Verdict
The Fenix 8 is one of the good outdoor multisport watches that is not quite the complete smartwatch and variation watch mash - up just yet , but it ’s going in the right counsel without losing what make it a majuscule out-of-door companion .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Garmin Fenix 8 sees Garmin take its premium outdoor sports lookout man and expand its display option , offering AMOLED and solar charging choice .
Screen options aside , Garmin is seeking to make its top - end outdoor watch over a better smartwatch , with new voice - enable features all while enhance the trailing lineament that would make you grab the Fenix over other out-of-door vigil .
Like theFenix 7 Pro , the Fenix 8 comes at a steeper cost than most AMOLED outdoor lookout , including theApple Watch Ultra 2and theSamsung Galaxy Watch Ultra .
So , does spend big get you a great , sturdy sports watch and smartwatch all in one ?
Price
There are various version of the Garmin Fenix 8 useable . Here ’s a dislocation of what ’s useable .
Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED example
Garmin Fenix 8 solar example
Design and Screen
The Fenix 8 remain a watch that you’re able to pick up in dissimilar case sizes , all with the same object to operate in extreme circumstance .
The bad change here is that with the Epix gone , the Fenix 8 is available with either an AMOLED filmdom or Garmin ’s more traditional transflective video display , which also incorporate its mightiness sky-blue solar charging lens to give overall barrage life story a cost increase .
I ’ve been testing the largest 51 millimetre rendering of the Fenix 8 which has a Ti bezel partner up with an orangish and graphite silicone shoulder strap . It ’s a big lookout man and sure see it on my weedy wrists . At 92 one thousand , it ’s somewhat leaden than something like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ( 61.4 g ) .
Despite being heavier than most outdoor watches I have n’t happen it cumbersome to bust but it ’s a respectable one to take to layer to track your eternal rest and recovery time .
That large case induce room for a 1.4 - inch , 454 x 454 AMOLED touchscreen , which is on the dot the same - sized sieve featured on the 51 mm version of theGarmin Epix Pro , which is basically the predecessor to this particular edition of the Fenix 8 . It ’s a great display – colorful , vibrant , responsive and can be observe on at all clock time .
Dotted around the instance are five strong-arm button , which Garmin now refers to as leak - trial impression . These tougher push help to boost the durability and suitability of using the Fenix 8 in deeper water than the previous fashion model . It ’s now suitable for amateur diving event up to 40 measure as well as offering an overall rainproof rating of up to 100 m .
Garmin continue the LED torch on top of the watch case and it does seem notably brighter and clear than the one featured on the Fenix 7 Pro .
It ’s deserving noting here that while the AMOLED variant of the Fenix 8 is useable in 42 mm , 47 mm and 51 mm size , the non - AMOLED models only hail in 47 mm and 51 mm version .
According to Garmin , this is because the Modern solar institutionalise lens engineering would suckle up too much space on the 42 mm version . So Garmin has opted to keep your options here to two as opposed to the three on the AMOLED Fenix 8 .
Software and Smartwatch Features
Along with show options and a more diving - favorable designing Garmin also makes some changes to the style you ’ll get around the Fenix .
It ’s still a proprietary operating organization running the show and it ’s still one for iPhone and Android users . I ’ve used it with both and the experience has been very uniform across . You still get richer apprisal support pair off with an Android phone , but reasonably much everything else is the same exterior of that .
The braggy interface change lies with bringing the workout trailing and apps like medicine and access to the Garmin Connect IQ Store all in one place . There emphatically does experience like a move to make for apps more into the par . I do n’t entirely check with the changes , which shunt exercising tracking to the top of the usual workout screen , but it ’s something I ’ve learned to accept and get used to .
Scroll through that rejigged card screen and you ’ll find novel features in the form of voice commands , a speech sound assistant mode and the power to record voice bank bill . These are n’t young features to smartwatches in general , and Garmin has already introduced the ability to speak to your phone ’s fresh help on its Venu watches .
The other two are new to Garmin watch and do n’t require being paired to your phone to apply them . The voice commands allow you do things like start tracking an natural process , draw up the atmospheric condition , play euphony and more when holding down the top strong-arm clit . It takes a few seconds to work on the asking and it ferment as advertised .
The voice notes are as simple as they fathom . you could record notes using the onboard mike , along with tagging the location of where the note was immortalize and listen back to them straight off on the spotter . While the speaker lucidity is good , the playback volume can be quiet even at maximal volume .
It ’s a shame the bill are n’t pull through as part of your workout summary – hopefully , this gets added after down the agate line .
The gain of these features is another step in the proper direction . As far as match what you ’ll get from a dedicated outside smartwatch like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Galaxy Watch Ultra , it ’s not quite on par . I observe using the Fenix as a smartwatch is utterly fine . Just do n’t expect it to equal thebest smartwatchjust yet .
Fitness tracking
The Fenix remains a ball of fire in damage of track everything from runs to skiing sessions and dish out metric on how quick you are to train or giving you the plans to aid you hit your goals .
Garmin still include feature like its multiband GPS mode to deliver more accurate out-of-door trailing and it ’s still as good as it was on the Fenix 7 Pro . If you want a watch with accurate GPS performance , Garmin remains at the top of the stack along with the ilk of Apple and Suunto . I find GPS tracks for test and open swims very good on the whole .
There ’s also Garmin ’s late Gen 5 Elevate gist rate detector , which for a big watch managed to fork over pretty precise heart pace tracking during my test , even for more high intensity activities . It ’s not infallible and I ’d still choose to grab an outside substance pace reminder , but it puts in a good functioning .
You ’re also getting access to topographical maps and turn - by - turning piloting , which is some of the best you ’ll find on a spotter . essentially , this ticker is pack to the rafters with features .
Garmin has essay to improve using the Fenix in a few notable ways . New active rotund - trip routing will mechanically conform routes to verify you cover the distance you planned to and also account for changes you might have to make on your course . As far as dynamically set routes , it ’s not inst but works well enough if you have the time to dispense with on activities and adds another string to Garmin ’s already impressive bow of seafaring features .
Another big region Garmin is try out to improve is using the Fenix for strength breeding . It still offers automatic rep tally but cash in one’s chips beyond that with exercise you may come on the watch .
Garmin now offers plans that can last anywhere from 4 - 6 week and include 3 - 5 exercising to complete each week . There ’s now also a workout mode to help you become strong swimmer or trail moon-curser . It ’s bringing speciality training nearer into the equation of training and it ’s a move Garmin want to make to make it find more part of affair .
As a watch you may ferment to track activities , propose useful and glanceable grooming insight , render plans and workout and be a useful puppet for exploring your surroundings , the Fenix 8 rest one of the best in the business at doing it .
Battery Life
Garmin ’s Fenix spotter are renowned for delivering big battery animation and wiping the floor of most other outside watches and smartwatches on the stamina front .
Unlike other AMOLED watches , Garmin has managed to push the boundaries of what ’s capable , even when you ’ve get that colour screen take to the woods at all times .
For the Fenix 8 51 mm AMOLED interlingual rendition I tested , Garmin talks some boastful numbers here . Day - to - day , you should ask up to 29 day of battery lifetime . So , almost a month between charges . If you choose to use it with the covert set to always - on , that drops to 13 days , which is still considerably more than what most other outdoor smartwatches can muster up .
Crucially , it delivers on those numbers . I ’ve been using it first with the climb - to - wake modality and the CRT screen set to always - on . Even with regular use of features like the sound GPS style and smartwatch features like euphony streaming or eternal rest monitoring , I ’ve been able to comfortably get just under a couple of weeks from it . The bombardment drain with the silver screen on 24/7 was n’t as severe as anticipate either . On some lighter usage Clarence Day , it was around 3 - 4 %
When you ’re putting GPS to use , you ’ll enjoy anywhere from 18 hour to 31 Clarence Day . I used the Fenix 8 with the top GPS truth mode and the drop - off from an hour ’s enjoyment seems to bestow up to the promised 49 - 62 minute , look on the display modal value you choose to use it in .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
If you opt for the Fenix 8 with AMOLED , you ’re getting a better battery than the competition even if you keep the screen on at all times .
get all of the Fenix 8 features including the colour screen comes at a steep price and you ’ll be able to get something that performs similarly in Garmin ’s own range and from rivals for less .
Final Thoughts
The Fenix 8 is essentially the Epix Pro with enhance smartwatch features , a revamped interface , some added mapping and pilotage mode and big shelling life .
If you ’ve already have anEpix , there might not be an abundance of intellect on the sports tracking front to upgrade . TheApple Watch Ultra 2and theSamsung Galaxy Watch Ultrastill put up a better overall smartwatch experience too , even if the Garmin is a well selection for fitness trailing .
If you like the idea of a great - perform AMOLED sports picket with a magnanimous battery than the competition , then the Fenix 8 is one you should strap on .
Trusted Score
How we test
We thoroughly examine every smartwatch we critique . We use industry stock examination to equate features properly and we use the lookout man as our chief equipment over the revue period . We ’ll always distinguish you what we recover and we never , ever , go for money to review a product .
FAQs
The Garmin Fenix 8 does n’t have a cellular connection but does allow you to take calls when paired to your smartphone over Bluetooth .
The Garmin Fenix 8 can take ECG measurements , though the ECG app demand to do thatis only compatible in some regions . That include the United States , Hong Kong and Singapore with no keep for the United Kingdom or Europe currently .
