fēnix 8 – 51 mm, AMOLED

**Heads up:** went with [**Garmin fēnix® 8 – 51 mm**](https://reddit-links.com/GarminFenix8) and decided to use it for my 5K training since it seemed like a long term option. Hoping it keeps things simple enough while still giving useful running data. I just started running a few weeks ago and I’m trying to build up to a solid 5K without stopping. Right now I’m using my phone to track runs, but it feels kind of annoying to carry it around and I keep missing stats anyway. I’m thinking a watch might make things easier but I have no idea what actually matters at this level. Would a basic GPS watch be enough for someone just starting out, or is it worth getting something with heart rate tracking too? Also curious which ones are actually reliable and easy to understand without a bunch of extra confusing features. Thanks

Bevel is a health app not a fitness tracking app. It lacks a great deal when It comes to fitness and it is highly biased to strength training. It is a great app for those converting from Whoop - the closet thing they will get to the Whoop app, but if you actually know anything about Whoop - it is a health and wellness app despite how much marketing would tries to make it seem like it is for elite athletes. If you wanted data that is more comparable to Garmin you were/are using the wrong app. Livity, HeathFit,PeakWatch, FitIV, The Outsiders, Athlytic, any of these are going to give you more fitness related metrics that Bevel. Bevel is attempting to be the all-in-one app for everyone but doing none of it at a high level and even claims it is an all-in-one a health app not a fitness tracker. You can only make a phone call or or reply to texts on your F8 if you have your phone close by. With Apple and LTE you don't need your phone at all. There is also the issues of actually getting the watch assistant to work on your F8 which seems to be hit or miss because of the issues with Garmin software and all the bugs that come with it. That is another significant issue to address- yes all watches have bugs but Garmin is on a whole other level. Either Garmin users accept them, ignore them, outright deny them, or complain about them and eventually get frustrated enough to move on. The software issues at Garmin are beyond being acceptable for a company of that size, the updates seem to be bi-weekly and they create more issues than they fix.

No, they are well overpriced for what you are getting. Outdated, laggy, buggy software, with watches that for the most part are made of plastic/resin and look cheap. The Connect app is a disaster. You will need a chest strap if you are interested in accurate heart rate data for activities. The bluetooth antennae range is short and has issue connecting for many - android and iPhone users alike. Yes they give you a great deal of data, is it fun to look at, absolutely, is it needed, absolutely not. There is so much of it that folks either don't understand or don't know what to do with it so they never action it. Further if the heart rate data is not accurate or consistent is any of the data valuable anyway? Garmin is falling behind its competitors, changing its focus in an attempt to add more smartwatch feature - doing so poorly it seems - and not staying true to being a great fitness tracker. They are relying more and more on their reputation and their prices are going up and up for watches that are going down in quality and usability due to software issues/bugs. Just have a look at all the issues that occurred when the Fenix 8 was released, the FR970/570 and VenuX1 are currently having software issues too.

You are going to get downvotes from those who are in denial, loyalists who will never say a bad word about the brand, or from those who are so invested in the brand they are either so locked in that they won't change or they truly believe that Garmin is the best available. That said, what you have stated is true, they are just selling old models with new faces, the internals are the same. They haven't really changed for years. Garmin's software is outdated, laggy and so buggy it is an embarrassment. The Fenix 8 release was a catastrophe. Most folks know not to buy a new release Garmin for at least 6-8 months these days or they are just going to have paid to be a Garmin beta tester for months. You didn't even mention the laggy heart rate data for activities. Other brands have caught up to what at one time was the best in the business - not anymore. Garmin has been relying on the reputation for a while now. Prices go up, features get more gimmicky, and UX and UI go down.

I would say that the Fenix used to be geared toward the people who are going to use the 'adventure' watch as intended but the Fenix 8 is no longer an adventure watch, it is a daily driver for the everyday Jo who hikes on the weekends and goes on one or two multi-day adventures a year. It isn't what it used to be, it has a speaker and mic now, come on, it is trying to be a smartwatch. The Enduro is the Adventure watch meant for trekking and extreme conditions.

No kill like overkill, baby! I got a Fenix 8 51mm Sapphire Titanium AMOLED. Probably don't use anywhere near all the features, but it rocks.

All the hardcore runners I know are wearing Forerunner watches. The hybrid guys are wearing Fenix. Battery life on either will be excellent. Fenix gets updates for years. New features, as others have noted, will be limited to the 8. Really depends on if you want the look/weight/features of one or the other. I had the Fenix 7x and it was excellent. Currently in the 8, it isn't radically different in terms of what I use it for.

Most people saying battery life is not a problem on the AW have to be kidding themselves . Who wants to charge each time you take the watch off, also charging constantly will reduce battery life over time. But if you are doing half marathons, marathons, ultras and the like, the battery life doesn't stack up on the AW. Running a 50km ultra on my fr965 I could use navigation and music from the watch and had battery life left. For a 100km ultra I could not do the music, so eventually went to the 51mm Fenix 8.. Best thing, is if you forget to charge, no biggy plenty of battery life.. And the torch, have to agree with others, it's so underrated, use it heaps. Even when my ribs go a bit longer then intended, getting into night, works well for lighting the paths / tracks when you don't have a headlamp. I would love to have the AW, but battery is a main factor, and not sure how well it plays with Android. Oh and do they have equivalent to Garmin Connect? All your metrics in one spot?

Bought 3 months after release. 0 issues. Still 12 days battery with 8x amoled.