fēnix 8 Pro

I like my Apple Watch and feel it is a good balance between smarter features and having most of the fitness features my previous Garman and other fitness smartwatches I've had in the past. And that's the market Apple is going for. You're basically complaining that a Leatherman combo tool doesn't work as well as a dedicated pair of lineman's pliers when trying to bend some thick chunk of wire. Of course not, that's the difference between a compromise tool that is made for convenience for the more casual occasional user and a purpose-built tool meant for a professional to use all day every day for a singular task. I think you may be happier with a lower-end Apple watch for day-to-day wear, and switching to a Garmin scuba watch when you go diving. You've outgrown using the multi-tool for certain functions and it's time for a dedicated tool.

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

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.

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.

I have Fenix 8 51 AMOLED, Tactix 8 47 AMOLED, Epix Pro 51 and AWU3. Honestly, you can't match Garmin for the features you cited in your use case. I wear a Garmin 24/7 minus charging time (every 2-3 weeks, lol). I DO love the AWU3 in my gym, where it connects to StarTrac treadmills, bikes, stairs, etc. and also runs Gymaholic for programming and following lifting workouts. I helped Ian with early beta testing of WorkOutDoors, and it's the go to app for AWU, but it still doesn't match Garmin for me.

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.

I have both, along with Tactix 8 and Enduro 3 (I bore easily and rotate frequently). I'm Garmin 24/7 with the AWU3 on second wrist with runs for music and connectivity or as primary in gym for Gymaholic and GymKit cardio equipment connection. When I use AWU only at the gym I use RunGap to get the activity over to Garmin Connect. If I could have only one? Garmin, because it's a watch. I have my phone to run apps when needed. And the newer Garmins with microphone and speaker work well enough for the rare phone call on wrist and using Siri. I can customize the many free or cheap watch faces to my content, including steps and real time HR native on the face. With a free OpenWeather API, I can get hyper accurate nearby weather right on my wrist. I get HR by the second 24/7 and very frequent HRV sampling during sleep, for better HRV derived metrics. Though I think the AWU HR sensor is excellent , in my use case all my Garmin Gen 5 HR sensor watches test identical against the Polar H10 strap just like the AWU. On the Garmins I can customize my widget "glances" on the watch and scroll down to see real time HR, stress (like when I get on the phone with an insurance company), HRV, sleep score, weather, steps, intensity minutes, and much more in good detail. I can customize my activity screens with up to 8 metrics including color charts and graphs and with multiple screens if I want. I can't open my garage door, arm the house, or unlock my Macs with the Garmins. But I don't have to load or pay for Athlytic, Bevel, WorkOutDoors (which I help Ian with in early beta testing), Autosleep before Apple came around, nor am I limited to the Apple Watch faces. I get SP02 properly on the watch. I don't need to fish around in Health and Fitness apps for my data and rely on other apps for analysis. I have an all inclusive Connect app and even a customizable web platform which makes comparisons simple. I used a free Garmin 5K coach plan successfully. If I follow the Garmin workout recommendations I can increase my V02 max. Battery life? Meh. Not a major concern either way since I don't head out for days at a time. Though I did get the Enduro 3 to check out the hype, and wow.

I have big garmin eco since many years, but also apple eco, without watch (I hade all apple watches, even tested aw ultra/ultra 2, but always return to garmin). But today I cannot understand the way, which garmin has chosen. I bought 2 weeks ago Fenix 8 pro 51 mm, went from fenix 8 51 mm. Fenix 8 has problem even now, after 1 year of announcement - first firmwares were ridiculous bad, nothing was working properly. But garmin is a garmin - fenix 8 pro has LTE and satellite connection which not working at all, or working in a very bad way. I made many runs, never had a possibility to send message via garmin messenger, call via garmin messenger, even livetrack, on LTE, has big lags, stuck in random places, etc. There are many problems/questions written on garmin forum website, concerning fenix 8, 8 pro, even previous model, and nothing has changed. I just feel like a beta tester of new products, every products, because with edges I hade same experience - 1030/1030 plus/1040 solar, 1050 - all had big problems, restarting during training, randomly reconnecting power meter, cadence, lights etc. Garmin Rally power meter xc 200 I need to sent back, because right one just stop working. Chest strap - HRM, HRM Pro/Pro plus - need to change, because after one year just broken. Now I have hrm 600, but still sometimes show very strange and different numbers, like yesterday - pace 4:30 min per 1 km, and it showed 95 BPM - I wish I had that one :) So, to sum up - I am just tired of garmin support, garmin new products. Maybe one day I just sell everything and buy only apple watch ultra and hammerhead karoo 3 - I tested it also and it was quite nice one.

I have big garmin eco since many years, but also apple eco, without watch (I hade all apple watches, even tested aw ultra/ultra 2, but always return to garmin). But today I cannot understand the way, which garmin has chosen. I bought 2 weeks ago Fenix 8 pro 51 mm, went from fenix 8 51 mm. Fenix 8 has problem even now, after 1 year of announcement - first firmwares were ridiculous bad, nothing was working properly. But garmin is a garmin - fenix 8 pro has LTE and satellite connection which not working at all, or working in a very bad way. I made many runs, never had a possibility to send message via garmin messenger, call via garmin messenger, even livetrack, on LTE, has big lags, stuck in random places, etc. There are many problems/questions written on garmin forum website, concerning fenix 8, 8 pro, even previous model, and nothing has changed. I just feel like a beta tester of new products, every products, because with edges I hade same experience - 1030/1030 plus/1040 solar, 1050 - all had big problems, restarting during training, randomly reconnecting power meter, cadence, lights etc. Garmin Rally power meter xc 200 I need to sent back, because right one just stop working. Chest strap - HRM, HRM Pro/Pro plus - need to change, because after one year just broken. Now I have hrm 600, but still sometimes show very strange and different numbers, like yesterday - pace 4:30 min per 1 km, and it showed 95 BPM - I wish I had that one :) So, to sum up - I am just tired of garmin support, garmin new products. Maybe one day I just sell everything and buy only apple watch ultra and hammerhead karoo 3 - I tested it also and it was quite nice one.