Like all aspect of applied science , smartwatches have always prioritized thinness and design over the chief ailment that most people have : battery life . The legal philosophy of purgative always prove unfeigned : you may have something slender , something that lasts forever , or something that does everything , but you may never have all three .
Yet , amid all thebest smartwatchessold by Apple , Samsung , and Google , a scope of thicker watches promise battery biography of up to several weeks longer . Some of these arehybrid smartwatches , focalize on combining analog watches with limited digital capacity , while the premium range of smartwatches put up better battery life in a prominent flesh .
The Garmin Fenix 8 sit somewhere between a regular smartwatch and a crossbreed . It offers all the usual features you ’d gestate from a sports watch . The welfare ? xvii - day battery life and all the sports trailing you’re able to enquire for . The cost ? A gravid human body and an intermediate smartwatch experience . The issue ? A ticker that ’s hard to urge at $ 1,000 , unless you ’re serious about fun ( or have the budget to give someone on your list aluxury tech giftthis year ) . This is our Garmin Fenix 8 review .
Step 1: all notificationsNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
Garmin Fenix 8 specs
47 mm
51 millimetre
47 x 47 x 13.8 mm ( 47 mm )
Step 2: the single-app notification menuNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
51 x 51 x 14.7 millimetre ( 51 mm )
43 mm : 44 g ( atomic number 22 )
47 millimeter : 59 g ( unsullied steel )
Step 3: a single notificationNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
47 millimetre : 52 g ( titanium )
51 mm : 74 M ( stainless steel )
51 millimetre : 64 chiliad ( titanium )
47 mm AMOLED : 1.4″ , 454 x 454 pixels
47 mm Solar : 1.3″ , 260 x 260 pixels
51 mm AMOLED : 1.4″ , 454 x 454 pixel
51 mm Solar : 1.4″ , 280 x 280 pixels
unnatural sum - pace alerts
Respiration pace
Fitness age
Body battery
Stress monitor
eternal sleep trailing
round trailing
tegument temperature
special K lag advisor
43 mm AMOLED titanium : $ 1,100
47 millimeter AMOLED stainless brand : $ 1,000
47 mm AMOLED Ti : $ 1,100
47 mm Solar atomic number 22 : $ 1,100
51 millimetre AMOLED stainless brand : $ 1,100
51 mm AMOLED titanium : $ 1,200
51 mm Solar titanium : $ 1,200
The Garmin Fenix 8 is big and built for anything
There ’s no acquiring around it : the Fenix 8 is a fashionable - reckon tough watch . This wtach is designed for those who know no bounds , and while many design change ensure it ’s suitable for everyone , Garmin prioritize battery biography and ruggedness over thinness . The intention oral communication skews far more toward rugged appeal than theGalaxy Watch UltraandApple Watch Ultra 2 , which accomplish far less , but combine better into day-to-day life .
I ’m using the 47 mm model in stainless blade , which weighs 80 grams with the include silicone radiocarpal joint strap or 59 grams on its own . The atomic number 22 model is a bit lighter at 73 grams with the lookout man band ( and 52 grams on its own ) . For context , the Apple Watch Ultra 2 weighs 62 grams . The added massiveness is a necessary craft - off for the ruggedness and stamp battery life , but that does n’t block off the Fenix 8 from feel heavy on the wrist .
This heftiness comes with many benefits . Every smartwatch can double as an average torch , but this entail a quick depleted battery and having to place your limb at an embarrassing slant . The torch at the top of the Fenix 8 beneath the display face forward , and it ’s an idealistic , if not pure implementation . I often become to my speech sound for a flashlight , and while theiPhone 16 Proflashlight is importantly brighter , the Garmin Fenix 8 is more practical .
From dive in the Atlantic to ski in the Alps , the Garmin Fenix 8 is designed to hold out it all .
There ’s no doubt that this watch is made to be rugged . irrespective of which model you buy , there are leakproof metal buttons , a new guard spread over the vital sensor , and a military paygrade for shock absorber , thermic , and water resistor up to a depth of 100 meters . From diving in the Atlantic to skiing in the Alps , the Garmin Fenix 8 is designed to survive it all .
This is my first Garmin watch and , after having used more traditional smartwatches for many years , the buttons on the Fenix 8 are great , but mildly confusing . However , if you ’ve used a Garmin watch before , these controls will be super familiar . We ’ve all been crucify when sample to habituate a smartwatch with a lactating concealment , but being able to voyage through the entire experience using push button is more utilitarian than I would have have a bun in the oven .
On the rear , you ’ll find the optical heart rate sensing element , as well as the charging connector pins . Unlike most smartwatches , there ’s no radio charging . Instead , the Garmin Fenix 8 connects via a proprietary USB cable , which means it ’s unusable while charging . gratefully , you may still prop the Fenix 8 up on its side while it ’s topping up , but it ’s far less convenient and secure . There are a few design conclusion that may experience curious coming from a regular smartwatch , but the Garmin Fenix 8 delivers on its ambitions of being a rugged smartwatch that ’s ready for anything .
A choice of two displays
When researching the specification of the Garmin Fenix 8 , I quickly realized why I had strayed far from Garmin in the past tense . Alongside a few see shoulder strap styles and two choices of soma , there are also two choices of display . Each has its benefit , but much of this is the remainder of merging two premature Cartesian product line into the Fenix 8 mountain range .
First , there ’s the simulation I ’m testing with an AMOLED display . The Fenix 8 I ’m testing is effectivelya Garmin Epix watch , although the smallest size have a 0.1 - inch larger display . Then there ’s the MIP - based Fenix 8 Solar , which has a less - contemplative and less - vibrant display , but can also recharge itself using solar . This is from the former Fenix range . Not confusing at all , good ?
The AMOLED mannequin I ’ve been essay is fantastic . It ’s vivacious and jolly light to read in all conditions , and it ’s large enough to be useful for mapping and triaging selective information . In especial , some of Garmin ’s watch face have improved massively , and the color - robust AMOLED video display bring in them a joyfulness to use . It ’s designed to work in a potpourri of environments , which play into the sport focus of the health features .
Plenty of sports-centric health/fitness features
Everything on the Garmin Fenix 8 is designed with specific sports in idea . If you are concerned in skiing , diving , hiking , surfing , or golfing , this is the smartwatch for you . Like the Garmin Descent series , you get a fully functional dive figurer that you always have on you . It proffer key information like depth , time , compass , and water temperature from your articulatio radiocarpea , but it wo n’t mix with an O tank , so it wo n’t be suitable for serious diver .
The Garmin Fenix 8 is ideal if you are multidisciplined . It ’s more than just a associate on your wrist ; many of the fresh features are tailored to help you get better at the sports you like . Enjoy surfing , golfing or skiing ? There ’s a consecrate workout profile for these , and there ’s musical accompaniment for tracking almost the intact spectrum of popular sports . In college and require to make the big time ? This is believably the watch you need to dog your data .
There is a lot more economic value than just for sport enthusiasts . The heart rate monitor is ECG - enabled and offers 24/7 uninterrupted spirit rate monitoring . The watch can also use the data from a paired gist rate monitor during the action , which appeals to me for its benefit of chase after my heart during usage .
There ’s also detailed sleep trailing , and the long barrage life on the Garmin Fenix 8 wee-wee it ideal for this challenge . However , it ’s deserving mark that the user interface on the watch and the accompanying Garmin Connect app means there are several taps requiredto regain the premature dark ’s data . The Garmin Fenix 8 tracks a lot of data , but makes it far too difficult to access and memorise from it .
Far more average than a regular smartwatch
If I were a serious sportsperson , the Garmin Fenix 8 would likely be my dreaming smartwatch . But it ’s exactly because I ’m not that it has leave me wanting . Although it ’s placard as a smartwatch , it ’s a significantly deficient experience to those oblation from telephone set Almighty .
The seafaring buttons make it well-situated to traverse the interface , but as you do so , the Fenix 8 starts to shine apart . There ’s a big display , but once you get multiple menus in , telling still show very petty . There are no quick replies or actions , making it a fairly useless way of triaging your life . There are also a lot of different menus that call for acclimating to ; the Garmin Fenix 8 is a sentinel that you may develop and explore with , but there ’ll be growing pains along the way .
The experience is limited , and this may be by design , but the residue of the picket is every bit frustrating . Most smartwatches are degenerate in the transitions , but the Garmin Fenix 8 is noticeably slower . There ’s a eternal lag , especially after using the buttons for remark , and while it has improved with an update , it ’s still frustrating given the Leontyne Price rag .
The Garmin Fenix 8 is a watch for all your adventures , but there ’ll be grow pain in the ass along the style .
A particular surprise is the lack of cellular connectivity . The Garmin Fenix 8 is designed for the great outdoors , but you always take a telephone set nearby for anything other than some simple vocalization commands . There ’s an irony to this , as one of the new features is the speaker / mike , which can only be used for vocalisation command . These voice control are utile , allowing you to start activity , set timer , or record notes direct from the vigil , but the lack of cellular connectivity is missed .
you’re able to get some features like artificial satellite SOS , tracking , and weather with the inReach features in the Garmin Messenger app , but this ask additional computer hardware and software . The Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $ 200 less and include both satellite features and the ironware for cellular connectivity .
There is one particularly overnice characteristic about the Garmin Fenix 8 : the Glance menu . This combine key information such as calendar , assault and battery , weather , first light and sunset times , wellness metrics , and more in one gentle to digest screen . There ’s just enough data to make it very useful as a dashboard for your life . It ’s simple , yet incredibly effective .
Battery life for days
Even though there are challenges with the Garmin Fenix 8 experience , it excels in the key expanse that most wear fail : battery life . How much barrage life you ’ll get will depend on how you practice your watch .
The model I ’ve been testing ( 47 mm AMOLED non - titanium ) is slated for a maximum of up to 23 days on a individual charge . However , that ’s in the battery saver watch mode that disables many features . If you want to apply it as a smartwatch , it ’s snitch as up to seven days with the always - on display ( AOD ) or up to 16 mean solar day without . That ’s less impressive , but still significantly better than the competition .
As bear , the barrage fire life throw away when using various athletics modes or with intensive tasks . In GPS - only mode — the canonical type of GPS tracking — the battery life is rank as up to 47 hour without the AOD and 37 hours with . Need GPS while preserving barrage fire life ? You ’ll get up to 81 hours , but it ’s not usable with AOD enable . Want the best sign using all planet systems and multiple frequency band ? You ’ll get up to 35 hours of uninterrupted exercise , although if you enable music mode , this drops to just 10 time of day ( the lowest potential ) .
thing get interesting when considering the size . I ’m using the 47 mm fashion model , but if you go for the smaller 43 mm version , battery life drops significantly . The maximum battery life drops from 23 days to 15 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , while smartwatch mode dangle to just four daylight with the AOD enabled ( versus 7 day ) . Every military rank is significantly lower , sometimes up to 40 % lower .
The Garmin Fenix 8 is a shine example of smartwatch assault and battery sprightliness done properly .
Conversely , if you go for the bigger 51 millimeter model , the numbers increase by a similar amount across all metric unit , with assault and battery recoverer watch manner increase to 41 24-hour interval and up to 29 days in smartwatch mode without the AOD . That ’s phenomenal battery life given everything this watch can do . Not enough for you ? The Fenix 8 Solar drops the AMOLED show , but extend the same experience with up to 107 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of battery life using solar charging and 48 days without . The Garmin Fenix 8 is a shine example of smartwatch barrage fire life done properly .
Garmin Fenix 8 price and availability
The Garmin Fenix 8 represents an uniting of feature usable on other Garmin devices . Garmin has packaged it up as a fresh product with new characteristic and , crucially , important damage hikes .
The cheapest Fenix 8 is $ 1,000 for the Fenix 8 47 mm Slate Gray with a smutty band that I ’ve been test . The titanium pick cost $ 100 more and come in two color combinations : Ti with an orange band like the original Apple Watch Ultra 2 , or a non-white gray Ti body with a shameful silicone band .
The 43 millimetre manakin is priced the same , although it comes in different color combinations . Then there ’s the 51 mm manakin , which cost $ 100 more at $ 1,200 . This is the well value for the significant battery life increase , if you do n’t beware the gravid sizing . If you want the Solar edition for the extra battery life or the alternate display option , it ’s priced the same as the AMOLED versions .
Should you buy the Garmin Fenix 8?
The Garmin Fenix 8 is one of the most characteristic - rich smartwatches ever , but all this comes at a monetary value , both literally and figuratively . The $ 1,000 cost tag makes it heavy to commend given an average smartwatch experience , while the sheer suite of features means it does too much for most users .
The biggest number with recommend the Garmin Fenix 8 is that most of the features are uncommitted in other Garmin smartwatches that are importantly cheaper . In many way , it is a repackaged smartwatch , the product born of a desire to admit all of Garmin ’s greatest hits in one gimmick . consider this is aimed at loyal Garmin fan , the price increment of up to $ 300 over the last coevals is a step too far for most multitude .
If you ’re a hardcore fitness partisan , enjoy Garmin ’s smartwatch experience , and have at least $ 1,000 to spend , the Garmin Fenix 8 is an undeniably knock-down smartwatch — and one you ’re bound to enjoy . But for everyone else , you ’re likely advantageously off with a rugged lookout from Apple or Samsung , or evenone of Garmin ’s cheaper smartwatch options .
