https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/01/garmin-fenix7-7s-7x-in-depth-review.html
Short version:
7 is pretty much the same as the 6 series minus touch screen and flashlight (7x only).
Same sizes as 6 series. No AMOLED
DC Rainmaker prefers the Epix, which is AMOLED.
I was hoping for a smaller bezel and lighter unit.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/01/garmin-fenix7-7s-7x-in-depth-review.html
Short version:
7 is pretty much the same as the 6 series minus touch screen and flashlight (7x only).
Same sizes as 6 series. No AMOLED
DC Rainmaker prefers the Epix, which is AMOLED.
I was hoping for a smaller bezel and lighter unit.
The review made a big deal about increase to battery life, but looking at the numbers, I don’t see a big difference.
GPS/GLONASS 36 hours for Fenix 6 vs 40 hours for Fenix 7 vs 24 hours for Epix
Add music 10 hours for Fenix 6 vs 10 hours for Fenix 7 vs 9 hours for Epix
The “earth-shattering” thing in this whole release is that finally after 15 years Garmin is allowing you to configure the watch through the app.
I always thought it insane that they religiously insisted on forcing users to go through endless menus on the watch to set up data pages, user profile, etc., while Suunto had a super friendly web app for it. Hopefully this trickles down to the 945, there really should not be hard engineering involved.
The “earth-shattering” thing in this whole release is that finally after 15 years Garmin is allowing you to configure the watch through the app.
I always thought it insane that they religiously insisted on forcing users to go through endless menus on the watch to set up data pages, user profile, etc., while Suunto had a super friendly web app for it. Hopefully this trickles down to the 945, there really should not be hard engineering involved.
yeah, that’s a long-overdue development.
otherwise i don’t see much ‘there’ there; i don’t know what i was waiting for, exactly. i have a fenix 5 that i bought used for cheap, and this wouldn’t make me upgrade. maybe it drives down the prices for used 6s, though.
ray’s review has made me more curious about the epix line, though. . .
The “earth-shattering” thing in this whole release is that finally after 15 years Garmin is allowing you to configure the watch through the app.
I always thought it insane that they religiously insisted on forcing users to go through endless menus on the watch to set up data pages, user profile, etc., while Suunto had a super friendly web app for it. Hopefully this trickles down to the 945, there really should not be hard engineering involved.
I’m wondering if Garmin will update the fenix 6 to allow this feature.
Considering that I just bought a 6 about a month ago, I hope so.
Yes- I’m curious about thoughts on the EPIX v.s. Fenix 7.
Yes- Seems like he leaned EPIX.
Will be interesting to see how folks (early adopters) feel.
when i break down the features list, here’s where i’m at:
– All Fenix 7 units now get free worldwide downloadable TopoActive maps using WiFi (Sapphire units have pre-loaded maps) irrelevant to me, i think
– All Fenix 7 units now have pre-loaded Skiing & Golf Maps irrelevant to me
– All Fenix 7 units now have music, WiFi, and Garmin Pay support (previously base Fenix 6 Series did not have this or maps) don’t want music, won’t use it; also won’t use garmin pay; wifi could be useful, but not sure how
– Added touchscreen display (and can still use buttons for every function) really don’t want a touchscreen; would disable if i could
– Added multi-band (aka dual-frequency) GPS to Fenix 7 Sapphire units would need explained to me what this is
– Revamped ‘GPS only’ mode for far more battery life savings ok
– Added Garmin ELEVATE GEN 4 optical HR sensor sounds nice
– Switched to glass-covered optical HR sensor (versus plastic with a coating), which increases durability sounds nice
– Added flashlight to Fenix 7X model, which includes SOS mode, strobe mode, and running white/red mode sounds underwhelming
– Added Garmin SkiView, now includes resort names & slope names irrelevant to me
– Added Cross Country Ski Trails to maps irrelevant to me
– Added new “Map Manager†feature for managing/downloading maps from your wrist ok
– Added ‘Up Ahead’ feature for distances to predefined markers like aide stations, climbs, etc… sounds nice
– Added RealTime Stamina feature, which is used during runs & rides to try and leave nothing in the tank (or, properly manage a workout) sounds interesting
– Added Race Predictor historical trendlines (to see if you’re getting faster or slower) sounds interesting
– Added new Kiteboard Sport Type irrelevant to me
– Added new Windsurf Sport Type irrelevant to me
– Added new SpeedPro function for Windsurfing (primarily for speedsurfers) irrelevant to me
– Added new graphical charts as data fields irrelevant to me?
– Added scrolling charts in a variety of places, including widgets irrelevant to me?
– Added finally, for the love of all things holy, the ability to configure activity profiles and data fields from your phone great!
– Added Garmin Connect IQ store on wrist (well, a limited version of it anyway) not interested
– Added Health Snapshot feature (includes HRV data) sounds interesting
– Added New Sleep Manager Settings for customizing what the device does while you sleep ok
– Added HIIT workouts (meaning, they’re giving you structured workouts, not just a sport mode) ok
– Added Automatic Run/Walk/Stand graphing within a workout (see sports section for details) ok?
– Revamped the user interface a fair bit (not a major overhaul, but definitely far cleaner) sounds good!
– There’s now always solar in the Sapphire editions (previously there was not) sounds good, but not a dealbreaker for me
– Increased solar surface area by 54% (specifically comparing 6X to 7X) nice one
– Increased solar efficiency of the panel itself nice one
– Increased power efficiency of the base unit compared to Fenix 6 Series, which in turn increases battery life ok!
– Increased overall Fenix 7 Solar battery life by 33% (7S vs 6S) to upwards of 68% (7X vs 6X) – full chart below ok!
– Added ‘button guards’ around all buttons, which reduce accidental presses with things like jackets meh
– Added metal/titanium (depending on model) lugs covers – see unboxing section for details. uh . . . ?
– Slightly thinner and lighter (see exact charts in unboxing section) **slightly? **
That was in-depth!
I wouldn’t be opposed to a touch screen, but don’t have to have it. I play golf, but the maps for golf are available on my 935 too.
I guess I was hoping for:
I have the same feeling every time a new Garmin watch has come out since basically the Forerunner 920XT that I’m still wearing right now as it still does its job just fine. They keep putting more and more features on them that I bet 80% of all people buying one, don’t use… Yet prices keep getting more and more expensive, we’re basically buying a smaller smartphone at this point.
Besides from the mapping which I can see is useful, I don’t want to be able to pay with my watch and a dozen other features they put on there… I’d want another watch which just does what my 920XT does (very well)… Ok there’s the Coros which might fit this description the most, and the Wahoo Elemnt Rival too although from the reviews I’ve read, the way the buttons work and allow you to go through the menus really doesn’t make sense to me…
I could go for a 745 vs the 945/Fenix but even then, there’s stuff on there that I really don’t need… Component cost is going to be “minimal” compared to software/feature development, at what point are we going to be able to configure a watch ourselves? Let’s say a “dummy” 945 costs 250 Euros/Dollars/… Which still allows you to have certain features that you wouldn’t have in the 745 because of hardware differences and so on. Then you start selecting which features you like at a certain price point for each of them, you pay just for the features you want and you can download them to your watch via the app.
I’m looking at these from the standpoint of a Fenix 6 pro owner. The most frustrating thing is that most of the most exciting developments seem like they would be software advances that could be implemented for older watches…
Phone settings updates? The phone can already update settings config files on the watch for some settings like time format, user profile details on older watches, and auto download of previously paired sensors from other devices, and I can’t imagine that they’d develop a whole new settings format just for the new models. The phone should be able to output compatible settings files directly to all recent watches…
Performance/stamina metrics? Probably should be possible on the Fenix 6 using HRM strap (since the HR data for these metrics is obtained during activities, even if the older v3 elevate sensor can’t provide accurate enough data).
Up Ahead? It’s a calculated distance to a waypoint on a course- potentially really helpful for endurance/ultra runs where you want to store the locations of aid stations so you can manage your intake and know how far until a refill/re-supply. Again, doesn’t seem like it would be too fancy for older hardware. Also, hearing about some potential issues of not being able to specify that the aid stations on a looped/out-back course are at the same physical gps location that you pass through at multiple race distances, and that there might still be low limits on the number of waypoints?
Health snapshot thing? Cool to see HRV data but no way to graph daily trends in these values since they only show you one day at a time when viewing the snapshot (something that will hopefully be fixed, and sounds like this feature may already be planned for older watches).
And then there are the long-requested missing features like native running power. Isn’t it time to allow Stryd and Garmin running power measurements without taking up one of two allowed connectIQ fields. Other manufacturers have been doing native running power and Garmin should too.
I think the flashlight thing would be useful, but not sure I want the big (size and price) 7x just to get it.
And why does the F6 still have such a low limit of downloaded workouts (25?) and does this artificial limit exist on the F7 models?
And finally, why can’t Garmin allow the True-up data to inherit all of the training load data from older devices as long as they were compatible to the same metrics when the new watch is added to the account? If you get a new/replacement watch, it will only Trueup workouts as far back as the date you added the watch to Garmin connect, and you will have to swap back and forth between the multiple devices to see the older load/fitness data in Connect and there will be a lack of data under your new watch you’ve had it for 90 days to fill in new load/fitness data.
I’m still using my Fenix 5. I think I’m going to upgrade to the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar. Seems like a big enough jump to justify. My current 5 has been a great watch (though, I hate some of the menus, etc.)
My 7 Sapphire will arrive tomorrow and I’ll be moving from a 5+.
Reasons for updating are:
runtime - I can squeeze 10h out of the 5+ and that is cutting it mightily slim for an IM distance race (I know: there is UltraTrac, I could track the bike part with my Edge etc.) corrosion / loss of one of the charging contacts - it is still charging, but one of the contacts is definitely on its last leg that sucks because I won’t be able to sell it unless I get a refurb unit from Garminmap updates bricking the unit every 2nd time I run them - this seems to be seem somewhat common, after a map update everything slows to a crawl, reset and restore 1-3 times fixes things but it suckssome software features - I like little things like the fact that it is asking me for my feel and RPE after a workout (if only that would sync to TP)some hardware features - touchscreen will be helpful, I use the map quite a bit because I like to run in unfamiliar territory on trails and lets see what the multiband GPS does going forward
I am still not sure whether skipping a generation and essentially being unable to sell my 5+ is a smart idea but it avoids the usual ebay annoyances when selling things and gives me a nice backup watch.
when i break down the features list, here’s where i’m at:
– Added RealTime Stamina feature, which is used during runs & rides to try and leave nothing in the tank (or, properly manage a workout) sounds interesting
Sounds like a Wprime function if thats something you train with.
Seems like have the features are software, so why are they always hardware locked.
All I want in a future watch is just longer and longer battery life.
forgot about the charging contact corrosion issue. I have to sit the watch a certain way when it’s plugged into charger to activate the charging cable. annoying. years of sweat and salt water taken its toll.
forgot about the charging contact corrosion issue. I have to sit the watch a certain way when it’s plugged into charger to activate the charging cable. annoying. years of sweat and salt water taken its toll.
I have the same issue but it’s not a big deal for me. Fenix 5+. I just take a toothbrush and water and lightly scrub it and then blow on it and it charges fine.
The “earth-shattering” thing in this whole release is that finally after 15 years Garmin is allowing you to configure the watch through the app.
I always thought it insane that they religiously insisted on forcing users to go through endless menus on the watch to set up data pages, user profile, etc., while Suunto had a super friendly web app for it. Hopefully this trickles down to the 945, there really should not be hard engineering involved.
This. Garmin connect is an epic piece of shit. It’s like the folks who designed the interface are the same who designed interfaces of the major electronic health record systems in the US…
I have the same issue but it’s not a big deal for me. Fenix 5+. I just take a toothbrush and water and lightly scrub it and then blow on it and it charges fine.
I am a bit beyond that stage with the outermost pin being visually a bit shorter than the other. Apparently this is the result of micro sparks occurring when a connection is established while the cable is hot. I got a cheap USB cable with an integrated switch for my inbound 7 to help here: Connect the watch to a cable without power and the switch on the 5V.
For my 5+ the plan is
(a) ask Garmin what they think - probably an offer for a refurbished unit, if that is too expensive
(b) get the back case assembly from ebay (cheap) and try to exchange it myself
But only after the 7nis up and running.
I’ve just taken the chance to upgrade my 3 to the 6Solar Pro. It’s 2/3 the price of the 7 and I don’t see the 7 being a huge leap over the 6.
My 3 has been brilliant and the only thing I can say about it is that the battery isn’t lasting as long now. Other than that it has been a great watch.
I told my self last week that I`m a great worker, father and husband and I deserve a new gadget - so went to Garmin website and purchased the Fenix 7
After payment I get an email saying it would take between 37 - 52 business days!!!
Is it really the case? just want to hear other experiences !
thx