Garmin - fēnix® E

I got my Garmin 245 since 2019. In Jan 2026, I switched to Coros Apex 4 but after a month, I switched back to Garmin Fenix E. Besides the extremely dim display in Coros Apex 4, another reason I switched back is that the data from Garmin knows you more. The data from Coros is just data, not enough information can be provided. It just helps record data without enough analysis. Also the data presentation in both Coros watch and App is too simple. The presentation from Garmin is more sophisticated. The graphs in Garmin App helps you understand your running performance more. Also, many things from Coros are not completed in details such as the font, font size, icons, layout, … etc. These makes Coros not premium enough.

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

Garmix Fenix with AMOLED. The solar one has a bit more battery life but the screen is quite a bit dimmer. It has great tracking and mapping and is useful for both navigation and also seeing where you went to a high degree of accuracy, which is useful if you got a bit off track. It is a multi sport watch so it also tracks climbing, running, cycling, swimming, elliptical, and a ton more. Also, it has a flashlight which is incredibly useful, especially at home. I use that feature almost daily.

These comparisons and comments ended for me with the release of the Fenix 8 Pro. If you are listening to music, full gps, with LTE the 47MM Fenix gets like 8 hours. That’s about inline with the AWU 3 in the same use case. And if you turn off a bunch of features on the AWU it gets much longer life as a smart watch and up to 20 hours with full gps during an activity. The limitation of everything is battery technology and how much you want your watch to do. Garmin likes to make fitness focused watches. Apple makes smartwatches with fitness figures. Buy whatever one makes you happy for your use cases

I had similar criteria and got a rose gold fenix. It's great

Garmin with MIP display (non amoled, always on) and solar charging. I would vote for Enduro 3 or some from Fenix lineup if you can afford and if the size fits you.

I just recently got the Fenjx and switched from my ultra … I wasn’t a fan of the garmin app or overall UI , seemed a bit clunky for my liking. Ended up returning and upgrading to the Ultra 3.

This is what I did. I bought the Fenix with the intention on switching completely, but I realized that I missed a lot of things about my AW. So now my AW is my daily wear and also for occasional shorter runs, walks, etc. I use the Fenix for hiking, diving, long activities, etc.

I keep my Garmin for workouts and sleep & I am using my Apple Watch through the day for notifications and iMessage.

If you bike, then Garmin probably the best option if you want a dedicated bike computer. I also like that as an eBiker my Fenix watch shows all my bike status specs, watts etc for the one that is able to send the data.  Went back to Polar since I like Polar's overall approach to activity instead of steps+intensity minutes+floors etc fragmentstion. Plus now I can wear a smartwatch as a phone on one wrist and screenless Polar on the other when not working out.