I initially bought the Epix Pro as my first Garmin watch, but I was disappointed with its performance. It felt like a device from a decade ago. I then returned and replaced it with the Fenix 8.
If I had bought the Epix a year ago, I wouldn’t have upgrade it.
However, as my first device, I think it’s fair to invest a little more in it.
F8 47mm is more responsive 0.1 inch bigger screen with remarkably better resolution than same size epix pro gen2
The Fenix 8 47 feels a little bigger than my Venu 4 but I think it was worth the trade in. This one feels more like a watch than a fitness tracker and isn’t as delicate as the Venu (confirmed after some accidental bumps). Sharing some love for the Quatix 8 watch face too; my go-to look for the office. Overall, quite happy with the trade in and looking forward to being more active now recovering from my spine related issues 🤞
I had the Venu 4 for exactly 10 days. They didn’t deduct any amount at all, I just paid the difference. If you don’t feel 100% satisfied with Venu, I’d recommend you go for a Fenix too, life’s too short for what-ifs. I know it’s twice the amount but you’ll probably keep it for a few years so it’s all worth it in the end. Venu is good option, don’t get me wrong, and it will do the work it needs to. BUT you’ll not really enjoy it
Tbh for my use there’s not a lot of additional features in the Fenix that weren’t there in the Venu. The sapphire vs gorilla glass is a big difference, so is the screen size. Venu has a more vibrant screen though. Battery life is similar. Presence of buttons on Fenix helps but it’s not a game changer. There’s no comparison in looks, this looks way better. Had Venu got a sapphire screen I probably wouldn’t have traded it. I think if you want a premium feel then Fenix is the way to go.
I use a Fenix 8 but only because I'm not on the Apple ecosystem, at ALL. If Samsung got their shit together, made a rectangle watch like the Ultra and battery lasted 3 ish days, i'd jump ship from Fenix 8 to the Samsung Ultra in a heartbeat.
I had a Fenix 5 for 7 years, which still works and never had any issues. Bought a Fenix 8 recently, till now also never had any issues. I have no idea how can be charging less convenient, if you have to charge it every 2-3 weeks as opposed to every day, lol
I'd suggest creating a list of features in your AWU that you can't live without, then seeing if Garmin can support it. This will help you decide if you'll be ok with the tradeoffs and also potentially help you assess what you truly "need" out of a watch. I would also assess the features on the Garmin watch you're interested in, and see how that compares with the AWU. You may end up with things you "need" or really want that the AWU doesn't have (e.g., battery life or flashlight). Afterwards, assess your tradeoffs both ways. You might find one is missing more than the other, or one is missing more important things to you.
I got the F8 (AMOLED 47mm) recently and now I don't know how I was even surviving with only the 9 days on my F6S before this! I forget the last time I even charged it. The flashlight has also been very helpful for random things. Also, I would recommend sticking with an AMOLED display, I think you'll be very underwhelmed with a MIP one coming from your AWU.
I just went from a Fenix 6s to a Fenix 8, and I'm really glad I upgraded screens from MIP to AMOLED (along with size to 47mm). Not as important to everyone, but I think it's something worth comparing and considering.
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