Garmin - Fenix 6 Standard

My Fenix 6 updated July. So that's 6 years since release date. Anyone know a phone from 2019 that supported updates up to July this year? I think my pixel might just do it. Not saying they're great but I don't understand why people are saying they don't do updates after a couple of years. Perhaps that's just the newer models or something. Has Coros solved the security issue with Bluetooth from June this year? Apparently it was a major security flaw. Did Apple stop doing that update on phones where the battery life halved after the update just as they turned 2 years old? Wasn't there a big thing with amazfit too? Think I read any suunto having major GPS inaccuracies not so long ago. Just making the point that every brand has it's issues and it's about whether or not you're getting a product that works for you. If it works does it matter if it's not perfect?

I probably saw the same thing but I have had updates on my F6 standard right up until a month or two ago. Perhaps that was the last one but for a 6 year old tech product that is not too bad IMHO. So I do not know what is happening if people say 2 or 3 years support when my older product has had longer, two ranges on and it is down to 2 years of updates? Mnnot sure I quite believe that but perhaps the length of updates is dropping somewhat but not down to 2 years. It would be shocking if that was the case. Google AI it was looking like about 4 years they taper off the major updates and go into maintenance mode which is patches, security patches and less significant updates based on past models. I suspect the issue is that Earlier this year there were some opinions that F7 was going into maintenance mode. That is 2022/2023 up to 2025 for major updates. So 2-3 years. However there was an update after that in May 2025. Perhaps Garmin is reducing the update path from 4 to 5 years down to 2 to 3 years. That is for updates of major features. As I said about my F6 standard released 2019 there are still some feature updates and certainly patches for bugs and security issues. TBH even if a model is frozen a bit in time if it does what it did on release and does not have bugs and issues that are not reesolved patched then it kind of does not matter so much to me. My F6 actually does more than out of the box because of feature updates. it is not going to suddenly roll back from where it is now that it is in maintenance mode. It feels like the complaint is that people are not getting the newer F8 featuree in an F7 body in some ways. Sooner or later the newer features will move beyond the hardware capabilities of each older model anyway. Not as good as Apple updates but then it seems no different from older models until the F7pro (perhaps but that is not confirmed as happening from what my AI search came up with, just an opinion that it might happen). BTW apple still has AW6 from 2020 on the latest os number 11, it started on 7 and all models after got updated to the latest watchOS which came out with each new model. No idea whether each upgrade to the next number counts as a major or minor feature upgrade. It seems apple watches follow the phone system of big OS updates to the next number with each product launch. I suspect Garmin is not as regular in that respects, possibly because they are not from the mobile phone sector moved into the GPS / smartwatch sector. I think Garmin more similar to the Suunto, Coros, Polar companies in character than the Samsung, Apple, Huawei companies. It would be curious to find out what those companies are like with major feature updates.

Looks at Garmin Connect 24hour HR monitoring data over many years of owning Garmins. Now I am confused, what is this HR data I am seeing on Connect from My Fenix 6 and before that the Vivosport I had? If it is not 24h HR monitoring then what is it? Totally confused, perhaps OP can come back and explain this to me. The way 24hr HR data over several years is not 24hr HR monitoring?? Perhaps the Op means it is not testing for AFib or other heart conditiions that TBH no watch can do no matter what their marketing management twonks claim in the website sales pages.

Also consider the venue X1 as it is even newer with latest version of the elevate sensor. I like my Fenix 6 so if you have the money spare then Fenix 7 or 8 might be good for you too. As one of their flagship model that's not a premium / luxury build it's pretty good too. If you are likely to get into longer distances then iirc there is the enduro that's a longer lasting and slimmer version of instinct or Fenix from Garmin. It's not far off those two models in terms of features I think.

My GF6 battery has gone to about half capacity in the last few months and its basically useless. Charge it every 6 days? Nah Bro.

I just went from a Fenix 6s to a Fenix 8, and I'm really glad I upgraded screens from MIP to AMOLED (along with size to 47mm). Not as important to everyone, but I think it's something worth comparing and considering.

I'd suggest creating a list of features in your AWU that you can't live without, then seeing if Garmin can support it. This will help you decide if you'll be ok with the tradeoffs and also potentially help you assess what you truly "need" out of a watch. I would also assess the features on the Garmin watch you're interested in, and see how that compares with the AWU. You may end up with things you "need" or really want that the AWU doesn't have (e.g., battery life or flashlight). Afterwards, assess your tradeoffs both ways. You might find one is missing more than the other, or one is missing more important things to you. I got the F8 (AMOLED 47mm) recently and now I don't know how I was even surviving with only the 9 days on my F6S before this! I forget the last time I even charged it. The flashlight has also been very helpful for random things. Also, I would recommend sticking with an AMOLED display, I think you'll be very underwhelmed with a MIP one coming from your AWU.

Fenix 6s to Ultra 3. The F6 has always had terrible battery life and doesn't hold water to the U3 as a daily driver. I average about 20+ miles of road running per week and the U3 has been great, though I think Garmin's native workout apps are a little better than Apple's native workout app. So far, the U3 is lightyears ahead of my F6, but, in due fairness, the F6 is a 5+ year old watch. We'll see how things go this winter with he U3 for backcountry hiking, climbing and skiing.

I dumped my 6s for an AWU3 - zero regrets. The only thing I miss is native, on-board mapping.

Definitely keep the Fenix 6X. My wife is still using a 6S and happy with it, I'm using an Instinct with a 7X for hiking. Apple Watch is just way too distracting. The biggest problem isn't even the horrible battery life and having to charge every day, it's the feeling of being a complete slave to your phone.  Having a phone on your wrist just isn't good for your mental health with all the constant buzzing and notifications. It creates so much stress. Sure you can turn off most of the notifications but at that point you're just using a worse Garmin. 

Definitely keep the Fenix 6X. My wife is still using a 6S and happy with it, I'm using an Instinct with a 7X for hiking. Apple Watch is just way too distracting. The biggest problem isn't even the horrible battery life and having to charge every day, it's the feeling of being a complete slave to your phone.  Having a phone on your wrist just isn't good for your mental health with all the constant buzzing and notifications. It creates so much stress. Sure you can turn off most of the notifications but at that point you're just using a worse Garmin. 

Fenix 6S. Its been great for five years and has seen many miles around the world, but the altimeter hasn't worked for almost a year and that has impacted data quality. Have to recharge every 5 days instead of 8. I have small wrists and I hate that the logical next upgrade is the 8.

I am happy with my Garmin Fenix 6S. It's almost 4 years. Battery still lasts about a week depending on how much I use the GPS. Bought it on sale back then for 300€ I record my commute to track kms, wear on "gear" like wheels and chain. I still don't have the need to replace it, but if so, I would probably get a venu 3s... The fenix 6s has tons of cool features that I don't really use, so I think the venu or vivostyle are enough.

I’m of a similar age. I bought the Forerunner 965 in order to get more active. Had a Fenix 6s before. And it has helped me out tremendously. If you have the disposable income, the 970 is a beauty. I use the map function more than I expected, especially on holidays exploring new routes. I recently bought my wife the 265 Music. Which is also a very good watch for your usecase. There’s also a discussion on here around MIP vs AMOLED screen. My two cents: AMOLED is perfectly visible outside and the screen itself is just gorgeous. Every time I look at it, it makes me happy. Which never happened with the MIP-screen on the Fenix 6s.

I have had the Garmin fenix 6S for about 5 years now and it’s one of the best things I have ever purchased, they even sent me a brand new one when I was having battery issues.

Fenix 7 should work great. (Double check for 100hz) I have fenix6s and it works but doesnt show live data and 25hz processor is shit with surfr. Also dowloading times are long. Not that i am slightly bitter with my yesterday 20m jump with 21+sec hangtime. According to surfr ai calculation 9m with 7second hangtime 🥲