The Suunto Race S is a cracking smartwatch that is a credible alternative to any of the dedicated running watches that Garmin produces. With tracking capabilities like on-board GPS and heart rate monitoring, the smartwatch provides all that is needed for accurate measurements.
The AMOLED display looks great thanks to its high-definition resolution. Navigation using the touchscreen is easy and natural, although the device is a little bit let down by the underperforming crown button. Overall build quality is very good, though, with robust components that will stand the test of time. The watch itself is most definitely on the larger side so it won't suit everyone but if you have a wrist that can accommodate it, then it'll certainly look the part.
In addition to its features for athletes, the Race S also offers smartwatch functionality like notifications and music control. It has a long battery life, which can last around 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 30-35 hours in training mode.
While the Suunto Race S offers a great set of features for athletes, it lacks some of the features found in other smartwatches. If you're more into performance tracking, then the Race S is up there with the best.
Suunto Race S review: Specifications
Suunto Race S review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
The Suunto Race S 45mm model costs $349 / £325 / AU$599. There are an abundance of strap options, including Black, Powder Grey, and Powder Pink. For the test, I have the gorgeous orange strap, which has a graduated color from orange to purple. All strap options cost the same.
The watch is available in the US, UK, and AUS. If you'd like the slightly larger 49mm model, then that goes by the name 'Suunto Race' and attracts a slightly higher price, especially if you opt for the titanium strap. It is not only larger but also has a longer battery life.
Suunto Race S review: Design
Great-looking watch
Abundant strap options
Solid build quality
The Suunto Race S is a great-looking watch, especially with the Powder Orange strap that I tested. With seven different strap colors available, there are no shortage of ways to customise the watch. We'll come back to the strap in a minute but let's focus first on the watch itself.
The first thing I was struck by was how chunky this watch is. The 45mm diameter provides a fantastic display size with enough real-estate to display all your vital metrics. Unfortunately, the thickness of the watch is nearly 12mm, which makes the whole thing sit very proudly indeed. The overall dimensions make it very similar to the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is similarly bulky. At this size, and with a weight of 60g, this is a watch for thick wrists that can accommodate it; otherwise, it'll just look plain odd.
The stainless steel case looks great with the simple color palette, causing the watch display to take centre stage. It houses an AMOLED display with a 466 x 466 pixel resolution. As a result, all of the on-screen graphics look super sharp with no sign of any pixelation. Unfortunately, Suunto has left a tiny gap between the glass and the case that catches dirt, and because it's so thin is difficult to remove.
The build quality of both the watch and the strap are second to none. I used it while performing various types of exercise, including contact sports, and never managed to damage it. In fact, I was never concerned about doing so, such was the quality of the components.
(Image credit: Future)
The three buttons are all located to the right-hand side of the watch and are small enough to not rub against your hand. The top button launches you into activity mode by taking you straight to a list of exercise types, while the bottom button takes you back to a menu.
Between the two standard buttons is a crown, which is very similar to what is now seen on other smartwatches, including the Apple Watch. A crown-style button is great to have but I don't think Suunto has nailed the engineering of it. I found it tricky to rotate predictably and, because it sits lower than the watch face, it's actually quite difficult to use with one finger. I actually ended up ditching it in favour of swiping.
As with all smartwatches, the sensor is on the back. It's a little prouder than I would have liked, but it does enable a range of tracking types as well as training functionality.
The strap not only looks great but is extremely comfortable. Most importantly, it wipes clean, an essential for athletes who sweat a lot. The catch is unique in its design but it provides the necessary security to keep the watch safely on your wrist.
All in, I've really enjoyed wearing the watch. It's comfortable, makes a statement, and functions incredibly well. At this price, the design competes with even the best that Garmin has produced. If they can improve the crown and the overall thickness, then this would be the running watch to beat.
Design score: 4/5
Suunto Race S review: features
(Image credit: Future)
Numerous features designed for runners
Extensive tracking capabilities
Lacks some key smartwatch features
Suunto Race S boasts a range of training features and support for all types of exercise including heart rate zones, power zones, and pace alerts.
If you love to be prepared ahead of time, then you can plan your route before you even leave the house. It shows you where you're located and gives you updates on what you're about to encounter. In that regard, you'll always feel prepared. You'll have no worries about getting lost thanks to support for all types of sections.
Features include heart rate sensing, an altimeter, and a gyroscope. These accurately track your movements and provide feedback on how you're getting on. Whatever exercise you're doing, the watch can capture your data accurately every time. I had no problems with any GPS signal dropouts, even when sweaty or wet. In general, I was very impressed with the speed of readouts and the accuracy of them.
Sleep tracking monitors your sleep quality while also feeding back if your sleep patterns might be affecting your performance. Personally, I wasn't overly keen on using the watch as a sleep tracker, as it was just uncomfortably big to wear at nightime.
(Image credit: Future)
The watch has a wide range of features, with a particular focus on athletes and those keen on staying fit. It also offers features that will appeal to those who just want it to integrate with their smartphone. For example, you can control music playback from the watch, helping you stay focused on your exercise.
Additionally, the watch receives notifications for calls and messages, so you don't have to keep checking your phone. For the price, I would have liked functionality to allow for replying to text messages but, then again, this is primarily a running watch. The watch is compatible with both Android and Apple phones, although I only tested it with an iPhone.
In conclusion, the Suunto Race S is a smartwatch that is focused primarily on athletes. All of the tracking abilities provide the necessary data for mid-exercise updates and post-exercise reports.
Features score: 4/5
Suunto Race S review: performance
(Image credit: Future)
Fast and responsive
Accurate GPS
Amazing battery life
The Suunto Race S is a strong all-round performer, especially for athletes like runners, swimmers, and cyclists. Getting the watch set up took no time at all, with charging to full taking no more than one hour. Downloading the Suunto app and pairing the watch was equally straight-forward. I was up and running, pardon the pun, in no time at all.
Then it was time to get exercising. The first thing I did was jump on my bicycle to test the GPS and tracking functionality. Once I was outside, the watch picked up GPS quickly and easily. I had initially tried to launch it while inside but it failed to connect, a common problem with all GPS enabled devices.
Once on my bike, the Suunto Race S coped admirably, tracking my route perfectly along with accurate distances and measurements. All of the data is displayed on the large 45mm display but there are also additional screens that provide further more in-depth information.
The Suunto app provides even more data for you to drill down into how you are performing. The app is really well designed with a good layout that is easily navigated. I especially love the maps of routes travelled and graphs providing health data. It also provides some reporting so you can improve on your performances each time.
I've already discussed the sketchy performance of the crown button in the design section but in general, interaction with the watch was very positive. The touchscreen responsiveness is good and I had little problem moving around the menus. The swipe gesture was able to handle moving up and down long lists without any fuss. The responsiveness was even fine while sweating or when I had just gotten out of the swimming pool.
The battery life delivers great performance too. Having worn the watch for a couple of months, I was able to test it for long periods with both light use and heavy use. Just using the device as a watch and a few other features, including checking messages, I was able to get about two or even three weeks out of the battery.
Tracking exercise with GPS enabled had an expected effect on battery life. When I used it for daily cycling commutes, playing football, and running, I found that the battery would last around five to seven days. The battery life was so impressive that each time I actually had to think about where I had left the charger because it had been so long.
Performance score: 4/5
Should I buy the Suunto Race S?
Buy it if...
You want an affordable running watch The watch had a good range of features and great build quality, and it's not as expensive as many of the Garmin alternatives.
You want a high resolution screen The 466 x 466px AMOLED display looks fantastic, with all text and graphics as sharp as you need. It's also bright enough to use in the midday sun.
You want unbelievable battery life With light use, this watch will last around two to three weeks. Even with heavy use, you'll still get several days' life out of it.
Don't buy it if...
You want a slender-looking watch The Suunto Race S may be the smaller version but it's at 45mm diameter and nearly 12mm deep, you'll need a wrist that's thick enough to warrant it.
Suunto Race S review: also consider
Apple Watch Series 9 The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch for most iPhone users. It offers a Double-Tap gesture, all-day battery life, and excellent health features. Read our full Apple Watch Series 9 review.
Garmin Fenix 7 Garmin's other premiere outdoors and fitness watch, the Fenix 7 was the top ultra-marathon watch around until the Enduro 2 tore its crown off its head. Still worth a look if you can find it at discount. Read our full Garmin Fenix 7 review
Suunto Race S review: how I tested
I've been proudly wearing the Suunto Race S for two months and have tried to put it through as many types of exercise as I can, including running, playing football, swimming, and table tennis. It's incredible how many different types of activities it supports, so I thought it only right to try as many as I could!
To test it's waterproof rating, I took it while swimming and managed to get it down around 3 m. It's nowhere near the advertised 50 m but I figured my test would be sufficient for most users.
I also paired it with the Suunto app to get a fuller picture of what the watch is capable of. The pairing process was simple and straightforward, and I loved the app.
The Garmin Fenix 8 was perhaps the most anticipated watch from Garmin in a very long time, and the reveal didn’t disappoint. The Garmin Fenix 7 series has been consistently rated among the best Garmin watches ever, and the Garmin Fenix 8 is packing most of Garmin’s best hardware features that were introduced in the years since the Fenix 7 was released.
Features like an AMOLED display, a microphone and speaker for calls, and an LED torch for attracting attention or running safely at night (and, er, for seeing in the dark) have been folded into the Fenix 8.
It now has new waterproofing and an Apple Watch Ultra-style dive watch capability, cribbed from the Garmin Descent series. The watch can act as a working dive computer for scuba activities down to 40 meters, although in our exclusive chat with Garmin product lead Jon Hosler he revealed that the watch can actually go beyond that depth.
New, improved GPS means new software features: with a “dynamic routing” ability automatically generates back-to-start directions during running and cycling workouts, and if you’re running on a pre-prescribed route your Fenix 8 will intelligently compensate if you stray from the path. Purchasers get to choose between three different sizes, with an additional choice of a solar-powered memory-in-pixel display (a duller, more power-efficient smartwatch screen) or a brighter, more smartwatch-y AMOLED one.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a fantastic watch. It’s built like a tank without being too obnoxious, although it doesn’t deviate much from older Garmins (in fact, it looks almost the same as my Garmin Epix Pro at first glance). You know what you’re getting, and if you like Garmin’s existing stable of adventure watches, this is the best one yet.
However, that performance excellence comes with an eye-watering price tag, which is almost too much in comparison to its contemporaries. Almost, but not quite: I considered knocking off half a star, but this may well be the best-performing Garmin watch I’ve ever tried
Garmin Fenix 8: Specifications
Garmin Fenix 8: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
Starts at $799.99 / £689.99 / AU$1,349 for cheaper 47mm Fenix E
Prices for 43mm Fenix 8 start at $999 / £949 / AU$1,699
Reaches up to $1,199 / £1,119 / $2,199
The Garmin Fenix 8 starts at $799.99 / £689.99 / AU$1,349 for the cheapest model, a 47mm model christened the Garmin Fenix E. The Fenix E is a version of the AMOLED display Fenix 8 with no solar charging option, 16 days of battery life, no torch, no advanced leak-proof buttons for dive watch activities (although it’ll still stand up to water exposure, with 10ATM waterproofing) and a stainless steel case, with no titanium option. In essence, it’s an AMOLED Fenix 7.
The full-price Fenix 8 starts at $999 / £949 / AU$1,699 for the 43mm AMOLED watch, which is a significant jump from the E, rising to the considerable sum of $1,199 / £1,119 / $2,199 for the 51mm solar-powered version. What you get for this is a big increase in battery life of up to 28 days, the advanced waterproofing leak-proof buttons, dive watch functionality, the torch, a more advanced heart rate sensor, and the option of an AMOLED screen or a memory-in-pixel, solar-charging screen.
The full-price Fenix 8 is incredibly expensive. Its performance is phenomenal, and the engineering behind it is equal to many an analog timepiece; but such a price is very hard to justify for all but the wealthiest sportspeople.
Value score: 4/5
Garmin Fenix 8: Design
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
AMOLED or MIP screen
New leak-proofing
Sapphire glass/titanium options
Structurally, the Garmin Fenix 8 looks almost identical to the Fenix and Epix watches that came before it. The Epix line was a version of the Fenix with that gorgeous, smartwatch-like AMOLED screen, but Epix doesn’t exist anymore – Garmin has axed the name and folded it in with the main Fenix line. The Fenix 8 inherits that AMOLED screen as an option, while the memory-in-pixel (MIP) screen is Garmin’s traditional duller, battery-efficient screen with Power Glass solar technology, which extends the watch’s battery life if you spend around three hours or more outdoors.
The screen is made of Corning Gorilla Glass as standard, but an upgrade to the harder category of Sapphire glass is available. Likewise, the Fenix 8’s case is a mix of tough polymer and stainless steel, but you can upgrade the metal components to titanium for an additional cost. These upgrades are on top of the already-steep price, but the base model should be more than sufficient for all but the most adventurous outdoorspeople. The thick, wipe-clean silicone Garmin band will be familiar to most, but it can be swapped with a trail-specific fabric loop like the Enduro.
Garmin’s standard combination of a five-button setup – Up, Down and Options buttons on one side, and a Start/Stop and a Back button on the other – and touchscreens work well as they have always done, while a new raised section on the right-hand side makes it look a little like an Apple Watch Ultra in practice.
Garmin’s widget-based screen layout is fast and intuitive to use. It’s easy to navigate through the watch’s options and add new apps, such as Spotify for offline music playback without a phone. You can add widgets through your phone’s Wi-Fi connection, making it easy to customize at home before you step out the door.
Garmin Connect, the watch’s companion app, is stellar, and as comprehensive as ever. It’s very granular, showing you lots of data points and workout-creation options – almost too granular for beginners. Then again, beginners are unlikely to be spending this much on a sports watch, and it’s all well-organized. There’s not much that’s new to speak about, but it remains best-in-class.
Design score: 5/5
Garmin Fenix 8: Features
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
New GPS functionalities
Dive mode
LED torch
Let’s start off with the new stuff. Dynamic routing offers a small quality-of-life improvement to GPS-tracked running, walking or cycling workouts, as you now have the option to enable Back to Start before you even head out the door. Simply set a distance goal for your run, then enable Back to Start and the Fenix 8 will generate an out-and-back route once you’ve hit around 40% of your distance goal. There’s no need to follow a pre-prescribed route until then, which is great. Dynamic routing also allows you to deviate from a route you’ve already created, rerouting you automatically while keeping your target goal in mind. Very handy.
I’ve not had the opportunity to test the new Dive Mode yet, unfortunately: after this review has been published I’ll be handing the device off to a writer who’s also a recreational diver for a more thorough breakdown of that particular mode. But like Garmin’s Descent series, you get a fully-functioning dive computer with gauge, nitrox, air and apnoea modes for recreational scuba diving and free-diving activities. It’s enough for casual adventure enthusiasts who may scuba or snorkel once or twice a year, and who spend the rest of their time running, cycling, or swimming.
The LED torch is the same torch as on the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro models, and works just as well. I’ve already used it to find my way twice in the dark at full power (admittedly, only to the bathroom) and I stick the red mode on at night to alert cars that I’m jogging on the sidewalk in the dark. It’s surprisingly powerful, creating a moving spotlight of red that illuminates the ground in front of me as I run.
Otherwise, a lot of the new advancements – such as more accurate GPS, topographical maps, the new heart rate monitor which promises to be more accurate, improved battery life, and leakproof buttons to enable all the dive stuff – is under the hood. At its heart, the Garmin Fenix 8 is an iterative update of an older, already-fantastic watch, and the smartwatch category as a whole hasn’t moved on very far since then, which means the Garmin Fenix 8 is still best in show.
Heart rate alerts, sleep tracking, nap tracking, stress tracking, respiration tracking and other holistic tools sit alongside Training Readiness, Endurance and Hill scores to make this an incredibly comprehensive health and fitness watch. Garmin Messenger allows you to directly communicate between devices using Garmin’s satellite network. There’s a smorgasbord of available widgets and functionalities which you can use to customize your watch, from shortcuts to services like Garmin Coach to a Tides widget for open-water swimmers and surfers. You can download music, sync to Strava, and receive (but not make) calls on-wrist. It’s practically perfect, with every performance tool you’ll ever need.
Features score: 5/5
Garmin Fenix 8: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
Accurate GPS
Long battery life
Advanced heart rate sensor
As I’m an existing Garmin user, the watch was easy to set up and use with my pre-existing Garmin account, syncing to Strava and Spotify immediately. We won’t labor the point here: the watch is good, and it works. Tested against an Apple Watch Ultra 2, it recorded a very similar performance and distance while on a 5K, and I found the differences in heart rate readings to be minimal, allowing for variations in algorithms and a different wrist. You can read more about how the Apple Watch Ultra fares against premium Garmins in my account of wearing the Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro during a marathon.
The Fenix 8’s display was bright enough for me to see clearly, and after a full charge, I almost drained it completely after 13 days of regular GPS workouts: a combination of running, strength training, and stand-up paddleboarding (and yes, there’s a specialist GPS-based profile for that, which even counts the strokes you make as you glide across the water).
I have yet to test its new cycling features, but I did test dynamic routing during a running workout, deliberately going off-piste (to borrow a skiing term) to check out its capabilities, and it performed fine. I departed from the route I had created with Garmin Connect, and it successfully rerouted me by the closest available detour within about two minutes. I also popped in my distance requirements and enabled the out-and-back routing on a 5K run, and it successfully kicked in just after the 40% mark.
Otherwise, the Fenix 8 tracked my sleep with good accuracy, successfully logging periods when I woke up during the night, and delivering a Training Readiness score during the day which tracked well with my previous few days’ energy levels, from an anecdotal perspective. The torch was nice and bright (as is the lovely screen), and I haven’t even scratched the surface in terms of all the features available to me during a training block.
Performance score: 5/5
Garmin Fenix 8: Scorecard
(Image credit: Garmin)
Garmin Fenix 8: Should I buy?
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
Buy it if...
You love the outdoors
Garmin Fenix 8 has all the survival tools you’ll ever need, from GPS to a barometer and compass.
You’re a triathlete
Runners, cyclists, and swimmers will really get the most out of this watch.
You’re multidisciplined
Paddleboarding? Golf? Surfing? Skiing? Detailed, comprehensive and unique workout profiles exist for them all.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a budget
Even the cheaper Fenix E is not a watch for users without deep pockets.
Also consider...
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Nowhere near the same battery life, but perhaps the best alternative from a smartwatch standpoint.
I wore the Garmin Fenix 8 for three weeks, draining the battery down, sleeping with the watch, and testing it over several different kinds of workouts including running, strength training and stand-up paddleboarding. I compared it to an Apple Watch Ultra 2 (my litmus test for GPS and HR accuracy) during a 5K run, and spent time with the watch examining the settings and functionalities, both on-device and in Garmin Connect.
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro is a new version of the Fenix 7, which launched in early 2022. This isn’t the first time Garmin has launched a Pro version of its feature-packed watch aimed at lovers of the great outdoors and is likely to fill the void before we see the Fenix 8.
For the Fenix 7 Pro, the headline news is that one of the best Garmin watches is seeking to improve things even further in the display and heart rate tracking departments and now wants to help you better understand how well-equipped you are at tackling hills and endurance events.
The Fenix 7 was an impressive watch and it’s more of the same with the Pro, offering a rich array of sports profiles, metrics, training and analysis insights and the kind of battery life that can keep you away from a charger for weeks.
The problem that the Pro has is that many of the big software features have headed to the older Fenix 7 series, making the Pro version more of a sell for older Fenix owners and those that really want the newest outdoor features that Garmin has to offer.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Specifications
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Price and availability
(Image credit: Michael Sawh)
$799 in the US
£749.99 in the UK
$1,349 in Australia
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro is available to buy now directly from Garmin and from a host of other retailers including Amazon. It has a current RRP of £749.99 in the UK, $799 in the US and $1,349 in Australia.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Design and screen
(Image credit: Michael Sawh)
New, clearer screen
Same rugged form factor
New flashlight added
The Fenix 7 Pro like the standard 7 is all about being a watch that’s built for some serious rough and tumble, so unlike Garmin’s Forerunner watches such as the Garmin Forerunner 265, you can expect a thicker case design, more tougher metal and generally a stronger level of protection against water.
Like the 7, the 7 Pro comes in three case sizes. I had the 47mm version, which is very similar to the 47mm Fenix 7 in terms of how it feels to wear and what you can expect in terms of weight and the space it soaks up on your wrist.
It’s a polymer case with steel around the back and a bezel built from stainless steel, which helps this watch to weigh in at 79g. Garmin pairs that with 22mm QuickFit straps, so you’re just a simple button press away from removing it and putting on a new one. As a package, it’s waterproof up to 100 metres making it safe for pool and open water swimming time.
Front and centre is a 1.3-inch, 260 x 260 resolution transflective memory-in-pixel display, which Garmin says is an improved one on the display included on the non-Pro 7. I’d say it’s a touch clearer, but there’s not a massive amount in it. It’s still a display technology that offers good visibility indoors, outside and the responsiveness of the touchscreen support is as good as you’ll find on a sports watch right now. It’s never going to be as bright as the Epix’ series AMOLED display, but is excellent for battery conservation.
On top of that screen lies Garmin’s PowerGlass, which does mean you get solar charging powers here to boost the already big battery numbers Garmin promises, as long as you’re spending enough time out in the sun to enjoy the benefits.
The 47mm and 42mm Fenix 7 Pro now also grab the LED flashlight from the Fenix 7X, so you now have an extra source of light that can be enabled from the quick settings and can be configured to light up when you’re in tracking mode and is actually a useful extra to have if you don’t want to grab your smartphone.
Garmin uses the same charging cable to power it up as the one provided with the Fenix 7 and as a package you’re getting a lovely, well-built watch that doesn’t weigh too heavy or too light and has a screen that’s big enough to make sure you can absorb your real-time stats and view onboard maps.
The Fenix 7 Pro is a watch for the outdoors and doesn’t disappoint with the level of features on offer here for those who like to spend more time outside than inside.
Along with core running, golfing (there's a reason Garmin fills out a lot of our best golf watches entries), swimming and cycling modes, there are the usual outdoor profiles aplenty covering everything from hiking to surfing, skiing and you're getting activity-specific metrics for most of those profiles as well.
On the navigation front, you’ve got preloaded topographic maps, road and trail maps and ski resort maps, with touchscreen support to navigate around those maps. Garmin has enhanced that mapping mode with Relief Shading to offer more detailed maps, the ability to see a split of your metrics and map on one screen and view weather information like temperature, although that isn’t available during the tracking mode screen. Up Ahead also offers trail runners and cyclists the location of Points of Interest nearby.
Along with the rich training analysis and metrics you already get on the Fenix 7, Garmin has introduced new Endurance Scores and Hill Scores metrics to help you better understand whether you have put in the right amount of training to handle a hilly route or really go long in training or an endurance event. It analyses hilly workout history and VO2 Max estimates to score your endurance and ability to tackle hills and make it easy to understand whether it’s good or bad.
Many of the Fenix 7 Pro’s training and analysis features are driven by good heart rate data and Garmin has sought to improve things on that front with a new optical heart rate sensor onboard and new algorithms to deliver improved accuracy, particularly when you’re exercising.
You do still have the ability to pair up external sensors and while the accuracy during workouts has been solid overall, I don’t think you should be ditching that dedicated heart rate monitor just yet.
Features score: 4.5/5
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Great multi-band mode
Endurance and Hill Scores are nicely presented
Same great battery life
All of the good traits from the Fenix 7 are retained for the Pro. Garmin’s great multi-frequency positioning GNSS mode, which improves tracking accuracy in return for sucking up more battery life than other GPS modes, performs really well and Garmin’s mapping support remains the best you’ll find on a watch right now. The mix of touchscreen and button interaction makes it easy to navigate the now more detailed presentation of those maps as well.
The new Endurance and Hill scores are interesting additions to the already rich array of metrics Garmin offers, but how reliable and useful they are going to be for most Fenix 7 Pro users is certainly up for debate. You need a few weeks of data to kick things off and while there’s some useful advice offered around those scores they weren’t scores that drastically changed the experience of using the 7 Pro over the regular 7. Plus, those features are coming to the older Fenix as well.
Something that thankfully hasn’t changed with the new hardware and software features on board is the kind of battery life you’ll enjoy on the Fenix 7 Pro. Garmin promises the same numbers with up to 22 days in smartwatch mode, which can be boosted by solar charging. If you’re planning to spend multiple days out on your feet, you can sacrifice the best GPS accuracy and opt for the Expedition mode to get you 40 days of watch time and potentially more again if you can expose the watch to enough sunlight to boost battery.
If you want to use the Fenix 7 Pro as a smartwatch, it has the same features as the baseline Fenix 7. The notification support is the strongest of those smartwatch features and you do have good music player and controls features as well. You do have Garmin Pay and access to Garmin’s Connect IQ Store, though don’t expect to pile on loads of big-name apps here. Some changes have been made to the user interface, mainly in the workout mode, but if you were hoping for more smartwatch skills than before, that’s not the case here.
Ultimately, this is a watch that can last for weeks, even with regular use of workout tracking, mapping and smartwatch features. Make use of the onboard power manager features and turning off features you don’t use and that will make things go further.
This is a hands-on review to bring you our early impressions of the new Garmin Fenix &S Pro. Stay tuned, as we'll be expanding and updating this article with more info soon.
We’ll dive into exactly what’s new about the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro below – and those hoping for a fully-fledged redesign a la the Garmin Forerunner 265 and 965 might come away disappointed. Those of you who already own a Fenix 7 are unlikely to feel strongly moved to buy another watch.
But as a premium outdoors watch in its own right, the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro looks set to excel as a wonderful example of outdoor smart tech, and in our brief time with the wearable, I’ve found nothing to disprove that so far.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro comes in three sizes, like the original Garmin Fenix 7 range; a 42mm Garmin Fenix 7S Pro, in which the S denotes it being ‘small’; a 47mm Garmin Fenix 7 Pro with no size denomination,; and a 51mm 7X Pro. We tested the smaller 7S Pro.
The Fenix 7 Pro range starts at $799.99 / £749.99 / AU$1,349.00 for the 42mm and the 47mm models, rising to $899.99 / £829.99 / AU$1,529.00 for the 51mm model.
You’re effectively paying for more screen real estate and more impressive battery life as you go up the sizes. Whether these are worth the premium remains to be seen, and really depends on whether you’re going to get the most of the middling 47mm Fenix 7 Pro’s battery life or the Fenix 7X Pro’s enormous capacity during multi-day wilderness and trail excursions. However, if you’re the sort of person who doesn’t mind dropping a grand on an outdoors watch, you’re probably someone who’s looking to get the most out of what they buy.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Specs
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Design
(Image credit: Future)
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro looks very, very similar to the original Fenix 7, with no deviation from its classic five-button configuration. The 7S Pro that I tried was missing the visible screws attaching the bezel to the case from the regular Fenix 7 range on account of its smaller size, and comes in an attractive gold-white colorway rather than the more tactical-looking black or grey of larger watches. It looked good on my wrist, reminding me of my old Moto 360, and more elegant than a typical outdoor watch.
However, it shares the same hardy titanium bezel and dull but economical memory-in-pixel touchscreen rather than the Epix’s gorgeous AMOLED one. For an additional fee, you can get a model with sapphire glass to ensure the screen is tough enough to withstand your outdoor adventures. Even the smaller 7S Pro now has an MIP screen equipped with Power Glass solar charging, a feature usually reserved for larger watches.
That’s not the only hardware change. The older Fenix 7X’s LED flashlight feature has made its way onto the other sizes of the 7 Pro as well. The flashlight is operated by the top-left ‘light’ button, which is usually used to illuminate the screen, or you can access it by calling up the widget menu and using the touchscreen to select it. The light has six settings: a solid white light of four different intensities, a stroble function, or a night vision-saving red light that’s perfect for alerting passing drivers during runs, for example.
(Image credit: Future)
During my initial tests, I found the light perfectly satisfactory. I tested it in a dark room and, er, under my desk, eliciting a few weird looks from my colleagues. The light will clearly illuminate maybe five feet directly in front of you on its brightest setting, enough to look for a dropped phone by, and could serve as an adequate signalling tool in the dark. How much of a drain the light is on the battery is unclear.
New on the design front is also the “spacially diverse optical sensors” which now make up the Fenix 7 Pro range’s rear sensor array. Together with “sport-specific algorithms”, the watch is said to offer better tracking across different workouts, so all those different workout profiles become more meaningful, not just different labels for heart rate and calories burned.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Features
(Image credit: Future)
Both the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro series offer two new Garmin training metrics: Endurance Score and Hill Score. Endurance Score is a numerical value calculated using consistent V02 max measurements, initially over a period of two weeks, which tells you how well your body responds to endurance training. The higher your Endurance Score, which measures how efficient you are at getting oxygen into your muscles, the longer you should be able to keep going at a particular activity.
Hill Score is a little bit different. This is a numerical value representing your power output, or how effective your legs are at propelling you up hills. It's unclear at this stage whether this is purely for runners, or if cyclists can benefit from Hill Score too, or what existing metrics it's keyed onto. I've reached out to Garmin for more info, and I’ll update this section for my full review. Both features require data from two weeks of workouts in order to calculate your score, so having only spent an afternoon with both watches I was unable to test them.
Elsewhere, topographical maps get a few great new upgrades, including weather services. You'll be able to tell exactly when the storm clouds are about to hit at a glance with Relief Shading, which highlights areas in different colors based on precipitation. Another cool new feature is Up Ahead, which offers trail runners and cyclists the location of Points of Interest nearby. The example Garmin gives is aid stations during a race, but we're yet to know if local landmarks can appear on this, which would make the feature useful for explorers as well as for competitors.
A bevy of new workout profiles are also included, such as whitewater rafting, motocross, overlanding and, Garmin says, dozens more. Again, these should gain new relevance beyond labels thanks to the improved sensors and new sports-specific algorithms, but I don't know any specifics just yet – I’m looking forward to digging into some of the workout profiles to see exactly what sports-specific metrics are on offer. The standard workout screen and widget layout looks and acts the same as before: anyone who’s used a Fenix before, or any Garmin watch for that matter, will feel at home here.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Early verdict
(Image credit: Garmin)
The Garmin Fenix 7 is already one of the best running watches and overall best smartwatches you can buy, and based on our early examinations, the Fenix 7 Pro range only improves on it. We’ll be spending more time testing the 7S Pro in depth for our full review – time will tell if the new features are enough to merit another elusive five-star score.
• Original review date: October 2021 • New Fenix 8 launched September 2024 • Launch price: $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,049 • Official price now: $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,049
Update: November 2024. The Garmin Genix 7 was recently supplanted by the Fenix 8 at the very top of Garmin's range. The new model for 2024 packs advanced GPS and a new heart rate sensor, but it is very expensive. The Fenix 7 wasn't cheap in its heyday either, but you can normally find a pretty good deal on one these days, making it an attractive pick.
Savings of nearly 30% off make the Fenix 7 an enticing pick over some of Garmin's mid-range models, or a great cheaper alternative to the Fenix 8. In fact, if you find the right deal, you might end up paying up to 50% less for your Fenix 7 compared to the newer model, which is a saving not to be sniffed at.
Two-minute review
The Garmin Fenix 7 is designed for anyone who gets a thrill from the competition and wants to push themselves to hit a new high – whether it’s a cycling sportive, a half marathon, an Ironman, or the gruelling sweat of a CrossFit competition. The Fenix 7 doesn’t assume that you’ve already nailed down a full training plan and know exactly how to balance work and recovery, though – it gives you tools that will help you understand your current fitness level, set a realistic goal, and train in a way that will help you achieve it.
It packs the same advanced workout tracking and training tools that made the Garmin Fenix 6 the best multi-sports watch around back in 2019, but also introduces some new features that make it all more accessible to new users.
The most obvious upgrade here is the introduction of a touchscreen. The watch still has the five physical buttons of previous Fenix watches (including a newly reinforced start button), but it's a huge help for panning across maps. It's been carefully implemented, though; the screen is locked by default during workouts to prevent accidental button presses, and Fenix purists can opt to deactivate touch entirely if they prefer.
The display is still memory-in-pixel rather than AMOLED like the Garmin Epix (Gen 2) or Garmin Venu 2. It's readily legible in most lights but lacks contrast, and the use of a blue rather than white backlight means its colors are sometimes muddy. However, it's part of what makes the Fenix 7 so frugal with its power usage. This is a watch that can keep running for weeks in the right conditions, and even the non-solar versions offer impressive longevity.
The Garmin Fenix 7 comes in three sizes, and is available in standard, Solar, and Sapphire Solar editions (Image credit: Future)
On the software side, there's a new real-time stamina meter that shows how your energy declines during a workout so you can adjust your effort accordingly. This is the first time it's been possible to see changes in stamina in a chart that you can read at a glance.
There's also a new on-screen race predictor that estimates how your current training regime will affect your 5k, 10k, and half marathon race times. This data was already available in the Garmin Connect app, but the new chart on your wrist allows you to see how your times are trending – and hopefully dropping – thanks to your efforts.
If you're already happy with your Fenix 6 then we wouldn't recommend rushing out to upgrade right away, but the Fenix 7 is packed with thoughtfully crafted new features and refinements that make a real difference in everyday training.
Garmin Fenix 7: Price and release date
Available to order now
Costs more than Fenix 6
The Garmin Fenix 7 series launched on January 18, 2022, and is available to buy direct from Garmin. Prices start at $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,049 for the standard version. The top-tier Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is $999.99 / £859.99 / AU$1,499.
That’s a significant increase from the Fenix 6, which started at $599.99 / £529.99 / AU$949 when it launched in 2019. However, it’s much less than the Garmin Epix premium everyday watch, which launched the same day, starting at $899.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,399. While you're working out how to save, check out the Garmin promo codes currently available.
The Garmin Fenix 7 has a thinner bezel than previous models (Image credit: Future)
Garmin Fenix 7: Design
Touchscreen and physical buttons
No increase in weight
Premium materials
Design score: 5/5
The Fenix 7 comes in three sizes (42mm, 47mm, and 51mm), with standard, Solar, and Sapphire Solar variants:
We tested the standard 47mm Sapphire Solar edition, which is the first watch that combines the advantages of its sunlight-harvesting Power Glass with tough crystal.
Our review watch had a graphite gray titanium case and a black silicone strap, but various other colorways are available. The silicone band is a good choice for sport and is easy to clean, but you can also choose a watch bundled with an additional leather or woven strap for everyday use.
The watch uses Garmin's QuickFit bands, which are released from the case housing by pushing down on a plastic clip. They're extremely easy to swap, but aren't interchangeable with the old-style quick-release bands, which are removed by pushing a pin to the side. The Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar weighs 73g with the silicone strap attached, and 50g without.
That’s almost exactly the same as the Fenix 6 Solar, which comes in at 72g with its strap, and 49g without. It’s impressive that Garmin has managed to keep the weight consistent while increasing battery life substantially, and improving the screen technology.
The watch has the same five-button setup as the Fenix 6, but adds a touchscreen (Image credit: Future)
The Fenix 7’s interface will be immediately familiar to Fenix 6 users, and consists of five physical buttons together with a touchscreen that locks automatically during activity tracking to avoid accidental pausing or cancelling of activities. If you’d prefer to stick with just the buttons, you can choose to disable the touchscreen completely. It’s also possible to switch it off during sleep to avoid accidental touches at night, but we didn’t find this to be a problem.
Rather than equipping the Fenix 7 with an AMOLED screen like that of the Venu 2 and Epix watches, Garmin has stuck with a transflective memory-in-pixel display. It’s a sensible choice that helps conserve battery life, though it’s not as bright as we might have liked.
It's easy to read in most lighting conditions, but we found it a little lacking in contrast compared to watches like the Garmin Instinct Solar (shown below on the left) and often needed to use the backlight. The fact that this light is blue rather than white means that the screen colors can sometimes look muddy; particularly red and purple shades.
The Garmin Fenix 7 (right) has noticeably lower screen contrast than the Instinct Solar (left) (Image credit: Future)
When it comes to charging, the Fenix 7 uses the same proprietary USB cable as all other Garmin watches released during the last couple of years. This may come as a disappointment to anyone hoping for contactless charging this time around, but the cable is easy to use and plugs securely into the back of the watch.
The Fenix 7 is water resistant to depths of 100m, making it suitable for pool and open water swimming, plus activities like kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding (all of which have their own profiles), but for diving, you’ll want a specialized swimming watch like the Garmin Descent Mk2.
(Image credit: Future)
Garmin Fenix 7: Battery life
Largest model lasts up to five weeks
Customizable battery saving settings
Solar and Sapphire Solar versions available
Battery life score: 5/5
Battery life has always been one of the selling points of Garmin's sports watches, and the Fenix 7 range really delivers. First, though, it's important to note that the life of each watch in the range will depend on the size of its battery, whether it has a solar cell, and the size of that cell.
The Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar we tested is equipped with the Garmin's Power Glass, which harvests energy throughout the day to keep the watch’s battery topped up. You’ll still need to plug the watch in occasionally, but the solar cell extends its battery life significantly.
To clarify, you can't charge the watch via solar charging only; it merely reduces the battery drain. You can't just leave the watch out on the sun all day and expect it to be fully charged by the time you collect it in the evening. Exactly how often you'll need to recharge will depend on how you use it and which sensors you choose to enable. These are the figures given by Garmin itself for this particular model:
All of those figures are a huge upgrade on the equivalent Fenix 6 Solar, and real-world performance proved even better. Despite us making regular use of the backlight, tracking an average of one workout per day using GPS, and keeping nocturnal SpO2 monitoring enabled, the watch kept running for three weeks before needing a top-up from its charging cable.
We were also able to try the non-solar Garmin Fenix 7S, and despite having the smallest battery capacity in the range, it retained 56% of its charge after a week of use. That far exceeds Garmin's suggested battery life of 11 days in smartwatch mode alone.
It’s now easier to see the remaining charge level; one of our chief complaints with the Fenix 6 Solar was that you could only see power remaining measured in days, but the Fenix 7 gives you the option of checking the percentage as well. It’s a small but welcome touch.
You can toggle the general Battery Saver mode on and off through the watch itself, or make more specific tweaks through the Garmin Connect smartphone app by disabling certain tracking metrics.
You can adjust battery settings on the watch itself, or within the Garmin Connect app (Image credit: Future)
Garmin Fenix 7: Smartwatch features
Excellent GPS navigation tools
On-board music storage and Garmin Pay
No microphone for hands-free calls
Smartwatch feature score: 4/5
The Garmin Fenix 7 features all the sensors you’d expect from a top-end smartwatch, including the company’s latest generation Elevate 4 optical heart rate monitor, altimeter, compass, SpO2 (blood oxygen) sensor, and temperature sensor.
SpO2 monitoring can run continuously, overnight, or only on demand during spot-checks. The Garmin Fenix 6 recently received a firmware update that alerts you if you move your wrist too much while the watch is taking an SpO2 reading, and that’s a feature you’ll also see here with the Fenix 7.
The Fenix 7 boasts impressive mapping tools, which are ideal for everyday navigation as well as during training (Image credit: Future)
On the subject of travel, the Fenix 7’s GPS tracking and mapping are excellent. The watch recorded our pre-measured 5km test route to within 50 meters, making it the most accurate running watch we've tested to date.
The Fenix 7 excels for everyday navigation as well, removing the need to have your phone out and clearly visible in an unfamiliar place where it could be easily stolen. The Fenix 7 can even highlight points of interest for you, such as stores and cafes. It’s well thought through and really enhances the Fenix 7 as a watch for everyday use rather than just sports.
Until now, if you wanted a set of maps for your Garmin watch, you'd have to pay for and download them through the Garmin Connect app, but no longer. The Fenix 7 Sapphire editions come with a full set preinstalled, which is extremely useful, and users of the standard models can download their preferred packs directly through the watch using its new Map Manager.
The touchscreen makes panning across maps far easier than using buttons alone, though the MiP display doesn't refresh as quickly as an AMOLED screen, resulting in less smooth scrolling, and the blue-tinted backlight means things aren't always as easy to distinguish as we might like.
The course plotter in Garmin Connect can create a measured route that you can follow with turn-by-turn directions on the Fenix 7 (Image credit: Future)
If you’re tired of your usual running, cycling or walking routes, you can use the course creation tool in Garmin Connect to create a new one; just select a starting point, a distance, and an overall bearing (north, south, east, or west) and the app will generate a suitable route in a couple of seconds. You can then sync this to your Fenix 7, which will give you turn-by-turn directions as you go.
There’s also Garmin’s extremely useful TracBack feature, which lets you tag your starting point and then directs you back there once you’re ready to finish your walk, bike ride or run. It’s ideal for occasions when you want to go on a little adventure, though if you’re out hiking or orienteering, then you should always have a paper map and compass to be safe; the Fenix 7’s multi-band GPS is excellent, but no device is infallible.
Sleep monitoring is also impressive, accurately detecting changes between sleep and wakefulness that sports watches often fail to differentiate. Each morning you’ll receive a sleep score, together with some tips on how to get a better night’s rest, but this data will also be factored into stats such as your body battery, which shows how you're balancing work and recovery.
There’s storage for music, too (the Sapphire editions of the watch give you more space for saving maps and tracks), and you can use the Fenix 7 to listen to songs, podcasts and audiobooks through your phone’s default media player.
When you’re on the move, you can use Garmin Pay to make contactless payments in stores and pay for public transport in many locations. Sadly, most UK-based banks aren't supported, but at least it's also valid for a range of public transport services, including Transport For London.
One feature that’s conspicuously lacking from the Fenix 7 is the microphone featured in the recently released Garmin Venu 2 Plus, which allows you to receive phone calls and use your phone’s voice assistant directly from your wrist. It’s an extremely useful feature to have at your disposal mid-workout, and we’ve got our fingers crossed that Garmin might introduce it at a future date in a Garmin Fenix 7 Plus.
Garmin Fenix 7: Fitness tracking
One of the most accurate GPS watches we've tested
Real-time stamina tracking to help with pacing
Training load guidance for balancing rest and work
Tracking score: 4.5/5
The Fenix 7’s upgraded training tools help you balance work and recovery and make the abstract concept of training load easy to understand. It’s still a watch tailored to serious athletes, but Garmin’s advanced features are now more accessible for those taking their training to the next level.
Perhaps the best example of this real-time stamina tool, which shows how much fuel you have in the tank during your workout. This helps you avoid bottoming out and lets you more accurately judge when to turn around during an out-and-back run.
It’s a practical addition that’s extremely simple to use and accurately reflects your energy levels based on your training load. During runs on tired legs, our reported stamina drained much faster than when we were fresh, and we were able to adjust our training on the fly accordingly.
The Fenix 7 shows how your training affects your race time predictions (Image credit: Future)
The watch’s heart rate monitor is extremely responsive, making this an excellent watch for high-intensity interval training (which is now available as an activity profile). A colored bar at the top of the watch screen allows you to see your current heart rate training zone at any time, so you can increase the effort when you want to push to the next level and see the effects immediately.
Once your activity is finished, the Garmin Connect app will reveal how your stamina decreased – and whether your effort matched your potential. It’s another useful insight that lets you know whether you’re pushing yourself hard enough or holding back as you start to tire.
The Garmin Connect app makes it easy to manage your training load and check the effects of your workout on your fitness (Image credit: Future)
Another new motivational tool is the race predictor, which uses your current performance to estimate how long it will take to complete a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon based on your current fitness. It’s only an estimate, but a graph showing how your predicted time changes based on your training can really galvanize your efforts. It’s all available right on your wrist, so there’s no need to delve into Garmin Connect to find it.
In our tests, Garmin's predicted race times were roughly accurate – erring on the optimistic side – and changed rapidly in response to your most recent performance. We set out to beat our predicted 5k time, and although we didn't quite manage it, the watch set us a tougher goal in response.
The Fenix 7's super-accurate GPS tracking is extremely useful for pacing, and you can check your splits in the Garmin Connect app post-run (Image credit: Future)
You can see your seven-day training load at a glance on the watch face, with advice on whether you need to dial up the intensity, take your foot off the gas, or stay where you are for optimal results.
The Fenix 7 isn’t just a runner’s watch, though – it also has an impressive set of tools for cyclists and can be connected to the company’s line of bike computers and lights. Garmin has recently expanded its range of cycling modes and takes factors like incline and terrain into account when calculating your exerted effort.
Mapping for cyclists is particularly impressive. The watch won't just map a route for you; it also gives you the option to avoid toll roads, narrow trails, unpaved roads, and major highways, letting you customize your ride to suit your bike, your preferences, and your level of confidence. Touches like this really show that this was a watch developed by people with a genuine passion for their sport and who want to make it accessible to a wider range of people.
The watch can detect climbs automatically as well; its ClimbPro feature identifies when you've begun an ascent and presents you with info on the gradient, distance, and elevation gain of the entire hill so you can manage your effort and avoid setting out too hard or keeping too much in reserve.
Garmin Fenix 7: The Garmin Connect app
All data presented clearly and explained
Lots of extra tools including gear tracker
Personalized workouts and training plans
Companion app score: 5/5
Like all Garmin watches, the Fenix 7 syncs with the Garmin Connect app for iOS and Android. Connecting the watch is a breeze, and the watch syncs data automatically whenever you complete a workout, or open the app.
If you’re upgrading from an older Garmin device, all the data will be pooled together seamlessly, though selecting a training session will allow you to see which device recorded it.
Garmin Connect is one of the best-developed fitness apps and puts much more information at your fingertips than the likes of Huawei Health or even the official Coros app. All your most recent stats (such as heart rate, workouts, sleep, and menstrual cycle) are shown on a central dashboard that you can rearrange and customize at will. Don’t want to see your step count? Just slide it to the right, and it’s gone.
The Garmin Connect app presents daily and weekly data insights in a customizable dashboard (Image credit: Future)
Tapping on any of these stats will allow you to drill down through the data in more detail, and every graph and table is accompanied by an info panel that explains exactly what the information means and how you can use it. The app also provides suggestions where appropriate so you can improve your training habits.
Open up the app’s main menu, and you’ll discover a huge array of extra tools, all specifically designed with sportspeople in mind. For example, there’s a gear tracker so you can keep track of how long you’ve been using your various pairs of running shoes and work out when it’s time to replace them, and you can set up emergency contacts who should be alerted if the Fenix 7 detects an accident.
You can connect with other Garmin users as well, though most users are more likely to make use of the app’s Strava compatibility instead.
After a workout, you can drill down into detailed stats on your performance and your body's response (Image credit: Future)
There are customizable training plans for runners and cyclists, which set you certain sessions to complete during the week and adjust based on your performance, plus various Peloton-style instructor-led workouts. It’s all free of charge, and there’s no indication that Garmin plans to implement a Fitbit Premium-style subscription to access it.
You can download third-party apps, new watch faces, and extra data fields (which are presented on screen during workouts) through a second app called Garmin Connect IQ.
There isn’t a huge array of apps to download, but many of those available have been created by passionate Garmin users and solve a real need – such as the unofficial Parkrun apps, which display your personal barcode, so you don’t have to carry it on a keychain or wristband. There are also apps for popular services, such as mapping tool Komoot, which are favored by runners and cyclists.
First reviewed January 2022
Garmin Fenix 7: New updates
Since its launch, the Fenix 7 range has received a number of software updates, and Garmin very kindly added quite a few features to the watch that were previously only available on newer Forerunners, such as heart rate variability tracking, Training Readiness Score, Race Day widget and more.
One of the most significant improvements is the addition of SatIQ. This system automatically scans for GPS signals and changes the GPS settings in real-time to conserve battery life without compromising GPS accuracy. Considering how good the battery life on the Fenix 7 is, the addition of SatIQ turns the watch into an absolute battery powerhouse, only overshadowed by the Garmin Enduro 2, a watch that has a battery life that shouldn't be possible on a wrist wearable.
Garmin added other features as well, like the morning report and improved the running power feature, making the Fenix 7 an even more competent multisport watch than before. There really isn't anything the Fenix 7 isn't good for, from running training and outdoor adventure tracking to cycling recovery.
Buy it if
You want to crack a new personal best The Garmin Fenix line has always offered some of the best training tools, but the new additions offered by the Fenix 7 make it easier to balance rest and recovery, and help you see the long-term benefits of the work you're putting in today.
You want to explore For long camping trips, the excellent battery life will keep the watch running for days even with regular use of the watch’s navigation tools. Its multi-band GPS is extremely accurate, and its turn-by-turn navigation and TracBack functions make it easy to try out unfamiliar routes or just go exploring.
You're tough on your watches The Fenix 7 is built to last, and the new Sapphire Solar version means you no longer have to choose between maximum battery life and durability. You can also rest safe in the knowledge that Garmin will continue to support it with firmware updates for many years to come (the Fenix 6 received a major update just the day before the Fenix 7 launched).
Don't buy it if
You’re a casual sportsperson The Fenix 7 is a joy to use, but will be serious overkill for casual runners, cyclists and gym-goers. Other watches in the Garmin range, including the entry-level Forerunner 55 and the all-purpose Venu 2 Plus, are a better choice if you’re not planning to kick your training up to the next level.
You’re happy with your Fenix 6 The Fenix 6 has stood the test of time, and received a major firmware update the day before the launch of the Fenix 7 that brings its workout tracking profiles and fitness algorithms right up to date. The Fenix 7 is a seriously premium watch, and if you’re satisfied that you’re making the most of your existing watch’s training tools, it’s tough to justify the extra cost.
