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.

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.

100 % agree. I swapped from AWU 2 to Fenix 8 pro 51 mm. Best decision ever.

I did the same last month. got the fenix 8 pro 51mm and will never get an apple watch again

I own both an Ultra 3 and a Fenix 8 LTE 51mm and have a separate plan for the Ultra 3 as well as the $7.99/mo Messenger Plan for the Fenix 8. I cannot speak to weight training, however for road. gravel. & mountain biking, the Fenix 8 is much more accurate than the Ultra 3; when cycling throughout Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Mateo counties, my Fenix 8 is always withing 1% of my Garmin Edge 1050 whereas the Ultra 3s my co-riders use are always under-reporting my and other Edge computers by 5-10 miles and 100-150 feet). For me, the only advantages of the Ultra 3 over the Fenix 8 are its integration with iPhone and its 5g/LTE connectivity when I leave my phone at home and go for a walk, coffee shop, etc. The Fenix 8's LTE connectivity is a pain; unless one is making an emergency call/text, the recipient can only receive the call/text via Garmin's Messenger App and I have yet to be able to make an LTE call because the Fenix 8 cannot connect to LTE even though the areas I have been in (Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Santa Cruz, & San Francisco) are on Garmin's coverage map. So for bike rides, I still bring my phone.

I just went the other way around and went from f8 pro 51mm to Enduro 3. I felt that oled was just another computer screen in your face and my biggest issue was that yes the watch faces looked good but majority would go to cheaper looking version when not directly staring at the screen so it switches to full graphics to low graphics which was annoying to me. With mip the watch face stays the same whether looking at it or not more like a traditional watch would.

I wish this would happen. Not sure how Garmin and Huawei can do it but they can’t. My Garmin Fenix 8 OLED model with always on display lasts me 10 days easily on single charge.

Agreed. Worst thing ever is continuing to research after a purchase. It's how I went on a return & exchange spree from a 45mm Instinct Solar to an Instinct 2X to a Forerunner 570 47mm to an Instinct 3 Solar 50mm to a Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm to ultimately a Fenix 8 Pro 51mm. I'm settled now. Because I've stopped researching.

Couple thoughts: 1. Pixel Watch 4 does have multi band GPS. 2. I absolutely hate Garmin's algorithm for stress. It constantly says I am having medium to high stress when I'm literally sitting on my couch reading a book. 3.i still LOVE my Fenix 8 51mm for its ruggedness, beauty, simplicity, and battery life. Until everyone else figures out what Garmin has known for years from a battery life perspective nothing else can compare for overall usability. That said, I do see the desire for more smart features (I need them sometimes personally) and Garmin will never be able to compete in that arena, nor do they really want to I don't think.

51mm nearly doubles the battery life of the 47mm. Without AOD it is 16 days for 47mm vs 29 days for 51mm. With AOD it is 7 days vs 13 days.

On my Fenix 8 with an android phone I can reply to any text or email via both voice or an on-screen keyboard. It's awesome. The only thing I'm missing is the ability to see my work email and calendar on it (company uses outlook and there is no outlook app for Garmin), ability to see a full text thread (which I do miss from time to time, and ability to control my smart lights & thermostats.

I have 3 of the 4 watches you reference (and had the original Apple Watch Ultra). The Pixel Watch 4 is a great watch. It's battery is very good (45mm lasts me into a 3rd day) and what it does lack in battery life it makes up for in lightning fast charging. Personally I tend to use Garmin the most because the battery is amazing (2 weeks to a month or more depending if always on display is on or off) and I absolutely love having a real flashlight on my wrist. Fitness tracking is second to none on Garmin but most of it is overkill. What phone do you have? If Android, go Garmin or Pixel Watch. If iPhone, nothing will be as good as an Apple Watch Ultra.