro, M1 MacBooks, new iPad Air are higher than anticipated, Deal: Get the Apple Watch SE at $50 off from Target, Apple Watch Series 6 - user opinions and reviews, HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA, LATAM, Canada, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global, 44 x 38 x 10.4 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.41 in), Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame, Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate (2nd gen), barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max, Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode), Li-Ion 303.8 mAh (1.17 Wh), non-removable. See the Display Comparison Table for their detailed specs, and our earlier Apple Watch OLED Display Technology Shoot-Out article for an in-depth analysis of the OLED display. The stainless-steel Apple Watch ($550 to $1,100) and gold Apple Watch Edition ($10,000 to $17,000) models have a sapphire-crystal face, a super … Change Ad Consent The ION-X and some other glass will get CRACKS easier but sapphire crystals can shatter more easily. It is a trade off. Follow DisplayMate on Twitter to learn about these developments and our upcoming display technology coverage. Apple Watch SE; Apple Watch Series 3 ... in the Reflectance of Sapphire and Glass… For the Apple Watch Sport with Ion-X Glass we measured the … In fact, … We point out which manufactures and display technologies are leading and advancing the state-of-the-art for displays by performing comprehensive and objective scientific Lab tests and measurements together with in-depth analysis. If we fool the Light Sensor and force the watches up to their Maximum Brightness of about 480 nits, the Contrast Ratios increase but are still only 64 with Glass and 38 with Sapphire at 500 lux. That’s indoors…. Below is a partial excerpt of the table; you can view the complete Data Comparison Table here. Reviews Find the Model field. Apple advertises the Watch as having two distinct displays with the Watch Sport including an Ion-X display and the other models, the Apple Watch and Watch Edition, shipping with a sapphire glass screen. Facebook Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 3 have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. Compare TL;DR....Yeah, this isn’t a research article, it’s a consumer product review. Both values are about 0.6 percent higher than just pure sapphire and glass alone, indicating that Apple has done an excellent job in optically bonding both the glass and sapphire to the OLED display without an air gap. The displays on both Apple Watches have the same OLED display with identical specifications except for the outer display cover, which is either Sapphire or Ion-X Glass and results in significant differences in optical performance that are analyzed below. He has authored over 35 research articles in scientific journals in physics and computer science, including Scientific American. Plus, if you do that, the same display can be used at a lower Brightness setting, which will decrease the display power and increase the running time on battery. And it takes surprisingly little ambient light for that to make a significant visible difference…, While the display Contrast Ratios are infinite at 0 lux absolute darkness, they decrease rapidly with ambient light. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. This means that they may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. See www.displaymate.com. Dr. Soneira obtained his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Princeton University, spent 5 years as a Long-Term Member of the world famous Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, another 5 years as a Principal Investigator in the Computer Systems Research Laboratory at AT&T Bell Laboratories, and has also designed, tested, and installed color television broadcast equipment for the CBS Television Network Engineering and Development Department.