Garmin - fēnix 8 – 51 mm, AMOLED

I’ve had the 8 amoled 51 since release , and the MIP guys always say I don’t want a glowing LED TV on my wrist blinding me…which I don’t get? The watch isn’t full bright if you don’t want it to be, it’s adjustable just like the MIP I used to have. Also at night it’s not bright because it goes into red green or orange shift for night so it’s not like you’ve got a tv blasting your retinas at 2am on your wrist. And if you turn on aod it’s truly not an issue unless you want it to be blaring brightness, which I don’t, so it’s not set up for my use that way. And the battery argument has been long put to rest at this point since the 51mm has 28 days of life during normal use… To each his own, but I think the writings on the wall for the fenix line. I will pick up an enduro 3 at a discount when the 4 comes out, because I had the E2 and love that watch but can’t justify full price when I already have the F8 51mm amoled. I don’t know the purpose behind an even Brighter micro led Pro when the F8 51mm amoled is more than bright enough…..especially with decreased battery life…. I am curious about the new forerunner, does it have the same offline mapping capabilities of the F8? I’m not a runner anymore thanks to the army but curious about the hiking aspects supported? https://preview.redd.it/q7z1f4w2jwsf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=449c61515342d2821b93a33dd07588391e7f76b7

I’ve had my Garmin Fenix 8 51mm since it was released. It’s a great watch but overkill for a starter looking to get into using a turkey high end tool. I started with the amazfit t-Rex 2 then the t-Rex 3. At the t-Rex 3 price point it does almost everything the Fenix 8 does at 1000 dollars less. But if you’re looking to go with a watch long term, the Fenix is the end game and hard to beat once all the bugs are worked out of the software. ( theyvare still working though some pretty major software glitches like the screen and watch resetting when starting a hike…

Very valid point, can’t recall if my t-Rex 3 had anything besides snorkeling which I did use a few times. Not much value there for true diving! Lol… Just hope they don’t disable it again in a future beta release when he needs it. I do love my Fenix 8 regardless l. When it’s working it’s awesome but when it’s resetting itself multiple times on hikes I’m not familiar with, like here in Scotland and England, it infuriates me! Lol

Idk if this helps, but I recently returned a new Fenix 8 (not solar). It was my first Garmin and I HATED IT! I loved the design. I loved the look. I loved the few functions I actually used it for. BUT I could not stand using it! I had it for like a week and a half and I swear I spent a quarter of my days googling how to do things on that f’n thing. Nothing was intuitive and the few things I really wanted it for either weren’t supported or super complicated to figure out. I really hated that watch and immediately returned it when I found out the AWU3 was being released soon. The Garmin was click-heavy, overkill, non-sense IMO. The AW does everything I need and actually ties into my daily life way more than that Garmin ever could. That’s my experience. But I do like the look of the Garmin more than the AW. Can’t wait to get my new black AWU3!

So I’m not a runner and you may find what you want using Strava or something, but if your main goal of your watch is to track your running, the Garmin might be your answer. If you want literally ANYTHING else from your watch, go with the AWU. I had a Fenix 8 AMOLED recently for a couple weeks. HATED it! Returned it as soon as I found out AWU3 was being released. The Garmin was click-heavy, no nonintuitive, and just a pain to use. I spent so much time googling how to do things on that damn watch. I hated it so much. I do like the look of the Garmin watch tho and it was a really nice watch. I just couldn’t stand using it and it just wasn’t intuitive enough for me. And the lack of a decent AI-driven voice control feature was enough to have me shaking my head. If there was a really good AI-driven voice control feature on the Fenix 8 that assisted with watch functions and settings as well as general info (like any AI system) it possibly would have been worth keeping…idk. I really don’t know why anyone but really serious Olympic training athletes would need a Garmin watch and all that data. I feel like the Apple Watch would provide PLENTY of data for the normal person. If you have an iPhone or you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, I would only recommend the Apple Watch. I preordered the AWU3 and can’t wait for it to arrive.

Recently purchased a Fenix 8 …never again. What a pain in the butt, click-heavy, non-intuitive piece. I hated that watch so much, but it looked cool as heck! Can’t wait to get my black AWU3!

I would (and do, 8 Amoled 51 owner) have zero fomo for the LTE. I always had cellular on my AWUs, and see the value, but having to use Garmin Messenger is silly. So anyone I want to message has to create a Garmin account and message me via messenger for the infrequent times I’m actually using LTE standalone? I’d rather just carry an inreach for remote and my phone for normal usage. I just don’t see the value here.

Interesting, I’m the opposite, I had the 970 and thought it felt cheap and platicy, went to fenix 8 51 mm amoled and am loving it, I enjoy it. One thing I did notice is how much brighter the 970 screen is, it’s silky. 

Try a fenix 8 on, it’s niceee

I have AWU1, Epix, Epix Pro 51, and Fenix 8 51 AMOLED. I like the AWU for smart functions, additional cellular connectivity on runs, Apple Music, unlocking my Mac, Siri actions,etc. But I only wear it mostly as a 2nd watch on runs. I’ll focus on why it’s Garmin for me, 24/7: \*Real onboard maps \*Integration (I don’t want Bevel plus Athlytic plus WorkOutDoors plus BodyState plus Pedometer++ just to get functionality or info on watch faces I want). I don’t want to have to pay for an app to get stress metric or download an app to see steps taken on watch face. \*Web interface (Connect) \*Morning Report \*Superior GPS performance with SAT IQ. \*ANT+ device connectivity \*Customizable activity data screens \*More complete and customizable watch faces \*LED flashlight \*Buttons, and “hot keys” with many functions programmable to a button hold or combination button hold. \*More reliable training metrics due to more frequent HR and therefore HRV sampling. Stress, body battery, etc. \*Working Pulse Oximetry \*Suggested workouts \*Garmin coaching plans \*On-Watch Activity review.

I have AWU3 as well as Garmin Epix, Epix Pro 51, and Fenix 8 51 AMOLED. I like AWU for connectivity to equipment in the gym as well as as running Gymaholic app for weight workouts from the watch. I also often run outside with it as second watch for music and emergency connectivity. I also like it unlocking my Mac, running smart home automations, reminders, Siri, etc. Currently wearing both AWU and Garmin Epix for a month or so to compare health metrics. But it's Garmin 24/7 for me for the OP's mentioned reasons--integrated metrics without subscriptions, Garmin Connect web platform if I choose, watch face customizability, battery life, sensor variety and connectivity with ANT+, workout suggestions, customizable hot keys, workout data screen customizations, working pulse ox on the watch, etc. Garmin battery and low processing power enables all day HR sampling and very frequent HRV sampling, as well as pulse ox during sleep, which IMO makes related metrics that much more usable. I can also see HR updating every couple seconds on the watch face as well as steps updating in real time without tapping and waiting on pulse taken or app to update. I also like being able to change the order of my workout types, widgets, etc. on the watch. I don't mind working out with either watch only (like AW in the gym or Garmin on outdoor runs). I use RunGap to sync everything to Garmin Connect.

Probably the Fenix 8, and in 51mm size. I have AMOLED, which EXCEEDS battery life specs, but there is also the MIP solar, which is having a problem with the new solar tech and getting LESS than spec for many people reporting here.

I use Fenix 8 and Ultra. Would never give up Garmin platform for Apple. And the F8 has working EKG and will identify AFIB as well as Apple. F8 also has working SP02 (it never left).

I have AWU1 that I like for wearing to gym due to connection with Gymkit enabled cardio stuff and for using Gymaholic to track lifting workouts. I also double wrist it with AWU on right wrist for music and LTE on outdoor runs. I’m really a Garmin guy and wear F8 (at the moment) or my Epix 2 or Epix Pro 51 for 24/7, sleep, all my favorite stuff on the watch face, etc. I use RunGap to get AW workouts over to Garmin Connect. I do like the AWU for its smart features like unlocking Mac, Siri, etc, but my older eyes prefer the larger F8 51 screen and general Garmin platform including web interface. I also can’t stand battery anxiety, which I never have with my Garmins.

u/ZakOnTrack: by "non-solar" You mean "i\`m alergeic to solar panels so i don\`t want it in my watch" or just "i\`m using watch in low light conditions"? if 2 - go for enduro (2 or 3) if 1 - amoled fenix 8 (no solar) [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=1228171&compareProduct=854515&compareProduct=851039](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=1228171&compareProduct=854515&compareProduct=851039) I had enduro2, now i\`m on enduro3 (well, i\`m gadget person). AMOLED watches looks pretty, are bright and crispy.. so i prefer mips ;)

I might understand the price for microled but I just don’t understand why they’ve abandoned MIP. I won’t buy any non MIP Fenix unless it has MIP-like battery life. The microled was the hope to compete with MiP battery life but instead it lasts even shorter than Oled

If they are not solar, they don't. There are no MIP watches without solar who have a longer standard battery life than the 51mm Fenix8 (29days) & Epix 2(pro)(31days). Only the Instinct 2 45mm comes close with 28 days, but has less then half of the activity tracking time then the Fenix and Epix. The newer and bigger MIP watches with solar do beat the Epix2 and Fenix8. Enduro2 & 3, Instinct 2x & 3 mips 51mm have the better battery life. Also without using the solar.

Fenix 8 51mm oled Or Epix 2 (pro) 51mm. Fenix 8 has 29 days of battery time, Epix2 pro 31 days. The Fenix 8 can do 84 hours of gps tracking, the Epic 82 Besides that the MIP display Instinct 2 gives you also 28 days, but only 30 gps hours.

This is the way! I’m using the Fenix 8 51 for running and the AW Ultra 2 as a daily driver - unlocking my computer, Apple Pay, etc. Garmin Pay doesn’t work with my main bank account. To tell you the truth, I cannot use the AWU2 for running as I’m over 56 now and I cannot see well the workout display - the numbers are just too small, and I cannot run with glasses on. But on the Fenix, I can see what I need. On the AW there is no way to increase the size of the fonts on the workout display.

I have the Amoled 8 and I'll tell you... the OLED screen is useless. Autonomy is poor. The speaker has the volume too low. Voice commands are poor. Commands to the smartphone assistant are awkward. Basically I only use it for sports sessions and for the rest of the day I use something else. Would I buy it again? Yes but not for more than 300 euros

If you want to save, consider Amazfit watches. I switched from Fenix ​​8 to Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro and I recommend it to you. Pro fenix8: Garmin pay has greater compatibility with payment cards; connect website; you put it on your wrist and you feel like a champion. Pro trex3pro: hands-free, AI, price, sapphire glass Garmin defects: price, sapphire only on the most expensive models Trex3pro defects: does not have all offline languages, does not have website For the rest they are equivalent

I have always preferred Garmins to Apple Watches due to the presence of physical buttons, essential when you are very sweaty or training in the rain. So I've always had both Garmin (Fenix) and various Apple Watches. Then I switched to Android and then I had Garmin and Samsung Watch. Finally I discovered Amazfit and abandoned Garmin