Screen quality in the sun, really that bad?

[mikedaub]

So, contract is up May 1 and it is time for a new phone. My Blackberry Curve has just got to go. My plan is to get myself either a Droid or the Incredible. Yes, I am on Verizon. It is the only carrier that really works in my area.

Why would I post in the N1 forum about those phones? Simple, because the screen on the Incredible and the N1 are just about the same. I thought I read somewhere (I think in the Android Central forums) that the N1 has the model number 2000 screen and the Incredible is the 3000. I forget the model name but it seems like the Incredible is just a step up and it seems that step is more for the touch part, not the brightness of it.

I have a question for about the screen quality on the N1. My major concern is about the phone in direct sunlight. Yes, on all the reviews, it is always mentioned about the screen washing out, but that is during quick reviews and not real world usage. So, how is the screen? Is it really that bad??

Sure, 75% of the phone usage would be inside, but I am a cycling coach and at some of the events my team competes at, I read time splits and such from the net outside. Being able to read the screen outside is a big thing. Currently my BB 8330 works perfectly in the sun and would hope the same for the Incredibles (since there is no sign of the N1 on Verizon). Am I going to be completely disappointed and want to throw the thing when I get into the sun with it?

Thanks in advance....

 

[mdunn1066]

Well, i've got good news for you and bad news for you. The good news is you can crank up the screens brightness then its on a scale of 1-10 a 7/10 outside. Bad news is you're gonna guzzle the battery up and i would recommend cyanogen or something to improve battery life.

Also, keep in mind, theres a good return policy on it as i was able to return my tmobile n1 no questions asked in the first 14 days.

 

[RBasil]

Mike, the Nexus One is terrible for daylight use. The incredible is supposed to be better. I would NOT by an Nexus One if you want to use it outside and go to a Verizon store and see if they will let you view the Incredible outside before you buy.

 

[Air Force One]

Mike, the Nexus One is terrible for daylight use. The incredible is supposed to be better. .

Actually the incredible uses the same AMOLED screen as the Nexus and has identical performance when in sunlight. The issue is AMOLED, not the Nexus or any other device.

If this is an issue for you then buy a device that still uses LCD

 

[jhamilton3#CB]

It pretty much stinks but there are ways around it.. just not awesome/quality ways..

 

[RBasil]

Actually the incredible uses the same AMOLED screen as the Nexus and has identical performance when in sunlight. The issue is AMOLED, not the Nexus or any other device.

If this is an issue for you then buy a device that still uses LCD

I thought the new AMOLED screen that the Incredible uses was better in direct sunlight in addition to being a better touch screen. Good to know.

 

[robh2]

My iPhone was bad in the sun until I put a thin matte plastic sheet over the screen. Is the Incredible really that bad?

 

[mdunn1066]

I guess you could get a glare reducing screen protector, that with the screen on max brightness should be tolerable, i guess ill find out when i get my nexus one tomorrow, as when i had it on tmobile it was dark and cloudy the entire time

 

[URPREY]

I wrote a blog post the other day about this along with pics to compare my N1 to my iPhone 3Gs.

Nexus One vs iPhone Screen Comparison | Bill Stebbins dot com

Inside is where the N1 screen REALLY shines (pardon the pun)

For me personally I find that in direct sunlight no screen is all that great but the tradeoff is worth it for the fantastic experience 95% of my day.

 

[mikedaub]

Well, i've got good news for you and bad news for you. The good news is you can crank up the screens brightness then its on a scale of 1-10 a 7/10 outside. Bad news is you're gonna guzzle the battery up and i would recommend cyanogen or something to improve battery life.

Also, keep in mind, theres a good return policy on it as i was able to return my tmobile n1 no questions asked in the first 14 days.

Very good point about the return policy. I just had getting a phone all set up, figuring it all out then having to take it back. Plus, where I am at, the closest store is like an hour drive. Quite a pain.

Mike, the Nexus One is terrible for daylight use. The incredible is supposed to be better. I would NOT by an Nexus One if you want to use it outside and go to a Verizon store and see if they will let you view the Incredible outside before you buy.

I will give it a shot, taking it outside, but I doubt they will let me. I can say, however, I will not be getting the N1. My blackberry is going to drive me CRAZY way before they get around to releasing the N1 for Verizon.

I wrote a blog post the other day about this along with pics to compare my N1 to my iPhone 3Gs.

For me personally I find that in direct sunlight no screen is all that great but the tradeoff is worth it for the fantastic experience 95% of my day.

Pretty interesting article there. Clever way of taking the screen shot so it uses the same image for comparison.


This is the link I was referring to in the first post about the difference in screens, forum.androidcentral.com/droid-incredible/9744-incredible-screen.html. Sorry about the link..only 2 posts.

Of course, there is going to be a ton of speculation and hear say about any new phone. I guess I will just have to try it out on my own and see what it is really about. Reviewers only have limited time with it. Once the "masses" get it in their hands, we will really see what it is all about.

Thanks all for the advice.

 

[RBasil]

My iPhone was bad in the sun until I put a thin matte plastic sheet over the screen. Is the Incredible really that bad?

As a former 3+ year iPhone owner and now an N1 owner. The iPhone was MUCH better than the N1 in direct sunlight. If you didn't like your iPhone's screen in direct sunlight you will HATE the screen of the N1 and Incredible in direct sunlight.

 

[CSI Guy]

OK is the screen readable in the shade or inside of a car where the light is not directly hitting the screen?

 

[dtboos]

OK is the screen readable in the shade or inside of a car where the light is not directly hitting the screen?

Yes. I am in my car a LOT for my job and inside the car its great. Same in the shade. Its in the direct sunlight that its hard to see, and yah that can be annoying, but my iPhone wasn't that great either (albiet better). The HTC Evo and most likely some other HTC phones in the near future will be sporting TFT displays which will hopefully put both the iPhone and previous AMOLED screened android devices to shame in the Sun, but its really not that bad. Just move a little and put hand in front of sunlight and you can see enough.

If you are going to be out in the bright sun for a bit, you can always set your screen brightness higher and only turn the screen on when you need to see something, or just use sparingly and shouldn't be that draining on your battery. Just don't sit there playing Jewels for a couple hours on full brightness while baking in the sun.