Hey guys,
My Fenix 6 Solar got hit on a door knob and has a huge crack. Has anyone else had this happen and had the glass replaced? If so, can it be replaced with something stronger? Are there after market repair companies or do I have to send to Garmin? My Fenix 3 had Sapphire and and it never even had a scratch from years of hard use.
Thanks!
Garmin Wants $200 to exchange. Going back to Sapphire glass.
Garmin Wants $200 to exchange. Going back to Sapphire glass.
That’s crazy. I whack my watch (6X Sapphire) on door knobs almost daily and still looks as new as the day I bought it. One of the turn offs when I was deciding between it and the solar was the lack of sapphire crystal face. I’m guessing something about the sapphire that affects the solar?
Yeah I was pretty pissed about it. It is a pretty new watch. I spent a long time on the phone with them. The Garmin Rep probably hates me. But $200 to fix the glass on a $1000 watch seems high to me. But I told them I wanted to switch to the Fenix 6 Sapphire. They appeased me, probably so I would quit bothering them.
He was very helpful, even though I was a dick. Will stick to the Sapphire glass in the future. I abused my Fenix 3 and it never had a scratch on it.
Get a protective cover from Amazon. You can get 3 for less than $10.
They crack before your glass.
Get a protective cover from Amazon. You can get 3 for less than $10.
They crack before your glass.
I think the fundamental issue is that a $1K watch should have a face that doesn’t crack when it hits a doorknob. This can be corrected with a proper “glass”…sapphire crystal. I’m not sure why Garmin downgraded the solar unit to a less resilient glass but this is the result when you do.
That totally sucks. But, it is a lot cheaper than replacing the glass on an Apple Watch. Doing the service correctly is not simple. Just as an FYI, sapphire screens are more scratch resistant, but they are also more prone to break and shatter. So, that same hit on a sapphire would probably have shattered it.
I don’t disagree. But a $3 safety piece might have prevented the issue. I have it on all of my watches. It’s worked many times. Broken protective shield and an easy replace. Also helps when reselling…no nicks or scratches.
Get a protective cover from Amazon. You can get 3 for less than $10.
They crack before your glass.
I think the fundamental issue is that a $1K watch should have a face that doesn’t crack when it hits a doorknob. This can be corrected with a proper “glass”…sapphire crystal. I’m not sure why Garmin downgraded the solar unit to a less resilient glass but this is the result when you do.
If you hit anything hard enough to it will break. Sapphire glass improves the scratch resistance. Hit it hard enough on a door knob and it will break too.
If they come out with a Fenix 6 (or 7) X Pro Solar Ti (SAPPHIRE!!) I would purchase in a heartbeat.
Until then … sticking with my Fenix 5X Plus (Sapphire) which has taken a beating with no scratches.
I do hope there is a way in the next watch to come up with Solar + Sapphire.
It is the Glass itself (Garmin calls it power glass) that gathers the energy from sunlight. They dont…and probably wont make an equivalent “Saphire” glass for a while or you would sacrifice the tiny amount of solar charging. Garmin recommends AGAINST a screen protector on the solar watch, if you want it to actually charge the watch.
This is a “Cake and eat it to” scenario. If you want the ability for solar charging - you sacrifice face strength. If you want a stronger glass…you sacrifice solar charging. Reading Garmins marketing info - none of that was hidden.
My Saphire Fenix 3 has been through hell and back. I have bashed, scraped, fallen, wrestled, banged it…you name it and the glass looks like the day I bought it in May of 2016. When I get the 6 (or 7), I wouldnt even consider the Solar. Saphire all the way. I cant figure out the actual real life benefit of the tiny amount of charging that the “solar” gives you when the battery on these things is so great.
I’ve been using Instinct Solar for about a year now. After the first month I put a glass screen protector on and have had zero issues with solar charging. It still charges just as good with it as it does without.