I switched a few months ago and this for me has been a bit of a pain point.

As you say even a dot at the top would be adequate to show there's notifications. Just like the apple watch!

Could be the battery? Try changing that and see how you get on.

Even new devices I've found can sometimes have poor batteries in them when they ship.

Spez really is going full Elon!

I think they just don't give any fucks