I get a solid 10 days on my Garmin 265, and that includes a GPS-recorded run at least x5 days per week.
Here are the calculations for the Fenix 8:
fēnix 8 Series Owner's Manual - Battery Information
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Garmin Beats Apple to Market with Satellite-Connected Smartwatch
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I get a solid 10 days on my Garmin 265, and that includes a GPS-recorded run at least x5 days per week.
Here are the calculations for the Fenix 8:
MicroLED has much higher brightness (4,500 nits) and supposedly better readability. I assume the shorter battery life is due to that brightness.
and still round
Why do they keep making watches round?
This legacy of mechanical watches makes the interface so much harder to read
Why do they keep making watches round?
This legacy of mechanical watches makes the interface so much harder to read
Having went from a round watch, to the Apple Watch for eight years, and now back to a Garmin....I no longer want a square watch.
Specialized devices catering to a subsection of the market that is into doing extreme things whether it be military, government or civilian. I think there is a segment that will buy these and I’m happy to see other players in this market because Apple can’t build for every contingency, and it’s leaves room for these specialized devices. I personally don’t have a need for this sort of watch, but for those that do have a need, hopefully this fills a gap. I am glad the watch market didn’t fold up its tent when the Apple Watch came out. I like analog, but I do feel a little under dressed without my Apple Watch on at this point.
No idea the exact methodology, but I know I can use it to GPS track a multi day hike, use the mapping functionality, all whilst still receiving notifications with no difficulties. An Apple Watch is likely dead before the first evening.
Wins? Bro it's not even free, imagine paying 8$ per month and then using it one time a month.
Less than a week ahead of when Apple plans to unveil the Apple Watch Ultra with satellite capabilities, Garmin introduced its own smartwatch with satellite connectivity.
The Fenix 8 Pro is Garmin's first smartwatch to feature its inReach satellite and cellular connectivity. InReach is the technology that Garmin uses for its handheld navigation devices. With inReach, the Fenix 8 Pro can send location check-ins and text messages over satellite using the Garmin Messenger app.
There is also included cellular connectivity, so the smartwatch can make phone calls, send 30-second voice messages, and provide LiveTrack links and weather forecasts when an LTE connection is available.
LiveTrack is a feature that allows the wearer's family and friends to keep track of their location during an activity or adventure.
For emergencies, there is an SOS feature that will send a message to the Garmin Response center over a satellite or cellular connection. Garmin Response will then communicate with the user, their emergency contacts, and search and rescue organizations to provide help. Garmin says that its Response team has supported over 17,000 inReach incident responses across over 150 countries.
Along with satellite connectivity, the Fenix 8 Pro has a high-resolution microLED display with 4,500 nits of brightness, making it the "brightest smartwatch ever," according to Garmin. Other features include dive-rated and leakproof metal buttons, a metal sensor guard cover, and an LED flash light. It can track health metrics and provide an endurance score, hill score, daily suggested workouts, sleeping advice, ECG functionality, and more.
There are two Fenix 8 Pro sizes, including 47mm and 51mm, and two different display options. The AMOLED model is priced starting at $1,200 and it gets up to 27 days of battery in smartwatch mode. The microLED model, which is available only in a 51mm size, is priced at $2,000 and it gets up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. Garmin's new smartwatch models will be available for purchase on September 8, one day before Apple's September 9 event that will see the unveiling of the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple's upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rumored to include integrated satellite connectivity, allowing Apple Watch wearers to send text messages and get help when a cellular or Wi-Fi connection is unavailable.
Apple does not charge for satellite service at this time, while Garmin does. Garmin's inReach plans start at $7.99 per month, with additional fees for some of the satellite-based features based on which plan is selected.
Article Link: Garmin Beats Apple to Market with Satellite-Connected Smartwatch
It's funny bc even the Garmin community is not happy about this. This product is like a Vision Pro, it's not going to sell like hot cakes, it's a "we did it" product, price be damned. The battery life is worse than all the other models, the Satellite and LTE implementation is ok (good only for emergencies), and according to a tester on reddit the micro led is a little bit better. They didn't even improve the laggy SoC, this is really handy for maps of which Sunto and Coros for example have seemed to have figured out. Even if you are the most hardcore of outdoor enthusiasts/ or a semi or pro athlete you can get more value and features from buying an Enduro PLUS inReach/Apple Watch/Pixel watch. Even then it's probably a better idea to get something more reliable. I switched from my AWU to a Fenix 8 last year only because I need more GPS and HR time/measurements for long endurance events. (I still use my AWU even now and again when I want to go without a phone and be connected). If Apple can get to the point where the battery life can handle getting full metrics for something like a multi day Ultra Marathon they would blow "competitors" away. I suspect there is not much pressure to do so though because is a small percent of the market, which allows these other "competitors" to get away with a lot more.
Kinda similar here.
Used to wear classic watches, then when Apple Watch was introduced had 3 of them, then switched to Garmin D2 Delta.
Do not want to wear a mini iPad on my wrist.
BTW, yes Garmin is more expensive, but you're less prone to buy a new watch every other year...
While a lot of that is true, the Fenix isn't the only Garmin watch. There are a ton of others, and many just as rugged: The Instinct and Instinct Solar, for example, as well as the Tatix and Enduro. The Forerunner line is built quite well and lasts for days, at about the same price as a regular Apple Watch.
Additionally, since you are only charging them x1/week, they have a lot longer life..less charging means less battery cycles. At the end of a year, an Apple watch charged (we'll be generous) and say every 2 days will have 182 cycles and a Garmin might have ~36.
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They won me over. That was the only major thing keeping me on Apple Watch. Will switch over to Garmin now.
I like my epix pro gen 2 Garmin, I turn the touch screen off and let the screen turn off and get over 2 weeks of battery on it, it's great.
I've tried Garmin Connect+ and their new sleep band and they both suck, though I'm slightly tempted by this new Fenix, I don't always run with a phone, its like a just in case thing.
I've tried Garmin Connect+ and their new sleep band and they both suck, though I'm slightly tempted by this new Fenix, I don't always run with a phone, its like a just in case thing.
The Garmin app kinda sucks, but you can hook into Apple's Health App and consequently any other health apps....not that Apple Health is much better.
I trail run with mine 6-10 hours a week, or more, and backpack with mine off-grid for days at a time. Speak for yourself....and I do all that with just a Forerunner. I don't personally need (or like the looks of) the Fenix.
Also, weird analogy. Garmin is typically less performance-oriented with less features than Apple's offerings. I don't need a smartwatch and wanted something more fitness-focused.
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Can you actually compare the 2? Those Garmin watches and many other sports watches all have so much better battery life that I started questioning if they even do the same/as much as the Apple Watch. Do they? What about the screen?
I'm seriously asking because I don't know and because something's not right here. I can't imagine this thing having 8x better battery life while doing the same.
When I lived in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and spent lots of time on solo hiking trips I wished for something like this, but I wouldn't have considered it at this price.
But great Garmin battery life, as always.
But great Garmin battery life, as always.
I think Garmin has let success get to their head. Their prices are just way too expensive.
Forget professional athletes, but for the mainstream consumer training for a race or competion. And I'm not even talking about the products launched today.
Forget professional athletes, but for the mainstream consumer training for a race or competion. And I'm not even talking about the products launched today.
