The Garmin Fenix 8 upset me in my early testing. Software program bugs from its rushed launch, recycled {hardware} from cheaper watches, and the $1,000+ price ticket pissed off me, at the same time as I acknowledged that the general package deal was improbable.
Weeks of testing have solely confirmed my preliminary suspicions that (A) the Fenix 8 is overpriced and (B) the Fenix 8 is the perfect Garmin look ahead to anybody who can afford it. A number of sizes and show sorts allow you to tailor the Fenix 8 to your wants and elegance; whichever you choose, it is an ideal fusion of every little thing nice from the Venu, Forerunner, and Intuition collection — with a number of legacy issues introduced alongside for the experience.
Garmin actually has no regrets about its rushed launch and absurd value. Regardless of loads of discussion board complaints about buggy software program and public drama concerning the dive-certified watch crashing in chilly water, Garmin followers purchased and stored their Fenix 8s en masse. Throughout its Q3 2024 earnings name, Garmin particularly credited the “extremely profitable launch of the brand new Fenix 8 collection” for why it hit over $500 million in quarterly out of doors watch gross sales for the primary time.
In different phrases, I am not right here to promote you on shopping for a Fenix 8 by giving it a excessive ranking; tons of individuals already offered themselves on it. As a substitute, I will attempt to paint a practical and truthful image of every little thing Garmin nailed with the Fenix 8 whereas additionally pushing again on the areas the place it is a letdown for anybody spending a grand on a smartwatch.
Garmin Fenix 8 value and fashions
Garmin introduced the Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 on August 27, the primary Fenix mannequin to return in each AMOLED and MIP Photo voltaic fashions. This successfully killed off the short-lived Garmin Epix collection, which was developed as an AMOLED reskin of Fenix.
The Fenix 8 AMOLED is available in three case sizes — 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm — whereas the Fenix 8 Photo voltaic solely is available in 47mm and 51mm. The AMOLED collection is available in both stainless-steel/Gorilla Glass or lighter titanium with extra sturdy Sapphire Glass. Each Photo voltaic sizes ship in titanium by default.
The metal 43mm or 47mm Fenix 8 AMOLED prices $999, however most variations — the titanium 43mm/47mm AMOLED, 51mm metal AMOLED, or 47mm Photo voltaic — price $1,099. Improve to the titanium 51mm in AMOLED or MIP for $1,199. These aren’t Garmin’s costliest fashions, however they’re pricier than previous Fenixes.
By way of colours, the Fenix 8 collection is pretty fundamental in most sizes, with both Carbon Gray titanium, silver Titanium, or Slate Gray metal. Solely the 43mm Fenix 8 is extra artistic with a Smooth Gold titanium or Silver metal, and I think many Fenix 8 consumers will desire a bigger show and lengthened battery life. You’ll be able to see the comparative specs for all 5 Fenix 8 fashions within the desk beneath.
| Class | Fenix 8 AMOLED 43mm / 47mm / 51mm | Fenix 8 MIP Photo voltaic 47mm / 51mm |
|---|---|---|
| Supplies | Chrome steel or titanium bezel; fiber-reinforced polymer case with metallic rear cowl | Titanium bezel; fiber-reinforced polymer case with metallic rear cowl |
| Band | 20mm / 22mm / 26mm QuickFit silicone | 22mm / 26mm QuickFit silicone |
| Weight (Titanium / metal) | 43mm: 60g / 66g; 47mm: 73g / 80g; 51mm: 92g / 102g | 47mm: 80g; 51mm: 95g |
| Safety | 10ATM with leakproof buttons; EN13319 (40m diving customary); MIL-STD-810H (thermal, shock, water); Gorilla Glass (metal) or sapphire glass (titanium) | 10ATM with leakproof buttons; EN13319 (40m diving customary); MIL-STD-810H (thermal, shock, water); Energy Sapphire glass |
| Show | 1.3-inch (416×416) or 1.4-inch (454×454) AMOLED touchscreen | 1.3-inch (260×260) or 1.4-inch (280 x 280) MIP touchscreen |
| Battery life | 43mm: 10 days / 4 AOD; 47mm: 16 days / 7 AOD; 51mm: 29 days / 13 AOD | 47mm: 21 days / 28 with photo voltaic; 51mm: 30 days / 48 with photo voltaic |
| GPS battery life | 43mm: 28 hours / 21 with multi-band; 47mm: 47 hours / 35 with multi-band; 51mm: 84 hours / 62 with multi-band | 47mm GPS: 67 hours / 92 with photo voltaic; 47mm multi-band: 37 hours / 43 with photo voltaic; 51mm GPS: 95 hours / 149 with photo voltaic; 51mm multi-band: 52 hours / 65 with photo voltaic |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, WiFi, NFC | Similar |
| Sensors | Garmin Elevate v5 HR, SpO2, ECG, pores and skin temp, accelerometer, altimeter, ambient mild, compass, depth, gyroscope | Similar |
| Map/ music storage | 32GB | Similar |
| Key {hardware} instruments | Mic & speaker (Bluetooth calling, offline voice instructions); LED flashlight | Similar |
| Key well being options | Physique battery; all-day stress; Health age; Sleep Coach w/ nap detection; Jet lag adviser; irregular HR alerts; incident detection | Similar |
| Key operating instruments | Garmin Coach; Dynamic round-trip routing; Coaching Readiness/ Standing/ Impact; Coaching Load Focus/ Ratio; Restoration time; Endurance/ Hill scores; Actual-time stamina; Garmin/ Strava Stay Segments; Auto-multisport; Every day recommended exercises | Similar |
| Key biking instruments | ClimbPro; Offline programs; MTB Grit and Circulation; FTP; Biking dynamics; Energy meter compatibility | Similar |
| Maps | Preloaded TopoActive maps; 43,000 golf maps; 2,000 ski resort maps; Out of doors Maps+ (subscription) | Similar |
I selected the Garmin Fenix 8 47mm AMOLED look ahead to this evaluation. I dislike MIP shows and was excited to check the primary AMOLED Fenix mannequin, prioritizing a greater show for all contexts over higher direct-sunlight visibility and one other week or two of battery life that I in all probability do not want.
That stated, the 47mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic is extra environment friendly than the final technology, beating the 47mm Fenix 7X Professional Photo voltaic by six days or 17 multi-band GPS hours with photo voltaic. The 51mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic wins by 11 days or 24 multi-band GPS hours over the 51mm 7X. So if most battery paired with premium options is your major concern, both MIP mannequin will meet your wants.
As for sizing, I picked the 47mm case as a result of the 43mm Fenix 8 battery life felt poor in comparison with different small Garmin watches, whereas the 51mm’s further 19g of weight would have felt oppressive; as it’s, the 47mm Fenix 8 weight takes getting used to. In case you can stand heavier watches, the 51mm Fenix 8 has some actually epic battery life for an AMOLED watch, however I want it had a 1.5-inch show as an alternative of 1.4 just like the 47mm.
Garmin Fenix 8: AMOLED show & design
Garmin gave the Fenix 8 the identical high quality of AMOLED show because the Venu 3 or Forerunner 965: a thin-bordered, vivid, 1,000-nit round show with the identical 320-ish pixels per inch as most smartwatches. I would not ask for something extra…if the Fenix 8 fell in the identical $450–600 vary as these watches.
As it’s, most mainstream smartwatches right now have jumped to 2,000 nits, whereas the Galaxy Watch Extremely and Apple Watch Extremely 2 hit a stunning 3,000 nits; they are not simply seen in direct daylight however dazzlingly colourful.
If Garmin was making an attempt to persuade MIP-loving Fenix customers to undertake AMOLED, this effort feels a bit half-hearted. The Fenix 8 is absolutely seen in direct daylight as a result of most information fields and notifications are white textual content on black; I’ve no bother studying it even whereas sporting sun shades. However I might nonetheless anticipate a visible improve at this value, as colourful widgets and maps can look foggy within the California solar.
I am glad my model of the Fenix 8 makes use of sapphire glass; Garmin does not specify which Gorilla Glass kind the stainless-steel Fenix 8 will get — I assume GG 3 DX just like the Forerunner 965 — however I would like assurances that my $1,000+ watch has the absolute best safety for worst-case situations.
As I briefly talked about above, the 47mm titanium Fenix 8 feels barely heavy till you get used to it. Previous Fenix house owners will not discover a distinction, as 73g with strap compares favorably towards different premium, metal-heavy watches. However I have been spoiled by the Garmin Venu 3 (47g) and Forerunner 965 (53g), which have metal bezels however a lot lighter polymer instances.
Regardless of that, the Fenix 8 has change into supremely snug to me, thanks partially to the default QuickFit silicone strap that secures it comfortably for runs without having to be too tight. Regardless of my promise to “by no means put on a smartwatch to mattress once more” due to how uncomfortable I discover them at night time, I’ve worn the Fenix 8 to sleep for 3 weeks in my quest to get my first-ever HRV Standing rating with out it feeling oppressive. For me, that is a giant deal!
If I upgraded to the 51mm, I believe the Fenix 8 would tip over into being too heavy for me, particularly if I purchased the stainless-steel model. Nobody ought to put on a 102g watch except they are a Dragonball Z character able to shed weighed garments to boost their energy stage.
Ignoring the consolation issue, it is a rugged and engaging design in case you’re a fan of conventional health watches and do not thoughts that it’s kind of thick, even on bigger wrists. With 10ATM water resistance, 40m diving certification, and military-grade shock safety, it matches the ruggedness of the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic with out wanting as cumbersome.
Its 5 dive-resistant buttons use Garmin’s “inductive button” design with out conventional holes that would change into water-damaged throughout dives. They really feel completely different from my typical full-press Garmin buttons, with an attention-grabbing haptic buzz to sign a profitable press and an intentional feeling of squishiness so you may press as onerous or calmly as you need. Whereas you should utilize the touchscreen for many issues, I like having the Up/Down buttons — which I miss on the informal Venu collection.
Thus far, my Fenix 8 has withstood salt-water swims and some slams into partitions, however I have not actually examined its ruggedness to the restrict; frankly, I assume that even when the Fenix 8 can deal with scratches and impacts, its titanium body will in all probability present harm greater than the Intuition 2X’s polymer would, so I am cautious with it.
Garmin Fenix 8: {Hardware}, mic/speaker, flashlight
The Garmin Fenix 8 borrowed two key options from Garmin watches I’ve reviewed earlier than: a mic/speaker combo from the Venu 3 and a built-in LED flashlight from the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic. Add within the acquainted AMOLED show, and it is clear the Fenix 8 is designed to mix all this {hardware} into one package deal.
My authentic ideas on the Venu 3 mic & speaker apply right here: The mic high quality is crystal clear for Bluetooth calls, however the speaker is on the quiet aspect for listening to responses, particularly when out and about. Garmin’s model stays a bit underwhelming in comparison with the speaker high quality on an Apple or Galaxy Watch.
Whereas the Venu 3 used its mic for passthrough voice instructions to your Android telephone or iPhone, the Fenix 8 has a brand new offline voice assistant that allows you to open watch apps, begin a exercise, open Garmin Pay, ask a couple of particular stat, and so forth. It’s totally helpful when it really works, however I’ve observed two widespread issues. First, the processing time takes a number of seconds, so it is typically higher to make use of button/watch face shortcuts as an alternative. Secondly, the assistant does not acknowledge all of my instructions and can simply spit me again out to the primary watch face if it does not.
The opposite new mic-enabled characteristic is Voice Notes, an ordinary Recorder app that saves your ideas in your watch. I like that it is there, but it surely’d be even higher in case you might manually or auto-sync your notes to your telephone and probably affiliate a be aware with a exercise so you could possibly return and hearken to a abstract of the way it felt or one thing cool you noticed throughout it, like a exercise diary.
Garmin’s built-in LED bulb sits straight between the show high and the place the band stops, so in case you flip it on, you maintain your wrist straight to level the sunshine ahead. It has three ranges of brightness for the default white bulb or one boring pink setting for illuminating with out being blinding. You’ll be able to set completely different Strobe settings, like Blink or Beacon, if you wish to sign your location whereas operating in the dead of night or after falling and hurting your self.
As with the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic flashlight, the Fenix 8 flashlight may be very good for emergencies or for subtly lighting up a room at night time if you cannot discover your telephone, but it surely’s not an ideal various to an precise flashlight for night time exercises. It isn’t vivid sufficient to light up greater than a small strip straight in entrance of you; it requires you to carry your arm at a inflexible angle to angle the sunshine in entrance of you, and it burns by way of the Fenix’s epic battery painfully quick. I am glad it is there, however I’ve tempered my expectations for what I can do with it.
Trying extra usually on the Garmin Fenix 8 {hardware}, it is onerous to say what sort of processing energy or reminiscence it has as a result of Garmin does not promote that information; it have to be quicker than different Garmin watches to deal with the brand new UI and apps, but it surely hasn’t stopped the watch from sustaining the model’s trademark effectivity. Nonetheless, I discover some occasional lag in menus, particularly when utilizing maps.
Outdoors of a buggy first cost cycle the place it died in two days, my Fenix 8 AMOLED has remained on tempo to final the total 16-day estimate, even with every day sleep monitoring and frequent dual-band GPS runs and hikes. I am unable to understate how spectacular the battery life is; some health bands would possibly declare a number of weeks, however fall quick in sensible use instances. Not the Fenix 8.
Garmin gave the Fenix 8 the Elevate v5 sensor suite, which incorporates an ECG sensor and pores and skin temperature information on high of the usual coronary heart charge, coronary heart charge variability, and blood oxygen (SpO2). Garmin does not have passive coronary heart rhythm monitoring just like the big-name manufacturers, however the ECG inclusion is a pleasant begin for anybody with coronary heart well being points. And Garmin continues to be the one watch possibility for all-day blood oxygen monitoring if that appeals to you.
The one little bit of {hardware} the Garmin Fenix 8 lacks however ought to have is a few sort of 4G LTE assist, just like the Forerunner 945 LTE or Garmin Bounce LTE. Something that prices this a lot ought to have standalone capabilities, both to make emergency telephone calls or broadcast your LiveTrack place to household when you’re out on a multi-day tour. Garmin would slightly you purchase the InReach Messenger Plus and pay a month-to-month premium for satellite tv for pc, however that is not an inexpensive want for lots of people.
Garmin Fenix 8: Software program
The Fenix 8 is my first “high-end” Garmin watch, so I am unable to evaluate its UI to previous fashions; all I can say is that it appears to be a revamped and improved model of the upgraded interface launched on the Garmin Venu 3.
Apps and settings was once shunted off in hard-to-find submenus. Now, there are extra apps accessible, all present in the primary Begin menu or by holding the Again button for current apps. Whenever you’re about to start out a exercise, Garmin now exhibits exercises, programs, and settings straight underneath the beginning display screen as an alternative of hidden behind button presses. And the primary widgets appear to have added extra in-depth information on the watch, as an alternative of constructing you look in Garmin Join.
After all, once I say “apps,” I imply customary instruments you’d anticipate on a health watch. Garmin is best than most by supporting a number of third-party apps like Spotify and Komoot by way of the Join IQ retailer, however by and enormous, you will not see the extent of smarts of a Put on OS or Apple Watch. It is the trade-off for glorious battery life.
The Garmin Fenix 8 launch was notably buggy; it acquired media consideration for crashing in chilly water (regardless of being dive-certified), however had loads of different points. I personally had the Fenix 8 freeze after a exercise and require a pc reboot.
Now Garmin is engaged on a new Fenix 8 beta model with practically 100 “mounted” or “improved” options, together with about 20 new ones. I’ve by no means seen a Garmin replace changelog that massive earlier than, and it goes to point out that Garmin is compensating for its rushed-to-market Fenix 8 software program. In principle, although, these fixes ought to make the Fenix 8 expertise even higher.
I am not going to dwell an excessive amount of on Garmin’s core coaching software program, just because about 80% of the Fenix 8’s coaching instruments will be discovered on the Garmin Forerunner 965 for $500 much less, notably the exercises and metrics for operating, biking, mountain climbing, swimming, and multisport, plus {golfing} and maps to an extent.
I gave the Forerunner 965 a 5-star evaluation, and the Fenix 8 is simply as improbable for athletes, with out holding any options again. There is a purpose why I maintain returning to Garmin when I’ve a complete array of different watch manufacturers in my closet, from COROS and Polar to Apple and Samsung. Garmin watches have helped me change into a greater runner with recommended exercises and coaching load focus, monitor my progress at hill coaching, and keep away from overtraining with restoration estimates.
The tough factor with the Fenix 8 is that the majority of its unique software program is extremely area of interest. Do you want 2,000 pre-downloaded ski maps? A surf exercise to auto-record the variety of waves surfed? Monitoring your gases and the tides for scuba diving? The choice to pay much more for Out of doors Maps+ satellite tv for pc imagery in your wrist?
If the reply is sure and you’ve got a trip house in Tahoe or an everyday browsing spot close to your property in Santa Cruz, then you definately in all probability have the cash to purchase the Fenix 8 and never fear a lot concerning the excessive price. For everybody else, be sincere with your self: You do not want the Fenix 8 software program or the 16-day battery life. You are in all probability simply paying high greenback due to some mixture of FOMO and wanting a titanium standing image.
The one new Garmin Fenix 8 characteristic that I believe can have broad enchantment is the brand new Energy Coaching device. In the identical approach you may construct a operating or biking coaching plan primarily based in your present health stage and targets, now you can construct a weeks-long plan that takes into consideration your present skills and whether or not or not you might have entry to fitness center tools.
I personally wrote about how Garmin wanted to make its indoor exercises higher, so this characteristic excited me. Having examined it out, it’s kind of overwhelming for a layman. The generated exercises are actually fully-fledged exercises, beginning with cardio and stretches earlier than extending into numerous dumbbell actions targeted on a broad vary of muscle mass for push, pull, and leg days.
If you have already got a fitness center routine, then this superior, auto-generated energy coaching will slot proper in. However given how ubiquitous Garmin Coach is throughout all of its watches and that the plans are generated in your telephone, I’ve to imagine that these energy exercises will ultimately come to new Garmin watches at extra affordable value factors. Fenix 8 house owners are simply paying for early entry.
Garmin Fenix 8: Maps
The Garmin Fenix 8 has a significant concentrate on maps, however I haven’t got an Out of doors Maps+ subscription and did not spend that a lot time utilizing the usual topographical maps for a few key causes.
Garmin advertises “dynamic round-trip routing” as a brand new and compelling characteristic for the Fenix 8, letting you select a distance and see numerous routes that can get you again to start out inside a sure time. Nevertheless it did not work properly for me once I tried to create a 10-mile route by way of a neighborhood state park. I might inform it to offer me a route north or west into the park, and after a protracted “calculating” wait, it created three programs that each one despatched me within the reverse course by way of the suburbs.
So, as an alternative, I made a decision to comply with an AllTrails route for 5 miles, then attempt to create a brand new Again to Begin route and see what map it generated. It sat on “Calculating” for a protracted stretch after which despatched me an error message. That is not nice!
One of many beta changelog strains within the upcoming Fenix 8 replace is “Fastened Spherical-Journey Routing from the Map App,” so it is doable Garmin will resolve this concern quickly. However at current, this high-profile launch device upset me, and I discovered it simpler to create programs within the Join app as an alternative. And even then, its auto-generated paths in my neighborhood would generally ship me on limited-access or inaccessible routes.
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Typically talking, Garmin’s programs and turn-by-turn navigation are helpful in case you’re the sort of one who pre-downloads GPX maps. In any other case, you may attempt dropping waypoints or close by trailheads mid-activity, however I might see it as a nice-to-have final resort slightly than one thing you’d need to depend upon recurrently.
Why? As a result of navigating maps on a 1.4-inch watch display screen is extra bother than it is price, particularly for the reason that Fenix 8 processor appears considerably laggy for navigation. By default, you are zoomed in so shut that you’ve little context for what path you are on or which approach you are going; zooming out is sort of sluggish and infrequently takes too lengthy to fill within the clean gaps.
With time, I am certain I might grasp these map options, however I am not inclined to. I believe anybody who desires a correct Garmin map expertise ought to look right into a GPSMAP handheld — which itself is difficult to grasp however affords a bigger display screen and helpful buttons — or (for cyclists) an Edge pc. With the Fenix 8, I’ll follow the fundamentals.
Garmin Fenix 8: HR & GPS accuracy
Garmin gave the Fenix 8 the identical multi-band GPS performance and coronary heart charge sensor as most of its different watches of the previous few years. In different phrases, you may anticipate a excessive stage of high quality however nothing new — which continues to be the theme of this Fenix 8 evaluation.
I did my due diligence to check their accuracy; a few of my outcomes can be pulled from my COROS PACE Professional health take a look at — which used the Fenix 8 as a baseline — and my current 20-mile race sporting the Fenix 8 and three different watches.
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The three HR charts above present a traditional run, a tough monitor run, and a three-hour race. Outdoors of 1 apparent error early within the monitor run, the outcomes are surprisingly constant: They’re at all times in shut lockstep, however the Fenix 8 is usually 1–2 bpm above the COROS HRM, each for growing and reducing effort earlier than ultimately settling to the proper studying.
I’ve observed a difficulty on a number of Forerunner watches, and now the Fenix 8, the place the optical HR monitor struggles to seize my actual coronary heart charge if I begin a exercise and instantly run onerous. It wants a few minutes to ramp as much as high-aerobic and anaerobic ranges earlier than it will probably keep in sync; from that time on, the Elevate sensor is extra correct than virtually each competing model. I merely want this one concern can be mounted.
One other 12-mile run exhibits comparable outcomes: the Fenix 8 is sort of at all times 1 bpm above the center charge monitor however finally ends up with the proper common and max coronary heart charge. That additionally applies to my three-hour race and some other “regular” run I’ve performed; solely the monitor exercise’s common was skewed by the preliminary glitch.
Mainly, I would not really feel the necessity to put on an exterior HR monitor with the Fenix 8 with outcomes this constant; many different widespread operating watches would not get the identical seal of approval.
As for GPS accuracy, I normally use Garmin watches because the management group for these sorts of exams as a result of they constantly do the perfect of any model. The Fenix 8 principally lives as much as that customary: You’ll be able to see within the screenshots beneath of my 20-mile race the way it sticks to the path, barring a few noticeable exceptions the place I am parallel to bridges however barely out within the water. Garmin’s distance whole beat the opposite three watches I used to be sporting for accuracy.
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Beneath is the GPS accuracy take a look at for a tree-laden hike with the Fenix 8 and the COROS PACE Professional. Each Garmin (orange) and COROS (blue) did very properly on this take a look at, sticking to the path regardless of all of the sign blockage.
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In one other pair of metropolis runs with each Garmin and COROS watches, it was a surprisingly blended bag for the Fenix 8. In some situations, Garmin was the higher possibility, sticking to the trail whereas COROS drifted; in others, the reverse held true, as Garmin confirmed a bent to map me extra to the left of my precise place, shoving me into streets and lawns. However in each situations, they ended up with near-identical distance totals; the deviations barely mattered from a coaching load perspective.
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Ultimately, the Garmin Fenix 8 does in addition to different multi-band Garmin watches I’ve examined, with adequate accuracy for severe runners that beats most different dual-band GPS watches. My solely downside is that you may get the same stage of accuracy with any of the Forerunners within the $350–600 vary, with the identical corrective algorithm to try to clear up any dangerous monitoring.
Garmin Fenix 8: Competitors
If you have not guessed but, my picks for the best-competing choices for the Fenix 8 are the opposite finest Garmin watches. If the Garmin Fenix 8 is a fusion of the Forerunner 965’s coaching instruments and AMOLED show, the Venu 3’s UI and mic/speaker, and the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic’s battery life and flashlight, then it’s important to determine in case you want all of those instruments or could make do with one specialised possibility that prices lower than half as a lot however falls quick in appears to be like, battery life, and extreme-sport options.
In any other case, anybody searching for a premium smartwatch that is higher for apps however does properly sufficient for health ought to contemplate the Apple Watch Extremely 2 or Galaxy Watch Extremely. The Fenix 8 obliterates them for battery life — you will need to cost them each two or three days — however these watches have higher shows, equally rugged designs, higher voice assistant instructions and telephone integration, and surprisingly stable health instruments for informal customers.
Anybody within the Fenix 8 MIP Photo voltaic ought to contemplate the COROS VERTIX 2S, which has no recharging capabilities however nonetheless lasts 36 days per cost, has a rugged design and COROS’ patented coaching instruments, and held its personal in my VERTIX 2S accuracy take a look at towards Garmin and Polar. I thought of it too costly at $699, however that’ll prevent $500 in comparison with the 51mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic.
Garmin Fenix 8: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase the Garmin Fenix 8 if…
- You are a severe self-guided athlete that wants helpful coaching insights and mid-workout steerage.
- You may have sufficient disposable revenue to afford the best-possible Garmin watch.
- You want specialised health software program however do not need a particular mannequin just like the Strategy (Golf), Quatix (Boating), or Descent (Diving).
- You need glorious battery life, however nonetheless desire a classy design to pure longevity with the Garmin Enduro 3.
You should not purchase the Garmin Fenix 8 if…
- You’ll be able to’t afford it otherwise you’re used to “conventional” smartwatches; both approach, attempt a less expensive Garmin mannequin first.
- You’d miss the smarts of an Apple Watch or Put on OS watch.
- You are anticipating many new, game-changing options over the Fenix 7 collection.
In contrast to Apple and Samsung, Garmin is not recognized for its trade-in offers. When the Fenix 9 arrives in a few years with new options that the Fenix 8 might or might not get, you will need to resell it for your self — or else settle for the Fenix 8 as your main look ahead to years to return to justify the price.
Now that Garmin has labored by way of numerous the launch points, the Fenix 8 is a improbable smartwatch. However I referred to as it a “Frankenstein’s watch” for a purpose: Garmin sewed in new options from different watches just like the flashlight, mic/speaker, and (on the MIP model) a extra environment friendly photo voltaic panel, making a hodgepodge of instruments in a long-lived, engaging watch that does not actually have a signature characteristic to name its personal.
I do not suppose I would like the rumored Garmin Fenix 8 MicroLED that’ll make the conventional Fenix 8 look low cost; I simply want Garmin had given this model a brighter show, louder speaker, mobile assist, or something to make it really feel extra like a standout as an alternative of a “best Garmin hits” album.
To get probably the most out of the Fenix 8, I am unable to simply be a runner; I’ve to start out cross-training extra with biking, mountain climbing, and energy coaching, learn to ski once more, and perhaps take some scuba classes. Really, that is an “adventurer’s watch,” and I do not suppose I might personally justify spending $1,100 on one, regardless of how nice it’s. If you can justify it, then you definately’re actually going to like this watch.
Garmin’s finest watch, interval
The Garmin Fenix 8 is without doubt one of the finest health watches of the yr, falling quick to some manufacturers on smarts however obliterating them for clever coaching, weeks of battery life, and health accuracy whereas matching them for type and sturdiness. Highlights embrace the brand new built-in flashlight, mic and speaker for calls and instructions, and software program for secure diving.
