Ok…break it down Barny Style for me…when do I ugrade because the 5x still leaves me pretty satisfied.
DC Rainmaker review: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/08/garmin-fenix6-pro-solar-series-review.html?fbclid=IwAR1A-SiVcbAq6O7Oc3lOUh6Vx8KrHtdtVEaor8eFubtFr4hhqWhWYVxsNhE
good enough is enough -when yours gets wonky
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I saw that on FB and decided to not even click it to read his review. I just got the 5+ last November and don’t even feel like having any doubts about my watch to be tempted by the sexy 6.
I ordered one yesterday to replace my 5x plus. Should have it early next week. I’ll try to remember to report back with a comparison. I got the sapphire version because I am concerned about the Power Glass (solar) version scratching. This will be my fourth Garmin watch and each has been an improvement on the last. I’ll be selling my 5x next week on classifieds if anyone is interested…
I ordered one yesterday to replace my 5x plus. Should have it early next week. I’ll try to remember to report back with a comparison. I got the sapphire version because I am concerned about the Power Glass (solar) version scratching. This will be my fourth Garmin watch and each has been an improvement on the last. I’ll be selling my 5x next week on classifieds if anyone is interested…
$3 tempered glass screen protector has worked wonderfully on my 935. It also puts the glass flush to the bezel, which I think looks nice.
Just food for thought for those considering spending extra on the sapphire version.
The solar version is only available with a glass screen, no sapphire crystal option. Idk if there were technical limitations or perhaps the sapphire put it out of a specified price range. I haven’t been a fan of any screen protectors I’ve ever had on anything (phone, tablet, edge 520), and have removed most of them a short time after installing. Maybe the watch screen protector would be different, idk. I had a fenix 5 with “normal” glass and my 5x plus has sapphire. It is worth it hands down for me to spend extra on the sapphire. It looks more crisp and shiny, and has been super durable. My only hang up on ordering the new watch was that I kind of wanted to try the solar version, but in the end I’d rather have a more durable screen. Maybe on future models there will be a solar sapphire model, and hopefully it can sustain the charge instead of only supplementing it as well.
FYI - In case you’re looking at this and haven’t looked in the 945 thread. BCBS and some other health insurance programs have discounts of up to 35% that includes the Fenix 6…6x Pro Solar for $649.99.
Yes, I used the discount. Pretty amazing!
I currently have the 935 and I am looking to upgrade. How does this compare to the 945?
Trying to figure out which one to get.
THanks!
I saw that on FB and decided to not even click it to read his review. I just got the 5+ last November and don’t even feel like having any doubts about my watch to be tempted by the sexy 6.
I got the 5+ for Xmas last year as well. I read the 6 review and have zero regrets or yearning for the 6. The battery life is the only new thing I find appealing, but not for how expensive they are.
I think it’s evolutionary, not revolutionary.
I currently have the 935 and I am looking to upgrade. How does this compare to the 945?
Trying to figure out which one to get.
THanks!
I’m looking at upgrading my 935 as well and I’m looking at the 6X just for the bigger screen and I think the metal looks nicer than the plastic since I wear mine 24/7.
fēnix 5X Plus – fēnix 6X Pro and Sapphire Editions – fēnix 6 Pro and Sapphire Editions – Forerunner® 945fēnix 6X Pro and Sapphire Editions – fēnix 6X Pro Solar Edition – fēnix 6 Pro and Sapphire Editions – Forerunner 945
Here are some comparison charts from Garmin’s website. I have not owned a Forerunner 935 or 945, but I have always thought of it as being a “form over function” watch; more suited to strictry racing/training. The Fenix has a better aesthetic I think and looks fine with business casual wear for me. I have the titanium band that I put on when doing pretty much anything other than training/racing, and it’s a fairly good looking watch.
I have the 5X plus sapphire and the watch has been through hell and back with me and has survived. I’m really happy with the watch and won’t be upgrading to the 6X, but I do see that they made it 15% slimmer, which does sound nice. Maybe I’ll wait until the 7. I have 1 year left on my Best Buy warranty. This is probably my favorite watch I have owned. Its great - I love it.
+1. I’m two years into my Fenix 5X Plus w/ sapphire and it’s been awesome. Glass is still pristine, bezel has some light scuffing.
Had to replace the band once. My only issue is that garmin express is a wonky, broken piece of shit dumpster fire when I need it to actually recognize the device is plugged into the computer via usb to push an update or install a map. I can get it to work on my older laptop maybe 5% of the time.
I’ll just wear this one until it dies or the push forced obsolescence upon us.
Fenix 3 user here.
Ambiguity: I use it for a LOT of purposes in my life (day to day watch, alarm clock, bike computer, running, swimming, triathlon), but I only use a TINY bit of the functions of the watch.
One purpose is that I use it as a normal day-to-day watch which brings me directly to the biggest flaw of the watch: visibility indoors. I find that really bad: you have to give the watch a certain angle often to get it visible indoors. Whereas outside in the sun, or indoors with the right lighting (presentation display in a watchmaker’s shop) it is ok. I do therefore only use a big digital display mode: the analogue modes are just not visible often. Reading the revue of the new fenix 6 of Rainmaker, the problem seems not to have been addressed.
On the other hand the display of my fenix 3 has 1,2 Inch width, and the 6+ has 1,4, such that buying a 6+ would maybe increase the visibility indoors only because of the increased size.
(As I understand, the outer width of the fenix 3 is 51 mm, like that of the 6+ but the display of the 6+ is bigger, leaving a narrower area between the outside of the watch and the outside of the display ?)
I use the watch also as a bike computer and since my eyes are not so young anymore, an increased display size would help to read the values a bit better, or secondly, I could use 6 or 8 fields instead of the 4 I use now.
Another advantage would be the alleged increased GPS accuracy of open water swimming and the increased battery life in GPS mode, although that is also sufficient with my fenix 3.
So to summarize: I would only consider the fenix 6+ for increased visibility indoors because it has a bigger display. But there is still the problem of bad visibility indoors dependent of the angle of the watch as such I guess-> maybe better to just get on with my fenix 3 … Or can someone persuade me?
Wow, never really looked at any of the Fenix series watches before. Very nice
While I am far from a watch connoisseur, I do have a few really nice watches I wear to the office and for gatherings.
I use my Garmin VivoActive 3 Music just for working out (I don’t like wearing to the office, as I feel I am part of the lunch-time step counter team 
)
I am really impressed with the Fenix 6X Sapphire with the Titanium Bracelet. But is that really an all day watch especially to use also for working out, swimming, sleeping, etc?
The solar version is using Corning Gorilla Glass 3… just saying
Wow, never really looked at any of the Fenix series watches before. Very nice
While I am far from a watch connoisseur, I do have a few really nice watches I wear to the office and for gatherings.
I use my Garmin VivoActive 3 Music just for working out (I don’t like wearing to the office, as I feel I am part of the lunch-time step counter team )
I am really impressed with the Fenix 6X Sapphire with the Titanium Bracelet. But is that really an all day watch especially to use also for working out, swimming, sleeping, etc?
I have a fenix 3 with titanium bracelet. Very nice, but for sports reduced suitability: you can’t ware it over a sleeve for example. And I use it as a bike computer strapping it around a BTA bottle, which is also not possible with the titanium bracelet. I use the watch thus more often with a silicone bracelet, and with the fenix 3 the bracelets are nice to exchange with two screwdrivers. The fixation system of the fenix 6 is different, I do not know if the bracelets are easily exchangeable.
Wow, never really looked at any of the Fenix series watches before. Very nice
While I am far from a watch connoisseur, I do have a few really nice watches I wear to the office and for gatherings.
I use my Garmin VivoActive 3 Music just for working out (I don’t like wearing to the office, as I feel I am part of the lunch-time step counter team )
I am really impressed with the Fenix 6X Sapphire with the Titanium Bracelet. But is that really an all day watch especially to use also for working out, swimming, sleeping, etc?
I have a fenix 3 with titanium bracelet. Very nice, but for sports reduced suitability: you can’t ware it over a sleeve for example. And I use it as a bike computer strapping it around a BTA bottle, which is also not possible with the titanium bracelet. I use the watch thus more often with a silicone bracelet, and with the fenix 3 the bracelets are nice to exchange with two screwdrivers. The fixation system of the fenix 6 is different, I do not know if the bracelets are easily exchangeable.
Fenix 6 has quickfit bands, like the fenix 5, which I have now. Snap on and off with no tools. It’s a spring mechanism that latches on some rods on either end of the watch. I swap out the titanium band on my 5 to silicone bands when I work out. 5 seconds
And yes, the solar version is not currently available with sapphire crystal. If it were, I would have ordered it. I’m not confident in gorilla glass’ ability to withstand daily wear. Seeing as that’s what’s on my galaxy s10+, and it’s scratched to shit already
The sunlight-based adaptation is just accessible with a glass screen, with no sapphire gem choice. Idk in case there were specialized limits or maybe the sapphire put it out of a predefined value range. I haven’t been an enthusiast of any screen defenders I’ve at any point had on anything (telephone, tablet, edge 520), and have eliminated the greater part of them a brief time frame subsequent to introducing. Possibly the watch screen defender would be unique, I don’t have the foggiest idea. I had a Fenix 5 with “typical” glass and my 5x in addition to has sapphire. It is awesome without a doubt for me to spend extra on the sapphire. It looks more fresh and sparkling and has been really tough. My lone hang-up on requesting the new watch was that I sort of needed to attempt the sunlight based adaptation, yet eventually, I’d prefer have a more sturdy screen.