Just ordered an Enduro 3 to replace my Epix Gen 2 Pro 51. I love the Epix but I've been regretting getting it over the Fenix for a while now. My wife has the Fenix and loves the MIP. I don't use AOD so the battery on my Epix is fine but I do get annoyed with tilt-to-wake not always working when I expect it to, and combined with the Epix not getting new features in software updates, I pulled the trigger on the 25% off deal through ExpertVoice. Very excited for the switch and will put my Epix up for sale when the Enduro arrives.
A few months ago I made the transition from the FR245 to the Epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire and have been enjoying the change, I especially like the larger and brighter screen. I hope you have a great time with the new watch!
I am also using an AMOLED (epix pro gen 2), which replaced a fr245.
I had a tough time in some scenarios with the MIPS display, such as on shaded trails and around subset (both common in my users). In these cases I am happier with the AMOLED.
I was in the same boat a couple of months ago. I’m a big apple guy, love the ecosystem and the OS, nothing can beat that, but I didn’t want to charge my Apple Watch almost everyday anymore. And I also didn’t want an extension of my phone on my wrist.
Wanted something different and decide to grab an epix pro gen 2, titanium sapphire for around 600 usd here in Mexico, I think it was a great deal considering it’s almost a 1000 usd watch which it’s insane tbh.
I don’t regret buying it at all, I use it mainly for biking and running, 5 days a week, sleep tracking and health stats and I’m charging it once a week. The gps is great and the maps look awesome in the amoled display.
As someone said above, coming from an Apple Watch, the learning curve is not easy, the menu is not as intuitive but I’m in love with the looks, roughness, functionality, battery, amoled display. Was thinking of getting maybe a fénix 7pro with MIP Disaplay to get more battery life but honestly for my activities I prefer the brightness of a amoled screen.
I’m basically full invested in the Apple ecosystem and had an AW 7 for years. I have the epix pro 2 sapphire now, and in the six months I’ve owned it I haven’t touched my Apple watch once. I did enjoy some of the connectivity for my laptop and even Apple TV, but 99% of the time I have my phone with me anyway which covers most of the stuff I used the watch for. I really don’t miss it. The epix is significantly more robust/tougher, and going from 30 hours of battery life to nearly 30 days is a game changer. Plus, the flashlight on the epix is one of the coolest features it has which sounds silly until you use the red light to save night vision when you gotta take a piss in the middle of the night.
I have trained for triathlon, run obstacle course races, rucked, golfed, weight lifted and am doing my first Hyrox in March with a Epix Pro 2 Sapphire. Which has the same sensors as the Fenix 8 but can be had for half the price now. It doesn't get updated to the newest software features but it does get firmware updates.
I'd recommend it.
I have a slightly different take here. I own an AWU and AWU2. And a Garmin Epix Pro 2 Sapphire. I train most days. Obstacle course racing and shorter triathlon. Play racquet sports and golf. For my needs, the Apple Watch Ultra (with a couple of 3rd party apps) is perfect. Really accurate, easy to use and suitable for more than just fitness. I also really like the Garmin. Hardware buttons for navigation. Flashlight. And my fitness data all in one place. However, the sluggish, outdated, UI is difficult to get used to (alongside AWU). And the Garmin offers VERY few non-fitness-related features.
The problem is...... iPhone. I would love if I could use my AWU independent of iPhone. I know it will never happen. So, Garmin for me as the AWU is no longer enough on its own for me to continue to use an iPhone.
A shame really. For anything less than Ironmans and Ultra Marathons, I'm convinced the Apple Watch Ultra is the best smartwatch on the market.
I have, and use regularly, an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and a Garmin Epix Pro 2 Sapphire since 2024. I've trained for triathlon, lift weights, golf, hiked the Canadian Rockies and the Catskills NY, completed obstacle course races and play racquet sports.
My take? Unless you are regularly engaged in activities that require 15+ hours of continuous battery life (think Ultra Marathons and full Ironmans), the Ultra is a better choice- IF you use an iPhone.
Garmin advantages are actually the hardware buttons for navigation and the flashlight. NOT the battery life. The UI is sluggish and the watch is NOT "smart".
There's nothing I've done that's killed the AWU 2. It charges quickly and it offers more functionality for my non-fitness-related life.
2 years now using both Apple Watch Ultra (1&2) and a Garmin Epix Pro 2 Sapphire. I have done short triathlon (and all the training), obstacle course races, golf, lifting, hiking and racquet sports with the watches.
As I don't do marathons, full tris or multi day hikes in the woods (thus rendering the battery life advantage moot)- here are the only advantages I perceive Garmin to have over the AWU models: hardware buttons for navigation (indispensable in wet conditions), the actual flashlight (unbelievably and unexpectedly useful), and the fact that it's more of an all-in-one fitness experience. The golf app is built in. Garmin Connect has everything baked in. No additional apps required. I'll add a fourth, but it's subjective - it LOOKS like a traditional watch. Which I like.
That's it. This combined with the fact that Apple severely handicaps the functionality of the Garmin for notifications, makes the Ultra the easy choice for me when I'm using an iPhone for my daily driver phone.
For me, anything the native Apple application doesn’t provide (and there are more than a few), I can get with 3rd party apps. Athlytic or Bevel for training load and more advanced statistics. Training Peaks for workout plans and daily coaching. Zones for detailed HR data. Gentler Streaks for daily positive feedback. Yes, most if not all of those require a subscription but given the cost difference between the AWU and my Garmin (Epix Pro 2), I’ve got a few years to cover the price gap! Then throw in all the smart watch features AWU has that Garmin does not- it’s AWU for me. I went back to it after using Garmin for months.
I have an Apple Watch Ultra and a Garmin Epix Pro 2.
There are no advantages to using Garmin for weight lifting. None.
Garmin excels in endurance sports tracking. There Connect app is a great, one stop shop, space for tracking your fitness metrics. It’s GOOD for tracking weightlifting. But it’s not better.
It's a large watch. And it feels larger, to me, than it is. It's chunky. I notice it more on wrist than any other smartwatch I use. (Apple Watch Ultra, Garmin Epix Pro 2 and the 8 Classic.)
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Forerunner 255 Series
86% positive of 466 users
Long battery; but wrist HR tracking is inconsistent.
0xnardMontalvo
