The removal of the transparent solar panel from the Garmin Enduro 3's screen has a notable impact on the screen clarity, improving visibility compared to previous designs that included such panels.
In older models and comparable solar watches, including some earlier Garmin models, the transparent solar panel that is placed over the display typically reduces the sharpness and crispness of the screen. The panel absorbs sunlight to harvest energy but also introduces a slight haze or reduction in clarity because it is not 100% optically clear. This semi-transparent layer has an efficiency of about 10% in capturing solar energy but at the cost of some screen visibility quality. The solar panel under the display allows light to pass through but slightly diffuses or softens the display beneath it, which results in a display that looks less crisp, especially in bright ambient lighting conditions.
The Enduro 3 manufacturer specifically removed this transparent solar panel layer that used to cover the active screen area. Instead of having a solar panel directly on part of the screen, the Enduro 3 employs a larger and more efficient solar ring around the display's bezel to capture solar energy. This design change means that the actual screen area is no longer covered by that semi-transparent solar cell layer, which significantly enhances the screen's sharpness and clarity.
Users and reviewers comparing the Enduro 3 with earlier models or with watches that still use a solar panel on top of the display have noted that the screen of the Enduro 3 appears sharper and slightly clearer. The fonts and graphics are more crisp, and the watch face looks better defined. This improvement is observable in various lighting situations, including when the backlight is off. However, the enhancement is subtle rather than dramatic; the display technology underneath remains the same, but the removal of the semi-transparent solar layer reduces the slight visual distortion and light diffusion previously caused.
This change in design also makes the display easier to read outdoors without the need to activate the backlight, which is beneficial for outdoor activities and endurance sports where battery conservation is important. Previously, the solar cell layer over the screen sometimes made the display appear slightly hazy, which could be a disadvantage in strong sunlight or bright conditions. The redesigned Enduro 3 solar solution, by shifting solar harvesting away from the active display area to the surrounding bezel ring, avoids this tradeoff.
Additionally, the new solar ring around the Enduro 3 screen is designed to be black instead of the reddish semi-transparent panels used earlier. This black solar ring blends better with the bezel, improving the overall aesthetics of the watch while delivering more than twice the solar energy harvesting efficiency compared to previous models. The black ring does not interfere with the display itself, maintaining clarity and contributing to the watch's extended battery life.
In conclusion, the removal of the transparent solar panel layer that previously covered the watch face in the Enduro 3 leads to a clearer, sharper display with improved visibility in natural light. This improvement comes without sacrificing solar charging capability because the technology and placement of the solar panels have been upgraded to a more efficient and visually unobtrusive bezel ring. This design choice enhances user experience by balancing optimal solar energy harvesting with superior screen clarity and readability. The screen looks more crisp, less diffused, and easier to read, especially seen in comparisons with previous Garmin models that retained the transparent solar panels on the display area.