Verdict
The Garmin Fenix E is a substantial outside smartwatch that throw Garmin a clean option to the Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra , but it ’s disappointing that it ’s drop some of the features that make the Fenix a superior and attractive outside spotter .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Garmin Fenix E is a cheaper version of Garmin ’s Fenix 8 outdoor watch line . It is Garmin ’s way of saying here ’s how to get most of a new Fenix for less .
While it ’s not a budget gimmick , the AMOLED - tot Fenix E comes in significantly less than the Fenix 8 and sits more in line with the price of theApple Watch Ultra 2and the more affordableSamsung Galaxy Watch Ultra .
It feels like a clear move to offer something around the same price as those emerging challenger and while it looks like a Fenix , there are someFenix 8features miss . Garmin will hope there ’s enough that ’s been keep to sway those look in the counselling of Apple and Samsung ’s outdoor watch to go for the Fenix E rather .
Is it better than the similarly priced contender and a good accession to the Fenix family ? I ’ve been putting it to the test to find out .
Design and Screen
The Fenix E squall Fenix with its bezel - dominating flavour , duncish silicone strap and the common raiment of strong-arm buttons .
Unlike the Fenix 8 series , the vitamin E comes in just one 47 mm typeface size and correspond the middle appendage of the Fenix 8 range . It ’s smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ( 49 mm ) and the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra . It ’s certainly more accomplishable than the 51 mm Fenix 8 I ’ve tested recently , and does still feel like it ’s built for some broken action .
take up the front is a 1.3 - column inch , 416×416 resolutionAMOLEDscreen . That ’s the same size of it and resolution as the one included on the 47 mm Fenix 8 . It means you ’re not fall behind anything in term of plangency , colour truth and having a display that ’s responsive to swipes and strike .
On top of that screen lies Gorilla Glass as opposed to the Sapphire trash you get on the Fenix 8 , which again means a downgrade in protection against scratches .
It ’s what ’s around that concealment where thing bulge out to diverge from the pricier Fenix 8 . You ’ve only stimulate the selection of a unstained steel bezel . You do n’t get those inductive , leak - proof buttons to make it suited for unpaid diving and perhaps a bigger deal for some – you do n’t get the light-emitting diode flashlight .
The first two deletion are acceptable if you ’re not plan to test it beyond its 100 ATM waterproof evaluation , while the steel does n’t add any unwelcome weight . The flashlight , however , is an rummy one . particularly given that it ’s become a signature lineament of the Fenix range .
If you require that Fenix excogitation , the E certainly delivers that . Just be aware of those missing features that may or may not be deal breakers for all .
Software and Smartwatch Features
Garmin is using the same version of its update operating system that runs on the Fenix 8 , which inaugurate a new - look interface where it ’s done some shuffling around of where thing repose on the watch .
The Connect companion app has late gone through a revamp – but largely offer the same experience as it ’s done for the preceding few years – to simplify some elements .
I ’ve been using the Android and iOS - favorable Fenix E with an iPhone preponderantly and the mating and position up cognitive process was all very straightforward . As a foresighted - term Garmin user , the user interface variety take a little getting accustomed to , but crucially elements that remain unaltered like Glances , notification support , get at the Connect IQ Store from the watch and how you ’ll get to the onboard medicine feature film feel all very intimate .
Again , you ’re make some compromises on feature . You do n’t get the new interpreter - enabled characteristic include on the Fenix 8 . There is a build - in music player , but usable storage drop from 32 GB to 16 G . You have admission to Garmin Pay to enable contactless payments and you will still get the surprisingly handy aurora reports summarising your data and day in a few CRT screen .
If you like Garmin ’s coming to lineament like display presentment , check up on thing like the weather and calendar appointee and get exercise of the music player and euphony dominance , then you ’ll likely be happy with what you get here .
However , If you really like the idea of having a utterer and mike to make call or record vocalization distinction , then you ’ll have to give more for those features .
Compare it to Apple and Samsung ’s outdoor Ultra watch and those picket will also get you more in terms of connectivity , apps and broadly speaking feeling more like a smartwatch first and foremost whereas it ’s the other way around on the Fenix E.
Fitness Tracking
In terms of giving you the full Fenix tracking experience or the salutary Garmin has to proffer , there are again some compromises to be made here – but perhaps not as many as I ’d reverence .
It covers the same pith tracking modes : running , golf game , cycling , swimming ( pool and opened piss ) , and has an outdoor recreation fashion which fully brings in features like mapping and seafaring into play .
On the out-of-door tracking front , the Fenix E is very similar to my prison term with the Fenix 8 . I ’m staring down at the same filmdom , seeing similar data and have the same myriad of setting and metrics to run around with .
For the full topographic function , you want to download them first and you ’ll need to do that over Wi - Fi and connected to the Garmin Express desktop app . Without it , you get a more basic albeit still useful amount of datum to facilitate you pilot your way .
There ’s also backing for turn - by - turn sailing and viewing breadcrumb - fashion trails . It stick out established features like the ClimbPro Ascent Planner and the newer dynamic round - head trip rout one bring in on the Fenix 8 , which will mechanically adjust route if you call for to shift it and ensure you ’re still covering the length you actually set out to cover .
Surprisingly again , Garmin has prefer not to include its splendid multiband GPS manner , to promote positioning truth when give chase near tall buildings or densely populated wooded areas . rather , it maxes out with its multi GNSS accompaniment , which can be found on inexpensive Garmin watches like theVivoactive 5 . I found the GPS carrying out solid still in my tests , though if you want the best in GPS truth from a Garmin , the einsteinium does n’t have those power .
Outside of those outside characteristic , the only tidy via media you make is with getting the modish opthalmic heart pace sensor applied science for wrist - base trailing . It ’s Garmin ’s Gen 4 as pit to Gen 5 sensor , which most significantly means a lack of financial backing for the newECGreadings , which has n’t been turned on for all Garmin watch in all territory . I found the sensor fairly much in keeping with my meter with other Fenix watches and bigger Garmin watches in general . It can handle steady - paced workouts , but struggles more for gamy loudness workouts . gratefully , you could pair extraneous affection rate sensors .
You ’re not making vast sacrifices with the tier of training modes and insights you’re able to delve into . It includes Garmin ’s greater focus on strength education , with support to follow program on the watch much like you would a track plan through Garmin Coach .
There are also useful invigoration to help prompt you during set and movements if you ’re incertain how to do them . It offer Garmin ’s useful Training Readiness metric to help assess your readiness to train , it will predict race time and offer up Endurance and Hill piles to give you a better mother wit of your tone up power to go really long or tackle those ascension . I ’ve been using the training features alongside the Fenix 8 and it ’s serve up very similar reading material across the display panel .
Battery Life
The bombardment numbers pool on paper basically equate up with the numbers on the older 47 mm Epix Pro with Garmin ’s Epix cooking stove effectively put to be replaced by the AMOLED Fenix . It ’s promise the same 16 Clarence Day in smartwatch mode , which drops down to six days in always - on fashion .
You get up to 42 hours of GPS stamp battery life sentence , which drops to 32 minute or 24 hours with the concealment on during workouts . The same - sized Fenix 8 offers an superfluous mean solar day of battery with the screen mark to always - on and offer more in general for GPS battery .
I used the Fenix E with a mixture of the projection screen on 24/7 and the ascent - to - wake gesture funding . I had notification enable , was incessantly monitoring metrics like heart rate and stress and tracked activity outdoors with its best available GPS mood . I find out I could comfortably last over a workweek with regular GPS utilisation , and nigher to just under a workweek with the screen localise to always - on .
If you still want an AMOLED out-of-door smartwatch that you wo n’t be charging every single 24-hour interval , the Fenix E can be that sentinel . Compare it to Garmin ’s olderEpix Prothough , and it ’s not a Brobdingnagian leap in terms of overall stamina .
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Should you buy it?
compare to theApple Watch Ultra 2andGalaxy Watch Ultra , the Fenix E will absolutely go longer between charges .
If you ’re willing to go elderly and sacrifice that new software , you could get more of those big Fenix 8 feature by live for theEpix Pro .
Final Thoughts
The Garmin Fenix E is a bit of a unknown one and it ca n’t be touted as one of thebest smartwatchoptions around . On newspaper publisher , this could ’ve been a nifty move , offering greatFenix 8features for less .
While I appreciate Garmin had to make some conclusion about what to not admit to keep that price down , it perhaps opted for things I ’d require to dumbfound around . Like Garmin ’s great multiband GPS mode , the sapphire glass and the surprisingly ready to hand flashlight mode .
If you compare it to theApple Watch Ultra 2 , the Fenix E has mystify more in its locker . It ’s a better outdoor option than theGalaxy Watch Ultra , but you will have to pay a moment more to get it in equivalence .
It is still cheaper than the olderEpix Pro47 mm model , which for the lend cost beat you the torch , more store , similar battery , tough screen protection and maps preloaded . You ’ll have to live without Garmin ’s latest software package there , but if you could do that you ’ll get a more capable , rugged outdoor watch in return .
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We thoroughly test every smartwatch we review . We apply industry received testing to liken features properly and we use the scout as our main twist over the review stop . We ’ll always tell you what we find and we never , ever , take money to reexamine a product .
FAQs
Yes , the Garmin Fenix 8 does have accession to destitute offline maps , which need to be download first over Wi - Fi and using Garmin ’s Express background app before you’re able to put them to use .
The Fenix E is a cheaper adaptation of the Fenix 8 that lack central feature article like the new diving - proof release , multiband GPS , lead flashlight and Garmin ’s latest heart rate monitor but does run on Garmin ’s latest package and does include access to topographical maps .
