The Enduro 3 is right here, and seemingly has one mission, and one mission solely: Go huge on battery. Practically triple their opponents, upwards of 320 hours in a daily GPS configuration. At the very least, in concept anyway. However worry not, I’ve been testing that.
Oh – and the kicker? It’s $200 cheaper than the Fenix 8 Photo voltaic, but has all the identical software program options. For actual.
The Enduro 3 primarily takes all of the performance of the present Fenix 7X Professional (together with that ECG-capable sensor, offline music, funds, and so forth…), and merges it with the brand new software program options and consumer interface of the brand new Fenix 8 Photo voltaic. And atop that (actually), they revamped the photo voltaic show to be 120% extra highly effective, and improved the show readability by concurrently eradicating the vast majority of the photo voltaic panel floor. Don’t fear, I do know that sounds complicated, I’ll clarify extra under.
The result’s a watch I’ve been beating to dying over the past few minutes, throughout epic hikes within the Pyrenees, rides, runs, swims, and extra. All within the pursuit of, principally, determining simply how far I can push the battery life. Albeit, I admit that in contrast to my Enduro 2 check, I wasn’t in a position to allocate nonetheless a lot time was required to hike till the battery died. Undecided my youngsters would need me gone for a month.
In any case, as all the time, I’ve been placing all these items to the check with loopy lengthy mountain hikes, runs, rides, swims, dives, and extra. Lastly, observe that Garmin despatched over media loaner items to check out. As common, this overview isn’t sponsored (nor does any firm get to preview something I overview), and I don’t take any advertiser cash from any corporations I overview. As soon as this unit goes again, I’ll exit and purchase my very own for any future testing wants. In case you discovered this overview helpful, you need to use the hyperlinks on the backside, or think about changing into a DCR Supporter, which makes the positioning ad-free. And, in fact, it makes you superior.
(Oh, fast observe: I’m experimenting with doing sure critiques a bit otherwise, particularly ones the place issues boatloads of overlap with concurrently launched merchandise, just like the Fenix 8 yesterday. So on this overview, I’m targeted on spending extra time on geeking out on the variations and what they imply, versus spending time writing about how to have a look at your steps and fundamentals. May tweak in a while a wet day.)
What’s New & The way it Differs:
What’s truly extra fascinating although, is that in its third iteration, Enduro has had a moderately dynamic life. At the very least by way of its {hardware} mother and father. Right here, let me clarify (and, why this issues):
Enduro 1 (2021): For this primary version, Garmin took a Fenix 6X Professional, and gutted all of the options folks truly cared about to attain increased battery life, together with maps, leaving you with breadcrumb and battery. Clearly, this didn’t go over nicely in the true world, as a result of the precise folks that wished the battery life, very a lot wished maps. Nonetheless, it put a marker within the sand for Garmin.
Enduro 2 (2022): For this second go round, Garmin took the Fenix 7X, and easily gave it an even bigger battery. It had all of the options of the Fenix 7X, simply extra battery, a barely greater case, and really even a brand new flashlight twice as vibrant because the Fenix 7X (that might ultimately turn into normal on the Fenix 7 Professional, and now Fenix 8).
Enduro 3 (2024): Garmin is now splitting the distinction. Consider this extra akin to a Fenix 7X Professional, however with the consumer interface and software program options of the Fenix 8. It doesn’t have the speaker/microphone or dive options of the Fenix 8, nevertheless it has all of the software program options. It’s additionally received a redesigned photo voltaic panel to offer it loopy battery life.
In different phrases, I’d truly argue that out of all of as we speak’s releases, the Enduro 3 embodies the product that Garmin listened to the shopper base most rigorously on. Many of the Enduro customers have mentioned they don’t care or need smartphone options like microphones or audio system. And thus, Garmin appeared to offer them what they need.
First although, let’s dig into precisely how the Enduro 3 differs from an Enduro 2:
– Value diminished from $1,099 to $899 (critically, they really decreased the worth)
– Added new Garmin Elevate Gen5 Optical HR sensor (ECG and wrist-temperature succesful)
– Enhance the battery life claims considerably
– New photo voltaic expertise, will increase photo voltaic harvesting (2x power of Enduro 2), but in addition will increase readability
– Elevated thickness of photo voltaic band round outdoors edge, modified to black
– Eliminated clear photo voltaic panel throughout floor of show (growing visibility)
– Enduro 3 case/housing is 57g
– Enduro 3 UltraFit band is 6g
– Enduro 3 whole weight is 63g (in comparison with 69g on Enduro 2)
– Revamped consumer interface, discovered on the Fenix 8, which provides the next record of things
– Added new maps radius zoom UI change
– Added new maps North Up fast toggle
– Added new maps layer choice fast entry menu
– Added fast entry contact unlock function (briefly unlocks contact, similar to for a map throughout exercise)
– Added new ‘Energetic Navigation’ menu system whereas navigating a course/waypoint/and so forth
– Added new consolidated ‘Saved’ function, to search out saved routes/waypoints/and so forth..
– Added new dynamic round-trip routing, to auto—change route mid-way to attain a specified distance should you go off-course (e.g. set for five miles)
– Added ‘Set a Goal’ distance reminder, to remind you to show round after the half-way level
– Added Ski problem monitoring possibility
– Added power coaching plans (4-6 weeks, by way of Garmin Join)
– Added new watch face editor, and new watch faces
– Added new Countdown app to countdown to numerous dates/occasions
– Added new Focus Modes
– Added new on-line processing of troubled GPS tracks, utilizing inner watch sensor information to right them
– Main redesign of consumer interface, together with widgets, settings, and exercise/exercise pages
– Revamped Notification Middle to incorporate Garmin-based notifications (e.g. Morning Report or Each day Abstract)
Phew, received all that? Good.
And right here’s the way it differs from the also-released Garmin Fenix 8 Photo voltaic:
– Enduro 3 doesn’t have speaker/microphone options (does have a traditional beeper)
– Enduro 3 doesn’t have dive options
– Enduro 3 provided in a single bigger dimension (51mm), versus a number of Fenix sizes
– Enduro 3 has greater photo voltaic ring across the outdoors
– Enduro 3 is lighter at 63g, versus 95g for 51mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic
– Enduro 3 is thicker at 15.7mm versus 51mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic at 14.7mm
– Enduro 3 is priced at a extra affordable $899, versus $1,199 for the 51mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic
– Each 51mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic & Enduro 3 have identical 1.4” MIP show @ 280x280px
– Each have Sapphire glass, and Titanium
– Each have 32GB for maps/music
Past that, all different options are the identical. Thus, issues like offline music, contactless funds, each day exercise monitoring, and so forth…are all equivalent to the Fenix 8 Photo voltaic.
Wanting on the battery life, I made a bit of chart displaying the variations, that are exceptionally notable within the GPS-only mode:
The brand new photo voltaic panel will get half-hour of GPS battery life for each 60 minutes of daylight, whereas Enduro 2 received solely quarter-hour of GPS battery per 60 minutes of daylight (assuming 50K lux situations).
Once more, that is all about battery life. So, let’s check it. However first, let’s discuss the brand new UI options briefly.
New UI & Navigation Options:
The brand new consumer interface over the Fenix 8 can be on the Enduro 3. This consumer interface gained’t be going again to any earlier watches, solely the present gen items and past. Roughly talking, you may divide it up into three core classes:
– Barely revamped widgets/glances
– Considerably revamped settings space
– Reasonably revamped information discipline and navigation pages/construction
Beginning off with the widget glances and such, these will really feel all principally the identical on the Enduro 3, because the MIP model of the Fenix 8 doesn’t get as huge of a revamp on this space, as that’s largely reserved for the AMOLED capabilities with increased resolutions, colours, and so forth… In order you may see under, principally same-same.
Nonetheless, the settings are is the place you’ll see quite a lot of modifications, as Garmin consolidates settings into probably the most used areas and new groupings. Essentially the most steadily accessed settings teams are on the high, whereas the others are decrease down within the record. On the entire, I’m a fan of this, and it really works nicely.
Actually, the very first possibility both the Fenix 8 or Enduro 3 will ask you while you energy it on for the primary day out of the field, is the font dimension. All of the photographs listed here are with the default dimension.
Shifting alongside although, let’s press the higher proper button to start out a exercise/sport/app. That is the place we’ll see the brand new menu to decide on our favorited actions. Right here we will choose three objects for the primary row, with the rest of the sports activities below these 4 dots to the higher proper. Under that, are non-sport apps (stuff like Music, Garmin Share, Messenger, and so forth…
The concept right here being to make non-sport apps extra apparent, and fewer buried within the menu. The draw back there may be that it requires extra button presses to get to sports activities past your high three.
If we’ve different sports activities, we will scroll additional and see them categorized. The slight change right here is that these further sports activities aren’t as hidden, which might be helpful for new-to-Garmin customers, to make it extra apparent simply what number of sports activities Garmin has.
After deciding on the game we would like, the higher portion of the web page will look acquainted, because it’s the GPS ready display screen, and sensor/and so forth ready display screen. The higher proper button will begin the exercise like earlier than. Nonetheless, down under you’ll see there are simply accessible settings pages. Each day Recommended (or deliberate) exercises present up right here routinely, and routes are simply accessible as nicely:
Routes and navigation objects are re-arranged into a brand new management panel as nicely, together with a brand new ‘Saved’ bin, that places them below one umbrella, versus in every single place. Right here I can choose the route I would like:
As soon as that’s executed, you’ll see it listed again on the principle sport ready display screen:
At this level, off you go, to start out your exercise/exercise. Besides, there’s been a redesign right here too. As a substitute of simply scrolling up/down by information pages like each previous Garmin watch, now you can swipe left/proper inside three lanes (like lanes in a pool).
Lane 1: The settings web page the place we began the exercise from + navigation bits
Lane 2: Your information pages/fields as you knew them from the previous
Lane 3: Music controls
At current, you can’t disable the music management web page, however that’s apparently coming. In case you’re not navigating, you’ll simply reside in that center lane, and actually not give it some thought. In case you go to long-hold the center button to entry settings, it simply pulls you again to Lane 1.
Under, you may see me in my ‘regular’ information pages, and should you take a look at the fitting picture, you’ll see the indicator as to which of the three lanes I’m in on the backside.
And should you swipe to the fitting, you get to the music controls (for any music you may have in your watch, or cellphone). Once more, you may see the lane now displaying ‘Music’ on the backside.
Nonetheless, the place it will get completely different is should you’re navigating, then, you get a brand new possibility that reveals up inside that first lane which you can open up, to see a devoted set of navigation pages. Consider this like multitasking apps, and that this doesn’t have an effect on your primary information pages. The tough thought is that individuals find yourself with sport profiles jammed with all kinds of additional information pages they solely use when navigating, however keep there cluttering up their information pages for all different exercises. This tries to resolve that. Right here you may see the left swipe first (to the hamburger three-lined menu), then I faucet into ‘Spanish Mountains’, and I see 4 pages of navigation-related information pages, beginning with a split-screen map, then ETA, and so forth (I present this absolutely within the video).
In actuality, I don’t suppose they’ve solved it fairly but. Now I’ve simply received much more information pages, and people information pages aren’t constant both. ClimbPro reveals two various things relying which lane I’m in, and atop that, attending to the navigation pages requires much more swipping/tapping/coming into. I see the dream, however proper now it’s simply not executed in addition to I’d like, and has resulted in simply extra pages than earlier than (particularly since I don’t even need the music one both).
There’s three different tidbits value noting. First is that you just’ve received received a contact unlock choice to rapidly use contact on the map web page. You merely faucet the little contact icon, after which swipe down, and it briefly unlocks it. That is cool and tremendous helpful:
The second is you may faucet the compass icon on the map web page to immediately change between North Up view and route of journey view. And the third, is which you can now rapidly toggle between map layers (similar to recognition routing, shading, and so forth…) proper from throughout the exercise and map web page.
This additionally permits you to toggle between completely different maps rapidly as nicely, similar to should you had the Garmin Out of doors+ maps (satellite tv for pc imagery, amongst others). This piece is definitely fairly slick, and much quicker than earlier than.
Past these things, nearly all different parts from a sports activities/health standpoint are the identical. That is true of issues like sensor pairings, navigation options, coaching load and restoration options, and so forth… So as a substitute, let’s transfer into the photo voltaic panel elements and battery items.
The Photo voltaic Panel, and Battery Testing:
The largest change on the Enduro 3 is the Photo voltaic panel. Particularly, there’s three modifications right here:
– A brand new expertise altogether, growing the outer photo voltaic ring to get extra battery life
– Made the outer photo voltaic ring black, versus purple, so that you don’t actually discover it as a photo voltaic ring (seems just like the bezel)
– Eliminated the clear photo voltaic panel over the display screen/show portion, growing visibility
So, taking a look at them side-by-side, you may very simply see the distinction between the purple vs black rings round each, and the way a lot thicker the Enduro 3 is:
Concerning display screen readability, sure, that too appears clearer to me. I wouldn’t describe it as massively clearer, however barely clearer:
Nonetheless, I’ll say, utilizing it aspect by aspect with the Fenix 8 (AMOLED), I neglect how dangerous display screen visibility is in comparison with AMOLED watches in dimmer settings. There was one specific second on our first climbing day the place we had been within the forest, and making an attempt to verify our instructions, after I seemed down on the Enduro 3, and the show was fully unusable from a visibility standpoint. At the very least with out turning on the Enduro 3 backlight, which Garmin particularly made a degree within the media briefings as saying wasn’t wanted. But each myself and Des checked out our respective wrists, and given the map shading utilized in that individual space, on the Enduro 3, it made it fairly difficult to see with out enabling the backlight):
But inversely, after I was on high of a ridgeline in vibrant sunny situations, I had ZERO points viewing any of the AMOLED show items (taking photographs of AMOLED shows in vibrant sunny situations is all the time difficult as a result of your digital camera will first expose the brighter areas correctly, making black-background areas look darker than actuality. However to my eyes, it was zero downside). In fact, the MIP-based Enduro 3 did nice right here too, because it does in vibrant situations.
Nonetheless, let’s take a look at battery life throughout two key eventualities, On the primary day of this hike, we had made a pact to strive all of the watches on the map view the complete time whereas climbing. A few of us did a greater job at remembering that pact than others. On this case although, my Enduro 3 was set for GPS-Solely (saves battery life), whereas Des’s was set for SatIQ (which might leverage multiband GPS when wanted). In any other case, we had been equivalent with all our settings as defaults, and utilizing optical HR.
You’ll be able to see right here that leaving it on the map display screen completely buried the battery life. It’s also possible to guess which one in every of us did a greater job at remembering our map-only-page pact throughout these 8 hours of mountain trekking.
On paper, Garmin doesn’t have a ‘map-aways’ declare on their battery charts. That mentioned, for SatIQ, the declare is 72 hours with out Photo voltaic, and Des rang in at 70.83 hours. Whereas with GPS-only the declare is 120 hours, however once more that’s not leaving it actively navigating on the map web page. I hit an estimate of 57.22 hours. Simply t be clear, these are precise rivers of water under us on the bottom:
The following day, whereas Des’s legs thought of his poor life selections, I went out for an additional 10 hours of trekking. This time, I aimed to maintain it on the ClimbPro web page the complete time (or different low-update textual content web page). I once more saved it at GPS-only as I used to be additional curious to see the impression of that on GPS accuracy, and the way post-processing may repair that (see the following part). The Epix Professional, I left on the map web page, trigger a lot bushwhacking was available today (nonetheless, unclear why that carried out far under different days). Right here’s that consequence 38km and a number of elevation:
As you may see right here, that 123.96 hour estimate is extremely near Garmin’s GPS-Solely no-solar estimate. In my case, I had very sturdy solar through the day, however that’s counteracted by having navigation enabled. Nonetheless, it could see removed from the 320 hours Garmin claims for GPS-Solely with simply 3 hours of Photo voltaic. Right here had been the situations for most likely 70% of the day:
On this case, I introduced the information again to Garmin, and so they mentioned that the usage of ClimbPro and different slow-updating textual content however not plain textual content fields, was inflicting extra battery burn than it ought to have. There will likely be in an replace in just a few weeks to repair that. Thus, I’ll strive once more someday in September.
Nonetheless, setting that apart, in a worst-case state of affairs right here with GPS-only, we’re speaking 120 hours of real-world battery life assuming you don’t lave it on the map web page. And with SatIQ, even leaving it on the web page web page we’re speaking
GPS Accuracy Testing:
Now, from an accuracy standpoint, I had two extra questions. First, usually talking, is the Enduro 3 correct in a traditional SatIQ state of affairs. And admittedly, the reply to that’s a simple. Right here’s a fast metropolis check, and you may see it’s spot on:
And naturally, coronary heart charge on the identical sensor because the Fenix 8 and all my testing there may be spot-on too (and the identical sensor because the Epix Professional & Fenix 7 Professional):
Once more, I’ll add in additional information units later, however for now, let’s get to the following query:
If we actually wished that theoretical 320 hours of GPS battery life, is the GPS-only mode truly viable from an accuracy standpoint? Nicely, let’s have a look. Right here we’ve received 4 watches:
– Me #1: Enduro 3 in GPS-only configuration (proper wrist)
– Me #2: Fenix 8 in SatIQ configuration (left wrist)
– Me #3: Epix Professional in SatIQ configuration (left wrist)
– Des #1: Enduro 3 in SatIQ configuration
Throughout the complete day, we had been hardly ever various meters away from one another, and nearly all the time taking the identical observe. So right here’s a climb by the forest of the 4 items:
As you may see, there’s a bit of bit extra wobbly on my GPS-only observe, however not a large quantity. It does result in variations in distance although (extra on that in a second).
Nonetheless, on the descent subsequent to steep cliffs, there’s nearly no significant distinction right here:
And on the finish, on this hike, the stats had been practically equivalent for mileage totals:
Nonetheless, the following day when solo, I’d see practically 2km of distance distinction by the tip:
But once more, on the entire, the GPS tracks seemed nice right here:
In order that then will get to an much more enjoyable query: How does Garmin’s new computerized observe enhancement function work?
This new function on the Enduro 3 and Fenix 8 will routinely analyze and re-process for improved GPS accuracy, tracks which present indicators of poor GPS situations through the route. This gained’t occur each time, however what occurs when it will get flagged as a questionable GPS observe? What modifications?
Nicely, I’m going to have a look at this over a bunch extra information set, however for enjoyable, right here’s my hike Enduro 3 GPS file (in GPS-only mode) earlier than and after that processing. Generally, you’ll see very minor tweaks, nevertheless it appears to take away a few of the extra wonky twists/turns that present up in poor GPS sign eventualities.
Once more, I’ll dive into that in an upcoming publish with extra particulars on how that works (worry not, you may flip it off if you would like).
Wrap-Up:
I wrote this complete publish final night time, up till this final part. Earlier than I accomplished this part, I went and filmed my Enduro 3 overview. And it was in my ultimate 60 seconds of filming that unscripted video that I spotted one thing: The Enduro 3 is paradoxically the answer to the overwhelming adverse feedback in regards to the additionally new Fenix 8 Photo voltaic, particularly, the pricing.
With the Enduro 3, you lack the speaker/mic/diving that the majority MIP-owners don’t appear to care about. But you additionally magically lack the $300 worth improve of the Fenix 8 MIP-based fashions (as much as $1,099 from beforehand $799). All of the whereas gaining higher battery life than the Fenix 8 Photo voltaic, but additionally holding all the brand new consumer interface bits and options. Given Garmin has acknowledged the brand new consumer interface and options gained’t be going again to previous-gen fashions, the way forward for updates for the Fenix 7 collection appears questionable proper now. This solves that.
Certain, it doesn’t clear up for all the pieces – particularly, folks that don’t desire a bigger 51mm watch (like my spouse, who needs a 42mm MIP possibility, similar to her present Fenix 7S Professional at 42mm). Or, the six MIP-based folks that desire a speaker/mic of their watches. However hey, for the 1000’s of others that expressed their frustrations yesterday within the feedback part throughout each web site and YouTube, this epiphany second is likely to be a winner. Additionally, can we take a second to understand Garmin truly diminished costs right here (the Enduro 2 was $1,099, and now it’s $899).
However sufficient about pricing. By way of all the opposite technical issues, it labored nicely. I’m wanting ahead to testing out the upcoming firmware tweaks to the ClimbPro web page battery bits, to see how far more I can eke out of it (and different non-map pages). Likewise, to see Garmin put a bit extra polish on the present new consumer interface, particularly within the pace realm, but in addition finish-up some sections like Focus Modes.
General although, if I used to be into bigger MIP-based shows, then this might be the straightforward alternative.
With that – thanks for studying!
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