Garmin - fēnix 8 – 47 mm, AMOLED

it must be a solar model thing - no idea why - my F8 47mm oled gets GPS in 8-12 seconds every time, and has more battery life than what you reported even though it's a smaller watch. It's never rebooted on me once and I've had it about 7 weeks now, and do a gps workout nearly every day.

I have fénix 8 amoled 47 and my wife has Apple Watch 10. Mine says 16d but I get around 11-12 days with 4 activities last week between 45 min and 3-4h. The Apple Watch does not last more than 2 days. However, if Apple gets more battery life for their next releases, lets say 5-7days, because their products are integrated with iPhone etc, a lot of people might go back to Apple. I love my fénix 8.

I’ve been using a Fenix 8 AMOLED for the past year and am getting ready to move back to an Apple Watch Ultra. The Garmin is better looking and is definitely more fitness oriented. However, if you are generally in the Apple ecosystem, you’ll be giving up a lot of integration and convenience. The Garmin tries to be a smart watch, but the way things work in that regard is clunky compared to Apple. For me, I find that I miss the easy integration with the Apple ecosystem more than I value the fitness-orientation of the Garmin. I loved the buttons on the Garmin at first, but after a thumb injury realized that the button system can be inconvenient. The Garmin touch screen process is okay at best. Often laggy and unresponsive. I’ll miss the battery life, though.

I switched from AWU to Fenix 8 Amoled and couldn’t be happier. Considering that I mostly used my AWU as a fitness tracker the Garmin is head and shoulders above. The battery life is amazing. I don’t care about LTE as I never really used it for that anyway and I had all the notifications turned off. Oh and the flashlight on the watch is great for those dark nights when I have to pick up my dog’s poop.

Just got the plain old fenix 8 amoled, it's plenty bright enough in direct noon blistering california sun. Life is good 👍🏽

You get all the features you want and have a new hardware that lasts a long time, has attractive features like AMOLED and offers everything on the software side and does not limit you in anything

I switched countless times. I finally settled on Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED. I was essentially using the AWU2 as a fitness and recovery tracker only. The switch was natural. If I was using the AWU to their full smart extent, I would not change.

FWIW, been running the Fenix 8 AMOLED for a year and I don’t think the software has the polish of the watch OS apps. Get about 4-5 days battery which is nice, but miss all the connected stuff I get by being in the iOS ecosystem. I will say that the LED flashlight is awesome and something that’ll be tough to give up.

Just sold my amoled F8 for a MIP F8. I really hate everything about amoled on a watch. The constantly black screen, the almost halving of battery life with AOD, the weirdness that is a smartphone like display that constantly fights against natural light on a watch. Either the watchface is ugly or the AOD version of the watchface. I have never found a nice face with an equally nicht AOD screen. When can’t glance your watch during a sports session because the display off. And the thing you are currently doing prohibits you from either tapping the screen or raising your hand far enough. Yeah I know a MIP display is not as brilliant. But the reflective behavior, the glanceable and truely always on fashion and the solar panel outweigh like everything for me. I would be really screwed if Garmin would stop building MIP watches. 😅

My first ever smart watch was a really early one for Android. And I am not talking about the shitty display it had that was barely visible in the sun. Current amoleds are way ahead and so bright. And they look gorgeous, yes. I just could never stand that the display is off all the time. And the AOD version of any face never looks like the real watchface that I installed. Then Pebble came along and I just loved their epaper display and still love them (anyone ordered the new Pebbles?). It’s not for watching movies but it’s usable for what a smart watch does. And it’s even fast enough for small videos if you want, too. Always. In direct sunlight. I don’t need a „we offer 2000nits/3000 nits/1million nits now!“ display that eats battery. It’s ridiculous on the latest pro how much the microled eats away on battery. Even the F8 51 mm amoled would last me fully charged like 15-20days which is pretty long. With AOD it sinks to 6-8d for me. Which is like okay. The 51mm MIP solar does like a week longer at least compared to the always off amoled setting without ever switching the display off and it’s noticeably longer in summer (like another 3-ish days). The new Apple Watch can’t even blast its nits for long because the display just gets too hot. I need it to tell time and my metrics. And if there’s some color as well, good. It boils down to personal preference of course. A lot of people love amoled or microled displays. It’s fine. To each their own. For me it feels odd that a watch constantly fights against the sunlight to show something. And yes if there would be a useful smartphone with a MIP display, then I would get one. Hey Apple … !

I have the Fenix 8 amoled which I use for running and hiking, the sapphire glass is great so it doesn’t scratch and I love having topo maps standard. Cons is the price. Forerunner is a good option if price is an issue.

I’ve had both the ultra and now the Fenix 8. When I got the ultra my main use was as day hiking, home gym workouts and the AWU was perfectly fine so long as I used the WorkOutDoors app and downloaded the hiking maps for the area I was in. Once I moved to multi day hiking trips and started running i found the ultra wasn’t suitable for me anymore and I switched to the Fenix 8 for the battery life and the full topo maps. Both are good but for me I need the Garmin maps more than I need the smart watch features.

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!

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.

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!

Love my fenix 7 pro solar and fenix 8 amoled a bit pricey but really works well for me . Maps are always an issue for me ,i do like the smart watch feature of a mic and speaker here and there ,but perfect for exercising in many forms from surfing to hiking and riding motorcycles .... i hear epix is similar but less pricey. Well wishes on your journey

Tactix 8 is nice but don't count on any help from solar i have had the fenix and tactix solar and i actually prefer my amoled for length of batt life. i have put it in batt saver mode in full lux not on me for 3 hrs and achieved 1%that went down after wearing it .my casio does way better with solar this is the only thing that is a disappointment!

Bough AWU3 3 days ago after selling my Fenix 7 Pro. I was really looking forward to make a switch for a long time, read and watched tons of reviews, did everything to like AWU. It's a really cool watch, great smartwatch, Garmin sucks in that area a lot. The watch faces are way more beautiful and feature packed than those on Fenix, the UI is super fluid, great bright screen, and I pretty liked the look of it, I was a little bit tired of Garmin's rough look and watched something more casual. Well, today I want to Apple Store and returned it. Not because of battery life, no. My watch worked fine for 2 solid days and I was more than ready to charge it once in 48 hours. For me it's a fair price for that smooth UI and rich smart functions. But because training-wise AW sucks. You need to buy tons of 3rd party apps to make it functionally closer to Fenix, pay for subscriptions and still it remains worse than Fenix. One of the reasons is that AW doesn't measure your HR continuously when you're not training, so all the popular apps that show you health metrics like Bevel or Athlytic (both require paid subscription) just don't have that data and show you some random 'AI-inspired' numbers. Second thing - buttons. Yes, AWU has some shortcuts where you can press 2 buttons simultaneously, but it's not even close to Garmin's buttons. You still need to use touch interface all the time. With Garmin I have muscle memory (I've been using Fenix since 3HR), I can operate it in my sleep, so easy and so natural. I hardly ever used touch screen of my Fenix. And the third - flashlight. It's the best fucking feature out there. The moment I sold my Fenix I started to miss that badly. Collecting dog's poop in the dark, navigating to the toilet at night, check on the kids - I used it every day, many times, you get that habit and it becomes super natural. Now I just can't live without it. Apple Watch is a small iPhone on your wrist. It's cool. But I already have an iPhone in my pocket. So I decided I didn't need a second one. But, AW taught me one thing - AMOLED screen looks and feels gorgeous. I was long time MIPS fan, but now I think it's time to move forward. So the moment I returned my AWU - I ordered F8 AMOLED. Hope that it won't disappoint.

I’m glad my story helped! As far as I remember, Garmin was always like that, in the past I’ve always bought Fenix from the previous generation and they’ve never received new features from up-to-date line. 1-2 years of support is a joke for sure. I want to believe that with the new code base of Fenix 8 they will have longer support, but maybe those are just dreams. Anyway, Fenix 8 after AWU felt like returning home, such a satisfying feeling. didn't regret for a second.

Update: returned AWU3 after 3 days and bought a Fenix 8 instead. AWU is fun and nice looking watch, but awful sports tracker, and that’s the reason I need a smartwatch on the first place. Having a Garmin back is so satisfying! Although Apple Watch convinced me to go with amoled Garmin while I was a mips fan for a long time.

The older OLED fenix 8 model has even better battery life than the micro-led fenix 8 pro. It's not the display tech, it's a combination of physical battery size and garmins having relatively underpowered hardware and not as many smartwatch features running in the background.

I love my GF8 (non-solar) and it acquires GPS before I’ve had time to start my run and. There is a fast and slow mode, of course with its pros and cons. It’s a great sports watch and I’ve never felt it’s unreliable.

What size Fenix 8 did you go with? I had the Forerunner 970 first and then made the switch to the Fenix 8 47mm and while it is slightly heavier, I barely notice it and overall much prefer the watches aesthetics and premium feel.

I believe you can get about 20hr of (multiband/all systems) tracking with the 970 so 2 full days might be possible but it also... on the edge. Unless you hike 5hrs a day of course. For the fenix8 47mm this would be up to 35hrs (or 28hrs with always on) Also, using maps will increase battery usage. But can't you just bring a small powerbank with you? That way you can simply charge when needed and the battery in the 970 is so small that you can bring a very compact one. But yeah, battery wise the fenix8 is the winner, easily. In the same pickle here, the 970 is on the lower side battery wise for me even though I really prefer the looks and weight. At the moment it's too expensive for me, don't want to spend 750 euros on it, so waiting for a nice deal anyway but with a 100k in mind a 20hr battery life max IS enough but still... would like more.

Did you really find the 47mm Fenix heavy? I barely notice it, it’s that bloody light, surreptitious, and comfortable!

Honestly, have been big fan of iwatch since day one, but recently moved to FENIX8 47mm and at first kind of missed faces Utra, on the other side, tracking activity, incredible battery life - it is not same league, sport - it simply is different universe. I have been looking for some kind of visual improvements, than I have got this amazing bezel, new watchstraps, new PRO face and they just look so fenomenal, when I put iwatch ultra 2 on side by side, I simply prefer this over it - since it simply looks more premium. Ultra is now in same situation as the other watches, which I use once per year for some occasions. But Fenix 8 is new king who rulez in my kingdom. https://preview.redd.it/l29rz7m54oof1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80929f8a0d11c56695cbd021489a12c0815e5842

Honestly, I used to have an Apple Watch. It kind of makes you move, but since getting the Fenix 8 — oh, I wish I had bought one of its predecessors a long time ago — I’ve started to really work on stress and realized how badly alcohol was affecting my health. Same with overeating — not so much the quantity, but the quality (which I’m currently working on the most). It got me into jumping rope, running just enough to reach a VO₂ max of 47, checking all the stats, and trying to understand what they really mean. I came to realize that being healthy and athletic isn’t about always pushing into the red, but quite the opposite: surprising your body with both strong and calm efforts, longer or shorter. What I see is that you haven’t yet found that foundation — the “basement” — where even walking makes a difference. That should be your motivation. Not just one pie chart with results taken out of context. Sure, it’s better than nothing, but why do we all use Garmin? Because it doesn’t hold your hand — it makes you think about the whole complexity of your lifestyle. It helps you observe how things affect your stress levels, how having coffee after 4 p.m. impacts your sleep quality… 😉

I had the Fenix 8, 47mm and wore it on a 165mm wrist. I felt the weight was too heavy and bulky. I’ve since gone for the 970 and that feels much better. I suspect accuracy will be better as well as it doesn’t bounce around on my wrists as much either. Hope this helps

I got myself a fenix 8 (X?/Amoled), and it's all I could have asked for. Definitely one of the best sports watches on the market. The price is mental though. I got it from a refurbishing-site, and traded my Fenix 6X for it, otherwise I would have waited some more months, for the price to drop a bit further. No matter how you decide, take into consideration though, that if you plan to go off-piste, the sports watches, like all electroincal devices, can affect the signal of your avalanche beacon. Nothing to do you with your purchase per se, but that should always float around in the back of your head, when using a watch while skiing (wear it on your weaker hand, across the body from your beacon, etc).

Your watch must have been a dud then, I have the fenix 8 (amoled), and run about 70-90km a week, that’s a lot of gps time, and I have around 10-12 days of battery easy. No way the Apple Watch Ultra and Fenix are the same if you do regular gps activities.

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 did this too. Tried the Fenix 8, and ultimately went with the Forerunner 970. Similar feature set, but much more comfortable to wear.

I had the Fenix 8 (MIP and AMOLED) for two weeks. Very similar feature set, but the 970 is more comfortable to wear for me. Also, slightly better screen. Still has great battery, flashlight, maps, etc. The 970 is also quite a bit cheaper. I suppose my question was, why would I want the Fenix 8 over the 970?

Damn my F8x amoled lasts longer than that lol but ya first month or two with new Garmin hardware is always figuring out bugs. My experience with the 8x has been mostly positives. But then again my expectations are calibrated based on past watches.

Currently have a Garmin Fenix 8. I do enjoy this watch especially the insane battery life and flashlight but I'm thinking of coming back to apple with a watch 3 ultra. How do health tracking features compare? I'm mostly coming back for the safety features and hypertension health feature. Plus ability to detect afib. Apple watch could literally save your life but my Garmin watch would probably just tell me I'm weak and need to get my butt off the ground.

For me I want to be able to go out and run without my phone. I don't want my Garmin Fenix 8 because it's not connected if I have an emergency. The apple watch also has better fall detection so I feel like it has my back more.

I had a fenix 8 non pro and currently picked up the AWU3. I personally think I might switch back to apple. Garmin is awesome. Wins hands down for battery life, built in capabilities, and that flashlight. I’ll miss that flashlight. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has faster charging than yoUR watch 2. And for me there is always 10 to 15min during my day where I can take it off and set it on a charger. I work a desk job so when I’m working I can charge it or even around bed time when I’m sitting in bed reading by just set it on a charger. The battery life isn’t as good with the Apple Watch but it just does so much more and integrates so well with the Apple ecosystem. AirPods connect seamlessly. You can stream music and podcasts directly to it as you mentioned. I use peloton bike and tonal and it works better with those devices. I disagree that Garmin golf is better than 18Birdies. 18Birdies free version is on par with Garmin but the paid version is so much better and has more insights than Garmin golf. Plus all the other awesome apps you have access too on the Apple Watch. It’s just a more complete package. Look the Garmin is awesome too. If you need the better battery life and you don’t use the Apple Watch smart features then the Garmin is incredible too. Both have pros and cons but for the price, I think the Apple Watch Ultra is the better value for most people. But I also don’t run ultra marathons. At most I’ll train for a marathon but I’m more of a general fitness enthusiast. I also like that the Apple Watch checks for hypertension and irregular heartbeats, and afib without even taking an actual ekg measurement. And I trust the fall detection more on it. You’re right that you don’t really need cellular on a watch but you have it for safety reasons. God forbid that one fall knocks you out or you insure yourself or get random chest pains. Can even happen to people who are healthy and work out all the time.

Both have pros and cons. Newer apple watches especially the ultra have fast charging and can easily do 2 days of battery life. Im considering switching from my Fenix 8 back to apple watch ultra 3 for the better health safety features like tracking hypertension. Fall detection. And ability to use my watch without my phone if I go on a run. I don't have to bring my phone for a run which is nice. With my Garmin Fenix 8 I feel like I have to bring my phone because I need a device to call 911 or for family to reach me. Garmin now has Fenix 8 pro that connects to Garmin network but it's just not the same. And now watch 3 ultra supports satellite as well for emergencies. For me it's more about safety. Garmin watch has great metrics sure but will it accurately detect hypertension? Will it detect an afib or heart issue? If I fall can it call emergency services? Only if my phone is with me. I have two young kids and I'm in my 30s now so the safety features are just more valuable for me this time in my life. And the apple watch has saved lives before.

This is basically the only thing I don't like about Garmin. I did a running workout. 5k in 35min and I'm late 30s. It's not the best time but it's not horrible either for my age and Garmin told me I'm shit and need to do better. But I love the workout features on my Garmin regardless. I like the daily suggested workouts. I like the pacing where I keep my heart rate in a certain level or run a certain pace and Garmin tracks that very well. And I like that the battery life on my Fenix 8 in over 2 weeks. And that built in flashlight. I just can't go back to apple watch until apple starts to include more stats and workout features. Every year apple is adding features but the issue is they are drip feeding minor updates every year. My Garmin Fenix 8 is fully featured and I doubt apple ever includes all the features Garmin has. Apple likes that sweet subscription revenue for all the apps you need to buy.

Apple does afib detection using the optical heart rate sensor data. So you don't need to actually take a dedicated afib reading to be notified that the watch thinks you might have an issue. Same with the new hypertension data. Also better fall detection that can call 911 for you even using satellites on the new ultra 3. Safety features are simply better on the watch 3 ultra. I own a Fenix 8 and love it too. Can't deny Garmin wins with battery life but apple is winning with safety features in my opinion.

What do you lose when putting it in low power mode? Trying to decide if I want to keep my ultra 3 or stay with my garmin fenix 8. Main reason for my switch is to be connected and not need to bring my phone everywhere. Plus the Apple Watch does so much more than the garmin.

Apple watch is the best smart watch on the market still. And the watch 3 ultra will probably solidify that even further. But Garmin still wins with built in features and battery life that lasts forever. Even with an apple watch ultra you have to charge every day or two and if you want golf features for example you have to pay extra for them.

You will be back to Garmin lol. I've tried apple watch ultra, Samsung Galaxy watches and ultra, and pixel watch 3. Nothing compares to the metrics Garmin provides. Plus the battery life is incredible. Don't have to think about charging at all. Everything is built into Garmin. You don't have to pay for other apps to get similar functionality. I'm a golfer and it's so nice to have the golf features built into the watch versus having to pay extra for them. Morning report is amazing. Body battery. Now evening report too. Plus the watch is very reliable. I can't go back. I love my Fenix 8 too much. And the flashlight is chefs kiss.

I was hoping it would last a week. I switched to a Garmin Fenix 8 and this bad boy gets 18 days of battery life. I have no idea what magic Garmin has to make this watch last as long as it does. My biggest issue with all other watches is having to charge it every single day especially if you workout a lot. This watch I can charge twice a month lol.

My Fenix 8 has an OLED display and still lasts 7 days always on or 18 days move rist to wake.

I agree but 18 days is good enough for me personallu.

Aren't we all sick of hearing this.. AW is more of a sports watch then gets credit for and Garmin tries so much to make Fenix smarter.

AW now detecting High Blood Pressure over long term and existing Sleep Apnea makes it much more better "health device" and let's not even forget passive irregular heart beat detection. All of 3 features are non-existent on any Garmin devices. I really wanted to switch to Garmin after my old AW7 but it seems AWU3 is better value for the price than Garmin Fenix 8/Pro.

I like my Fenix 8 as I also run 2-3x week, weightlifting 2-3x week and bike ride once a week. I find it fits my needs perfectly.

I have Fenix 8 actually and I've used ECG once... literally forgot this feature exists until your comment arrived in my notifications. I might take another ECG now, but damn that feature is imo useless. Do a proper ECG at hospital once a year and you will be fine.

I have a fenix 8 and previously forerunner 645 and in both I have the smart part turned off. I don’t like reading or seeing or being notified in my watch. So you just turn it off

I bought the fenix 8 about a month ago for golf and to get into running. I liked the fenix 8 because you can do just about everything on it.

Used the same but switched to Fenix8 and I am very satisfied with all features it provides

The new strength UI on the Fenix 8 is outstanding. Much improved. I haven’t tried Hevy in quite a while but I find the new strength UI for editing weight and reps to be a really big improvement. Rep and movement detection is good, too. I use an external HR monitor during strength training.

Forerunner 970 if you want running specific. 8 will have everything 970 has but probably not necessary. You would be perfectly fine with a 7 but with the new drop, I don’t think it makes sense to buy that far back unless you really don’t care about future updates. I was just in the same boat and went with the Fenix 8 because I had a %20 off discount

Yeah I feel like apple sleep tracking is similar to its specificity with fitness tracking. Instead of in depth (and maybe somewhat disappointing data) it gives you the positive fluff version to encourage general day to day health. I compared whoop vs. AW vs Fenix and Apple was the only one that just skipped my mini awake times. Found that strange

Yeah I mean none of them are perfect but I do think Garmin has been best so far.

FWIW, I just went on a week long hike. I ended up recording each day as individual activities, because the risk of a big/crash binning the whole hike was too high for me. Regarding battery life, I was fine on a single charge with my Fenix 8 (it was pretty low towards the end). I recommend a portable solar panel. They are pretty cheap and lightweight these days. These will be much more effective than the watch based solar (small surface area) and can charge your other devices as well (phone).  Good luck!

Garmin really isn't that good for the gym, as they outright refuse to sync with ANY lifting apps, such as Hevy. I have a Fenix 8 and I went ahead and manually made lifting routines in the app on the phone, which then carries them onto the watch. It isn't that hard to do, but it does annoy me that they refuse to allow third party lifting apps to work as if they actually have a good lifting platform. I personally alternate between two different lifting workouts, so I just select the one I'm doing and go from there. I hate rep detection, so I have it set to where I click a button on the watch to start a set and then when I finish the set to start a rest period, unless I have something set as a superset. I still use Hevy while also running this, as I just find the interface and tracking as a whole to be superior, especially if you want to modify something mid-workout. My main reason for still bothering to also do it on my Garmin is so that it factors my lifting sessions into the overall health picture. My Fitness Pal and Strava are the only apps it sync with.

I changed a galaxy watch4 for a Garmin Fénix 8 and there is no color.....no point of comparison.

Yes im curious as well. I have the Fenix 8 and I quite like it. I don't have any comparison since it's my first Garmin. I'm curious to know what for me looks normal, maybe shouldnt be normal.

I would certainly go for something with solar, which I think the Forerunner 965 doesn't have, if you do hiking trips of several days and want to track all of it. The Fenix 8 has more "smartwatch" capabilities (e.g. built-in mic) vs. the Enduro 3, which is more of an "ultra outdoor performance" watch. In conclusion, for only gym + running, I would go for the cheaper Forerunner 965. Including the hiking, I would go for the Enduro 3 or the Fenix 8. If you want crazy battery life, you should probably opt for the Enduro 3, but if you want more of the smartwatch capabilities, you can choose the slightly more expensive Fenix 8. Both will surely do the job as they are both exceptional watches.

Garmin watches are better for running, cycling, swimming. Basically any serious endurance training. Apple watches feel higher quality and are better for lifestyle features like calls, texts, nicer screen etc. That being said, the Fenix 8 is kind of overkill if you are just training for a half. I would return it and get a 265, which is half the price of the Fenix 8.

I’ve spent countless hours reading all sorts of articles, subreddits, and watching videos on watch pros and cons. After all that I figured I’d come to my fellow CrossFitters and see what you all do. I’m a long time Apple Watch user, having had 3 different versions over the years and currently using a Series 8. My work has a program that I can get sweet deals on select Garmin watches (like the Fenix 8) or Apple Watch Ultra 2. In addition to CrossFit 5-6 days/week, I also hike and bike, and occasionally like tracking long walks and other random activities. Phone like features aren’t something I care too much about. My primary concerns are the fitness, gps, sleep and recovery aspects. I’m torn between the Garmin Fenix 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. At the end of the day, most of the activity I track is in a gym and I want something that can handle that well. I don’t care about logging activity via the watch. Anyone using either of these and have advice or experiences to share?

I tested out the Garmin Fenix 8 for a while. It’s a neat watch and has a lot of features. I ultimately returned it because the heart rate for CrossFit and weight lifting was wildly inaccurate compared to other devices. Additionally, the sleep data was terrible. I ended up going with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. I’ve been using that for a while now. It’s very similar to any other Apple Watch, but has some additional features that are nice. Ultimately, I’m happy with my choice.

Used first AWU and now the Garmin Fenix 8. Both do their job but AWU is better and more flexible. Garmin on the other hand is better for all other stats and battery life. I am using a custom data screen next to the Running app data screens (https://apps.garmin.com/nl-NL/apps/a2441923-d2f1-4759-bc99-e9401ae54f8e) which is better as an overview. The only thing I am missing a lot on the Garmin is the map guidance. In Runna, you can select the route/track you will follow. While you are running, you can also see this route on the AWU. This is not possible on the Garmin which is a pity. I solve this by loading the track to the watch separately and make it visible. I have no guidance, but I can see at least where I have to go. Hope this helps!

The reason Garmin is so hyped on the cycling stuff you watch is because the Garmin cycling computers are gold standard in the industry. They aren't sleep tracking or counting steps and they always wear a chest strap. And they are really good. My husband uses a 1080 (I think) and it lasts him for several 40 mile bike rides. He uses his AW ultra for his other health stats. He frankly only cares about the cycling metrics. He cares about his power meters and his HR and his climbing and his speed a and gear. He lets apple and our bed worry about the rest. I'm primarily a runner and I have a Fenix 8 and I glance at all the other stuff. Is it perfect? Nope. In fact the sleep tracking is awful for me right now because I have a shoulder injury and I can't sleep normal and my arm falls asleep. What I do, though, is track my trends. How am I doing day to day, week to week. Honestly if you are a cyclist, I'd just get a lower end cycling computer. It will give you the data you want better than a watch for the same price. It takes a pretty high end watch to get the cycling metrics cyclists care about.

Get a chest strap for triathlons, one that works in water. The 965/Fenix/Epix are the same or minimal difference. The latest are the Fenix 8 nad forerunner 970. Get what looks good to you, because features are 99.9% the same. Also Fenix is a big bigger

Fenix/Epix are the same, Forerunner 9xx has 99% same functions but a bit lighter and not as tall, but only available in one size

Get a chest strap for triathlons, one that works in water. The 965/Fenix/Epix are the same or minimal difference. The latest are the Fenix 8 nad forerunner 970. Get what looks good to you, because features are 99.9% the same. Also Fenix is a big bigger

Aw 2-7/ now fenix8 user here. I hate the garmin system/update clunkyness/user interface. Its like a last decade thing. Oh, not to mention the "motivational" sleep amd regeneration tracking. Im looking alternatives to go back, i really dont like this besides the 14 days battery life.

Bought the AWU1 day one and loved everything about it, except the battery life. Bought a Fenix 8 as I started doing long distance running, and while I love the insane battery life, flashlight, and look, it’s just not enough of a smart watch for me. I miss IOS integration, texting/calling, LTE, and ease of use. I’ve preordered the AWU3 and will be putting my Fenix up for sale. It’s a great watch, but there’s just something missing for me. I’ll miss that battery and flashlight though.

As someone who has been following reviews and sub-reddits pretty closely while making a decision on whether or not to go with the Venu X1 or Fenix 8, I thought I'd put some of my initial impressions out there, having purchased the X1 and currently "test driving" it. TL;DR - When making the decision, the question I keep asking myself is... ...what matters most to you...A beautiful "traditional" looking watch that always has the watch face "on" (Fenix 8)... ...or a big, easy to read display and comfortable fit. Are you ok with it not being always on, and charging it every 4-5 days while you shower and get ready (Venu X1). \- I've owned over a half-dozen smart watches ranging from the first Nike Fuelband, to Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin. I'm not an "athlete", just a casual fitness enthusiast. My favorite was the [Fitbit Ionic](https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/2/16392612/fitbit-ionic-smartwatch-fitness-tracker-review) due to it's slim form factor and comfort. The problem with it is that it would die almost as soon as it was out of warranty (I bought two before giving up)...otherwise I might still be wearing it. This lead me to be very interested when the Venu X1 was announced, as it had a similar form factor. I'm currently coming from a Forerunner 965 . It's my first Garmin, and I love the fitness ecosystem over traditional smart watches like Samsung and Fitbit....though it does require more work to get it dialed in. I have primarily used it for weight lifting, biking, and I intend to ramp up my running. I have found that other than the Ionic, I can't wear a fitness watch on my left hand to sleep, but I like to get a sleep score so I switch it to my right wrist at night. Even on the right hand, I found myself waking up to loosen the band, but after a year and a half I've gotten used to it for the most part. I had been considering moving to the Fenix 8 because of the gorgeous bezel and improved HRM sensor over the Forerunner 965, but was hesitant because it was even bigger than the Forerunner... ...then the Venu X1 was announced. I was very interested, and started researching. Here are a few of the key points that I saw from places like DC Rainmaker, Chase the Summit, and these Reddit subs that I can now comment on. \- * **Display -** This the best feature on this watch. As reviewers have noted, the square form factor lends to more useable space, but it's also significantly brighter and more detailed than the Forerunner 965. If you are hoping to use your Garmin as more of a smart watch...for example; you want to read a lengthy text message, rather than just get the alert...the X1 let's you do this far better than a circular display. Maps are easier to read, and you can pack more data fields on to the watch face. * **Comfort -** This is the most comfortable watch I have ever worn, hands down. I even switched out the band for a stiff [canvas & buckle style](https://www.amazon.com/Torbollo-Release-Military-Breathable-Replacement/dp/B088T1MGZ4/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=19BHATNNM2QHY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.j2p19sxf-0lkl_mYW9QqoiaOGph9aBfKvxxMbQD_Pxiz8P3ohhlFeNkI2BcryNUk3XqqJhrC27MRZpt130sbbRIEMWhmat50zmceWfJf2HRm69Un3WBYC61LvwjEJQsewW8G1dwRcX7U06iFBv37r1YAVZ-TYgndTjmZpX-5N9q5FH-y9FJvwrcwpE-jyALkazELF7jWnAvfV3TM_nfzfgMHksV79HmfvBl7XWIylH0JiSAz71O1xDQkFJ4yJbQ2oxS-lcXaLmUlZ8QcpdvzomFG3cnks_T-2PA_Ll6BiSI.LJwCFvLuz0OmfOB0ySPPG9WI9c5ARWNcJGPjUlGHpa8&dib_tag=se&keywords=24mm%2Bwatch%2Bstraps%2Bcanvas&qid=1755716178&sprefix=24mm%2Bwatch%2Bstraps%2Bcanvas%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&psc=1), and it's still great. I think this is primarily due to the weight, but also the curve of the backplate. For reference, my wrist circumference is about 6.5 inches. * **Style & Build Quality -** I think this is going to be a personal preference decision. If you don't like a square face watch, this isn't going to change your opinion. As mentioned above, I don't have huge wrists, but I think the size of the watch is fine (I would wear a Fenix 8 47). Some have said they feel like the casing looks cheap, but I think in person it looks good...that said, it is a polymer, and not to the standard of an Apple Watch Ultra (which seems to be the direct cross-brand comparison). That said, I find it hard to justify the $800 MSRP cost. If Garmin is going to charge the same price as the AWU2, the build quality should match. * **Watch Face -** This isn't something that has been brought up much in reviews, but I think could be a strong deciding factor (at least it was for me). I personally want a data-rich watch face, and therefore I like the default X1 watch face. I do not like the look of a round watch face on a square watch, as I think there is wasted real estate on the display...even when they put data fields in the corners, like the "Situation Indicator" watch face that is pre-loaded...though that is my favorite of the circular watch faces. [Here's a link to someone who went through the pre-loaded faces.](https://youtu.be/dRTyraCRhZU?si=JS9F64PBsQ_jU5z-) Also of note, with my Forerunner I found that non-pre-loaded watch faces drain the battery faster than the pre-loaded ones. \- If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer in the comments.

Yes, I even bought the Fenix 8 and test drove it for a few days. My big takeaways were... If you want a traditional looking watch and don't mind the "bulk", the F8 is a great choice. If you are an ultra-marathoner or need accurate GPS due to being in NYC or hiking in the tall trees, also go with the F8. If you are looking for an all-arounder to keep track of your fitness that has an amazing screen, go with the X1. If traditional looks are less important to you than comfort (plus you'll save $300), go with the X1. If you are a golfer, go with the X1. Also consider if you want the always on display. If you do, you will need to recharge every other day. With AOD turned off I get 7-8 days between charging. I also swapped out the band for a nylon traditional buckle and think it looks even better without sacrificing comfort.

if you have the epix pro 2, that watch was released about 2 and a half years ago. the normal epix pro was released before that. that said, Garmin can do better with updating their watches. I think with the new menu system with the fenix 8, it will be better. This is also the reason I wouldnt recommend getting an older watch, unless your needs are basic and the deal is good

Me! I hate how Garmin vibrates and the "beep" sound it makes Feels very cheap.

> I’ll have an average workout HR from the strap 134bpm, solar x2 will have 101-110 This is a major deviation, and seems more like a defect in your specific watch than an issue with Garmin’s watches.  I use the HRM Pro Plus too, and anectodally, have found no discernible difference between what it, and the sensors on my Venu Sq 2 or Fenix 8, reads. Unless I’m doing sprint intervals or something, I find the strap doesn’t offer much over the built-in HR sensor. 

Look for a Garmin Fenix 6, 7, or 8. The Fenix 6 does everything you are looking for.

I have both, one in each wrist. Garmin mostly for running and metrics, apple for cycling peloton and smart watch features, both get used. 😂

I have a Fenix 8, and still use the Ultra 1 in mybother wrist. Love the fenix for running. But cant let go of the ultra. And for 799 the ultra 3 gives you a lot specially coming from a series 9. Battery life is enough for marathon training and they charge super fast.

If I'm spending that much money for a sportswatch, I would like it to last longer. Fenix 8 has a nicer and more robust build. I would buy it also for the leakproof buttons so you can swim worry free. You can press the buttons while submerged under water without worry.

They are for me equally beautiful but if I'm spending that much I better buy the Fenix 8 for its robustness. The leakproof buttons makes me worry free to swim.

1 - for FR970 the main downsides are price/size/green accent - look at this recent post: https://old.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1no52ny/garmin_forerunner_970_vs_fenix_8_43_mm_white_on/ 2 - only downsides of Fenix 8 (small) are weight/thickness, price and older type of display 3 - Venu 4 (small) is probably a very good alternative, only downsides are lack of sapphire and lack of 5-buttons interface alternative to touch (which is super-important if you do a lot of swimming or for some people even if sweating a lot) 4 - FR570 (small) also is missing sapphire and has the 5-buttons interface but does not have the flashlight :(

Epix is amoled version of Fenix (MIP) prior to version 8 of the latter. Now Fenix 8 comes in MIP and Amoled options, and Epix is gone. And Epix always had the same exact case as Fenix. You’re mixing things up a little.

I’m seeing the exact same things. Have Awu2 Fenix 8. I typically get up in the middle of the night in the Fenix loses track of any sleep that happened before I got up. The Apple gives me a full score for the full amount of sleep.

I just bought a Fenix 8... looking at that, I would have been totally happy with a FR970, and you're right it looks great. Still love my Fenix though, but the Forerunner looks awesome as well.

agree. dancing with a fenix 8 will look & feel ridiculous. Slim wrist here, had the fenix 6 pro, epix 2, and fr965. Fenix & epix felt really chunky in comparison to the forerunner, especially running with them.

Get the Fenix 8, especially if you're also diving. Battery life is also better with the Fenix 8, especially on the 51mm, compared to 970. 

Doubt you'll need it. The housings are both from solid materials, and the screens on both watches are sapphire (given you get the sapphire version of the fenix). Maybe get a case if you want the watch to remain spotless for future resale value.......

If you want the best HR tracking, get a watch with the Elevate v5 sensor and ECG. Smth like a Fenix 8 or Venu 3.

Fenix 8 if budget isn’t a factor, epix pro gen 2 best bang for buck if budget is a factor

I second this. Exact same use case run 3x/week and weight train 3-4x/week. I found the epix pro gen 2 sapphire to be best utility and bang for buck. I tried the FR but was too run focused and I preferred the more tactical look. The fenix 8 was nice but at double the price with same sensor technology it didn’t felt worth it. You do forgo the mic and voice features but I didn’t need it and didn’t want a true smart watch but prioritized a fitness forward watch. 3 months in and I love my Epix pro gen 2 47mm

Another vote for the Garmin Fenix 7 or 8. You get the surfr app with the 7.

The MIP is so great they stopped making it. The take rate on the Fenix8 was laughable. Buy a modern watch and stop complaining about your obsolete 1980s looking tech.

I just went from the F265 to the Fenix 8 and I love it. I like the brightness of the screen and it has features I didn't know I needed (like current weather radar). Im hoping to be able to use the dive features on vacation and I'm doing a Sprint Tri in the fall so those metrics are useful. It looks cool, has a bunch of gadgets and makes me happy.

A few things. One is battery life. Some Garmin's have solar charging. But for the one's that don't you can get at least a week of charge if not more depending on the mode it is set in and how infrequently you use GPS. Two is that Garmin's are still fully functional without using the app or connecting to your phone. Sure, you won't get messages pushed to the watch or have the ability to sync metrics, but still it is more of a watch first and connected device second. You can use the Ultra without a phone, too, but this kinda defeats the purpose of the iWatch series and smart watches in general where there are meant to be connection to your phone first and then a watch second. Sleep tracking, if it matters to you, is generally better with Gamin watches. Garmin has also been doing GPS for a really long time. But probably the biggest advantage is that Garmin watches, well nearly all of them, are designed to be used while the user is wearing gloves. Meaning, you can navigate to and do everything by clicking the buttons on the sides even if the model has a touch screen. There is a slight learning curve to this, but once you figure it out it seems rather intuitive. And I dunno. Some of us want something more than a fitness tracker but also not a full-blown, app-centric, always-connected device. This might sound weird, but if you need to use timers, one right after the other, then Gramins win hands down. Some Garmin watches are actually built for the out-of-doors based on the premise that you will scrape the watch on a tree trunk, rock, side of a cliff, on sandy, rocky, bottom if surfing, etc. I have the first model of the Instinct that I still use. It was run over by a semi truck and barely got scratched on the outer casing. Still works like a charm. But probably the biggest benefit is that Garmin is pretty good so far with updating older watches every so often, even though they don't have to. There is no real need to update the watch every 2 - 3 years (I suppose you don't really need to either, with the iWatches, but you know what I mean) other than if you simply want to. If you bought a Fenix 8 today it would still be functional going into 2035 assuming the battery can still hold a decent charge.

I could write a book about this topic, you have no idea how much time I've spent playing with both my Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Fenix 8 and their respective software apps (Health and Connect). I own both. Long story short, neither are perfect. Here's my opinion per your categories: * Daily activity (steps, calories, heart rate) - Apple wins here. The HR sensor on the Apple Watch is just better. Apple Health does a MUCH better job of aggregating activities and accurately accounting for calories. * Sleep tracking. Garmin wins here, no question. Why? Battery life of the Fenix means I don't have to charge it overnight and therefore much more likely to wear it to sleep. I get 20 days of battery on my Fenix, and I ride my bike every single day. * Recovery metrics (Body Battery, HRV, etc.). Garmin superior here. * VO2Max and training guidance. Garmin blows away Apple. Apple does a poor job of tracking Vo2Max and doesn't have distinct running and cycling vo2 max like Garmin does. In fact, Apple Health won't even estimate your vo2 max unless you go for an outdoors run...it completely ignores any other activity including cycling. Clarity of data and presentation: Apple is just better. They understand UI and navigation, Garmin is piss-poor at this. Other apps to track: Yes, Strava. To me it is a ecosystem-agnostic tool that does a great job of tracking my long-term performance. Subscription not required but IMHO its worth it. Summary: the Garmin hardware is better, more premium-feeling, and its screens and metrics are tuned more for athletes. Apple's software (Health) is 100x better than Garmin's awful Connect, it also does a better job of tracking things like medications, and non-fitness related health aspects. The good news is that Garmin workouts/inputs captured on Garmin devices can feed to Apple Health as well as Connect so you can get the best of both worlds. The biggest drawback to Apple is that its ecosystem is much more closed, it doesn't like to share Apple Watch HR data for example, and it's really more of a smartwatch (still) than a true fitness watch like the Fenix, but Apple is definitely closing the gap each year.

Agreed with others that Fenix 8 has more advanced golf features. You can do a direct comparison on Garmin, but I believe it gives you all the golf features of an Approach. More expensive, but this is the one stop shop!

Functionality-wise the Fenix and Forerunner are pretty similar, especially considering the new Forerunner 970. The Fenix has diving, but other than that, not much beyond the 970. The other big difference between Fenix and forerunner is styling as well as sapphire glass, for a small amount more weight. My gut is that sapphire is nice but not essential unless you're doing lots of mountaineering backpacking. I got an Epix, which was essential the Fenix 8 of a few versions ago, but at that time there wasn't a Forerunner 970/965. I'm glad I have the more rugged Epix with sapphire glass, but I doubt I would have had any issues. Given what little you've shared, I'd probably look at the Forerunner 965. it's the most budget friendly, and I don't imagine many need the microphone/speaker of the 970 (though the flashlight is cool) and that the Fenix is probably overkill. No wrong choice here though!

I just switched to Garmin Fenix 8 after many years as an Apple Watch user. I like the Apple Watch, but came to the conclusion that that it’s really just your phone on your wrist and you ultimately pull your phone out when you get an alert. The battery life really is quite something on a Garmin. I’ve charged it twice in a month. I think they both have their place. I think the only thing I miss is getting images in messages on the watch so far. If I go back it’ll definitely be the ultra. Charging every day is really shitty, though.

Fenix 8. Go big or go home!

I went with the Fenix 8 after trying out the 570 for 2 weeks. Yes they’re different but close enough to make the comparison. I chose the Fenix for the battery life, overall aesthetic, and the added capabilities.

I’m in the same boat as you OP. I have a Garmin Fenix 8 and I’m also considering the AWU3. It’s a great looking watch! The 3rd party apps just seem unappealing when Garmin has the coach and suggested workouts for free. Seems like the only time I’d really wear it is at work and then switch to my Garmin for a workout. While the AWU charges lol

Karoo 3 (“New Karoo” because K3 is apparently too close to KKK?) and a Garmin Fenix 8, keeping them completely separate because Garmin Connect only updates training status with activities tracked on Garmin devices but the Karoo is more useful when riding (physically can’t see my wrist when riding in winter) and has much better GPS than my watch

Ooo Garmin talks outside of the Garmin Sub! I've had an Instinct of some variety for a while. I couldn't stand a smartwatch that required frequent charging, I'm already sacrificing so much battery life not just wearing a regular watch. The Fenix 8 recently added a microphone, adding a few key features most Garmin watches were lacking in comparison to a more traditional smartwatch, though it doesn't sound like you would be bothered by that. My Garmin is my daily companion, vibrates for important notifications, tracks my activities well, keeps me off my phone for large stretches, and helps me find stuff in the dark (exclusive to models with the flashlight). Wouldn't trade it for anything on the market as of now.

As a golfer. Keep the Fenix.

I don't use the touchscreen much on the Fenix. I ended up primarily using the buttons just after a couple of days of use. Coming from an Apple Watch, it should have felt like a big change, but ultimately wasn't a big deal.

I went from a watch 6 classic to the Fenix 8. Would never go back to Samsung now

Fenix 8 is brilliant

I did exactly the same.. moved from Apple to Fenix 8 and it’s brilliant.. it does everything I want and the battery is phenomenal..

I went for the fenix 8. It mostly depends on your activities I'd say. I run 3 times a week, do cycling and like to hike/backpack. But I also wear the watch 24/7. I chose the fenix because of the durability. A lot of reviews I read were warning about the glass of the fr965 being very easily scratched. I came from galaxy watch 4 classic and although the fenix is a bit bigger, I got used to it pretty easily.

I would go Fenix personally if money isn't an issue. Better looking, better build, longer battery, and better (more waterproof) buttons. I really don't like the look of the forerunners so that may also be a big bias for me.

Funnily enough, a lot of people do more than just road running..... a forerunner is not great for swimming, cycling, heavy trail running etc. Ive run multiple half marathons in my fenix no issues as well as doing many other activities without the worry of cracking a plastic watch and having enough battery to do so. I also did say that I was bias towards the look.... but it still remains that I think forerunners look cheap.

Yes its a great watch and will do everything to are asking for and more. The Fenix 8 also has the best Garmin coach I've ever used on a Garmin. Much more dynamic

Epix is a better watch, however it is heavier and chunkier. For what it's worth my wife would never wear a fenix/epix due to the size. Ive always worn a fenix.

you are asking for features that are not proper of a sport/fitness watch. yes garmin has garmin pay and it workd flawlessly. the new fenix 8 comes with lte but their main appeal is the metrics that it can provide. and there is nothing in comparaison that goes so deep as garmin.. training status, hrv, etc. i do not think that garmin may be the watch for you if what you are after is just lte connectivity and wireless payments. and other 'smart features' garmin are sports watches with some 'smart' abilities. you seem to be looking for the opposite.

Think the Fenix 8 I have has extended tracking feature that only pings gps every few mins. Not pin point accurate but for week long treks. Definitely better than phone.

I have a Coros Pace pro and my wife a garmin fenix 8. My Coros GPS beats hers hands down every time. The GPS is unrivalled

I have both the Fenix 8 (my second Garmin watch) and the AW U2 (I have owned every Apple Watch released so far). The advantages of the Garmin over the Apple Watch for me are: \- Battery life \- Way better presentation of all the data in the Garmin Connect app, which is also available on the web - so I can check the data on my MacBook, not only in the app. I find the Apple Health and Fitness apps to be subpar in terms of UI and data presentation. \- Various data, such as altitude or heart rate history, is presented much more nicely on the Garmin watch itself than on the AW. \- Physical buttons are invaluable when running with sweaty hands. \- I find the LED flashlight really useful. \- I can fully customize the watch face. There are many great ones available in the store, or I can code my own. You can't use custom / third party watch faces on the AW. \- It works with Androids, too. That said, I still really like my AW and often use it for various reasons. However, this post is about Garmin's advantages, so here we go.

Also made the switch after 7 years of Fenix watches. Still use my Fenix 8 for certain things but the AWU 3 is my daily watch now. Don’t like the change at Garmin.

As a new runner, it's way too easy to get lost in the sauce of all the data and make yourself crazy trying to optimize all the data points all at once. Having data can be nice once you have the benefit of context and perspective but as a new runner, all you'll have is comparisons to people on the internet or your friends, and that can quickly ruin running for you. You're going to see all this data that right now is kind of meaningless to you because you're not running-fit enough yet. But you're going to start obsessing over your zones and your HR and your cadence, and pace, and HRV, and VO2max... And you're going to check your friends' stats and feel bad about yourself. My suggestion is to just enjoy running for a while without letting the data rule over you. (I have a Garmin Fenix 8, it's been extremely durable, it's got every bell and whistle under the sun and I probably use 10% of its features.)

1 Word, Flashlight... I would say if the price is stopping you from affording the Fenix and instead getting the 970 just save a little longer and get the Fenix 8. However, if you don't need premium feel, dive features and a flashlight then just go the 9xx cheaper ones.

Forerunner 970 and call it a day. It's specifically designed for a cost no object triathlete. You can get a Fenix or MARQ if you like but they're heavier. Might be better at golf, scuba and flying if any of those are relevant to you.

Garmin's comparison tool is pretty good. Off the cuff, if you don't care about maps and don't have a power meter for your bike, the Instinct 3 doesn't give up much to the fancier models. The Forerunner 970 and Fenix 8 are going to have the most sports features if you're ready to go full send on price. (I'm not.)

Sounds like a good plan. I can't remember which Fenix was the first to be a dive watch but the only other is the much more expensive Descent. If you don't need the additional features from the Descent and the Fenix replaces a dive computer, it seems like you end up getting a really good value. It's worth comparing to some of the Forerunners if the dive aspect doesn't look that strong to you. I think the 255, 265 and 570 do everything you need for actual training functions. The 955, 965 and 970 add maps and the 970 adds a running tolerance function that might be helpful for marathon training. How much do you run now? Do you have a training plan picked out? While Garmin has all of Daily Suggested Workouts, adaptive training plans, and fully pre-set training plans, they all have their issues for a marathon. I actually quite like DSW but more for filling in the gaps and helping maintain balance. https://lifehacker.com/health/what-its-like-to-train-for-a-race-with-garmins-training-plans

I came from the AWU to the Fenix 8 and it feels like going back to windows Vista: terrible performance, UI designed like in the 90s, horrible app experience and everything is designed so inefficiently like getting your Music on the watch or just properly syncing data or setting up payment. The only two reasons for it were: longer battery life (so I can do a full day ultra and still track sleep) as well as the ability to Lock Screen so I don’t skip workouts by accident or exit them in the middle of it. Otherwise the AWU was great cause I never needed my phone but still could call for help, use my music and pay if needed and all that in a straightforward way

Hanging around to decide what to stick with: Fenix 8 or awu3. What I really appreciate in the AWU3 is that it is part of my Apple ecosystem (iPhone, MacBook and AirPods), the screen quality, smoothness in animations and its focus on health, especially the compared metrics about temperature, sleep, HR, breathing and SpO2. The possibility of checking for hypertension is also something useful to me, as I'm 46 now. I've never used LTE connectivity mainly because in Italy, only two telephone service providers let you have a virtual eSIM for the Apple Watch. What I really appreciate about the Fenix is mainly the battery life and the additional metrics I get after my training sessions. Health Status is now being added to the Garmin Connect App, and it does almost everything the Apple Watch does about health metrics. They have also added the possibility to record daily habits just like Whoop does. The Garmin Fenix 8 is a sports watch with nice smart features like Siri integration, notifications and more, and it can work on its own independently from the ecosystem it connects to, while the AWU3 needs to work in the Apple environment. All the things AWU3 does, like unlocking automatically my iPhone or my MacBook, are nice but I don't need them, and what's the point in having a clone of my phone at my wrist if I live 24h a day with my phone near to me? Garmin Pay also works perfectly, and if I need to show my boarding pass, I just use my phone.

I charged my Fenix 8 on July 23rd to 97%. Yesterday I had 17% left (six days remaining) and charged it back to full (on August 17).

Until recently was an Apple Watch user from the first iteration and moved to the Fenix 8 a few weeks ago and its hands down the best watch I’ve ever had! Go with the Fenix 8!

FENIX8 if you want essentially a top-tier and well rounded model. If you’re military and do a lot of military based training, the TACTIX8 is also a good pick.

Wouldn’t want hitting that Forerunner glass (which sits flush with the bezel) into a rock. Opted out for Fenix 8, but Enduro would have worked too

Maybe look into the Fenix 8? I think it's going to have better multisport capability.

Yes it does. Fenix 8 has a dive mode.. basically it's only single gas (either air or nitrox), limited to 40m, doesn't have air integration, or the more technical features. I have one and it's fine for recreational diving. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/08/garmin-fenix-8-in-depth-review.html

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.

Sometimes fenix 8, sometimes aw10, sometimes a COROS.

My daughter has a Forerunner 265S. She loves it. Uses it to track her activity, "body battery," and sleep. I have a Fenix 8. It's great, but overkill for what I need/use. I used to use an Apple Watch, but the short battery life required charging every night. The Garmin lasts a lot longer, but is less of a wrist top computer than the Apple Watch.

It does not have a specific fencing activity, but you can create one.

If you’re looking at the new Forerunner 970 then I would consider the fenix 8 or Enduro 3 as they are both currently on sale. All three are very similar and you really can’t go wrong with either one. I personally like the flat screen on the fenix and Enduro over the curved screen on the Forerunner.

My Fenix 8 is down to 9% battery and shows 2days!! Lmao!!!

If Garmin is just a sports watch, why doesn’t it stick to MIP displays with a cheaper price? MIP is obviously a much better option, widely recognized by most serious sports users. Why incorporate features like AMOLED, a touch screen, waiting on LTE, and Garmin Pay? It doesn’t really make sense, as a SPORTS WATCH, does it? I'm not going to lie either, I was a loyal Garmin Fenix user for over a decade, starting with the Fenix 1, 3, 5, and the last one of Epix Pro Gen 2. Now, I’ve switched to an AWU, and with the release of the Fenix 8, I doubt I’ll ever go back to Garmin. It’s true that the AW lagged behind Garmin in terms of sports functionality a decade ago, but things have changed dramatically since then. Every point made by OP is valid, as a SPORTS USER! In simple terms, Garmin seems to be stuck in the past, and while Garmin and its users may claim it’s a "sport watch," they don’t acknowledge that this has led to a growing divide with competitors like Apple. Last but not least, battery! That's the only thing Apple insists on, and Garmin can take pride in, even equipped with an AMOLED screen. With Epix Pro Gen2, 47mm, always on, all activities and GPS, 5 days guaranteed, which AWU can never reach.

Enduro 3, Fenix 8. Full spec, rugged If you prefer something lighter, Forerunner 970.

Instinct 2X or Instinct 3 Solar would love to be your best climb companion and they promised to be rugged and not easily scratched like the forerunner, Vivoactive or Venu. Fenix would like to concur to the above but it is worried about being a bigger hit to your wallet due to its price tag.

I double watch. Garmin Fénix 8 on the right and an automatic on the left.

I’m a week in to wearing my Fenix 8 and previously wore the gen 1 Ultra for 2+ years. The Ultra is a great smartwatch but the Fenix is a great fitness watch. So far the main thing I miss from my Ultra is notification customization. So far my main gripe about the Fenix is how easy the bezel of the watch scratches. 2 years with the Ultra and there are next to zero signs of wear on it. 1 week with the Fenix and I have some pretty decent scratches. I can only imagine a year from now the watch will look like it’s been through war.

completely agree and would probably mark lower....having owned many Garmin's myself, I find the 8 buggy and unreliable. I hate the mapping...it looks good but, functionally, it's really slow and buggy. Garmin technical support example: (i) yes your ETA screen doesn't look right at all. At the moment we have no suggestions or fix. Me - "I am having lots of problems with reboots and other bugs and would love these to be ironed out soon or else I will have to return the watch". Garmin: "if you would like to return the watch that between you and the seller". Excellent (ii) Ive gone back to Suunto

Fenix 8, great blend of design and features, LTE on the pro is not worth it, most have ineach mini or phone already

I just recently connected my Stryd footpod to my Fenix 8...I went from 7 days of always on display mode (averaging over an hour a day of GPS) to just 3 days....I assume that the footpod is the issue....and I didnt even have the thing connected on the 3 hour hike I did.

Both Garmin and Coros make sport watches that are fine for what you need. I jumped from Garmin to Coros because of the crazy price jump of the Fenix 8, Connect+ subscription service and bad firmware updates for my Fenix 7 that Garmin has not addressed for more than a year now. The trust has been lost.

Mas isso não novidade o garmin sempre foi um aborto tipo ms dos quando comparado com o Apple Watch Ultra , entendo ser comprado por quem ou não sabe trabalhar com um awu ou acha que é mais desportivo ter o que os outros tem , menus horríveis , vários softwares  para quê, até agora o look horrível , sinceramente acho que nem com este 8 convence quem tem um ultra . O awu faz coisas fantásticas  , já tive corus vertix , suunto ambit 1,2,3 ,vector ,x10 etc etc inclusive garmin 310xt e nada se aproxima do awu.

I went from Apple Watch to Garmin fenix 8 few months ago. Honestly Garmin motivates me more to be active, over all Garmin is better, it looks like a watch, you can use it as a watch only and battery holds for long time.

I swapped from Apple Watch to fenix 8 bit over a month ago. If you were using Apple Watch Ultra like me fenix 8 47mm is only 9 grams heavier, and honestly I did not notice this difference. But all is personal preference. If you really need the diving option then take fenix, but if you can live without it then go for FR. Garmin watches are million times better than Apple so whatever you decide for sure you will be happy.

To be honest, as someone who doesn’t do crazy long workouts like ultra marathon and maximum at 3+hours for a marathon, I don’t see battery life as important as others. I remove my watch to go for shower and instead of just placing the watch on the table, I just place my Apple Watch Ultra on the charger. When I switched to Fenix 8, I still just charge it everyday. However I think Garmin is still better for most of the part when it comes to fitness. There are just more metrics that third party Apple Watch apps do not have. There is a 24/7 HR sensor too and HRV too. Things works more seamlessly on Garmin. Example is if I want map routing, I need to use WorkOutDoors a third party app. However it does not have track mode and no syncing to Final Surge app or TrainingPeaks. It does not sync to my AIA app for reward points. Third party apps are great but first party app from Apple still needs to work hard and stop relying on third party apps to cover up their limitations. But some things I missed from Apple Watch Ultra. While I like having all the buttons on my Fenix 8, I missed having the Digital Crown. During map navigation, I think a Digital Crown would be super useful to zoom in or out instead of having to press so many buttons. I also missed cellular and having the full catalog of Spotify music to stream through cellular or live radio to stream from. Also I like the ability to remain contactable without a phone. And the music controls on Apple Watch is just better designed than on Garmin.

Apple watch ultra 2 is your only real option for longer battery life and esim and the rest of the features you want. You do know that if you have a spotify premium sub you don't have to have an e-sim to listen to music, as you can download playlists and save them onto the device, unfortunately offline spotify is only available on wear os watches (not an option for iPHone as locked to android), apple watches and garmin. Garmin may be a good option as can do offline spotify playlists, and has built in route options or can pull them from strava, syncs data with strava way better than apple does; and the models that offer music all offer at least up to 10 days battery life, and they can offer way more than garmin does in terms of built in training metric and analytics and features. Note offline music + gps on watch is a heavy battery drain - so 1hr or gps activity + offline music and you are looking to recharge every 4-6 days (maybe longer) depending on the model, compared to multiple charge per day on AW (assuming you sleep with it) or daily charge on AWU2 If you want a mic and speaker look at venu 3, FR570, FR970, Venu x1 and Fenix 8 series. Otherwise you could go with vivoactive 5 or 6; FR265, FR965, FR955 and prior fenix 7 (and its variants like Epix 2 etc).

Its about as good as you are going to get. Apple does lock certain features to apple watch only - so an apple watch ultra 2 is an alternative option you can look at - as does include recreational diving features - but not as much as the fenix 8, and you can cover the gaps the F8 misses via 3rd party apps - but does leave out the cohesive eco system garmin provides - and considering that you barely mention any smart features would then say you are looking at the right watch (definitely from fitness tracking and progress tracking point of view). Fishing - actually it does - you can log your catch and log the spots where you catch..... [https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-EECCAC99-90D6-4AB1-9A3A-EC433D3365E2/EN-US/GUID-A6881EE1-DB08-4922-925F-C7526EFAE8A2.html](https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-EECCAC99-90D6-4AB1-9A3A-EC433D3365E2/EN-US/GUID-A6881EE1-DB08-4922-925F-C7526EFAE8A2.html) and then you can used those saved location spots to navigate back to them at any point (can be very useful for fishing holes whether out on the water or fishing from bank/beach). All garmin have a built in coach for running - think C25K but does up to half marathon distance, then F8 incldues a Daily suggested workout option which you can then add a race event to it, to get the DSW to try and get you to peak for your event - so if you want a hassel free experience and a watch to build your training programme - hard to beat what garmin offers. Hiking- get offline maps and offline navigation (think satnav from car on watch) - so can create routes and get tbt directions on watch and via audio. Plus love the climbpro feature. Maps will work with all outdoor activity so can use for paddling as well as running / hiking etc (have a couple of paddle routes for when on canals / rivers especially canals in towns - great way of seeing parts of a town via water). So yes there isn't really anything else that comes close to matching it. Nearest alternative options would be apple watch ultra 2 (and losts of 3rd party apps); polar grit/vantage and coros pace pro /apex pro / vertix all include built in training systems and with training metrics and analytics like garmin to track progress; suunto at this stage is training metrics and analytics - though their suunto ocean is a full dive watch (garmin equivalent is the descent mk3 which is basically a fenix with full dive capability);

Comes down to personal preference, really. I had a Fenix 8 for months, then switched to the 970. Prefer the weight of the 970 for daily usage.

I have recently (2 weeks ago) received my Venu X1. I also own Fenix 8, Venu 3, Apple Watch 10, AND Apple Ultra 2 (I like smart sports watches). I do not wear my Fenix 8 much due to low, nearly unreadable screen under indoor ambient conditions when using always on. However I love the Venu X1. I wear my watches in always on mode and find that Venu X1 has excellent screen readability even in the “passive” mode meaning when screen is not awake. But do know that under these conditions you need to charge every 2 - 2 1/2 days. Another excellent digital watch face is Epix DTR - digital tactix R. It supports FULL always on mode. It is a pay watch face but worth it for me.

Best thing I did. So glad I now have a sports watch not a second iPhone. I got the Fenix 8 can pay and everything still on it so yeah

Hi, I own forerunner 970(before that multiple forerunner devices 945, 955 solar, 965) fenixes(6 pro, 7 solar, 7 pro, 8) and edge 1050(before 530 and 830), also im reviewer for suunto in my country. Based on cycling, its ok... i mean it never will be dedicated bike computerm but its ok, U can pair multiple sensors. Power sensor works ok, but U can't set avg power counting with 0 or not like in garmin. About app, its really nice, even it shows peak power and speed for 30sec, 1min, 3min, and 5min. I had it before launch to this day and it is pretty stable(also i never experienced losing training session on garmin). About indoor cycling, smart trainers are not supported and I hope this will change soon because garmin in top in this matter. For running its also great Now there are some diffrences between app and watch with recovery metrics at this moment

Fenix 8 and Edge 530 on my bike.

The Fenix 8 is objectively the best of those watches, but by far the most expensive. The Enduro 3, Fenix 7 Pro or Epix 2 Pro (if you want OLED, which is honestly a must for me now) have a very similar set of features but will be significantly cheaper. I personally wouldn't buy a watch for its solar charging - not only do some models of the Fenix series have that too, but all of those have great battery life to easily last multiple days, and in most cases, you will have the ability to charge your watch in some capacity at the end of the day. I can't say a lot about Coros, pretty sure they're fine too, but Garmin works great for me so I have no reason to switch

Thanks dude. I've got the garmin fenix 8, although a great watch, it lacks lte. Although the pro has this now, it's still quite limited. So I decided I'll have both.

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.

Absolutely! I have a Fenix 8 and it's even more motivating having a proper sports watch rather than a smart watch. Plus, battery life is up to 16 days!

Hands down Garmin Fenix series. Currently, the 8 is the latest version. You can pick up a 6x pro solar on Amazon for about 500 bucks or less. The standalone GPS function has bailed me out more than once, and the battery life is absolutely amazing!

Can’t imagine doing an Ironman with an Apple Watch. Fenix 8 or 970 for me not even close.

I’ve owned the Fenix 8 in the past, currently use the Forerunner 970 for workouts, and also have the OnePlus Watch 3 for daily wear. I just responded to another similar post with a detailed answer here that compares these two, would recommend checking that out for detailed thoughts: [https://www.reddit.com/r/WearOS/comments/1mgip0r/comment/n6q98mb/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/WearOS/comments/1mgip0r/comment/n6q98mb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) TLDR: **OnePlus Watch 3** Best Wear OS watch I’ve used. 3-4 days battery even with AOD, ultra-fast charging, premium materials, and native Google Wallet. It nails the smart features and does pretty good on health features. Only tradeoff: reduced battery with 3rd-party watch faces. **Garmin (Fenix/Epix)** Unbeatable for health tracking. Real-time stress, body battery, and recovery are legit. Battery lasts *weeks*. But it’s a fitness tool first, smart features feel dated, not as fluid as the other watch and third party app support is lacking. **My take:** Use OnePlus for smart features, notifications, and daily life. Use Garmin when you care about accuracy and depth in fitness data. I rotate between them depending on my current goals. If I had to pick one it would be OnePlus Watch 3.

I am on day 2 of the exact same scenario. Fenix 8 and everything. 😂 There are some definite positives to the Whoop and some definite drawbacks. I’m still undecided but I’ve got 28 more days to figure it out. 😎

I've just got the Fenix 8 because I'm a diver. There's gonna be a better (= cheaper) pick for you I'm not too familiar with the Garmin line up. I can give you my personal experience on tracking strength training though. Regarding strength training, it is okay-ish. Weightlifting is no a priority for Garmin and frankly it is kinda hard tracking reps and exercises with only a device on your wrist. Can't track leg exercises. Very different exercises can have very similar arm movements, e.g. bench press and shoulder press. Personally, I've disabled rep counting and Auto Sets in the settings. I start the activity, then press the back button to go from Set to Pause and back to Set, that's it. No reps, no weights, no exercise tracking. I do that on my phone and want Garmin to only track my activity, heart rate and so on. It's actually quite convenient to have the pause timer on my watch instead of my workout app on the phone.

I’m not the one that needs help. I get on average 14 to 17 days between charges on my Fenix 8. So I don’t need to change my workflow

Some people may go back to Apple if that happens. I switched from the AW to Fenix 8 back in June and I’m so glad that I did. I can’t see going back to AW unless there is a dramatic design change. For me the AW looks too much like a toy watch. I think the Garmin watches look so much better. But just my humble opinion

Agreed. The Apple Watch looks like a toy watch and the battery is a joke. I made the switch to Fenix 8 a month ago. So glad that I did

This depends on how you want to track your sessions. Some people prefer to start "strength training" when enter a gym and stop it at the end. I use my watch to follow my program like described here: [https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/](https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/) If you want to do the same - a watch which allows to adjust weight/rep number using the touch screen is handy. I know that venu3 and F8 support this, not sure about other models. PS: Not that long ago, Garmin released strength coach (https://gelberhut.com/garmin-strength-coach-what-is-it-and-what-can-it-do/), if you want it: check one of Garmin Venu 3, Garmin Fenix 8, Garmin Vivoactive 5, Forerunner 255, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 955, Forerunner 965.

Garmins are very behind gw in the smart features department. Second major difference with gw world is feature sets - all watches have different combinations, the only safe choice is fenix. All other models require deep analysis. Venu3, the smartest watch of its time, does not have timer presets and does not show sunset in the weather app, other models do. Third, be familiar with software update policy. Unlike wearos, Garmins software updates do not assume new UI and features, you can get some of them or not, but you may not expect them.

My Fenix 8 is a subpar smartwatch watch but my previous Apple Watch, while being an exceptional extension of my phone, didn’t have any functionality to help me train for a huge MTB race. It’s as simple as that. I’d rather wear an Apple Watch but Garmin’s training plans are weighted so much that I deal with it.

Same! Came from AW Ultra to Fenix 8 and haven't looked back. Fan of Apple products but the AW doesn't fulfill the needs of anyone who REALLY wants to focus on fitness. My biggest concern was weather I would miss the smart watch features of AW and realized a few month into wearing the Fenix 8 that it provided exactly what I needed. Welcome aboard!

Im getting 25 days between charge on the new Fenix 8. Thats without any exercise happening (in an off recovery period)

Pros of the Fenix 8: * Capable of diving and fast watersports like Jetski * Better Golf Maps, but 970 has basic golf features * Interface to some kind of I think boat motor or weapon recoil stuff or things like that - inform yourself if that matters to you * Better Battery Life * Less plastic, more metal Pros of the Forerunner 970: * Lighter, thinner * Cheaper * Brighter Screen * Theoretically, due to it being lighter, the Heart Rate Sensor might perform slightly better on bumpy ground, e.g. if you ride your bicycle over rough gravel. Also, the Forerunner 970 looks cleaner and classier, some say sporty; the Fenix 8 looks bulkier / more rugged. That depends on taste. As for new Running Metrics like Step Speed Loss (with HRM 600) and such, that still lacks for the Fenix 8, but it's already in the beta build so expect that to be equal soon enough. I think I covered all the pros, if something is missing I'd be interested, please tell. :) Btw both are waterproof enough if you don't do diving with like a gas tank and stuff, you can swim and snorkel with either. So if you're not into golf or diving, I'd recommend the Forerunner 970, it can do anything the Fenix 8 can do, especially regarding cycling and running.

If you're into golf consider the Fenix 8 over the Forerunner Series because of the extended golf maps.

Meanwhile I recently bought a fenix 8 and am letting my whoop membership expire. After 3 years, I'm over the analytics and I want more from my activity tracking as I recently got into triathalons. I personally feel like whoops sleep recommendations were pretty accurate but after 3 years I get the point. I like how whoop says you slept good, you had a good recovery, now GET AFTER IT. Meanwhile garmin is over here telling me my high aerobic training is low but your also over reaching? It's a mixed bag but as previously stated i want to track my distance on the road and in the pool more and I don't really listen to the whoop anymore.

I used to but with the Fenix 8 I don’t except for sprints and intervals and even then the data isn’t super off.

I’ve order it. My experience: I now have a garmin fenix 8, which a have for 2 weeks, and i waited for the new aw to return this, it’s awful 😂 Before this i had a fenix 7 for a day, which i return it because i found out garmin wont provide major upgrades for it. Before this i had a aw 3 gps, that I’ve use for 8 years. I think it will be a great upgrade since i’ve order the cellular one.

I personally didn't find Elevate 5 more precise nor accurate than the 4. I've upgraded fenix 7x to fenix 8, so I had a chance to compare. Actually the main purpose of this switch was to improve the accuracy of hr tracing. I also was convinced that results of chest strap and elevate sensor are very different from each other.

Money no object then just get the flagship Fenix 8. Enduro 3 is amazing but only comes in 51mm size where Fenix have 3 sizes.

Don’t agree at all. The Fenix 8 is really accurate on health stats and as I have an Oura ring I can validate accuracy better & I sold my Apple Watch because in terms of health and fitness it was poor in comparison… trying to do way too many things… poor battery life and poor on HRV and sleep / stress as well.

I’m not a golfer but the Fenix 8 or new 8 pro might be a good shout. I went from AWU to the Fenix 8 last year. Very happy with it

I have been playing with the strength app on a fenix 8 and my FR 955. I am trying to figure out if Strength activity affects other metrics like training readiness, endurance, body battery, training status etc, differently than if you just select Cardio activity and track your sets reps weights elsewhere. Do you know the answer to that?

**My Fenix 8 has soooo many issues they are sending a replacement. I couldn’t believe how many problems it had. Was very disappointed in the watch. ** Watch would crash after activity and never saved it. Long hold start button for the voice command would just randomly turn into a compass/barometer. Touchscreen doesn’t work when in a call. Battery would go from 3 days to 20hr after a 30 min activity. Light turned on one time by pressing the speaker option on the phone screen . Also the speaker and mic are terrible… people can’t ever hear me and the speaker is so low it’s pretty much useless. Couldn’t even get a gps signal in the city of San Fran to save a location at all. ***I’ve also said the same exact thing as the OP that it would be an amazing watch …. if it worked properly but I don’t have one that does yet. And it’s been a terrible experience with it.***

I have both the F8 and Ultra 3. Fenix is nice but the ultra 3 is more practical in real world use. I averaged one to two hours of gps tracked running per day to test the battery and it lasted me for 2.5-3 days. This is not bad at all considering how many more features the ultra 3 has in comparison to the F8 and how much it needs to process. I have no doubt that Apple could create a version of the AWU with crazy battery life but it would probably only appeal to a small set of consumers at that point due to the average AW user most likely preferring features over insane endurance. It also does not help Garmin that they’re not providing new features to older models of their watches as well as listing incredibly insane prices for their new F8 pro lineup. Not to mention charging for SOS capabilities.

Fenix 8 is quiet compared to my ultra 3. My ultra 3 gets loud and my voice quality is clear to the other person.

This is a solid answer and comes pretty close to what Garmin gives. I’ve worn both Fenix (6,7,8) with AW (Since the series 2). What’s better to do is choose the one that gives you numbers closer to how you feel. I say that because HRV tracking ALL day is basically useless since literally everything can have an impact on HRV. Overnight is more important and waking is arguably the best time to take it (albeit easy to influence if you know what you’re doing) so there’s an argument to be made for both sides ultimately the one that works best for your needs and doesn’t dictate your day is the better choice

It depends on what you want. I wear both and use both almost 24/7 with some exceptions. Garmin just gives you a ton more data and honestly a lot of times, fairly useless data. I don’t mean it in like, it’s not good data, but honestly the amount of people that truly use all the Garmin metrics is very small. Unless you’re really into all it gives you, it’s generally just kind of nice to see if you’re trending up on all the metrics. The Apple Watch can also give you a lot of the metrics that Garmin gives you with apps like PeakWatch, Athlytic, Bevel, etc. The AW is fully capable of tracking your marathon progress, it just won’t guide you through the process. You’d need an app for that. Garmin guides you with Garmin Coach I use both because 1: the Apple Watch (ultra 2 in my case) can replace my phone, (and has often during runs), as keys to my car to drive anywhere, and streaming music. Generally I’m also very connected at home and with all my devices so the AW makes it easy to control everything 2: The Fenix 8, because it looks damn good, im lazy about my programming so I just use Garmin coach and finally, The nail in the coffin. That damn flashlight. Stupidest thing I never thought would be almost indispensable Battery life, I could care less. Sure you have to charge the AW daily but, idk…I like to think cleanliness is important and wearing a watch for days or weeks without taking it off is kind of gross to me. So I take my watches off daily for a bit when I get home and well the AW just happens to be placed on a charger, not a table

I use the Fenix 8

I've had lots of Garmin computers and lots of Garmin watches. The two aren't really compatible. First started out with a Forerunner 310XT many moons ago that I strapped to my bars. Lasted about a week before I got an Edge 200 and I've had a seperate running watch and bike computer since. You really don't want to be looking at your wrist all the time when you are cycling and as I've gotten older and need reading glasses a watch on the bars isn't suitable for me anyway. Also there's a lot more real estate on my Edge 1050 compared to my Fenix 8 so lots more data to be seen and I can see different pages of data with a swipe of my finger as well as a navigation screen. I've also got a Varia radar that makes an audible beep on the computer and gives a graphics indicator of approaching vehicles.

Yep- and doesn’t charge as much as greedy garmin for a life saving feauture. Fenix 8 sold this am and ultra 3 ordered! Wont miss the buggy UI, outdated chipset and inaccurate sensors of garmin…. But will miss the battery and flashlight.

Used my HSA for a garmin fenix 8

Sapphire would be a reason I can think of. If youre very outdoorsy, that can be quite the difference. I would already have countless scratches hitting my watch against rocks, steel bars, etc. Other than that the Forerunner is lighter. For top notch runners the Running Economy would potentially be a reason to get 970 over Fenix. as always it boils down do "it depends"

If you get over the fact that Fenix 8 (and others in this category) is Fitness First, Smart Second - you will enjoy it!

I switched to Garmin and I get everything I need for when I want to go for a run, or hike or biking! And, no more notifications (Though I have a Fenix 8, I have disabled them)!

I had the same dilemma as you. Was tired of charging my AW 9 every day and didn’t utilize any of the smart watch features; only used it to track my runs and cycling sessions. Went to REI and was able to try on both the Fenix 8 and 965 (close enough in size/look of 970 to compare) and I liked the look and feel of the Fenix immediately. Am I going to use all of the functions it has? Hell no. I know it’s overkill for what I would be using it for, but I felt for the current price difference of $750 for 970 and $900 for Fenix 8 Saphire - or even the $800 Fenix - it was worth it for the extra $150 to get a watch I can also wear with my business attire and not look like I’m wearing a sports tracking watch. I also think my choice was easier to make since with with Apple we only had one style to choose from, so the fact that I could now have it in a more traditional style of a watch was a no brainer.

I couple months ago switched from Garmin Fenix 8 to Apple Watch Ultra 2 and I don’t regret that. I run very day (220 days this year, HM time 1:30, Wings For Life - 33k, still without marathon). My opinion is that Apple Watch gives me everything what I need from the running perspective - comparable to Garmin, and a lot more in the “smartwatch” stuff. I know most views in the battery topic but for me it’s not an issue at all.

Nice review. I got it also and I have also had a lot of other watches. I love it! Yes, the battery is not the usual Garmin, but without AOD, and let's face it - why do you need a watch on when you're not looking at it? Without AOD, I easily get 6 days with daily 30 minutes GPS, activities, stop watch, sleep, stress monitoring all day, messages, flashlight use, music control, green light at night, etc.  The UI, lens, build, and form factor are brilliant! I've always found irritation with some Garmin UI like the Forerunner 570 that I tried, but this is great. Also, it is less than half the weight of the Apple watch Ultra - less than half! This is the lightest watch I've probably ever owned which includes plastic Timex quartz watches for many years. Certainly the thinnest. Thinner than my Swiss quartz.  Sooo comfortable and useful. It may not be the super adventure watch if you go ultra marathoning and the like for days, but I don't. I may do a 10k though or a long hike and it excells at that (see DC rainmaker, or Chase the summit reviews).  I could never wear a Forerunner 970, or a Fenix 8. They are just too big.  Great watch. 

With the exception of the Fenix 8, all of the garmin watches are 'water resistant.' This is good in general, but for salt water, yikes. I wouldn't trust the watch to last long. However the fenix 8 is completely sealed from the elements and is the best bet. But it ain't cheap, starting at $1k.

I would say all of them are pretty overkill, I started with 955 (got for $310) then bought an Enduro 3 cause FOMO. I didn't gain anything from the upgrade. I gifted the 955 to someone, the main reason I went ahead with the upgrade. If I didn't get the 955 for that price, I would have just bought a 255 for like low 200s, but that deal went away. If you plan to wear 24/7 and aren't financially stressed, I see no problem buying the fancier models. Fenix 8 with the 20% Blue Cross Blue shield seems like a killer price.

**No need for the Fenix 8 Pro. The only thing added, besides LTE/Sat are:** *– Increased display brightness to match that of Forerunner 970 & Venu X1 (roughly 2,000 nits is estimated)* *– Increased speaker loudness compared to Fenix 8 (matches that of FR970 & Venu X1)* Not worth the extra $100 for your use. The choice is now between the 970 and the Fenix 8. **Here are the upgrades that the Fenix 8 has over the 970. Determine is paying an extra $350 is worth it for you.** *- In GPS mode, Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED lasts longer than FR 970. Smartwatch mode: 16 Days vs 15 Days. GPS Only: 37 Hours vs 26 Hours. Real world usage with gps activities everyday 5-6 days vs 3-4 days. The Fenix 8 47mm AMOLED and Solar get much more battery life.* *- Fenix 8 includes scuba/apnea diving modes and depth sensor; FR 970 lacks them* *- Fenix 8 is rated 10 ATM with 40 m dive support; FR 970 is rated 5 ATM* *- Fenix 8 offers advanced topographic mapping, not present on FR 970* *- Fenix 8 has full set of the advanced Golfing features usually reserved for their Approach golf line up of watches.* *- Fenix 8 supports voice commands like “find my phone” or setting timers via speech; FR 970 offers voice notes and basic interaction but is less comprehensive* *- Fenix 8 offers richer notification interface, Garmin Pay, music, and broader voice assistant support* *- Fenix 8 does also offer a few more activities such as climbing, skiing, diving, and more advanced golf.* In terms of looks... Its a personal matter. The 970 is lighter but the Fenix 8 looks better (to me at least). Both have Sapphire Glass, Speaker & mic, and flashlight. If you want a 43mm watch than the Fenix 8 is the choice. If you want a lighter watch than the Forerunner 970 is the choice.

If you value smartwatch things over fitness data and analytics in a single cohesive app then get the AWU3. The Fenix 8 WILL NOT be the consumer product that the AWU3 is. If you value LTE connection get the AWU3. If you don't mind having several 3rd party apps to get the same type of info the Fenix will give you get the AWU3. If all day battery life is fine for you get the AWU3. If you want a fitness device to help you along your fitness journey, hiking, etc and are just fine having a watch be a watch and make texts/calls on your watch dependent on your phone then get the Fenix 8. If you want multiple days of battery life or weekly battery life while hiking, get a Fenix 8. Last thing I want is someone to pick up the wrong watch and then decide to switch and complain to that watches forum how that watch sucks compared to the other.

I'd go Fenix 8: not because of functions, tracking, sensor or whatever, but because the bezel is actually protecting the glass there. While 970 are better than 965, if you put it glass down on the table, it will be glass touching the table, not the bezel. When I go to cellar, or just carrying something heavy, here or there I just hit the wall or door frames with my hand. Having glass not protected means lots and lots of scratches...

If what you want is better health tracking, do not go with garmin. Apple is better in everything, unless battery. Unless you will go to a forest and will not be able to charge for more than 3 days, than buy the garmin. Other than that, go with de apple watch ultra. Look the videos on youtube made by cientist, like this one, https://youtu.be/p6t7S3WYfp8?si=YEIFu5hg_lSlCzgc You will see what I am talking about. I had the AWU, bought the fenix 8 and I am going back to AWU. Garmin is worst in heart rate accuracy, sleep tracking and does not matter the other features if sleep tracking is off and heart rate. Your recovery time will be wrong.

Fenix 8 hands down - best all around watch.

Yes, I do have a aw8 and a fenix 8. What’s the relevance?

I was in the same dilemma but chose the F8 due to the 43 mm for my petite wrists. It is pretty heavy but I only notice when I take it off and pick it up to put it back on. I don’t notice the weight when I’m wearing it or running, and remember, I have tiny wrists. So if you’re the size of an average adult it shouldn’t be too much of a problem

As noted here, the main difference feature wise would be battery endurance and dive features on the Fenix 8. The trade off is extra weight which depends on the individual. After years for forerunner use, I got the Fenix 8. It’s noticeable heavier but I got used to it in 1-2 days.

Two completely different products for two completely different markets. It's so odd to see people unironically comparing the 965 and Fenix 8, both of which are phenomenal but literally aimed at extremely committed athletes/explorers/survivalists (and costing $600 and $1000-$1200, respectively), to smatwatches aimed at average consumers. It's like buying a cutting-edge military supercar and being proud that it's better than an e-scooter. Frankly, I can't, in good faith, recommend a high-end Garmin to anyone who isn't rich or an extremely committed and high-level athlete, and frankly, most elite athletes I know don't seem to bother with fancy smartwatches at all. Great watches, but comically overkill for 99% of people, most of whom will get it just for the battery life and to track their casual morning jogs.

There should be, but it isn’t. I have 255 and it’s great, capable, light watch, but it has weak display and no touch, changing straps is a hassle. So I waited long for 975, but I’ll go the Fenix way very, very soon :) Maps are definitely better on the 965 than on 255, navigation there is really rather basic.

Five miles “Few times a week” is not low volume running, imho. Garmin is definitely worth it. Get Forerunner 570 (or Fénix 8, if you want more fancy watch) and be happy :)

I landed to Garmin world years ago and can't really imagine myself charging daily, no matter what I miss with my Garmin (with fenix 8). With AW and Galaxy before I was using the "Smart" features so rarely... I've my phone with me and don't need a redundancy 

The Fenix 8 is the first all-around Garmin to have integrated dive computer capabilities, it's perfectly fine to dive with up to recreational limits (\~40m). If you don't already have a dive computer I wouldn't say you really \*need\* one to dive a few times a year but it is nice to have, especially if you go on dedicated dive trips where you're doing multiple dives a day.

Try a fenix 8 on, it’s niceee

Thanks for sharing! I’ve been getting pretty frustrated with my bulky Garmin Fenix 8 — it’s just not comfortable for sleep or daily wear, and I still need to pair it with a Coros HRM to track BJJ. The Whoop subscription also feels like a money pit over time. The Fitbit Charge 6 looks really promising though, especially since all I care about is solid sleep and resting heart rate tracking. Are you still using all three devices? I just picked up a Charge 6 to test it out, and I also ordered a Whoop armband sleeve — hoping I can slip the Fitbit in there to track BJJ sessions more comfortably.

Garmin Fenix 8, first smartwatch in a long time so nothing to compare with, accurately tracks my swims at the beach, apart from it says I am slow when I don't think I am :)

I was surprised and disappointed the new Fenix 8 still uses the pin charger and hasn't gone wireless. I'm a current Fenix 7 user and considering moving to a WU3.

If you are set on 47mm and AMOLED, go with forerunner unless you dive. The forerunner has basically the same features and is lighter and considerably thinner. If you’d consider MIP, it’s only available on the fenix and makes for significantly longer battery life, but I get ~6 days on the 970 with AOD and I can’t imagine needing more than that. I do take my MIP Fenix 8 on vacations though so I don’t have to worry about charging, but it’s just too thick for daily wear.

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 second that. wrist HR with F8 is also faulty for me like 30% of the times, could be because of a wrist or a strap. But i did not see any with F8 improvement compared to F6 or older forerunners

Garmin fenix 8. It’s a $1k+ watch but that’s purely for other reasons that it costs that much. I would say the S50 or S70 have all the same features that are golf related. The fact that the watch adjusts yardage for wind direction I have found useful. You could probably guess all that depending on your experience level. And it might be too much detail if you aren’t very consistent with your club yardages. I am in the sweet spot of consistent iron yardages but only been golfing 2 years so I struggle to guess where the wind is going and what that’s going to do to my distance. Other than that garmin has a whole bunch of features that track sleep and body battery that help me set expectations when going out. If I start a round with a poor sleep score from the prior night I know that I’m probably shooting 5-10 shots worse than a “good round”

Just checked and the wind feature is only on the S70 and fenix 8. If that feature doesn’t matter to you then I would say buy any of their watches. That’s the only feature I noticed is exclusive to the higher price point.

I have and WEAR both. Garmin Fenix 8 with buttons for the win. And AW for calls, texts, reminders, calendar, and soon to come — Tesla Watch key!

I also have the Fenix 8 and plan on having an AWU3 too. Might be fancy and I wish there was a watch that could do it all. I’ll keep both but won’t wear them together. Planning to use Fenix 8 for skiing, scuba diving, backcountry trips or trips requiring that long lasting battery. Planning to use AWU3 for everyday use, light/regular exercise. I love the Fenix 8 but I haven’t been able to set up Garmin Pay on it (extensive support interactions) and its UI is less intuitive to me. I’m excited for temp & depth reading while hanging out in water, Apple Pay, cell connectivity and lower purchase cost with AWU3.

Lightweight and more budget friendly is the 955 and 965 (mip and amoled), then you have the same as you are used to, the Fenix 7 will have the training readiness and DSW with mip display, or Epix/Fenix 8 (cheaper/expensive) for amoled. It will all depend on budget. The coros and suunto are not so strong options for the maps. But your Fenix 6 should have daily suggested workout, except the option to see weekly suggested workouts I think.

Testing these out for the next week or so. Loving the snappiness and screen of the 970 vs the Fenix 8. It’s very noticeable. I love the style and golf features of the Fenix 8 however. Tough choice.

Also the Fenix 8 has a “gaming” activity whereas the 970 doesn’t which I thought was oddly interesting. I guess it captures your heart rate and the sort. Probably impacts your body battery

Haha what are we going to do?? I’m leaning fenix honestly. I’m thinking of also waiting for the fenix 8 pro. Hopefully it releases in the next few months

I actually think their UI is great. I’m sticking with garmin just trying to decide which is the best option. Right now I think I’m leaning towards the 970. It’s so much easier to wear and between the better screen and snappier experience it seems like the better buy right now. Plus when the Fenix 8 Pro comes out I can sell the 970 probably a little easier and snag one of the new Fenix watches.

Woke up this morning and had an urge to switch to the Fenix. Will be in the river all day here in Montana and something about swimming with the 970 just doesn’t feel right. It also collected some weird dust and particles in between the screen and the bezel from sleeping with it last night. I feel like I’m slowly gravitating back towards the Fenix 😅

I actually ended up returning both. I’m just going to wait for the Fenix 8 Pro. If I’m spending this much on a watch I don’t really want to make any concessions. If I could do the screen brightness and OS snappiness from the Forerunner with the features and body of the Fenix I would have been golden. Hoping the 8 Pro will be just that.

my fenix 8 is no longer informing me if im out of my current way when i use a pre-loaded map... this is really really anoing!

I was looking at these two initially too, but had to go with the Fenix 8 mainly because the 43mm suited me a bit better than the 47mm on my wrists 😅

Hi, I'm back to Watch Ultra after a short cheating with a Garmin Fenix 8, which is great for sports tracking and analysis but it's smart features sucks so much that I had to come back to my Apple ecosystem. Besides Athlytic - which I know pretty well since I've been subscribed for more than 1 year - and the mandatory WorkOutDoors, I'm trying to find the best companion App to manage health metrics, fitness and workouts, and a reliable and complete training metrics analysis which could be compared or excedd Garmin's one. In the screenshot you can see the apps I found as candidates, but I never tried the premium version of them, except for Welltory which is too expensive. Athlytic is very good but someway incomplete and sometimes unreliable. Do you have deep experience with the others and can you suggest something complete? What's your comments? Thanks!

I moved from AW to Fenix 8 about 2 months ago. Pro •Battery life •Insights -- especially sleep Con •Garmin Pay - limited supported banks •UI not as intuitive •You lose the seemless integration with the apple eco system

I went through the same battle, I called it mental ping pong. Here is my thought process ...I am going to exclude my Garmin Edge 1040 as that is for my weekend rides and is must for cyclists along with the Varia. BUT: I chose the AWU2 because , I am an employee for 8 hours a day, a father/husband for 3 hours a day, I run 2-3 times a week, take daily walks and 2-3 gym workouts a week and the AWU2 just fits my entire life better because it is a smart watch and helps me in all those areas, even though yes I admit, the Garmin Fenix 8 is a better solidly built watch. I will say one final thing, if I was an ultra runner or a mountain biker or an extreme hiker, I would only choose Garmin Fenix 8.

Here is my reason, have you noticed that the major reviewers even when they are testing Garmin or Suunto watches are always wearing the Apple Watch Ultra on their wrist? Here is why, as great as Garmin watches are and I back this statement up , I have owned 3 Fenix's and 2 forerunner 9 series over the years. Running and Cycling are in comparison small parts of my week, even though I run 30 K a week and cycle almost 200K a week. The rest of the week, I am an employee, check email, read and respond to texts, I am a husband, a father , a podcast / music listener , a walker ,a gym goer and the Apple Watch is just an all round everyday watch for me with all the smart features. Sorry for the long winded reply.... and with regards to your last comment, I totally agree , when I was a Garmin Wearer, 99% of the time I saw someone with a Garmin, it was easy to strike a conversation as they were a runner or a cyclist. With the apple watch.....not so much lol

See and i flipped from a forerunner to a fenix and I'll never look back.. this thing is amazing. Had my fenix 8 for a year now!

Pick which one you like the most, basically. Don't underrate the difference in size(including thickness)/weight. Especially if you plan to wear it all day/everyday. And especially, especially if you wear cuffed shirts regularly. I went from forerunner 965 to fenix 8 and not gonna lie, I have regrets. Just wanted something with a more premium look since I've always worn nice watches, and I'm wearing Garmin all the time now and my nice watches are collecting dust. Well it accomplishes that. But it's noticably chonkier, the UI is little less intuitive (maybe I haven't got used to it yet), and I'm not getting as good of readings coming out of the optical HRM, leading to a lot of the stuff being off like sleep, stress, HRV, body battery. I don't know if the latest HRM hardware is a regression for me or if the chonkiness of the watch on my (tiny) wrist leads to light pollution or what. The fenix isn't bad at all, these pretty minor nitpicks. But these watches are so similar that the only way to contrast them is through very minor things. The main thing saving the fenix for me over the 965 is the flashlight, I didn't even consider it when purchasing but it's massively useful, I use it every single day. But in your comparison it doesn't matter because now 970 has flashlight. Sapphire vs non-sapphire doesn't seem to matter on these very much. I don't know what they're actually made out of, but it doesn't feel anything like the sapphire on traditional high end watches. I haven't scratched it yet but seen a couple here that got beat up in a way that you'd never see on a rolex.

Every manufacturer does this, release a half baked product. Fix it with firmware upgrades, Fenix 8 was notorious for having countless bugs (reboots, black screens, stutters). And a lot of those are still present.

I get what you’re saying, but my experience has been different. With the Helio strap my HRV and sleep data actually line up very closely with Garmin. I don’t really care too much about the REM stage accuracy since no watch gets that right, I only focus on awake time and total sleep. For workouts I always pair a chest HRM anyway, since wrist-based HR is rarely reliable. The only one that’s consistently good on the wrist is Apple, by far the best in that area. Suunto is definitely behind, I agree there. But after some of the ridiculous stuff from Garmin (a 2000+ Fenix 8 Pro as an example, on top of Garmin Connect quirks etc.), I completely understand why people start looking elsewhere.

I have the Fenix 8 and it works great however any forerunner will also do great, just love the looks, also for CrossFit. For metcons that require accurate heart rate tracking, I pair it with a chest strap, but for most workouts the built-in sensor is more than good enough. What I love most are the customizable data screens. I’ve tailored the cardio profile specifically for my workouts. For example, in a “CrossFit Rounds” workout, I’ve set it up so I can track laps during an AMRAP and see if I’m going faster or slower than the previous round. The customization options are endless. I’ve used Apple Watches and Samsung wearables before, but if you’re looking for a real training tool that supports serious workouts, Garmin is by far the best.

Garmin Fenix 8 here. It seems like the earlier versions are probably fine, but as much time as I spend in salt water I figure the isolated buttons on the new one are a plus. The UI tends to annoy me but it does what I need it to do and gets me through my workouts. I never wear it off the water though because it's huge and I don't actually need my wrist to vibrate every time someone texts me

I‘ve used an Apple Watch every day since the first model shipped and I’m currently sporting an Apple Watch Ultra. But I’ve also had a Garmin Fenis 8 on my other wrist for three weeks. It replaced the Whoop I had used for three years, and I plan on using them both going forward. The Garmin is definitely superior for all things fitness and body tracking because of the depth of the data, the vastly better battery life, and the greater customization options for activities. But I think it sucks eggs for anything “smart watch-y,” which is also very important to me. From phone and app notifications, music, custom apps, and text messaging, the AWU is head and shoulders ahead of the Garmin. I also think it’s much better for scuba diving where I use it as a backup computer to my Shearwater. So, I charge my AWU each night and use it during the day to track my non-fitness life, and I wear my Garmin 24/7 to track my activities and health.

When I come in from a hard bike ride, Garmin Connect congratulates me on my new cross country skiing FTP! I've been using Apple Watches since the first one shipped ten years ago but I recently moved to a Fenix 8 for all my fitness activity (I still use an Apple Watch Ultra on my other wrist for all its smart watch-y features which I value highly). I love the Fenix (even though it crashes every single time I plug it in to charge) and I'm happy with my decision, but Garmin's software is pretty awful.

I wear both all day long. I use my Garmin Fenix 8 for all my health and fitness stuff, I use my Apple Watch Ultra for everything else (notifications, texting, phone calls, music, 3rd party apps, etc.). Very happy.

I've used Apple Watches since they were introduced and I've had an original AWU since it first shipped. I was also using a Whoop for three years but changed that to a Fenix 8 in May. I've been very happy with the Garmin for its fitness and health capabilities, but its software maturity and UI is a big drop from what Apple offers. Unlike you, the non-fitness aspects of the AWU are super important to me and things like texting and notifications on the Fenix are pretty poor. So I just wear both, all the time! I've been very happy.

I’ve used an Apple Watch since they were first introduced, currently using an Apple Watch Ultra (original edition). I also used a Whoop for three years but in May I switched it out for Garmin Fenix 8. I use the AWU for all my smartwatch-y needs, which I think it is incredible at, and I use the Garmin for sleep/wellness/fitness. I wear them both at the same time, pretty much all the time. I wear the Garmin to sleep and charge the AWU overnight. Very happy.

I wear one of each. 😂 Love my AWU. My Garmin Fenix 8 is less than a month old and I’m loving it for fitness stuff but its software is a cantankerous son-of-a-bitch.

I use my Fenix 8 as my backup dive computer. It's very good, I'd recommend it.

Had a Fenix 5x, got a AWS7, and just switched to a Fenix 8. The apple watch is a better smart watch. But the battery life, and some fitness features, led me to switch back. The first day not closing my rings was tough lol, but got over it pretty quick. There are totally features I miss, but overall, happier on the Garmin.

I have a Fénix 8 and for me it is quite reliable in sleep and cardio. And if you want more precision in your sleep, I recommend the Index Sleep Monitor

I have a Fénix 8 but for the use you are going to give it, the Forerunner 255 or 265 would be good for you

Since the differences are not many, both watches will serve you perfectly but I would go for the Fénix 8 which is aesthetically more beautiful and resistant

I have a Fénix 8 and it is the best Garmin watch I have ever had. I recommend it to you

I have a Fénix 8 and it is the best Garmin watch I have ever owned. I recommend it to you

I get where you’re coming from. For me the biggest difference between the two is HRV and how “real” the measurement feels. On Apple Watch it’s basically just spot checks while you’re asleep, while Garmin tracks HRV continuously throughout the night and then uses it in the readiness, recovery and health status features. That makes a huge difference if you actually want to use HRV as a health and training tool, not just as a number you see once a day. The Fenix also gives you raw HRV data you can analyze and compare over time, while Apple tends to smooth things out and keep it locked down inside their ecosystem. Garmin feels more transparent and closer to a proper sports science device, whereas Apple feels more like “consumer health.” Yes, the AWU3 has the nicer screen and smoother UI, but when it comes to physiology and training, I trust Garmin more. If I want entertainment and notifications, my phone is already doing that. On my wrist, I want something that measures my body as accurately as possible — and that’s where Garmin wins for me.

Until AWU takes amazing photos like an iPhone 17 pro max and has a battery life of at least 10 days I’ll be sticking with my F8. Garmin is perfect for me for all my outdoor sports activities and family activities like skiing and hiking. I always plan to have my phone to take pics/videos more so than needing to check email or send text. With the satellite SOS option on the iPhone I feel comfortable taking more remote excursions in the mtns.

I love QUICK-FIT system on Fenixes, I can change straps 2 times per day within seconds. Also battery is significantly better when doing activities.

It sucks! Especially having in mind fenix price! Saphire glass and weak watch case!

I’ve used everything from coros to UW1-2 and even Garmin Fenix which I have now. Far superior. Apple Watches are for the consumer. Garmin for the athlete.

Processing of your watch… What about lactate threshold metrics and many others that. This isn’t even a debate man. You can’t compare a forerunner to a AWU3 or something like that. A Fenix 8 blows anything on the market outa the water. Just enjoy your Apple Watch and tracking your dog walks lol.

Buying a Fenix 8 was the best thing i’ve done after using shitty apply watch for years.

Garmin Fenix. I will always be team Garmin. Apple is a smart watch with fitness features while Garmin is a fitness watch with smart features. There are certain garmins that have more fitness functions and features than others - even among the new models. Some are more “lifestyle” watches (like venu). So just be aware of that when choosing. When I went from my venu2+ to my Fenix, a host of new features opened up for me that I now could not do without. Check out the r/garmin sub for sure if you think you might go that route

Works well with my Garmin fenix 8

I switched to Fenix 8 from Apple Ultra. For the gym they’re much of a muchness. Garmin is better for running if you’re interested in more in depth metrics but Apple Ultra with Athlytic app was pretty good as well. I wouldn’t have bothered swapping if the Apple battery life was better but I find it disproportionally annoying having to charge it every 2 days. If Apple sorted out their battery issues even to get a week out of a full charge I’d most likely swap back as I prefer the functionality of the Apple over the Garmin.

They are all fairly amazing devices. Hard to mess up with any of them! I wear an SE cellular on right wrist when running purely as a tiny phone should I need it, and a Fenix 8 on left 24x7 for fitness tracking and to tell me when to sneeze and tell me how I felt about the sneeze.

Depends on your health tracking needs and your activities. If you are doing multiple disciplines (like a triathlon) then the metrics, coaching and tracking are better and integrated, if you take the time to understand it all. If you use the watch for things like running only, weights etc., it might very well suit your needs. There are various apps that can track and manage health. I thought the Fenix 8 can detect possible afib too, but it’s a manual process. It seems like the AW operates in the background for afib, so better.

Won't be going back because the fenix 8 work is a way better golf watch. Apple watches can barely do sleep + a round of golf + the rest of the day. I like the Garmin motivation too, I'm not outta shape, but I'm not in the best shape. In connect, there's so many graphs I to show me my improvements, very satisfying.

The wind calculations are a big deal for me lol. I’m a pretty solid golfer, having those wind adjustments to help me learn the wind better is awesome. First time out with the fenix, I had a short, very downhill par 3. Gps yardage was like 120, with slope, the range finder pinned it at 110, with everything, the fenix said 125. I hit a gap wedge and it was dead on. I’ve been sold on it since lol

It is overkill, but it's so freakin sweet. If you can swing it, get it. I bought an S50 and fell in love with the Garmin connect app, it's way more motivating and useful for fitness. I ended up returning the S50 and got the fenix. You don't need a garmin golf subscription for the fenix or S70 to see the better hole maps and green heat maps. You also get wind adjustments which I've found to be very accurate. I'd get the fenix because of the looks, the flashlight, the golf features without the subscription, and all the cool health metrics and training. Edit: the only thing the S50 would be better for is cheaper club tracking, since the CT1 trackers work with the S50. I bought the CT1 trackers and felt that tapping the club to the watch was not easier than just setting which club i hit from the watch screen.

Nothing is really overkill, just go with what fits your budget. There's so many things the Fenix 8 can do that I'll never use, but I like the way it looks, and it fits my needs (golf, activity tracking, run coach)

No, because your stated needs were quite extensive. I mean, you want your watch to do pretty much everything, Fenix does that.

My Garmin Fenix 8 has been on my wrist for nearly a year now. I’ve gone back and found the data when I wasn’t wearing the Apple Watch (which I only occasionally wear with the iOS26 developer beta) is there for how I slept. Other users have stated they’ve found the sleep score used data outside an Apple Watch. The data doesn’t say where it’s come from but it goes beyond when I had a Whoop but doesn’t have gaps. I’ve gone back to August 2024 and there is sleep scores for that. The only device I was wearing during that whole time is my Garmin.

I moved from a F965 to Fenix 8 and for me it’s the bigger chunkier watch. Despite being small I like the bigger watches so the 51mm for me is awesome. I still have my 965 as my backup watch in case anything happens to the Fenix. I’m less worried about the bad heart rate data as I’ve got a chest strap so normally wear that for activities I care about like gym and running. Actually did my last triathlon with heart rate monitor on and it was fine.

I went for the Fenix 8 - got it a week ago. Very happy so far. My main sport is also running

I have not used the Venu line, but my daughter has a Venu 2s and has been very happy with it. I’ve always stuck with the Forerunner & Fenix lines myself, because they suit my needs better (outdoor running & trail running).

I love the idea of the Enduro, but it’s just too huge and garish for me as a woman with smaller wrists. For me the Fenix 8 has a great balance between form and function.

I personally don’t like the look of the 570 for everyday wear, so I’d rule that out solely for that reason. 🫣 I’m partial to the Fenix 8 - it’s what I have and I love it. In your shoes, I’d do a comparison on the website between the venu 4s and the Fenix 8 43mm and see which one fits your needs. I haven’t looked to see if the venu 4 got the advanced running features/metrics that the Fenix 8 has or not… but that could be a factor for you.

I have it on Fenix 8 too.

I've kept my Ultra OG after buying a Fenix 8. Use it as a backup when going out - don't need a phone. Even with the new watchOS, I prefer the Fenix in almost every way. The smartwatch features of Garmin are much better than they used to be.

I switched to the Garmin. But still use my AW2 for sleep tracking. I really appreciate Apple’s ability to synchronize alarms. When my iPhone alarm goes off, I can quickly turn it off by pressing my crown button. This way, I don’t wake up my wife. A happy wife is a happy life!

I don't think it's a coincidence that any high-level athlete or ultra marathon runner (if you've met any) use strictly garmin. Not coros and definitely not suunto. Completely agree that the interface is and has always been terrible, specifically the garmin connect app. But no one should be buying a garmin for the smooth watch interface and amazing app. People who buy garmins, specifically fenix, forerunners and now the x1 (a ultra slim alternative, that loses its battery life because that's what happens when the watch isn't uncomfortably thick to sleep with at night) are buying them because they want accurate data about their health metrics. And in that field, you have no idea what you're talking about if you think any brand comes close to producing accurate data about your health. And if it helps with credibility, I work at a sports retail store where I get to test drive all the different high-end fitness watches. The fenix 8 and fr 970 are the pinnacle of sport smartwatches but are unfortunately ridiculously uncomfortable to sleep with. Which is very silly considering half the health metrics and data that helps you train optimally is dependent on your sleep metrics. which is why the x1 is a amazing alternative that doesn't need to be charged every single night, like it's counterpart.

Like you i have the F8 and Whoop. F8 is great for specific activities with granular detail when you record it. Whoop measures Strain all day long without you having to manually record it everything. E.g. a strenuous gardening activity, walking the dog all gets recorded (you have to assign these if it is not auto assigned by Whoop) without me having to consciously press record. F8 can't do that. So in every single day, Whoop records your daily wellness and activity levels. Far more useful information than metrics for a specific activity (F8 is great for training metrics so it has its place). I should add that assigning strain to a specific activity ain't important to me either. A day score is enough to tell me how active i have been. That and sleep data - much easier to understand. The HRV readings are not far off from each other (F8 vs Whoop). Will probably renew.

Yeah, I’m an Apple fanboi. I literally own at least one of every product except the VisionPro… and while I do like my AWU2, the battery life was annoying AF. I also like having programs built in that don’t require me downloading apps and researching which ones are worth it, etc.  I also recently had a Suunto Vertical, and really loved it, too. If it had just a few more data points, I probably wouldn’t have switched to the Fenix 8

I too am an Apple ‘fan boy’, MacBook Pro for my wife and I, both have iPhones and iPads… We both have Garmin watches, my wife did stray to an AW S9, she went back to her Garmin within a month due to the “impossible to use” battery life. I use a Fenix8 and she has a VivoActive5, she uses hers for pool swimming.

I was using Runna with my AWU2 until a few weeks ago when I switched to the Garmin Fenix 8 and I love the integration of planned runs in the Garmin native interface.

Fenix 8 is going to be enough for basic diving, and probably a better value today. Mk3iii is a great watch and has all the sport profiles of the older Fenix series, but it’s a few years old so it doesn’t have any of the newer stuff, if that matters. It’s not a significant difference, but worth considering given the cost. The Descent MK4 should be coming this winter or spring too.

The fenix 8 has depth sensors. It has a full dive computer for single gas up to I think 40 meters. It will track a little deeper than that but tell you that you’re past the limits if you do.

Garmin Fenix all the way especially since you hike and bike. I had a Fenix 3 for 9 years before it broke. I'm currently using a Fenix 8 and it's perfect. Tracking workouts is very simple and works great. My wife has a vivo and it lacks a ton of features and stats if you're into that. Also the battery life is very good I hate charging my watch because I will forget to put it on. I'll get well over a week if I'm not tracking with GPS a ton.

Garmin Fenix but I bough it more for the gym and mountain biking. The golf app is amazing.

AW: you nailed that sneeze. Man you are good at sneezing. Keep it up slugger Garmin: sneeze was unproductive. You need way more anaerobic, it’s like you aren’t moving

Just be careful of button pushing. There’s usually a caveat in the manual about that. I think the Descent and Fenix 8 have inductive buttons with haptic feedback (?) for this reason. That said I shower with my Epix and push the buttons occasionally in/around water and haven’t had any issues.

Garmin Fenix 8. I recently upgraded from my Fenix 6s which was a work horse for six years, and I'm really liking the extra features

I bought a Fenix 8 and sold it. Will receive my 970 next week. Fenix too bulky

Epix Pro Gen 2. Have had a Fenix 8 and Tactix 8. Sticking with the Epix. Plus they are crazy cheap right now.

I happen to have been confronted with the exact same dilemma here and ended up with both! Keeping the Fenix 8 as the tides function is super handy for me as I work on the water and don’t think they’ll ever extend that function to the FR. If anyone is in Australia and looking for a 970 hit me up with a DM, looking to move it on to someone who will use it rather than sit in a drawer and be forgotten about!

I have one too in the black, loved it that much I’m about to say farewell to my Fenix 8!

I bought one off amazon for the 30 day return window. I did not get the advertised battery life of the X1, I got close to 3 days. I have other comments talking about it as well but one thing I didn’t expect was that because the watch is so large and thin, along with the titanium plate, it actually dug in more on my wrist against my bone. I think this is dependent upon your wrist so give it a shot and see. Even if the watch was perfect I couldn’t settle on something that looked like an Apple Watch and went with the Fenix 8.

Switched from AWU to Garmin Fenix 8 9 months ago. Best decision. Long distance running. Better battery. Better app. Better indicators. Better sensors and gps. Never missed LTE, overload of useless apps.

I have the F8, to call anything about it a smartwatch is a stretch. It can recieve notifications and can act as a bluetooth device to so the same thing, a pair of BT headphones can. That's it. There are no functional apps on the Garmin as you know, so I'd say it's about a 5% capable as a smartwatch and 100% as a 'fitness tracker', but yes the battery is great. The AW is more like 100% smartwatch and 80% 'fitness tracker', with the compromise being the decreased battery life.

I use the Fenix8 on my handlebar and it’s perfect for my needs. I can see my speed, power (connected to garmin pedals), HR, zones ratio and most importantly it connects to my Varia radar and warns my with a sound signal and the distance to the oncoming vehicle is clearly visible on the face/screen. Surely not for everyone but for me it’s the best since I already had the watch and didn’t want a bike computer. Edit: reading the comments now and I realize apparently I’m not a “real cyclist” so you should definitely not take my experience seriously 😂

Get the forerunner it’s definitely more versatile and does the swim as well as the swim 2.. I have owned a Garmin for 20 yrs — have the Fenix 8 now

I was a Fenix 5 guy for 5 years, I was a whoop guy for 3 years, and now I’m a Fenix 8 guy for the next 5 years. :)

Swapped from an AWU to a Fenix 8. My buddy did the same. Both golfers and both love the fenix.

Just run - no matter what watch. Listen to your body, train after a plan, eat healthy and sleep well. If this is right in this article, then all the metrics you get from Garmin is “made up”, then that might be the reason why Apple give you those metrics. https://the5krunner.com/2025/08/19/garmin-body-battery-slammed-indirectly-by-altini-made-up-scores/ This guy uses a series 10 Apple Watch, if it’s good enough for him, I bet it would good enough for most of us. https://www.roadtrailrun.com/2025/02/apple-watch-series-10-runner-review.html I have both Garmin and Apple Watches, and each OS have benefits. Garmin, in my use case is best to use because of the buttons, otherwise mostly the same. For example- my training today was a warmup, 12x400m repeats with 1min break, cool-down. Today I used my Ultra2, planned everything in Watchletic and executed. When using either my forerunner 970 or Fenix 8, I don’t get 14 days of battery. I use my watches daily, so I get around 4-5 days before if have to charge. I run 6 days a week, commute 3 days a week to work on my bike (40 minutes each way), goes to the gym 4-5 times a week.

I recently switched from the Apple Watch 10 to the Fenix 8. I don't miss anything! Best decision ever! Otherwise, I would have gone for the enduro 3.

You are not missing anything. Garmin is overpriced and is selling because it is well eatablished brand, not because their watches are worth it.  If you do not need specific advanced metrics, other brands will provide you with same key data for much less money. Garmin procides user with more features and data, but some that data is unreliable and some of those features are half-baked.  I believe Garmin watches have accurate sensors, but due to bad quality assurance in produ tion or whatever reason, many HR sensors started exhibiting issues with accuracy later after months of usage. Garmin acknolwedged HR issues last year but still did nothing to fix it which leada me to believe it is hardware issue as well (they just go quiet in those cases). Also, Garmin hardware quality is not always the best, just look at button failures on their Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix watches - still ongoing issue with those watches sold today at very high prices. Not to mention bad mic amd speaker on Fenix 8 or bad BT module in almost all newer Garmin watches which leads to connectivoty drop outs and issues. It is the best that you do research as you did.

Yep, AWU1 to Fenix 8 for 7months and back to AWU2. Main issues were constant syncing required to keep weather complications current; Garmin Pay does not work with Capital One; completely missed my fully data capable watch. Of course I miss the battery life but that is it.

garmin 970 or fenix8. these 2 can match Apple Watch's functions with better battery and more professional sports functions

Haven’t seen Venu recommended. I’m running a Fenix 6x Pro right now, and we all love all of our options. Suggest this file https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11FeOS8Gf26GO9Ewp3rGzBALk9EZgT3Xian3TYOe4fwg/edit And dcrainmaker reviews, but seems line the less expensive Garmin do everything you need, even though most of us point to the more expensive models. EDIT: missed OP doesn’t care about price. Yeah Fenix 8

Swim functions of Fenix 8 seem to be more of less the same as most somewhat more recent models, even with Swim 2 (honestly, it is fine for swimming. I swam with it for sure a while, but other functions are somewhat lacking). Fenix 8 supports diving but unless you dive, or otherwise do activities not supported by somewhat older models, I am not sure if it would be worth the extra money compared to older models because the swim functions seem to be essentially the same as the likes of Epix or earlier Fenix, more recent swim-compatible Forerunner etc. You should be able to pick up previous models somewhat cheaply, whereas Fenix 8 is quite expensive. I would have bought Fenix 8 if it was much better at swim tracking but it's not, so I did not spend the money to upgrade from Epix Gen 2 (which is annoyingly less accurate compared to Finnis goggles and Apple Watch but I digress)

Ive had the 945lte, Fenix 7x and now the Fenix 8 and i have NEVER had any bugs or problems. I might be lucky or the people complaining might be unlucky... Just remember this: if you enjoy a product and it just works flawlessly you would maybe recommend the product to 1-2 people. But if you had a really bad experience people tell 10+ about it and complain on forums.. If i could do one thing over i would go for the Fenix 8 Solar and not amoled. If you love long battery life go for Fenix 8 Solar or enduro 2 or 3. Especially if you plan to log long activities like hiking.

I have to carefully connect my Fenix 8, set it down, and slowly walk away, or I'll come back in an hour and it'll still be at ~12%.

I get at least 3 hours of gps use a day on the most accurate setting so I actually have to charge mine every 14 days or so

I'm pretty sure I do have a faulty port. I have 2 cables out of a dozen that kind of work with Garmin Express, trying to update maps is a whole ordeal. I've had problems right out of the box with the Fenix 8.

It's called Garmin Venu :) or if you have more money, Fenix 8 which has the best of both world. There are also some other manufacturers like Huawei or Amazfit, that don't have full-blown smartwatches on Wear OS but rather custom firmware optimized for battery. The only problem is that you're limited to third party apps that either the manufacturer or a minority of devs is doing. I have Venu 3 and it has 90% of smartwatch features one would need. You can take/make calls, see all notifications (with pictures), react to them (reply either with predefined messages or T9 keyboard, mark them as read, dismiss/snooze notifications, turn off alarms, delete emails etc.), pay (Garmin Pay), listen to music (local files, Spotify, Google Play etc.). There are also various apps like calendar, calculator, water intake monitor, camera apps (to control phone camera) etc. Unfortunately, Venu is missing lots of sports features from the Forerunner but that's just a greedy politics from Garmin. They want you to pay more. That's what Fenix 8 is there for - it has all the sports metrics and yet all the smart features from Venu.

I have a fenix 8 but I currently have no plans to switch back to apple. At least in the near future. But garmin seems to get a bit too expensive for my taste so I wouldn’t not rule out the ultra when I upgrade in 2-3 years.

Well I just ordered the oura ring to see if that fits me better. Never worn a ring so not sure, but want to make a decision around Black Friday to see which to keep. I also wear a fenix 8 so I don’t really need whoop because why? I get accurate data with the F8 + chest strap I don’t need a second device with bad HR sensor. I also don’t use the strain feature as I have a training plan which I follow. So probably oura will fit me better. Will not wear it while gym etc but that’s fine as it syncs my garmin data

The instinct series might interest you as well, as they are more rugged with very long lasting battery. I have owned one in the past, then jumped to Forerunner 955 for the maps, then to Epix - for the flashlight and AMOLED screen, and now to Fenix 8 for the voice commands, taking phone calls from the watch. The new instinct 3 series have the flashlight too, and the 2X might have it as well (don't quote me on that) Best of luck, they're all great watches!

I have used the watches apple watch ultra 1 and 2, Garmin instinct 1 and 2, Samsung Galaxy watch 5 pro, Galaxy watch 7, Galaxy watch ultra, and Garmin Fenix 6x, and Garmin Fenix 8. They all have their pros and cons. I can answer questions if you'd like just ask. But I would say either get a Garmin or polar fitness watch or if you want something with more of a smart watch features get the watch that matches your phones OS. The standard apple watches can be prone to scratching and cracking unless you get one with a sapphire face. The curved screen is hard to put a screen protector on but they do make them.

Aside from the obvious battery life the only benefit I found with the Fenix 8 I had was the flashlight. I really liked how it projected from the bezel vs. lighting up the face.

I was thinking about 970 as well, I have about 15,5 cm wrist so little bigger then you. I tried 970 at Garmin stand when I went to a run race and it's at the same time very big but not that bad with default forerunner band. I would suggest to try it first but in the end I went with 43mm fenix 8 and I am happy with it, I think 970 size would bother me when wearing it 24/7 and not just while working out. https://preview.redd.it/fphqfu521vqf1.jpeg?width=2647&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f85656aa529131fb74249942747e6b475e117858

option 3/4 is a no go if you want maps... I wanted maps for trail running and 970 is too big for me so only options from current gen of watches is fenix 8, which is expensive and you still need to pay 100 extra for sapphire glass. Seems little silly to me that with forerunner Garmin don't have smaller version of 970. It would be perfect for what I want but it's too big and 570 does not have maps torch and sapphire glass.

Garmin - amazing battery life (and somehow flashlight was not mentioned). AWU - amazing smartwatch (fast, best screen, many functions (if you need them), ecosystem integration. And yes, Apple will support it longer. I'd love to switch to AWU or Android version, but battery life is nowhere near. And since I don't really need all those smart features - I'm satisfied (enough) with Garmin notifications, payment, call management.

It's not a problem, it is just way more convenient (for me) when I don't have to worry about charging watch at all. (Bigger problem for is that I also switched to Android and there is no watch same as AWU. It is incredibly stupid, but Samsung watches do not support chest straps)

I went from the Fenix 7x Solar Sapphire to Galaxy Watch Ultra when it first came out and absolutely hated having to charge almost every day. I was intrigued by the ring they came out with but didn't make much of a difference in battery life like it said. I bought the Fenix 8 as soon as it was released.

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've used either a Forerunner 9xx or a Fēnix for about 6 years. If you give it about 5 minutes before you swim to leatch onto as many satellites as possible after it says it has a GPS fix it's pretty good. If you dive in as soon as you get the tick, it's crap.

It pretty much depends what you want the watch for has been my conclusion. I've owned the AWU1/2 pre-ultra versions, garmin fenix 6/7/8 and prior versions. When I'm focused on fitness and endurance sports, the garmin is my primary watch. When I'm in a different phase, I strongly prefer the AWU for all its stuff. Problem for me is I prefer to have a single ecosystem that is seemless so I can focus on my goals. The reality for me personally is the garmin helps me with my goals when fitness is my goals and the AWU doesn't do quite the same for me. That's enough to have me wear my garmin - it's effective as a tool for me. The AWU is just the watch I like better, but it doesn't have actual impact on me. If I were simply wanting a casual fitness watch + smart watch, I'd wear an AWU all the time.

garmin forerunner (255 or 265 are good choice )or instinct series both have solar models if you want even more battery, or garmin fenix 7 or 8 but they are bit more expensive. also coros pace 3 its a great price to performance sport watch with great battery life

There is Garmin Swim (IMHO essentially it is a ForeRunner, but swim has been put in focus; review here https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/10/garmin-openwater-review.html). However, modern Garmin watches are all able to track pool swim as well as gym workouts (you might have to set exercises later in the app if you want to track muscle groups affected). Essentially ForeRunner is for runners mostly, Forerunner 9xx is focused on triathlon, Fenix is mostly for outdoors - but again, all of them can do almost the same. I’d go with Fenix if budget allows.

All true except advanced metrics. They are also present in Fenix (it has even more features for hiking) and Instinct. Forerunner is not more advanced. The rugedness is mostly about the bezel. In fenix and instinct it has a rim which gives extra protection to the screen. But that means rugged watches are more bulky what can be a problem in the gym. The real question is lightness of forerunner vs battery life of fenix /instinct

Get a garmin Fenix, doesnt really matter which model as long as it’s not ancient, off eBay

The only time that I had issues with a Garmin watch they replaced the watch well over the warrant. I got a forerunner that lasted a lot (6 years?) and then I gave it to a friend. I'm sporting an almost 5 year old fenix and I got it second hand. The watches they make are sturdy

Its the Fenix without speaker/mic and without diving features, but better overall performance as tradeoff (longer battery life, MIP screen, better solar charging, more lightweight...)

Know a guy who has used his twice for 100k and both times its died around 60km in. Not the speediest runner but easily makes cut off. The gps in it is shocking too, he would routinely get more distance and elevation on almost any run I've done the whole full smart watch in the past and happily have gone back to a fenix now. Im good with seeing notifications and being able to answer calls. Happily run disconnected from my phone and contact

You can't go wrong. There are features that the newest Fenix (or Epic pro) have that the others don't. So if you care about ecg monitoring that might change the model you are looking at.

The charger on the Garmin was one of those nightmare features. Had many times where I woke to a dead or low powered Fenix because someone had sneezed several houses down the road and my connection to the charger had moved slightly, stopping my Fenix from charging. Not sure who designed this charger, but it was the worse design ever. Made worse by the fact that the charging point on the back of the Fenix slowly worsened over time with sweat from workouts. I had to buy a rubber stopper to cover it. Very annoying design flaw.

I would say the app “ Hevy” for the gym if you like inputting sets and weight is the best one. You can make your own splits but if you want to make more than 5 splits you have to pay. Which let’s be honest anyone who is seriously training doesn’t need that. Progressive overload is king. Also in regards to running programs you can also now customize work outs in the Apple workout app. I have both Garmin Fenix and Apple Watch Ultra . I use the ultra for work . But my Fenix for working out and running . I couldn’t get away from the programming of Garmin . Also the physical button presses while doing activities is just more guaranteed.

I've had two versions of the Garmin Fenix now. The first lasted me 6 years, and I've had the second for 1 or so. I love it. It has a lot of versatility for activities, and the Garmin ecosystem (bike computer, heart rate monitor, etc.) is nice to plug into. I chose the Fenix because I do a lot of swimming in addition to cycling, but they have other models that are great too. It does great routing for hiking and running. It's a really dynamic device!

Really? Can you tell me what I’m missing because I just got an AWU2 and tbh I hate it compared to my fenix. The features I thought I’d enjoy like responding to texts, phone calls, etc I never even use

This is my perspective as someone who uses Whoop and wears an SMP or a Speedy that I rotate according to how I feel. Also, I've tried Oura, and liked it, but it wasn't for me. And I have an AW Ultra that I use when running and hiking, and this is after a few years of using a Garmin Fenix. Most people think of Whoop as simply a fitness tracker, which it is, but it is much more. What seperates Whoop from other things is how it shows you the impact of your behaviors. Yes, I think Whoop was less than honest about their upgrade policy with the new 5.0 and MG release, but I still can't find anything like it. The "magic" of Whoop is that it allows you to pre-select certain behaviors that will appear in a daily journal. Each morning you take 30 seconds to check yes or no on these items, e.g. Did you consume added sugar yesterday? Did you eat a late meal? There are endless options. As times goes on, Whoop continues to show you how these behaviors are impacting your sleep so that you discover how far before bed you should stop eating, or what's the latest time of the day you can drink caffeine without it impacting your sleep (even though you may think it doesn't because you fall asleep quickly). I'm not trying to sound like an advertisement for Whoop, but I think most people evaluate Whoop without knowing what it really does. So when I run or hike I use my Ultra for reasons that don't overlap with Whoop. But the rest of the day, when wearing my SMP or Speedy, or when I sleep, I wear Whoop because it is providing overall health insights that I find valuable and have led to lifestyle changes that I may not have made otherwise--even as a person in great shape who works out six days a week.

I've been impressed as well. I'm a triathlete and ultra runner. I use it for running, biking, and swimming. I've found it more accurate than my Garmin Fenix especially when swimming. I do use my Garmin during events just bc I need that battery life but during training it suits me well. I can run for 3 hours with headphones connected and cell service (I don't carry my phone) and have battery left.

My Fenix is perfect for me. I want to download and have it guide me on a bike ride or a run. I like to know how far/fast I’m going. I like being able to see my texts and decline calls, but I don’t want to send messages or talk from my watch. I don’t want to charge my watch more than every ~7-10 days. I don’t care that much about accurate HR, sleep, etc… but having those things accurate-ish is ok with me.

I would suggest any Fenix or even any forerunner over any vivoactive or venu of you're serious about training. Sure you can get by with most basic stuff on those watches but if you get serious about training or want better features you'll have wanted at least a forerunner model

garmin epix/fenix no complaints

Short answer ; none Long answer ; Garmin is not an optimised at all for bodybuilding (I am nodybuil for the last 20 years and have Garmin for the last 10). So just get the one that is in your price range. Any Garmin will do hiking. One thing though, with bodybuilding the watch can and will suffer from repeated contact with the bars and gear. For that I only take Sapphire models. So Fenix or EPIX.

Ok, just hear me out for one second before you think I'm crazy. The red light on the Fenix line is AMAZING. I use it every single night multiple times as it makes walking around at night super easy and not at all straining on the eyes. Honestly, it might be my "I'm not giving up this watch for e.g. an Apple watch, ever" feature. The Tactix light is green. I have no idea how well that'll work at night. But I absolutely LOVE the red light.

The ROI on a Whoop wasn’t worth it to me. When I could pay a higher up front price for a Fenix that would last years. My watch gives me the same info plus tells me the time plus all of the other things. Also, charging it every few weeks > every other day.

Another vote for a Fenix. Great overall wellness tracking between sleep, fatigue, steps, stress, HR, and intensity minutes. But the reason I like it more than anything else is the battery life, 15+ days if I'm not GPS tracking or playing music off of it.

Seconded, Fenix or Epix are great. I have an Epix but tbh a Fenix suits my needs better

I use Garmin. Watch battery lasts a week at a time workout charging and the watch itself is nice. If I'd gotten a less fancy version than the fenix, my watch battery would last even longer

This is what I do. I have a Garmin Fenix as my sports watch and switch to the Vivosmart when I am wearing my Speedy.

Issue isn’t normal use. Issue is when using with the fitness or when GPS tracking. My Ultra 1 won’t last me more the 18 hours on long hikes. And this is in low power mode with GPS pushed to my iPhone. If you’re tracking a multi day hike, or plan on being in the wilderness more than 2 days, the watch is useless to carry with you. Especially if you’re in trouble (satellite doesn’t help if your battery is dead) The new Garmin Fenix offers 28 days of battery life, solar charging and will last 4+ days under intense use. Plus it has Garmin InReach built in.

Yeap. The elephant in the room. 16 days battery life on my fenix.

The new fenix has both satellite capability and cellular fyi I don't know if the emergency service is included though l. Guessing it's gonna be a membership like what I needed for the inreach

Thing people forget is that AW also charge in about 15mins compared to a Garmin. I had an Apple Watch and threw it on the charger when I took a shower and that would give it a significant boost. Try that with my F.Pro 7 and it’ll gain 2% Obvs I prefer the Fenix’s battery life, but I find charging takes so long it’s a much more noticeable interruption

Garmin Fenix and Epix Series are far better than this. https://preview.redd.it/cpxhwtjkuuje1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4d50186d95b15e90086bfa4491d354424f3c0bd I am glad. Haha

I made the same change. AWU to 970. And two days in I wished I had the fenix. So I sold it and bought the fenix instead. I am very satisfied now

Pick the one that: 1) is within your budget, and 2) is most visually appealing. Both basically do the same things and have few differences in software/battery that will make a big difference to your use. My vote is always the Fenix :)

Garmin does not have all those features in most watches. Which model can I control my smart home? I cannot directly download apps on my Fenix. I also cannot access Apple Music.

I agree with all the positives stated here and one more that's important to me. I hate square, rectangular watches. I love the way the Fenix, Epix or most of the round smart/fitness watches look.

Everyone is recommending fenix for good reasons. However, IF you’re mountaineering ever goes to technical rock / ice…. Then I’d recommend Coros. Does everything fenix can, but the gps works the best for vertical movement

Also love Garmin. I've had several Fenix watches. Currently own an AWU2 waiting on my AWU3 because having a full phone when I run, Apple Music, and 1-2 days of battery life are everything I need. Wallet is pretty nice too.

Bought one relatively recently, I wanted MIP but didn't like the Fenix weight/cost. This seemed like the best option, for ~€300. The 255 would have saved €100, I probably don't need all the 955 features but I didn't like the 255 styling. I'm not sure if it is any more "future proof" but maps is kinda neat. I want at least 5 years out of the tech I buy, and with MIP being less and less common I can't see why I would stop using this before it dies.

Watch does all three things. Bike compy does one thing. Used Fenix on eBay is a good deal. 

I was looking at the Fenix! It's pricey but it did seem to have the most functionality that would be useful for him. I don't know that he would mind losing the running specific data as part of his WOD but then again I think he's the type that would like to know his pace/HR to target. As long as there is a process to program the switch from hiit to run and then back to HIIT I would guess he would suffer the moderate annoyance if he wants to mine that data. And we are not an apple house lol and I agree, Garmin connect is pretty slick. I've found their race predictions to be hilarious but other than that their metrics are pretty spot on!

Garmin Fenix varieties are good, solar options if you're in the sun etc for extra battery too, but full charge is like ~15 days without non stop Ox readings You can also get a face cover [over clip] and or a screen protector like for your phone on the watch face. Maybe worth looking at!

Hu there fenix is strong, i wish i had bigger wrist. My foreunner 970 is already big so cant imagine fenix on my tiny wrist lol. But both fenix and forerunners trully have real running metrics. I cant believe the venu 4 does not even have daily suggestions based on pac and only has them based on heart rate. A big no no for a runner targetting an specific distance and time. I have been rethibkibg to sell my 970 for a 570 due to the size of 43mm. But i may miss battery, flashlight, running tolerance and impact load more than size lol. Like my wife says you need to give up on something.  4 years ago i used to train daily on hills and fast runs too, so i injured myself like crazy. Thus the reasoning behind running tolerance as it would guide me to increase mileage in a safe manner.

Weekly? Should see the Fenix range. Monthly charges baby!

Fenix is great for running but it’s overkill. Has more features than most runners could poke a stick at, a little on the heavy side too

Return the Apple watch get a fenix

Epix sadly is a dead watch (nothing new will be developed and you will be lucky if an update arrives) if you have the money and want to stay in the ecosystem, then Fenix is the way to go. Easy choice.

Most of them are decent at hr without a strap but you’d want something with the elevate v5 sensor for the best data and unfortunately that’s fenix only. The 255 or 955 would be the best bet here but the 255 doesn’t have maps. Also the 965 is great if you want oled instead of MIP

Basically any Garmin from the 255 and up. Fenix is the best but pricey so forerunner should be more than enough

I’ve been wearing my garmin fenix in it for over a year. No issues

I swapped my Omega for a Garmin Fenix and haven't looked back. I'm a cyclist in the garmin infrastructure so it makes sense. Its one of the best sports watches, comes in a range of sizes to fit different wrists and I think it looks stylish as well compared to the square apple watch.

Appart from the battery life, flashlight and physical buttons, the AWU outperforms the Fenix on every points. Better smartwatch, top notch sensors (see videos from TheQuantifiedScientist). Sure you need to use 3rd parties app to match Garmin Experience (WOD, Athlytics, HealthFit) but otherwise you won't regret it.

Its a lot smarter then my casio. My casio cant show me the way home after a hike in the forest. It cant show me maps. Therefore its a smartwatch. Its full om smart features a regular watch cant do. I once had a apple watch. Now i can’t think of one feature that watch did that my fenix cant do, rather the opposite. Ooh one thing, the apple watch could answer calls. But that was just annoying. So i would argue fenix is smarter then Apple Watches in many ways not all but many.

Its called a fenix. Its like a mercedes, audi, toyota, skoda… something in the middle.

As a Garmin user, I'm quite jealous. This doesn't replace my Fenix for exercises but would be a great companion for everyday activities and I could wear my classic watches again.

Garmin Fenix, used Garmin for years, battery measured in days not hours

I would say it is not correct comparison. You need to compare Apple Watch with Garmin Fenix. Standard model (not AMOLED) last 24 days. X version - from 30 days. I'm using 6X Pro Solar Titanium and even after 2 years of using it is keeping 30 days on one charge. Neither Apple nor Samsung can bring me the same experience

Garmin’s notification integration with iOS is dogshit. They make great sports watches. They are not even close to AW in the smart watch department.

Have you tried the Fenix?

the cheaper forerunners and Fenixes are great for this, simple, cheap, reliable and near indestructible

I’ve had both. I am primarily a runner but right now doing triathlon training as well. I have the forerunner 955 and it does well beyond what I need. I like it a hundred times better than the fenix I had.

I’ve had both fenix and forerunner. Even as a multi sport athlete ( although primarily a runner) I hands down love my forerunner way better.

Getting a Fenix with the purpose of fitness tracker only os wrong. It's like getting the best 4x4 vehicle because the road to your moms house has some sand on it.

Ok then its not an overkill. I personally never follow whatever the watch says avoit rest days though. I'll go with whatever my legs say.

Update. I went to rei today and tried a fenix. It feels double the weight of my 965 and bulkier as well

i have a fénix and i won't bring it. You can get miles and ascent trivially from FarOut. just tap on a point behind or ahead of you. For me the fenix is a training tool, it's not for the main event. your stats will be: * Steps: Many * HR: Light/moderate aerobic * Sleep: Shit * HRV: Shit * Status: Overreaching * GPS: The same damn trail as everyone else. Also the power saver mode GPS is pretty bad and [can remarkably *over*estimate distances. ](https://www.tendigitgrid.com/d/159-garmin-ultratrac-review-and-data-accuracy) Number Go Up is fun but not worth it. Track for the folks at home with the Inreach on 1hr tracking. Your watch won't broadcast to your family like the Inreach will, it's redundant and less functional for long distance location tracking. I have ONCE briefly, used a pre-loaded Course on my Inreach for snow navigation on Wonderland Trail. Probably it would be nicer on the Fénix but not enough to bring it. Ill probably stick some Sierra courses on the Inreach ahead of time though.

But nobody say what garmin works with messages better of do it APW with same iPhone. I switched APW to Fenix namely this reason. I dont miss any whats app call or telegram call or messages from it with fenix. But AWU at all is very very good thing, especially if calls and messages from all messengers not matter for you (I apologize in advance for my English)

Garmin Fenix is what I use

Second the Fenix. There’s also some good deals on last gen Epix out (which is basically Fenix with a brighter display) for OP’s budget.

whoop, using the bicep strap so my wrists are free during workouts. i prefer the no screen no distraction myself, especially when working out. also have a garmin fenix as well as a daily watch.

For someone who is new and cares mostly about sleep tracking and GPS activities it’s honestly all kind of the same. You can run with an Instinct and you can hike with a forerunner. Choose based off of look, price, battery life for your particular activities. A Fenix or Instinct pretty much does it all and with great battery life. Doesn’t really matter in the end unless you care about very specific advanced metrics. I personally think most of the Forerunners are ugly so I gravitate towards Instinct because I’m also not willing to overpay for a Fenix when there’s other brands that cover 90% of a Fenix for half the cost. If you want to research alternatives: If you’re looking at an Instinct, check out Coros Nomad. If you’re looking at a Fenix check out Suunto Race 2 or Vertical 2 or upcoming Coros Apex 4.

I got a Garmin Fenix last year, no regrets. I tend to break things but it’s holding up quite nicely. I even take it caving, which I probably shouldn’t.

Yes, I carry a Garmin Fenix and record each day’s hike as an activity. You absolutely do not need a smart watch to hike but it a lot of fun and convenient to have. I love all the stats for each day’s hike. HR. elevation gain and loss. Pace. It’s also convenient to have all the information the watch provides right on your wrist. How many miles you’ve gone. Elevation. (On a nasty up hill I’ll just know the elevation I need to get to and can glance st my wrist for progress without overthinking the distance.) Sunrise and sunset times. Day length. I set a notification to go off 1.5 hours before sunset. That’s my dummy check reminder I need to be looking for a campsite. I also set a lap notification for 1.0 miles. That way I can mentally keep track of how far I’ve gone. The newish elevation acclimation widget has been interesting. Most of these functions/information is as lap available on a cell phone. But it’s nice in watch form. The battery needs of a smart watch are negligible. I did need to recharge it daily.

I use a fenix for activity tracking and an Oura ring for sleep tracking. Two devices is unfortunate, but the oura’s small size, sleep tracking, and readiness metrics are worth it.

"Its been 10+ years since the first AW launch. If i ask you to list various health and training insights provided by AW natively it wont even cover 20% given by Garmin."---Because that was never the intention of the AW. AW was not released as a Garmin watch competitor, it's more of a do-it-all watch. You can easily install 3rd party apps to get whatever metrics you want but Garmin can't do what AW does. I like Garmin's long battery and for me AWU is more than enough as well. "I would not trust any algo developed by them compared to a company like Garmin using a dedicated FirstBeat analytics "-----I was a Garmin user before and FirstBeat is nothing fancy. If you stay in this sub enough you'll see all the posts about the algorithm miscalculation. This post seem like biased praise for Garmin rather than reasonable analysis. I have number of time that my Fenix and FR965 froze during hiking and running, and I don't even bother making a post complaining their shitty CPU and hardware. Wear whatever you want and relax

I was a long time Garmin owner. Mostly Fenix models because I needed the battery life for ultras and Ironmans. I just recently dropped the bulky Garmin for a Suunto Race S. This watch is incredibly light, has great battery life, and the AMOLED looks good. Never thought I'd drop Garmin but so far I'm happy. Edit: Oh and the price. The price of a Race S is wild when you consider the features.

I run a Fenix as well, but look at the instinct line as you may find something there

I feel like they added the green strip just because they knew that otherwise almost nobody would get the Fenix this round. 😂 I am not a fan of the green either, but put up with it anyway, only way to get the hardware features I wanted in the thinner body (and for way cheaper) compared to the Fenix.

Hands down Garmin Fenix or Enduro.

I’ve switched back and forth between Apple Watches and Garmin (Fenix). Right now I use an Apple Watch, but I might buy a Fenix as well at some point. Apple Watches are superior in being a *smart watch* - if you have an iPhone. Better notifications, better integration, looks cleaner (better for up to business casual), and it is decent for activities. I love cellular! The Fenix (and probably all other Garmin watches) are superior *Activity Watches*. Way better tracking, nice screen for maps, more customization in data screen, more durable. I like physical buttons, the flashlight of the newer models. But they aren’t good as smart watches. Simply not good enough integration with my phone for what I need, so sometimes stuff aren’t up to date. No cellular is annoying For someone like me who mainly bike, and thus have my Edge, I don’t need to focus on activity watches. I just bring my Apple Watch to be able to ditch my phone without going off grid. And in day to day life I just prefer the Apple Watch. One of each would be superior.

Garmin all day, fenix

Fenix or Epix and yes they integrate with iPhones. Some fitness apps will connect to Garmin. If you want a slimmer watch you can also go for the new forerunner.

Fenix or Coros if you want/need the navigation, otherwise any of the other basic Garmin will be fine

I do both and have Fenix.

Fenix fan, too, for the maps as I am also an avid outdoor person.

Apple Watch will do fine for a long time - only got a Garmin last year. However once you go to only having to charge your watch once every two weeks you just can’t go back to Apple. I have a Garmin Fenix (on the $$ side) but I wear it every day as my normal watch too and have had zero issues making the switch. However there’s heaps in the range, I love accuracy, maps, long battery and lots and lots of data so I can overthink every run - so Fenix it is! The forerunners are great and the vivoactives are a good mid range model. There’s other brands like Suunto, Polar etc. For true accuracy on any wrist watch you may need a chest monitor. But if you really like your Apple Watch I found it pretty good unless you’re somewhere with not much reception

This is not clear. Which activities can't you wear a sorts watch? Do you mean like work or formal dinner where sports watch might not match your outfit? If that is the case, you should consider the garmin fenix. More premium build and you can get different watch straps that can be changed quickly if you need to dress to impress.

The Garmin Fenix is great - you can often find refurbished models a generation out of date from Garmin directly that are right in your price point.

Garmin Fenix is impossible to kill

Instinct battery life is great, but it doesn't have maps. You can put a course on it and it will buzz when you need to turn, but the 955/965 enduro/epix/fenix lines all have built in maps where you can see roads, topolograpic lines, and other points of interest.

Garmin Fenix, I bought a second hand one on ebay and I absolutely love it and the best bit is the charge lasts for over a week.

I had Fenix for a very long time, then I bought AWU1 then fenix 8 and again AWU2. Why I again bought AW? I don't need tons or obsolete metrics, I can top up battery while in the shower, UI is more intuitive and smoother. Then I have LTE so I can enjoy not taking phone with me to listen to music.

965 has golf. But the face isn’t recessed so it’s gets scraped more than a fenix or epix

Flashlight on my Fenix is worth A LOT of money to me. Having had it, I could not go back. I would happily pay 200 extra for it I use it so much. Maybe more actually! Having a flashlight on your wrist is incredibly handy.

As an FYI: With The Garmin, you can configure your watch and the app to NOT display any data that you don't like or do not want to see. I have been using Garmin watches (fenix) and head units (Edge) since 2012 with no significant issues.

Fenix with talkytoaster maps which have higher detail for mountain areas

I personally ditched the fenix and went for the epix because of the display. The fenix has almost nothing extra that is meaningful to me. The lower cost is definitely a perk of the epix as well!

Most people coming from apple go vivo active or venue. Venue being closest to a smart watch. Personally, I'm a instinct guy. Although I'm wearing a Fenix today since I didn't charge my Instinct for 2 weeks and it died before bed. I've swam tens of thousands of meters (more like hundreds but..) in pool, open and salt water with my Garmins. Done free diving (only to about 40ft, I'm not very good) and press the buttons regularly sub surface. I've also done cliff jumping with every watch, and haven't lost a garmin to water intrusion. I would definitely select a 100m rated model for water sports. Any watch can fail but I've had 6 garmins and none have. I also had a bunch of Casio and Timex over the years and not one failure.

I use a Fenix and and instinct. 100% accurate in the pool unless I'm doing under/overs (15m under, 10 over, 15 under, 10 over) then it will miss some laps. Most people aren't doing the legal 15m pullout (I do it to circumvent no underwater swimming) so this isn't an issue. Other than that, as long as I'm stroking with my arms, it rarely misses a length. I've had an Fenix 2/3/5x in the pool and mostly use my Instinct in open water because I don't mess with a HRM (wrist is fine, I don't care that much for the OWS and if I do I use my HRM pro).

The Apple Watch is deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, and most notably in messaging, and events (events is a surprisingly broad subject). It is a superb smartwatch that happens to have a lot of fitness features. Garmins are sports watches first, that happen to have some smart watch features. Forgetting the software featres, the Fenix and Tactix are highly rugged and that's a feature for them.

Fenix owner: I've never even once used the maps when running.

Garmin guy here - Changing the battery in the Fenix is a screwdriver job. It's easy as pie. Of course, does Garmin tell you that? Well, of course not.

The music and podcasts via Spotify work pretty well on my Fenix. What makes it clunky?🤔

Yes they are pretty rubbish for swimming. I just switched to a Garmin Fenix which hopefully will be better. The Apple Watch managed lap counting ok for me but open water was a disaster and the rest of its counting (calories etc) was also well off by the looks of it. Your does sound even more broken than just being rubbish though. It should be able to count laps fairly accurately, I think most of them can do that ok.

do you want more of a smartwatch that can also track fitness? or do you want a fitness watch that has some smart capabilities? that's basically the math when comparing Garmin to pixel or apple watch. I have a Garmin Fenix because I do a lot of hiking and like having the maps on my wrist. But if it weren't for that, I'd probably get the Garmin Instinct

Oh yeah good call. Battery life is super important to me. I do ultras so having 24+ hours of gps is necessary. And when in regular life, charging once every 10 days or so is pretty sweet

I do yes. I wear my Garmin Fenix for any workout.

I would also buy a Fenix for the titanium and the sapphire glass, two really nice features lol

I have the s70, but have used garmin watches in the past. Fenix is a great watch and if you can get it for that price go for it. I had a fenix 5 and it was a beast.

Garmin supports those apps (atleast last time when I looked). The best watches for swimming would be a Garmin Quatix but the Fenix is almost the same watch. Both are well made and support for sure Spotify. Strava is connectable within the Garmin App.

I have a garmin Fenix and I love it. I think it’s use for cycling training is fine, but definitely not a must have. I find it much more useful for running, hiking, etc, where its easier to look at. Having a map is also very handy.  Wrist heart rate is nice and easy, but too inaccurate for training. Sleep tracking doesn’t tell you anything you don’t know, it’s just too inaccurate. Body battery is highly sensitive to sleep, so also kind of pointless. I don’t ever use the training features really.  However, some of the other features I use regularly. I cannot describe how handy a wrist alarm is for waking up peacefully without waking your partner. My watch has a flashlight, which I also use daily. The smart watch features are also much more useful than i expected, it’s nice when you’re busy and you get a notification to quickly be able to dismiss, rather than bringing your phone out. Overall I’ve been surprised that the features I didn’t think I’d use I have ended up using way more than the features I bought it for.  Overall: don’t get one for training purposes. Do get one if you are attracted to the smartwatch features as well. 

Bro, it's literally a fitness tracker first, then 2 miles of data sheets from all that tracking...then all the "smart" gibberish as a barely visible dot on the horizon. At least Enduro/fenix/Tactix/Epix line are like that.

Battery life is #1. My Apple Watch died before I was done from full battery when I hiked longs peak. I like physical buttons on my Fenix personally over a tiny little touch screen - that also has to be backlit and wastes battery. I think newer models are moving towards touch screens though, mine doesn’t even have the option. It just has a button you can press to light the screen if it’s dark but in the day I can see it just fine.

Yup, I was comparing the fenix and the enduro at REI and the fenix felt and looked like a normal watch while also having the features I wanted.

It sounds dumb, and I never thought I’d use it when I got my Fenix, but the flashlight might be one of my top used features. I’ll never own a watch again that doesn’t have one.

The 255 is a great piece of kit, Lightweight, battery is great, not a bad smart watch with the MIP screen…. HR tracks well to AW, Fenix and Amazfit TR3. Couple of beats between them.

I have the 965 and my dad has the Fenix, Fenix has much better golf capabilities. They'll both give you yardage keep score and do the basics, but Fenix goes much further.

So I’m trapped under a building and what I’m doing with my Fenix? Checking HRV and training status? With an AWU I can potentially call for help and use the siren

I’ve used a Garmin Fenix, Garmin Swim 2, and Apple Watch for swimming and by far the garmins were superior. My Apple Watch would die after about half an hour in open water, regardless of water temp, and was always inaccurate with my laps and interval times in the pool. The swim 2 and fenix work much better.

No smartwatch does swimming or lifting particularly well, imo. The development of swimming software has always been secondary to the watch’s software for biking and running. That said, i do use and find acceptable the swim function on my garmin (I’ve had a swim 2, forerunner, and fenix). I don’t pay attention to stroke detection so I can’t speak to that but it does everything else you’re asking for.  For lifting, paper and pen is still king. I track my lifting workouts on my watch so i get “credit” for them and the workouts help me reach some of the silly little “challenges” garmin has, but it’s too fiddly, prone to errors, and doesn’t provide me the same information I get by writing down my lifts & how I felt. 

I personally love my Fenix, and yes, most Garmin things revolve around running—but I do HIIT, strength training, and backpacking, and the recovery seems quite accurate. My overall fitness suffers when I don't listen to the readiness score and overdo it.

i hated my garmin fenix chunky edges on my 4.5 inch wrist which is tiny for my first one i went for the cheap apple watch 6 decided i liked it and went to a series 9 never looked back and also im in the apple ecosystem partley so this has been a great help

I moved from Fenix to PW3 because my $900 Fenix screen died. Garmin told me to go pound sand. PW has been totally fine for normal daily function. I never have any battery anxiety and I keep the screen on 24/7. A morning top up during showers is enough to keep it going. Keep in mind, Auto Screen off is only for when not tracking activity. If you are tracking a long run (Marathon/Ultra) screen stays on which sucks. I would not trust PW to track anything beyond 200-250 minutes (I know, extreme use case)

That's fair. I haven't looked into these options. That's the part i agree with OP on: My 43mm Fenix with Dual gps, Garmin live track, always on screen still had juice for up to 20-25 hours of running. That's a lot of pain and suffering on the knees😅 😜

Garmin Fenix… excellent monitoring of performance and movement!

It took me a while to get used to the heft of the fenix. It it noticeable while running or any activity in which your hands swing.

Switched 5 years ago. Echoing the comment here: this is **not** a smartwatch, but a **sports/adventure watch.**  You won’t be reading your emails, getting texts, or calling a Uber, and the screen is nowhere near as responsive as the AW. If you’re looking for a phone one your wrist, Garmin is not for you. But if you’re training for a sports race, anything from a 5k to an ultramarathon, or even just trying to stay generally fit, the load tracking and suggested workout feature alone is worth it. The battery of data signals you get to tailor and improve your training is worth the switch alone, to a Foretunner or Epix or Fenix. Not even getting started on navigation in the mountains, which is really good — if you hike, camp, trail run, cycle, or generally enjoy being out, you will love your Epic or Fenix.

I keep asking myself the same question. I’ve had a Fenix in the past and I love my Edge 1050 but when I run I want my Apple Music with me and my Watch phone for emergencies. The Watch Ultra does enough running tracking for me. I’d like a little more but not at the expense of the clutter that another watch would bring. The main problem is that you are paying for a huge overlap in functionality if you have both. Two lots of sleep tracking, HRV, oxygen, VO2 Max etc etc. Yes I fully get that ultimately the fitness metrics on the Apple Watch are more basic. I honestly don’t know how people run both.

 🖐️  I fell for the allure of the Garmin Fenix in 2022, used it for a year.  Pros: nice design, rugged, tactile buttons, 10 day battery life    Cons: No cellular, MIP display indoors, mp3 transfer (I mean…who still has MP3’s lol), inefficient processor, HR inaccurate at times and often delayed (which sucked during interval workouts), software UI/UX is archaic, strength training profile is bonked, charging is slow, third party app support nonexistent) I came back and never looked back. The Apple Watch (Ultra) is a better smartwatch and health device. Plus with added third party apps I don’t miss Garmin at all. 

Buying a $800 product for 360 vs 5 days out of the year, and how 24hrs in a typical day is spent. Thats how I’d decide 

Because it’s basically running a calculator vs a fully fledged computer. Garmin also offloads most of the compute to the phone, which is why many Garmin users are shocked to discover that many workout functions require a working internet connection via Bluetooth to the phone to operate.  Same reason an old timex runs forever 

None of the complex metrics are done on the watch. Not. Even. Close. 

No I don’t think YOU do. Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection. It really annoyed me when I owned my Fenix.  Look it up, it’s true. 

No, I don’t think YOU do. Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection for many features. I discovered this when I owned one. It pissed me off. 

Two months in review - you mean you almost need to charge it a second time?! 🙂 I always wanted one, before the amoled era. I don’t know why I stuck with Fenix and then switched to Epix… As a fellow of the mid-40s club (who also exercises some), I concur it’s overkill. It’s also part of the reason that keeps me going. So to add a famous quote: “No ragrets”. 🫡

I record a treadmill run for the treadmill and ignore the rest. Not perfect, but I use my Garmin to track my running more than anything else so it fits.

That's the main reason I switched. Loved the Pixel watch for its functions but charging it near daily was a deal breaker. My Garmin Fenix lasts three weeks

I'm very disappointed in my Fenix for gym (and it sounds like the same fault applies to all garmins) because of the logging of reps. When I do a workout it will assume I used the weights I specified, but then it seems to either auto-log reps, which is a disaster for things that don't involve hand movements, and require me to correct them, or assume I did zero and require me to enter the whole lot. If I'm doing 60 sets I honestly don't have the patience to manually enter the rep number, so I use a phone ap instead. The thing that really annoys me though is that it would be so easy for Garmin to make a tiny programing change and start with the assumption that you hit your target. Surely for most people who have a reasonably well-made workout this would mean they only need to change a small fraction of their reps. I have suggested they make that tiny change, as have others, but so-far it has fallen on deaf ears. Hopefully more people will suggest it, until eventually they do it. But for now I'd say stick with the apple watch.

Garmin forerunner, Fenix, epix, Enduro. And nothing else matters

I have the fenix and use that as the cycling computer with a seperate chest strap.

The battery and value is great, but the finish and sizing falls short in comparison to the Fenix. I do not care for the speaker and mic though

The Fenix is much heavier than the Forerunner. I had a Fenix and switched to Forerunner because of the weight.

I am an AWU → Garmin Fenix convert and have done pretty extensive testing with both, and against dedicated sensors. I have found for basically all metrics where the watch sensors are the source, the Apple Watch is more accurate when compared against the Garmin watch, although dedicated sensors are more accurate than both. I haven’t tried the Garmin chest strap or dynamics pod, but I have compared to a Polar H10 for HR and a Stryd pod for running dynamics. It’s always H10/Stryd > Apple Watch > Garmin. The discrepancy is much higher for HR than running dynamics. I think it is straight up irresponsible to rely on wrist-based HR is you’re using HR as a part of training, but the running dynamics from both watches are more than good enough for most people.

Just buy a fenix and turn notifications etc off. Calls it the only thing that I have on but that also can be turned off.

## Why is the Forerunner better for running than the Instinct or Fenix? The Forerunner series is specifically designed for runners. It offers precise running metrics, a wealth of training features, and specialized performance analytics like Running Tolerance, Running Economy, and even biomechanical values such as pace decrease on ground contact (Forerunner 970). Forerunner models often have better screens (touch, higher resolution) and detailed training suggestions for runners. The Forerunner 265, for example, has a bright AMOLED display that is easy to read while running. Instinct models typically use older sensors and are more geared toward outdoor adventure than pure running performance. The Fenix is also excellent for running but is positioned more as a hybrid multisport watch with a focus on outdoor activities and rugged design [9][10][11][12]. ## In what way is the Forerunner less suitable for hiking/backpacking? Forerunner models are less rugged and lack some of the outdoor-specific sensors and navigation aids of the Fenix or Instinct lines. Battery life is generally shorter, which is a disadvantage for long trekking tours. Features like a barometric altimeter, special navigation functions, and inReach compatibility—which are crucial for hiking—are limited to higher-end Forerunners or are better represented in Fenix and Instinct models. For hikers, map quality on Forerunner watches is also limited or only available on premium models like the 970 [10][13][14]. ## How useful are animated workouts and training suggestions? Animated workouts (yoga, strength training, etc.) are easy to follow on Garmin and motivating, especially for learning technique and form. For runners, the suggested training programs on newer Forerunners are highly useful. They provide daily personalized plans that factor in your fitness level and recovery status. Users report that these features simplify planning and improve training consistency, as the watch dynamically adapts the training [15][16][17][18]. ## Are maps on the watch actually useful for running or hiking? For anything else? Full watch-based navigation and mapping features—found particularly on the Forerunner 970 and Fenix series—include offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and visual guidance. For everyday runs on familiar routes, they matter less, but for trail running or hiking where orientation is crucial, they’re invaluable. Maps offer extra value for safety, route planning, and are also popular among cyclists and those exploring new routes [19][12][20][14]. ## Does the Forerunner 970 passively monitor heart rhythm to trigger an ECG? Yes, the Forerunner 970 is the first in its series with an integrated ECG feature, which uses case sensors to record an ECG for issues like atrial fibrillation in about 30 seconds. While the function is always present, the ECG is only triggered manually and does not replace a doctor’s visit. Heart rate is constantly measured, but for a full ECG you must actively launch the function [13]. ## Smartwatch features: Can you read texts or see who’s calling? Does Garmin support RCS messages? Garmin supports push notifications for calls and text messages, and (on Forerunner 570/970) you can answer calls directly from the wrist using the speaker and microphone. However, full support for Rich Communication Services (RCS, e.g. Google Messages) is not yet widespread; Garmin generally handles SMS/MMS, and you can reply with pre-set responses. RCS compatibility is under development and not guaranteed [21][22]. ## Is the speaker/microphone on the 570/970 useful for anything besides answering? How playful is it? The Forerunner 970 has improved audio hardware to make phone calls and use voice assistants (Google Assistant, Siri, Bixby) directly from your watch. The speaker is for calls and notifications but not for music playback. No particularly playful functions are supported; it's aimed at practical uses like telephony and voice commands. The 570 offers more limited audio features but still allows basic call management [23][24][25]. ## What makes a Garmin better than competitors Coros, Suunto, Amazfit? Garmin is regarded as a market leader due to its extensive ecosystem, powerful sensors, wide variety of sport profiles, and detailed analytics. Garmin watches generally provide robust navigation features with maps, access to third-party apps (Connect IQ), precise GPS/heart sensors, and strong accessory support. Coros impresses with battery life and durability, Suunto with simplicity and outdoor focus, and Amazfit mainly with budget-friendly offerings. Garmin is overall more versatile, especially for ambitious athletes and users seeking a deep combination of fitness analytics and smart features [10][23][25]. *** [9] Forerunner 265/745/965, Instinct 2 or fenix 7S https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1bl6twt/help_me_choose_forerunner_265745965_instinct_2_or/ [10] Garmin Instinct 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8: Every Difference ... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/01/garmin-instinct3-vs-garmin-fenix8-very-detailed-review.html [11] Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Instinct https://versus.com/en/garmin-forerunner-265-vs-garmin-instinct [12] Garmin Forerunner 570 and 970: Advanced Tech for Those ... https://runlovers.it/en/2025/garmin-forerunner-570-and-970-advanced-tech-for-those-who-want-to-run-better/ [13] Garmin Forerunner 970 im Test: Die beste Sportuhr 2025 ... https://www.heise.de/bestenlisten/testbericht/garmin-forerunner-970-im-test-die-beste-sportuhr-2025-hat-jetzt-ekg/xx73c4h?wt_mc=rss.red.ho.beitrag.atom.beitrag.beitrag [14] Garmin Forerunner 570 vs. 970: An Easy Choice! All ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jLMnfnER8c [15] Support: Animated Workouts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0noz60nliY [16] How the Garmin Tracker Reignited My Love of Running https://www.wellandgood.com/fitness/garmin-watch-daily-suggested-workouts-review [17] How to Use Animated Workouts on Garmin Enduro 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p6LzkJw9Hw [18] Garmin Coach Review https://stephaniehnatiuk.com/garmin-coach-review/ [19] Garmin Watches + OS Maps: The Ultimate duo for easy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19HBRpmPhFw [20] New to Garmin Watch Maps - Need Your Advice for Hiking ... https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/16eznyf/new_to_garmin_watch_maps_need_your_advice_for/ [21] Google Messages may work with Garmin for satellite ... https://9to5google.com/2023/08/28/google-messages-satellite-connectivity-garmin-evidence/ [22] Garmin fenix 8 RCS Text Messages? https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/1inrdo6/garmin_fenix_8_rcs_text_messages/ [23] Garmin Forerunner 970 In-Depth Review: Brillance at a ... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garmin-forerunner-970-in-depth-review-brillance.html [24] Garmin Forerunner 970 speaker and microphone quality? https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1ktyxq2/garmin_forerunner_970_speaker_and_microphone/ [25] Garmin forerunner 970 Review ❌ all the cr*p bits ❌ a ... https://the5krunner.com/2025/07/28/garmin-forerunner-970-review/

I use both Apple Watch and Garmin, If you want a smartphone on your wrist, get an Apple Watch. If you want a \*watch\*, get a Garmin. Are they worth it? i.e. A Fenix for $1.5k? No, they are not. I use one, I like it, but if you're price sensitive, no, they are not worth it. Never used the Forerunner, sorry, don't know.

I had a Samsung amart watch a few years ago and the battery life was appaling I changed to a fenix and haven't looked back. But looking back now I dont really want a watch to send a text on or to take a phone call, ive my phone for that, when im in the car ive hands free and when im somewhere else but need hands free ive my ear phones. I honestly dont know why else anyone would want a smart watch for. My garmin does everything I want it. Track hikes and work out, I can read the texts on it if I can't look at the phone. I love being able to track my hikes and use the map function I wouldn't use a Samsung watch again. Unless there was a game changer which I can't see happening

Honestly, there's a TON of overlap between Whoop and any other tracker you need. It'll have your HR and HRV, recovery scores, and target strain. The ability to broadcast HR to your phone should let you cover runs and bike rides in strava. Look into various Garmin options if you want something that can record multisport events, I think Coros can do those too. But if you just want something for easy workout tracking that records swim laps and ride/run HR + GPS route, a cheap Fitbit would do the trick as well. Personally, I use a Whoop plus a Garmin Fenix. The whoop is overkill, honestly, since Garmin has a "body battery" recovery metric and can tell you how hard to go with the training on any given day. I use the Whoop because I deal with behaviors very similar to exercise bulimia and I need something that literally tells me, "you've worked hard enough today, it is time to stop." If I didn't need that, a Garmin would absolutely be sufficient on its own.

I’ve got an Apple Watch SE for hiking, running and cycling and I think it’s great for what I want. I’ve had Garmin in the past and still have an old Fenix I use sometimes for hiking, but I didn’t wear it all the time because it was big and clunky, and the only thing I ever really did with it was look at my tracks on Garmin connect when planning new walks. I found it too much of a faff to use for running in any useful way. By the time I’d remembered how to press which buttons to access whichever nested menu I needed, I could have run a couple of hundred yards. Whereas my AW is on my wrist all the time except at night and if I forget to tell it I’m running it notices and asks me if I want to start retrospectively. I charge it overnight because I’m not interested in sleep tracking so the battery life thing isn’t a nuisance. I have access to all the extra apps I need (like Zwift or Kamoot or OS maps) and I write my workouts to Garmin Connect anyway so I still have that continuous record. So far, it’s working well for me.

Went from a garmin fenix to an amazfit t rex 3. Almost a month battery life and great workout tracking and maps.

Yeah I had a farming watch years ago, finally retired it for apple watch for several years, and now got a Fenix a few months ago. Sleep tracking on this $1k thing is really disappointing. Way worse than Apple Watch. TBH I was hopeful the training feedback would be useful, but the other week I was getting sick and it told me I was optimally ready for training. Went out and body said hard nope. Several days of being totally run down and non functional and my watch continued to say good to go. Weeks later and I’m finally recovering, and the watch has me pegged at not ready to train. I wear it all day except in the shower, or on the bike where I use a Garmin 540 with their fancy chest strap. I’m really disillusioned with their claims now AW has some garbage sensors. Useless for me tracking HR during runs even with a tight strap. GPS was pretty bad. Battery is OK for daily use but can’t support activities or camping. But how Garmin sleep tracking is SOOOO bad is beyond me

Fenix if you can afford otherwise any instinct imo.

Vivoactive and Venu (non X1, that thing should have had a name of its own) don't have the advanced running metrics. So it's Forerunner , then check whether the features you want are in Instinct, Fenix, Enduro or Epix if you like one of those better.

You say heavy, after one day of wear, no one would really notice the difference in weight between the two. I'm v thin with basically female size wrists and tiny arms (I am male for reference) and run at a v high level with the Fenix and the extra few grams have never bothered me at all; haven't even noticed them after I went from a Forerunner to a Fenix.

I like my Garmin Fenix. Someone here pointed out that grips stop the workout and that’s true. Straps and grips and a certain angle can hit that button and it sucks. Other than that it does its job really really well. I hate whoop though. It being maybe 3% more accurate with some metrics isn’t enough for me to have to wear the whoop and watch (smart or otherwise). Couple that with the subscription cost. It’s just not worth it for your everyday/local comp person. They’re all trash if you have tattoos on your wrist though. The internal HR monitor struggles there. I use a chest strap or just rotate the watch to the inner part of my wrist.

I do. It's kind of a in the butt the way I do it, but it works for me. I record the workout as two seperate activities. The tread I try to keep by itself, which is fairly simple. That way I can track the distance towards my weekly total milage. But it doesn't work for run/row days. Then the floor I record as a "cardio" activity, then get the workout I manually change it to HIIT on Garmin Connect. It isn't the best solution probably, but it works. It would bother me if I worked out at OT more often.

Can't go wrong with Garmin imho. I've had a fenix and a couple of forerunners, and they've all worked great.

Forerunners and Epix are not supposed to use the button under water. Fenix is better in that regard, I think if you check the comparison also lists as water proof.

I would agree with you on that. I had Garmin fenixes for years, Garmin Epix pro, Apple Watch Ultra, amazfit trex 3 (current watch) and just got a whoop. Imo for weightlifting nothing beats the Apple Watch (ultra or not doesn’t matter) due to all the different apps available. I was using Hevy and the ability to do a live workout between the watch and the phone at the same time was dope: want to change exercice or do more complex changes during your sessions, you simply edit the workout on the phone. But if you want to do just a 5lbs increment on your lift, you can do it from the watch directly live. Only thing I am eager to test with whoop, which is a important part my decision to do the free trial for a month, is to see muscle strain and how it work in tandem with the cardio based strain. Whoop is the only wearable to do that ( but it seems you can do it with Bevel now)

Garmin fenix works fine in sauna

My Fenix rocks and gets 90% of everything. I’m the instances when it doesn’t, it’s generally because of a multi joint movement into another movement. For instance, something like a DB Snatch into overhead walking lunges, it might only pickup the lunge portion.

I have used mine since 2019. I used to record using the HIIT but it was a bit glitchy so now I'm using the cardio activity.

I had both, currently the fenix. Personally I never used the phone features, such as notifications, calling, payments etc. Notifications on my wrist, most horrible thing to have. But tbf I don’t get any notifications on my phone. Only calls and messages of 4 people. Sportswatch? Phone on your wrist, AW

Hard to beat the Garmin Fenix / Epix / Enduro line in terms of battery life. Note: leaving a watch on the map screen drains a lot of power regardless of watch brand. The Instinct is a good second choice if you only need a breadcrumb track to follow; no maps. Maps , on the watch, gives you more information on terrain but shouldn’t be a deal breaker. You could always refer to your phone. Look at previous versions of the watch to fit your budget.

Garmin Fenix is the best for snow sports

I’m partial to the garmin Fenix series mostly of cost and utility. The solar version may suit well if your backpacking over several days and need gps. They’re also pretty bullet proof, taken multiple hits while mountain biking and it’s still going strong

I have a Fénix and I love it! Literally wouldn’t want to live without it. I find myself using some of the basic features on it daily (like the flashlight). It’s a huge investment, and after having it she may yearn for more tech so I’d get the fénix. I have a gorgeous one, imo. I also have an Oura for what it’s worth and I love that they each do their own thing, but for what she does hands down a Garmin watch

I used Garmin for about 7 years, about 5 models (all from the Fénix line which is their flagship), I loved them, I really did, I was obsessed with them, and it is not just the battery life, the look, they look so gorgeous, like a proper watch compared to the black rectangle the Apple Watch was (Always On Display wasn’t so much of a thing back then). Then I received an Apple Watch as a gift , and everything changed, for starters it was so much more comfortable and light, I’m not a big guy so the massive Garmin Fénix didn’t really look that good on me looking back at old photos of me wearing them, a smaller profile watch looks much better. Then there’s the matter of the smart features, I am now an Apple Shortcuts power user (it is silly but it is true) I have so many and the fact that they integrate to the Apple Watch simply cannot be understated for me, I couldn’t go back to Garmin now, it is just so much part of my life now. There’s also Apple Music which just works fantastically on Apple Watch, albeit not Garmin’s fault but the integration with Spotify in their watches leaves so much to be desired in comparison. Every now and then I look a Garmin watches and still think they look better “on paper” but maybe not on me. In terms of Running, I have to be honest, Garmin does it much better than Apple’s simplistic implementation, but then again I don’t do that much running anymore, I used to run much more back then, probably encouraged by the watch 😄 , but now I focus more on weightlifting and other workout types, I found it is better for me.

I've had Apple, Garmin and Samsung smart watches but only got "joy spark" from the Garmin Fenix/Epix. The Garmin Fenix/Epix have an intangible attraction that doesn't equate to any feature or activity. One aspect of wearing a Fenix/Epix that I have to admit is attractive to me is that it signifies that I'm a performance athlete.

Garmin - They have a lot of watches at different price points. There is built-in GPS and the battery lasts for several days, unlike a smart watch that you typically need to charge every night. The Garmin app easily syncs with other fitness apps, if that's important to you. If you have a smaller wrist, go for the "S" models that will look and fit better.