Garmin Fenix 8 Evaluate: Excellent, however expensive

Garmin has a brand new flagship look ahead to 2024: the Garmin Fenix 8.

It is available in three sizes – a small, 43mm one, a medium 47mm model, and a big, 51mm mannequin – so it doesn’t matter what is the scale of your wrist, it is possible for you to to have a watch that matches it effectively.

All three watches include beautiful OLED screens, and have far more battery life than excessive smartwatches just like the Apple Watch Extremely and Galaxy Watch Extremely.

So what’s new on the Fenix 8 when it comes to options?

The design is extra refined, you will have new buttons, the newest Elevate Gen5 sensor for improved accuracy, in addition to helpful options like a flashlight on all fashions, together with even the smallest one. You continue to have Garmin’s proprietary OS on board, so there is no such thing as a possibility to make use of third-party apps, however what’s new is assist for voice instructions. Additionally, now you can take calls in your watch too with the built-in mic and speaker.

Sadly, all of that comes with considerably increased costs, that are actually a bit laborious to justify if you evaluate these new watches to the Fenix 7 sequence or the Epix Professional.

Garmin Fenix 8 Sizes: Variations defined

Additionally take a look at:

Design, Straps and Really feel

Premium really feel and also you get a built-in flashlight

The 43mm Fenix 8 is a superb measurement for these with smaller wrists (Picture by PhoneArena)

The Fenix 8 has a spherical physique with a metallic bezel and it feels sturdy and really effectively put collectively.

You might have 5 bodily buttons and a touchscreen, and you should utilize each the buttons in addition to faucets and swipes to navigate across the menu. That is very handy in comparison with simply having a touchscreen for navigation, particularly for exercises.

Moreover, you’ll be able to set a customized shortcut for long-pressing every of these buttons, so you’ll be able to entry your favourite options simply.

Talking of the buttons, these are new “leakproof” buttons. These are completely different out of your typical bodily keys, which principally depress right into a gap within the physique of the watch. There is no such thing as a gap right here, as an alternative Garmin makes use of induction to detect a press. In actuality, these do really feel a bit completely different than regular, extra springy. You get used to that shortly, however it’s a barely completely different really feel than a daily button.

We’ve used many cheaper Garmin watches just like the Venu 3, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 165, Vivoactive 5, and all of them really feel plasticky and have extra of a sporty vibe. Trendy just isn’t the phrase that involves thoughts for these watches, however the Fenix 8 does look trendy. It is only a bit unhappy that you need to spend $1,000 to get a classy watch from Garmin.

On the best facet you’ll be able to see a bit of strip of metallic between the 2 buttons, which is there to guard the speaker and barometer from harm.

The Fenix 8 wears comfortably, however due to these extra premium supplies it’s a tiny bit heavier than your typical plastic Garmin watch. Select your measurement fastidiously. The larger watches are tempting with their longer battery life, however is perhaps uncomfortable if in case you have a smaller wrist. We significantly admire having the smaller, 43mm model, which sits nice on wrists sized 170mm or much less.

Having a smaller measurement is one essential benefit for the Fenix 8 over the Apple Watch Extremely and Galaxy Watch Extremely, that are solely out there in a single giant measurement.

You need to use your commonplace spring bar straps on the Fenix 8 sequence (and most different Garming watches). The band that comes within the field is made from silicone and is certainly sporty, however it’s a pleasant and a snug match. Nonetheless, our expertise is that for most individuals a material nylon band is the most effective and most common match (in fact, that’s private desire).

A flashlight is a cool additional (Picture by PhoneArena)

Lastly, we must always point out the built-in flashlight. It is a tremendous underrated characteristic, in our opinion, and it is nice having it on board. It really works simply as you’ll count on and you’ve got the choice to tweak the depth with varied ranges.

Voice Instructions

One of the crucial helpful new options within the Fenix 8 in our expertise is the assist for voice instructions.

The explanation for that’s the convoluted Garmin menu system, the place discovering the best setting is perhaps a ache in case you are new to the platform.

Excellent news is that it really works principally as you’ll count on, and it is moderately quick.

There are two issues, nonetheless, we want have been attainable. First one is the flexibility to robotically begin a exercise after you have mentioned a voice command. For instance, once we say “begin a run”, we count on the run exercise to start out (which is what occurs on the Apple Watch for instance), however right here on the Garmin it solely opens the run menu, however doesn’t begin the exercise. Some folks would possibly choose it that approach, however for a lot of others this makes the command much less helpful as you need to press a button to start out the exercise anyway. We want this was out there as an possibility.

The second factor is that you simply can not simply elevate your wrist to start out speaking, like you’ll be able to on an Apple Watch, however as an alternative you must lengthy press the highest proper button.

On the plus facet, many instructions akin to these for beginning a exercise, a timer or setting an alarm work even with no cellphone connection, which is nice.

Voice Calls

Now you can take a voice name immediately in your watch with the Garmin Fenix 8, which sounds nice. There may be nonetheless no LTE mobile modem out there right here, so you must have your cellphone close by.

Sadly, there are a number of massive points with this performance.

The most important one is simply how quiet the speaker sounds, even at most quantity. I might barely right here my callers in a quiet room, and picture if I needed to take a name on the road. It simply would not work.

On the opposite finish of the road, callers reported a number of of my phrases have been lacking or get trimmed midway, so the standard wasn’t good.

We actually anticipated Garmin to execute this perform significantly better, as it’s proper now, we do not think about many individuals utilizing it. 

Garmin Fenix 8 consumer interface

Fenix 8 comes with a reorganized menu that makes a bit extra sense

Garmin has made some tweaks to its consumer interface to make it extra approachable, however you’ll be able to simply inform the working system right here is rather more restricted in comparison with Apple’s watchOS or Google’s Put on OS.

All of it begins with the watchfaces. Those included within the field look good, however there’s not a lot selection.

If you have not used a Garmin watch earlier than – be warned, you can not faucet on the problems from the watchface. It is a tremendous helpful options on different smartwatches.

Sports activities, Exercises and Well being

Fenix 8 makes use of Garmin’s new Elevate Gen 5 sensor and it really works effectively (Picture by PhoneArena)

As you’ll count on, the Fenix 8 comes with Garmin’s latest Elevate Gen5 sensor, which guarantees higher accuracy. That is additionally one cause to contemplate the Fenix 8 over the cheaper Forerunner 265/965 sequence, which use the older Gen4 sensor.

Testing it with a number of runs, the Fenix 8 carried out almost good, simply as you’ll count on.

Fenix 8 for Operating

It acquired GPS sign shortly, the monitoring was glorious, and coronary heart charge accuracy was additionally superb.

Compared, the Galaxy Watch Extremely that I used to be carrying on my different hand was not capable of purchase a GPS sign for a protracted whereas, and my 10K run ended up being recorded as 9.29K on the Galaxy Watch, a giant distinction and naturally all my working stats have been fallacious due to that. The Apple Watch Extremely carried out significantly better in that regard and the accuracy between Apple and Garmin was fairly shut.

This watch, in fact, helps dozens of various exercises and is an ideal companion for multi-sport athletes and triathletes.

Fenix 8 for diving

These, nonetheless, are usually not new options. The large new characteristic is dive assist, with the brand new sealed buttons and depth gauge. Garmin has a separate model of dive watches – the Descend sequence. Nonetheless, for many dives you now not want to purchase a kind of watches.

The Fenix 8 is licensed for dives of as much as 40 meters deep, which is what the overwhelming majority of divers will likely be participating in. For these few professionals that go deeper, the Descend household of watches would nonetheless be the one to get.

We solely had one diver within the group who’s now not with PhoneArena, so sadly we couldn’t check the dive performance, however allow us to shortly summarize the specs: you will have assist for scuba dive, free diving (apnea) and snorkeling. You get typical metrics such because the depth, time, a compass, water temp, and max depth, in addition to descend and ascend alerts. Additionally, you get GPS coordinates to your entry and exit factors.

Different Helpful Metrics

Physique Battery – This metric is accessible on even cheaper Garmin watches and it principally accounts to your sleep to give you a beginning rating within the morning after which it steadily depletes primarily based in your exertion all through the day. It is a helpful metric to shortly verify to see if in case you have any doubts about doing a heavier coaching session within the night.

Coaching Readiness – This metric is barely out there on increased finish sports activities oriented Garmin watches (you aren’t getting it on the Venu 3). Whereas Physique Battery is a common rating to your vitality, this one is particularly tailor-made to your coaching. It takes under consideration your sleep, restoration, and former coaching historical past to give you a quantity, and the upper it’s, the extra prepared you might be to tackle larger challenges. 

Coaching Standing – Overview of your coaching for an extended time period and your present standing.

Coaching Load – It is a nice metric to see in case you are getting into overtraining territory. Right here you will see helpful insights about your coaching. For instance, I like working longer distances slower, however this slows down my progress and the Fenix 8 rightly recommends me that I begin doing excessive cardio actions like quick runs.

Endurance Rating – Right here you’ll be able to see how your exercise allow you to enhance your general endurance.

Health Age – This enjoyable metric makes use of your weight, well being knowledge and coaching to estimate your “health age”. The youthful, the higher.

Battery Life and Charging

We discovered the battery numbers supplied by Garmin correspond with real-life use.

Allow us to as soon as once more quote them right here:

The photo voltaic variations with MIP shows are getting a lot increased numbers than that too.

And that is clearly the large benefit of the Garmin over smartwatches from Apple and Samsung. You purchase a watch and you need to cost it so hardly ever that it is now not a every day chore.

As for charging, it occurs by way of the nice previous proprietary Garmin pin cable. This can be a tad much less handy than magnetic charger, however it’s tremendous dependable and it takes simply round an hour to totally cost the watch.

Do you have to purchase the Garmin Fenix 8?

The $1,000+ value will make you query your buy (Picture by PhoneArena)

The Fenix 8 is undoubtedly essentially the most premium Garmin watch on the market, however its excessive value will make many potential consumers assume twice. And we are able to actually perceive why.

Most individuals would certainly be served equally as effectively by both the Forerunner 265 (is available in two sizes and helps metrics like Coaching Readiness and triathlons) or the Forerunner 965 (all that the 265 presents plus maps). The Forerunner 265 prices $450, however is commonly discounted to $350, and the Forerunner 965 beginning value is $600, however offers normally convey down its value to round $500.

We’re additionally puzzled by the shortage of mobile connectivity on the Fenix 8, which might be a really helpful characteristic.

Those that desire a smarter “Extremely” watch and might cope with the two-day battery life can be significantly better served by the Apple Watch Extremely and Galaxy Watch Extremely sequence. Each these have an actual sensible working system, assist for apps, and a way more intuitive interface, plus the price is considerably decrease than the Garmin.

Nonetheless, the Fenix 8 is an extremely succesful and well-refined watch. It would not have a bizarre seem like these watches by Apple and Samsung. It is a straightforward advice for everybody who desires the last word Garmin watch. Simply make sure that to attend for deal, so you do not have to spend $1,000 or extra on it.

Nonetheless, in case you are an athlete who desires all the information or in case you are simply somebody who values a premium construct high quality and reliability, the Fenix 8 is not going to disappoint you. Simply be sure to store when offers can be found to get a greater value.