- A poll on Reddit shows significant support for Garmin’s MIP display technology
- 34% of users said they would switch to another brand if Garmin dropped MIP
- A total of 51% indicated a preference for MIP over AMOLED screens
These days, top Garmin watches are slowly abandoning memory-in-pixel (MIP) technology for their displays, with the company favoring AMOLED displays for their increased brightness and contrast. MIP displays are pretty much just relegated to Solar watches. But not everyone is happy about the move, and a recent user survey suggests that many Garmin fans would be sad to see MIP go — and now we want to know if you feel the same way.
On Reddit, user Imthenewbee created a poll titled “MIP lovers: what would you do when Garmin stops making MIP screen watches?” With over 1,100, the results might surprise you.
That’s because they show that a significant number of respondents want to keep using a MIP smartwatch, whether it’s from Garmin or another brand. Of the 1,100 votes cast at the time of writing, 186 said they would buy a used MIP Garmin watch if the company discontinued its MIP devices, while 377 — or 34% — said they would switch to another MIP smartwatch. Combined, these 563 votes represent 51% of the total votes cast, marking a significant pool of Garmin users who want to stick with MIP monitors.
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How do you feel about the situation? TechRadar’s own Matt Evans has written about how he’d miss MIP screens if they finally went the way of the dodo, but not everyone prefers the duller-but-more-battery-efficient results you get with MIP. Tell us what you’d like to see in our poll below.
Users say they ‘don’t want to be loyal’
For several Reddit users, the long battery life provided by MIP displays is the reason for their preference. One user said “MIP and poor battery life is why I went to Garmin. I won’t settle for an AMOLED with a 12-day battery life.” Another, meanwhile, explained that they “took Garmin because of MIP and battery life. Won’t be loyal if the benefit of Garmin goes away.”
It might be worth taking the Reddit poll results with a grain of salt. After all, the title of the poll specifically asked “MIP lovers” to respond, so the results may be skewed in favor of users who prefer this technology. You never know, our poll above might be more balanced!
Still, it’s interesting that so many users showed a fondness for MIP. While this type of display isn’t nearly as bright as the one you get with AMOLED – meaning it’s not as useful in bright outdoor conditions – it’s much more efficient on your battery and helps you get more juice out of your smartwatch in the long run.
And because MIP is less advanced than AMOLED, the price of wearables with this technology tends to be lower than AMOLED equivalents. That makes it a great option for some of the best budget smartwatches that give you wearable tech without breaking the bank.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see Garmin phase out its MIP watches eventually as AMOLED screens become more efficient and easier on your battery. But as the Reddit poll suggests, it could make many people regret Garmin’s decision.
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