The Fenix 8 is right here, bringing with it not simply new {hardware} options, but in addition the top of the Garmin Epix lineup. Or, no less than the top of it for now. Worry not although, that ending is merely in title, as Garmin has consolidated the merchandise underneath the Fenix branding as an alternative. Nonetheless, the top result’s successfully the identical: There stays each MIP-based shows and AMOLED shows, albeit with considerably larger costs.
The Fenix 8 as an alternative focuses on two key areas with its {hardware} enhancements: The addition of a speaker & microphone for taking calls (with telephone), a brand new offline voice help, and creating voice notes. Atop that, there’s the addition of a depth gauge and associated scuba and free-diving performance. The MIP-based Photo voltaic editions additionally see some strong battery positive aspects with a brand new photo voltaic panel.
Whereas nearly all of the adjustments on the Fenix 8 are targeted on its important consumer interface overhaul, primarily merging features of the Forerunner 965 interface with that of the Epix Professional, whereas concurrently revamping core widgets, settings, and exercise/navigation areas to make it simpler to know, particularly for new-to-Garmin customers. Albeit as you’ll see, for my part to combined success.
As all the time, I’ve been placing all these models to the take a look at with loopy lengthy mountain hikes, runs, rides, swims, dives, and extra. Lastly, observe that Garmin despatched over media loaner models to check out. As normal, this evaluate will not be sponsored (nor does any firm get to preview something I evaluate), and I don’t take any advertiser cash from any firms I evaluate. 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 evaluate helpful, you should use the hyperlinks on the backside, or take into account changing into a DCR Supporter, which makes the positioning ad-free. And, after all, it makes you superior.
What’s New:
This Fenix launch is a bit uncommon, in that the ‘What’s New’ part isn’t all that intensive. No less than, when it comes to key options. After all, the primary bit isn’t {hardware}/options in any respect, however relatively the identical model naming re-arranging, particularly:
– Fenix sequence (MIP-based shows) turns into often called ‘Fenix 8 Photo voltaic’
– Epix sequence (AMOLED shows) turns into merely ‘Fenix 8’ (and the Epix branding goes away)
On the finish of the day, they’ve merely consolidated what are two an identical watches when it comes to software program/options (with simply totally different shows) into one model title. Straightforward, proper? Enduro stays Enduro and a MIP-based show, as the brand new Enduro 3 (evaluate developing within the subsequent hours/days).
So then we get to the adjustments on the Fenix 8 entrance, and at a really distilled stage, there are principally 4.5 adjustments:
– Provides microphone/speaker for calls/private assistants
– Provides depth gauge and diving-related capabilities
– Enhance show sizes for smallest watches (from 1.2” to 1.3, and 1.3” to 1.4”)
– [Solar edition only] Revamped photo voltaic panel to extend readability and substantial improve solar-assisted battery life
– [Solar edition only] Killed off the smaller 42mm variant (Fenix S variants)
That’s kinda it. There are a slate of software program updates under, however the overwhelming majority of them are very minor UI updates. In complete, it’s an interesting set of updates, however many of those updates would seemingly have been regular quarterly firmware tweaks. In reality, we’ve seen greater Fenix quarterly updates from Garmin than the Fenix 8 updates, no less than when it comes to options or sports activities/health options.
Nonetheless, right here’s the lengthy listing of little issues which have modified (some tied to the {hardware} adjustments above are greater, clearly):
– {Hardware}: AMOLED is available in three sizes: 43/47/51mm
– {Hardware}: Photo voltaic is available in two sizes: 47/51mm
– {Hardware}: [Solar edition only] New edge ring photo voltaic panel is way extra environment friendly, and not covers show, bettering readability
– {Hardware}: New sensor guard protects microphone and barometer (between buttons)
– {Hardware}: New leak-proof button design utilizing inductive buttons, so no precise gap within the case
– Added leisure scuba diving/apnea options, right down to 40M with EN13319 certification
– Added diving no-fly and floor time options (widgets/information pages, and so on…)
– Added entry to telephone assistant through microphone/speaker (together with your smartphone)
– Added taking telephone calls through microphone/speaker (together with your smartphone)
– Added voice notes recorder (on watch)
– Added new offline voice assistant
– 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 characteristic (quickly unlocks contact, corresponding to for a map throughout exercise)
– Added new ‘Energetic Navigation’ menu system whereas navigating a course/waypoint/and so on
– Added new consolidated ‘Saved’ characteristic, to seek out saved routes/waypoints/and so on..
– Added new dynamic round-trip routing, to auto—change route mid-way to attain a specified distance in the event 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 issue monitoring possibility
– Added energy coaching plans (4-6 weeks, through Garmin Join)
– Added new watch face editor, and new watch faces
– Added new Countdown app to countdown to varied dates/occasions
– Added new Focus Modes
– Added new on-line processing of troubled GPS tracks, utilizing inner watch sensor information to appropriate them
– Main redesign of consumer interface, together with widgets, settings, and exercise/exercise pages
– Revamped Notification Heart to incorporate Garmin-based notifications (e.g. Morning Report or Each day Abstract)
It’s kinda arduous to seize the ‘main redesign of consumer interface’ right into a bunch of bullets, as most of it’s simply shifting the cheese round to totally different locations. As you may see, a lot of the above (like a north-up maps fast toggle) are very minor. Inversely, some just like the dive sport profile is sprawling and fairly intensive, similar to their Descent MK3 (extra on that within the dive part).
From a Photo voltaic-unit standpoint, right here’s how the brand new photo voltaic panel impacts battery life, when in comparison with the identical sizes of the Fenix 7 Professional Photo voltaic editions:
GPS Solely:
47mm: From 73 hours to 92 hours
51mm: From 122 hours to 149 hoursAll Methods GPS:
47mm: From 48 hours to 59 hours
51mm: From 77 hours to 92 hoursAll System + Multiband:
47mm: From 26 hours to 43 hours
51mm: From 41 hours to 65 hours
Keep in mind, the photo voltaic panel is just paired/supplied with the Fenix 8 Photo voltaic MIP-based models, not the AMOLED models. Right here’s the complete itemizing of battery specs:
Shifting on, we’ve acquired the massive ticket merchandise right here in value will increase. The most cost effective Fenix providing is $999. The most cost effective MIP-based providing went from $799 (Fenix 7S Professional Photo voltaic/7 Professional Photo voltaic) to $1,099 (Fenix 8 Photo voltaic) – a $300 value improve! The AMOLED went from $899 to $999 (once more, evaluating the least costly choices).
And right here’s a distinct view a few of the core specs associated to sizing:
These value jumps ought to give many customers pause. As I’ve stated for 15 years in critiques: You possibly can’t faux to separate value from the equation. It’s an integral a part of any product evaluate, and the way real-world shoppers make selections. Much more so when Garmin has had the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Professional on near-perpetual gross sales for the final 6-8 months. Had Garmin saved the costs the identical right here, and handled it as an annual incremental {hardware} improve (akin to what Apple does, and what Garmin has traditionally completed), then the MIP-based models would have made rather more sense.
The Fundamentals:
On this part I’m going to cowl a few of the non-sports options. Issues like each day exercise/sleep monitoring, updates to the consumer interface, in addition to the brand new voice options. In case you’re aware of the Venu sequence, then the calling/voice options are largely the identical as these watches. Nonetheless, the Fenix 8 additionally introduces a brand new offline voice help and voice notes, which I’ll dive into within the following part.
First up although, is a fast reminder that Garmins’ Forerunner & Fenix watches all options each 5 buttons in addition to a touchscreen. Which means that just about each perform/characteristic will be accessed by both management kind. Which means, in the event you like contact, you are able to do nearly every part through contact. And in the event you hate contact, you may flip it off fully. Your alternative. You possibly can even do it on a per sport profile foundation.
You’ll discover above that orange strip between the 2 buttons on the best aspect. That hides/protects the speaker and barometer. The design ingredient comes from the Descent, and is carried by right here. Additionally carried over from the Descent diving watches are new “leak proof” buttons. Whereas firms just about by no means use “leak proof” in any wording, Garmin does right here. And the explanation is sensible.
In contrast to previous buttons which characteristic a gap within the inner case that the button pushes to activate (with seals/o-rings), there’s no gap right here. As a substitute, it makes use of an inductive connection to detect the button push. This implies there’s actually no gap within the inner case for the buttons. I had no downside with this design throughout my testing, although, it does really feel totally different. Thus, take into account that for the primary day or two of sporting it.
Shifting again to the watch face, Garmin has launched new watch faces right here, in addition to redesigned the way you configure the watch faces barely. Finally, this looks as if Garmin’s most customizable watch face up to now. Now, I received’t lie: The primary time I unboxed this unit, my preliminary thought was “Pricey god, this default watch face is hideous.” However by some means, it’s grown on me, and I truly prefer it by now. Go determine.
After all, Garmin continues to have the deepest allowance of customization of any smartwatch on the market, when it comes to watch faces. You may make your personal with the Garmin Join IQ app, you may obtain hundreds extra, and whilst of some weeks in the past, purchase different watch ones too.
When you get previous the watch face, the very first thing you’ll discover is the redesigned consumer interface. Garmin says they perceive that having a brand new consumer interface for each watch isn’t perfect (one thing I’ve been harping for years). That is their first go at consolidating these, going ahead for brand spanking new watches. Basically it blends the Epix Professional & Forerunner 965 collectively, with touches of Venu 3. Stated in another way, it’s a threesome.
You’ll discover the primary minor adjustments within the widgets/glances, corresponding to for little charts and such. These are minor, however extra polished touches than previously. For these not acquainted, the widget glances mean you can open up a given subject/information space, after which see extra particulars. For instance, if I had been to faucet on the ‘Steps’ one, I’ll see a number of extra full-screen pages about steps during the last 7 days:
Likewise, the identical is true for different watch glances. Right here’s the sleep ones:
Talking of sleep, and monitoring, I noticed no points throughout all of my nights of sleep of appropriately capturing the occasions I really feel asleep and wakened. Garmin has continued to make actually good strides right here over the previous few years on this space, particularly round how nicely it handles briefly waking up early within the morning in the event you’ve acquired youngsters or such (after which falling again asleep). It now handles that appropriately every time.
As I observe in my different critiques, after I take a look at sleep accuracy, I deal with the texture asleep/wake-up occasions. The rationale I don’t price sleep phases/levels, is that the applied sciences accessible to take action merely aren’t all that correct. Evaluating towards even so-called ‘gold-standard’ choices for sleep accuracy are solely rated within the 80% vary for accuracy. We’d by no means decide coronary heart price accuracy towards one thing that was mistaken 20% of the time (in a greatest case state of affairs). Thus, it’s foolish to take action right here. As a substitute, I’m targeted on does it appropriately mark the occasions I’m truly awake.
I do take a look at coronary heart price variability accuracy a bit extra intently although, since we are able to evaluate that rather more simply. The Fenix 8 captures your HRV information when you sleep, and traits it over time (you’ll want 19 nights of preliminary sleep information first although earlier than it applies the colourful labels). After which from there it’ll offer you trending information over time.
In reality, simply this morning I appeared on the above HRV information and did a strong double take. There was no means my common final night time was 83ms, was there? For me, as you may see from my trending graphs, that’s truly absurdly excessive. But positive sufficient, it was inside a number of ms of Whoop 4 (91ms), and Oura (92ms).
All of this information, throughout each metric, is accessible within the Garmin Join smartphone app as nicely, which you’ll be able to customise and dig fairly deep into no matter metrics you want.
Now, heading again to the watch, one space that’s been considerably modified is the settings menu (as a part of the general redesign). Garmin has primarily re-ordered every part right here to have essentially the most steadily used options up high, after which re-grouped them into extra logical groupings. That is actually focused at new Garmin customers, however virtually talking, it really works nice for present customers. I’ve acquired no issues with the settings redesign.
In reality, one of many stuff you’ll discover in that new settings space, is the brand new ‘Focus Modes’ characteristic. This takes free inspiration from different firms ‘Focus Modes’ idea, in that it allows you to customise a bunch of settings for various situations, corresponding to Sleep and Exercise. I say ‘corresponding to’, however in actuality, these are the one two at this cut-off date. Nonetheless, Garmin says that they’ll quickly broaden that to creating your personal customized focus modes, and tweaking extra settings.
Till that occurs, I truthfully battle with the worth of this characteristic (stated in another way: It’s half baked). However I can see how down the street you may create a ‘Race’ focus mode, or one for coaching, and so on… However once more, we’ll actually should see how issues look as soon as they get this all sorted.
Lastly, two fast hit-list kind objects. First up, all of the Fenix 8 editions have the flashlight, similar to the Fenix 7 Professional & Epix Professional. The LED flashlight is on the entrance of the unit, and has three white brightness ranges, and one pink brightness stage. I typically go away it on the pink mild, so at night time it’s not blinding. Merely double-tap the higher left button, and the flashlight activates, and you may then regulate the brightness urgent up/down on the left aspect (you may see the pink block on the controls within the center photograph under, on the left aspect of the watch face).
This continues to be considered one of my favourite options on the watch, in addition to my spouse’s favourite characteristic. She may be very clear she received’t ever change to a watch that doesn’t have the flashlight (particularly helpful for checking on youngsters in the course of the night time).
After which lastly, the optical coronary heart price sensor within the Fenix 8 is similar because the Fenix 7 Professional & Epix Professional. That is an ECG-capable sensor, however at current ECG is just accredited/approved for folks within the US (or, those who journey no less than as soon as to the US).
With that, let’s get into the brand new options that rely upon the microphone and speaker.
Voice & Speaker Options:
Relying on one’s perspective, that is both the most important new characteristic, or second greatest (with ‘Dive’ being the opposite). Garmin has primarily taken the entire voice options discovered on their Venu sequence watches, after which added a number of extra. Briefly, these options are:
– Added {hardware} speaker/microphone (beforehand it simply had a beeper)
– Added capacity to take voice calls out of your watch (requires your telephone be close by)
– Added capacity to ask Siri/Google/Samsung voice assistants questions through watch microphone
– Added offline Garmin voice assistant (no cellphone required)
– Added capacity to play music again through speaker on watch
– Added Voice Notes Recorder
So, let’s get proper into it, beginning with the brand new offline Garmin Voice assistant characteristic. This characteristic is *fully* offline, and requires no connectivity to your telephone or the web. It’s designed to do primary duties on the watch, through voice. To entry it, you’ll merely long-hold down the higher proper button, which then triggers the microphone listening:
Examples of issues you may ask are: “Begin a run”, “Begin a 10-minute timer”, “What’s my coronary heart price?”, “Save Location”, “Play Music”, “Present me the timer”, and so forth. It’ll then take heed to your voice, and a second or so later, present ‘Processing’:
A second after that, it’ll do no matter it’s you used, corresponding to setting this 10-minute timer:
It truly works fairly nicely more often than not, however whether or not or not it’s helpful will depend on which activity you’re making an attempt to do. That’s foiled additional, by the truth that you must bodily long-hold the button. In contrast to Apple or Google’s voice assistants which are listening continually, the act of holding the button takes longer than some duties altogether. For instance, in my video, I present ‘Begin a run’, and side-by-side, I simply beat the Garmin assistant, in doing it manually.
Whereas for different duties, like setting a 10-minute timer, the Garmin assistant will beat me, as a result of that’s extra cumbersome to do through buttons. Nonetheless, while you ask to test the timer, you generally run into phrasing quirks. For instance, I assumed I may say “How a lot time is left on the timer?” (and different variants). However nope. The proper phrasing is “Present me the timer”. Nonetheless, these are factor Garmin can simply broaden over timer.
The following assistants are these in your telephone, pushed by no matter telephone voice assistant you’ve got (Apple/Google/Samsung). These are clearly a lot smarter assistants, powered by the web, however can’t management Garmin issues, and naturally, require your telephone. To entry these, you’ll go into the Apps menu, after which select telephone assistant, and easily communicate your query:
It’ll reply again in your telephone, not on the watch. It’ll look an identical to if Siri/and so on is answering a voice command in your telephone, because it’s simply leveraging the microphone on the watch, as if it had been a headset or such.
Subsequent, there’s voice calling. It will do nearly an identical to the above, in that it’s merely utilizing your microphone/speaker as a Bluetooth audio gadget. Besides that you could choose contacts and dial telephone numbers from the watch. You can even switch the decision again to your telephone.
From a top quality standpoint, that is principally the identical because the Garmin Venu sequence, and is completely nice in a pinch. Simply as with different watch-based microphones, it’s not perfect for a protracted name requiring very prime quality, but when that you must make it work, you may. It’s not unhealthy, nevertheless it’s not superior because it’s simply not all that loud, however sounds pretty quiet – particularly in an outside surroundings.
Nonetheless, regardless of diving with the watch a number of occasions, the standard of the microphone/speaker is nice (an apparent bar for fulfillment, however no less than price mentioning). Talking of which, in the intervening time Garmin’s doesn’t eject water from the speaker like Apple and others, however that too is on the best way in a upcoming firmware replace.
Subsequent, there’s the Voice Notes/Recorder characteristic. This allows you to take voice notes fully offline. As with the Garmin assistant, this requires no connectivity to the web. It’s totally inner. To entry it, once more, you’ll go into the apps menu and choose ‘Voice Notes’ characteristic, after which faucet to document.
By default it doesn’t geotag the voice notes, however you may toggle to allow that geotagging on a per-note foundation. The notes are organize in a library on the watch. Sadly, in the intervening time they don’t switch to your telephone, however Garmin says that’s coming. As soon as that occurs, I can see this being rather more helpful. Nonetheless, in the event you’re out for a run and have an excellent concept for a brand new thingy, this may very well be your fast and straightforward reply to recording stated concept.
Lastly, the Fenix 8 helps offline music from Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube, in addition to after all MP3 recordsdata. All of that works simply because it has for the previous few years, besides now you may play that audio again on the speaker itself (relatively than related headphones). Once more, I wouldn’t suggest this in a public health club setting, however in the event you’re in an space that doesn’t annoy others, then it really works nicely in a pinch. It’ll merely ask you which ones audio gadget to make use of, and ‘Speaker’ is a type of.
Finally, all of those options are aimed toward growing the ‘smarts’ on Garmin’s watch. Relying one’s perspective on speaking to your wrist, you’ll discover these priceless or ineffective. I are likely to fall extra in direction of the ineffective camp, as I don’t have a tendency to speak to my wrist. As a substitute, I used to be actually hoping to see mobile connectivity, particularly aligned to how Garmin does it within the Forerunner 945 LTE and Garmin Bounce watches, the place it’s primarily for monitoring/security options.
Getting full mobile connectivity for all built-in texting/calling/and so on options underneath a single quantity is exceptionally difficult for Garmin, particularly when iPhone customers, on account of restrictions put in place purchase Apple, that restrict what Garmin can leverage when speaking to an iPhone. For instance, Garmin can’t reply again to textual content messages on an iPhone (from the watch), nor can they entry pictures in a textual content message on an iPhone. They will do that on Android, however I think there’s much less want to take action, given nearly all of Garmin’s prospects for this product class are on Apple telephones.
Oh wait, yet another factor I forgot! Satirically, there very very first thing the watch will ask you while you set it up, is the font sizes. Now you can regulate the font sizes throughout a variety of various sizes, to satisfy your eyes wants:
All the pieces on this evaluate was simply left on the default font sizes. With that, let’s get sweaty.
Sports activities & Navigation Adjustments:
Subsequent, let’s take a look at sports activities and actions. As there are some massive adjustments right here as nicely. No less than when it comes to seems to be and group – the precise underlying options are nearly all an identical.
To entry the sports activities modes, you’ll faucet the higher proper button, simply as you all the time did. And at first look, this may look related, however in actuality, it really works fairly in another way (I present this within the video, strolling by all of it). The very first thing you’ll see alongside the highest is your high three pinned sports activities, after which down under are non-sport apps. So on this case, my top-three pinned sports activities are Working, Biking, Openwater Swimming.
To entry the remainder of the sports activities, I transfer sideways to these 4 dots, which opens up the larger listing. Right here’s the place I can see all the opposite favorited sports activities that aren’t within the high three, in addition to different ones I haven’t even used. This appears like a minor gripe, however I don’t like having to go sideways, then affirm, then down, by the listing. It simply finally ends up being pointless.
In the meantime, in the event you didn’t go sideways, you’d get to the non-sports App listing, which is the place issues like Voice Calling is, and different non-sporty options:
Nonetheless, let’s assume you’ve chosen a sport, working in my case. On this state of affairs, once more, it’ll look related at first look. You’ve acquired your GPS standing and HR standing up high, after which the beginning button. Nonetheless, the massive change is that down under are all of your settings. It’s one steady settings area now – just about an identical to what Suunto has had for numerous years. The thought right here being it makes it apparent that Garmin has all these further options (such because the Each day Prompt Exercise listed):
Garmin’s purpose right here is once more, making it simpler for new-to-Garmin customers to see all these options, which had been beforehand hidden deep within the menus. And I truly like this a part of the UI redesign. It doesn’t actually prevent button presses, it simply makes it extra apparent this stuff exist. And it after all teams them collectively.
For instance, let’s say we add a course to this. We’ve now acquired a brand new ‘Saved’ part, which places all of the saved navigational bits into one bucket (programs, saved location, and so on…).
So loading up that course, you’ll see it added to the beginning display earlier than I press the beginning button. Consider this as ‘Lane 1’ (together with the settings bits down under), and now you may swipe sideways by three distinct lanes: Navigation/Settings, Your Regular Knowledge Fields, Music Controls. You possibly can see the three icons for this on the very backside.
Okay, so now we press begin button, and we get into our regular information pages. These are what we’ve all the time had for the reason that starting of time with Garmin watches, and you continue to have them too. Something you’ve configured the best way you need it, is right here, within the center lane (proven by the little hiker icon, since I’m in climbing). It simply occurred this was a nasty nonetheless photograph of the map loading mid-way, however, you get the purpose. The map was considered one of my information pages I had setup. I am going up/down by the info pages like earlier.
Nonetheless, now there’s an extra web page to the best, for music controls. Spotify, Amazon, and so on… Are all right here. Sadly, you may’t eliminate this web page presently, although Garmin appears to point that’s coming.
However the greatest change comes in the event you go to swipe again to the controls web page (going left). Right here, you’ve acquired controls, however you’ve additionally acquired a brand new devoted navigation lane. It’s indicated by the blue rectangle round ‘Spanish Mountains’, the title of my course. On this case, it’s exhibiting 5 hours until completion of the route, although oddly 828m until the subsequent close by waypoint. Why it splits the distinction, I don’t know (nor do I prefer it).
The place it will get kinda wonky although, is that you could then faucet/choose that to open up the complete navigation set, which is one other bundle of navigation-specific information pages. In case you’ve been across the Garmin block although, these will seemingly be duplicates of your regular information pages. For instance, that is within the navigation lane (Map web page, ETA web page, waypoints web page):
I just like the idea as an idea, however not in execution. First off, I ought to be capable of swipe left, straight into the navigation lane. I shouldn’t should open it up once more from that controls lane. And second, it simply all finally ends up being duplicates of what I have already got. After which that doesn’t cowl the truth that on the navigation web page, ClimbPro simply defaults to exhibiting the primary climb on my route, relatively than my present climb that it exhibits elsewhere (given I’m 7 hours into today, I don’t a lot care about that climb 7 hours in the past).
There are another good tweaks although, for instance, you may faucet and swipe somewhat icon to then unlock contact, in any other case, it stays locked. This makes it a lot simpler to make use of the contact on a map web page however in any other case have it disabled.
Additional, on a map web page you may choose the compass icon to vary the orientation to North Up, or route of journey. Once more, tiny little issues.
Likewise, there’s a brand new choice to shortly choose varied map layers, and toggle them on and off, immediately from the map web page:
That is useful with the Outside+ maps (satellite tv for pc imagery), the place you wish to shortly shift forwards and backwards between the totally different map sorts, and even different map sorts as nicely.
And finally, setting apart my quibbles with how the navigation lane works, the underlying watch foundations labored nicely, as anticipated. There’s a bit extra lag that I’d like in some instances for map tile enumeration, which didn’t appear to occur on the Epix Professional. But it surely appeared diverse as to when it was barely laggy, and when it was prompt.
Additional, the second day hike (this 38KM hike) was an important instance of when a GPS gadget, with mapping (particularly topo maps) was completely essential. There have been key sections of the route that clearly hadn’t been utilized in a protracted very long time, and required some average bushwhacking. Having the topography aspect of the maps made it simpler to determine the place I may reduce by, and the place I couldn’t (on account of cliffs).
Past that although, there’s no adjustments to issues like sensor pairings, information fields per web page, coaching options, and so on… All of that’s an identical. Thus, you may seek advice from my Fenix 7 Professional or Epix Professional critiques to see all these particulars, as they’re precisely the identical right here.
I’ll seemingly broaden out this part with all the same old explainers of begin/cease exercises and such, however every part there stays an identical to the previous. Thus, let’s deal with a few of the different new areas as an alternative.
Dive Performance:
After all, one of many two massive ticket options is the addition of dive performance. That features each a {hardware} ingredient (depth gauge, and higher sealed buttons), in addition to a software program ingredient (all of the dive laptop items). Garmin has made dive computer systems for numerous years now (7 years, to be exact). And in that point, they’ve unquestionably modified the premium dive laptop {industry}. They primarily took a Fenix unit, and made it a dive laptop, underneath the Descent branding. Now, they’re pulling these options again into the Fenix lineup.
And to Garmin’s credit score right here, they appear to have struck a really robust stability when it comes to which options so as to add from the rather more costly Garmin Descent MK3 lineup (the MK3 is $1,199 for the 43mm, however jumps to $1,599 for the 51mm with air integration).
This implies, at a excessive stage, you’ve acquired the next options:
– Helps scuba dive, apnea (free diving), and snorkel
– Helps each air and nitrox
– Helps primary dive planning
– Has all regular dive laptop fields (depth/time/compass/water temp/max depth/and so on)
– Helps compass lock heading possibility
– Information GPS entry/exit factors
– Has all the traditional ascent/NDL/and so on alerts you’d anticipate.
– Has no-fly time, floor interval time
– Has full Garmin Dive app log integration
Nonetheless, the handful of options not accessible on the Fenix 8 which are accessible on the MK3i are:
– No Wi-fi Air Integration (tank module assist)
– No wi-fi dive community integration (referred to as ’Sonar’, to speak between divers)
– No Garmin Diver Readiness Rating
– No Trimix assist
– No Superior Technical Diving Modes
There’s additionally another minor consumer interface bits you’ll see totally different, although most of them are fairly minor and owed extra to the Fenix 8’s up to date UI than something (for instance, on the Fenix 8 they mix the tissue loading information pages collectively, whereas the Descent MK3i splits it into two information pages, but the full content material is an identical).
Right here’s the complete chart, from Garmin, on the variations (having used the Apple Watch Extremely with Oceanic’s app, I don’t see any apparent errors in Garmin’s chart):
(I’ll purpose to re-create this desk within the coming day or so, and add within the Suunto Ocean)
Notice that I’ll be spending a variety of time in a hotter water locale come September, thus, anticipate to see extra diving-focused bouts, together with immediately evaluating the Fenix 8, Descent MK3i (with tank module), Suunto Ocean (additionally with tank module/pod), and Apple Watch Extremely 2 (with Oceanic app):
Okay, with that stated, let’s discuss how the diving works. First up, you’ll wish to add the Dive choice to your sports activities favourite listing. The reason being that by doing so, it’ll robotically set off a dive while you descend under 4ft/1.6m (similar to different firms do, per EN13319 laws part 4.2.1). You possibly can flip this off although, corresponding to in the event you swim (e.g. coaching) often, so it doesn’t continually activate while you soar within the pool/water. Else, you may simply manually open up the Scuba Dive sport profile:
When you achieve this, you’ll be hanging out on the Scuba Dive sports activities web page (apnea works just about identically). That is the place you should use the dive planner performance (to test NDL time for instance), in addition to configure your information pages/fields (the defaults cowl most of what you’d in all probability need, to be trustworthy).
With that, merely descend. As quickly as you transcend that 4ft marker, the watch will begin recording the dive, and begin exhibiting you stats appropriately (observe the higher portion of this web page is totally different between the 2, and naturally, you may swap between meters and toes):
You possibly can change information fields by merely urgent the buttons on the aspect, which iterate by the info pages, similar to in some other sport mode. Within the occasion you ascend too shortly, you’ll get alerts for that too:
And similar goes for reaching varied thresholds round NDL (no decompression restrict):
And also you’ll additionally get security cease notifications too:
When you attain the top of your dive, by surfacing it’ll robotically finish the dive inside 5 minutes. You’ll see a countdown timer present up on the watch, indicating as such in blue:
Then afterwards, all of this will get sync to Garmin Join, and the Garmin Dive app, the place you may see the main points of your dives within the dive logbook:
The Garmin Dive app additionally has the flexibility to discover varied dive websites, and you may add pictures to it that others can see to construct a group across the dive websites. It’s kinda like Strava Maps/Routes for diving, besides Garmin house owners solely. Given the important mass of Garmin units during the last 7 years, it covers a heck of a variety of websites.
Lastly, again on the watch you’ll see your no-fly time and floor interval, in addition to tissue loading:
My solely quibble right here is that the floor interval time will reset for any water occasions that go under 4ft/1.6m. Which means, in the event you soar off a ship/dock/plank into the water to cool-off, you’ll robotically reset the floor interval, and there’s nothing you are able to do about that (even discarding the auto-dive doesn’t work at current).
Setting that quibble apart, the entire dive options labored with out concern for me on my dives. From a technical standpoint, all of it labored nicely, however arguably one of many issues I appreciated essentially the most was the dearth of subscription piece. Having used the Oceanic app numerous occasions diving on my Apple Watch Extremely models, I’ve often had subscription associated points when Web connectivity was poor (particularly when out of mobile service, even this previous week on Oceanic’s iPhone digicam dive housing the difficulty cropped up once more). This sidesteps all of that, as a result of it’s simply built-in.
Albeit, I did finally troubleshoot sufficient of the case, that the entire underwater pictures on this part the place taken on an iPhone 15 Professional contained in the Oceanic case.
Lastly, I wish to briefly observe in regards to the dive requirements used for the Garmin Fenix 8 and Descent MK3i (these customary are additionally what Apple follows for the Apple Watch Extremely). I do that as a result of anytime you discuss water and depth, there’s a bizarre cult of web individuals who attempt to declare you want a 200m licensed gadget to go snorkeling, not to mention diving.
As one who truly owns a dive take a look at chamber, for testing dive equipments, let’s have a enjoyable diversion on precisely how, gear is licensed per EN13319. As a result of sure, I spent €58.86 to buy the EN13319 worldwide specs doc. You’re welcome.
Inside that beautiful PDF doc there’s a slew of checks that firms do. Nonetheless, I’ve pulled out the important thing ones:
– Hammer take a look at (not kidding, there’s a whole separate ISO doc on do the hammer take a look at)
– Static power take a look at of 150n stress whereas on a wrist fixture
– Strain take a look at to double the acknowledged/claimed depth stress
– Underwater stress biking 200 occasions to 110% of most depth of gadget declare
– Sea water resistance take a look at for twenty-four hours
– Temperature checks biking between above+under water temps at intervals from 20°C right down to 2°C, and air temps as much as 60°C
– Readability checks, timer accuracy checks, glove checks, responsiveness checks, and so on…
However wait, it will get higher, there’s truly a selected order of the testing. Failure at any level causes failure of the take a look at. So principally, first you temperature cycle it a gazillion occasions, then you definately whack it with a hammer, then you definately go away it underwater for a day, then press arduous on it, then you definately cycle it 200 occasions, and on, and on. Garmin has confirmed the Fenix 8 is EN13319 licensed towards a 40m specification, although accommodates a 100m water resistance score (separate from the depth gauge elements).
Once more, this needs to be completed on this particular order:
1) Temperature biking
2) Shock take a look at (hammer)
3) Sea water resistance (24-hour take a look at)
4) Static power wrist fixture take a look at (150n)
5) Strain biking (200 occasions to 110% of most depth)
6) Water tightness take a look at
7) Readability take a look at
8) Accuracy take a look at (inclusive of over-pressure take a look at)
9) Dive timer take a look at
10) Operability take a look at (utilizing gloves to push buttons at depth)
As a reminder once more, failure at any level causes failure of the *whole* take a look at. And I’m solely overlaying simply the sturdiness side of this doc, not to mention the entire different specs (from precisely when the timers should set off, their variance allowances, the precise specs to make synthetic sea water, and so forth). I discover that when I define the above although, the ‘thou shalt not snorkel with out a 200m licensed gadget’ crowd, silently stops arguing. Level being, going for a 40m deep dive isn’t actually a priority right here, when it comes to sturdiness.
GPS & Coronary heart Price Accuracy:
Within the occasion you wish to save a while, this part is good for saving time to skip. The Fenix 8 makes use of the identical GPS elements and multi-band/dual-frequency design because the Fenix 7 Professional & Epix Professional. Concurrently, it additionally makes use of the identical new optical coronary heart price sensor as seen final 12 months on these watches. And all of my testing exhibits it leads to just about an identical outcomes to these watches, which, was fairly good then, and continues to be good now.
Briefly, the Fenix 8 continues to be industry-leading in terms of GPS accuracy throughout each sport I examined it on (openwater swim/bike/run/hike), together with throughout each dense tall constructing metropolis and really difficult mountainous terrain. This group of GPS leaders consists of Garmin, Apple, and Suunto (newest variants particularly). Whereas the optical coronary heart price sensor additionally continues to be within the group of {industry} main firms (together with Apple).
Nonetheless, let’s take a fast take a look at some information units for funnies. We’ll clearly get proper into the difficult stuff, to avoid wasting each you and I time. That is my downtown metropolis take a look at. It’s the place I run up and down a good hall of buildings which are roughly 20-30 tales tall. And right here’s how the Fenix 8 dealt with:
As you may see, there have been no significant points from a GPS standpoint – beating the Epix Professional and principally a wash with the Apple Watch Extremely 2 (they each made some errors on the center flip). On the similar time, I additionally did brief and intense intervals to see how the optical coronary heart price sensor would react. That too, confirmed no issues:
Subsequent, right here’s a metropolis+mountain+fort run. The fort provides no issue for the watch, besides the struggling for me to stand up to the highest of it. This too, confirmed good accuracy, whilst I swept forwards and backwards on the tiny streets of this seaside city (which was full of tall residences/accommodations lining stated streets):
Right here’s that consequence:
Once more, I did some intervals right here, only for enjoyable:
And once more, no issues.
So, switching over to biking, this time alongside a coastal road-riding route that was something however straightforward GPS. We had been continually up towards sharp cliffs, steep turns, and tunnels. Nonetheless, no issues:
And in the meantime, on the guts price aspect, surprisingly good truly, save maybe 3 moments the place it misplaced the plot. As all the time, outside biking is tough for many firms, however we do see Apple beat Garmin in a number of instances on this journey, when it comes to matching the chest strap.
Identical goes for this gravel journey, this time underneath fairly a little bit of tree cowl at occasions. After all, when you add vibrations to a wrist-based optical sensor inside a watch, you begin to see accuracy points. And that utilized right here as nicely, with some variations which are regular to see. Nonetheless, this time it was Apple’s flip to have extra failures than Garmin. As you may see, generally it’s simply variable who the winner is.
Subsequent, heading up into the Pyrenees mountains for testing, targeted right here primarily on GPS accuracy. That’s as a result of whereas coronary heart price information is fascinating, it’s kinda messy to attempt to take care of 9-10-hour actions the place the guts price is usually significantly decrease, and also you’re additionally utilizing issues like climbing poles for stabilization/and so on. That stated, for all however a handful of seconds, the optical HR sensors matched the chest strap.
In any case, let’s take a look at a few difficult GPS situations, particularly actually steep sections in dense timber with close by cliffs, corresponding to this. On this case, the Enduro 3 was on the least-accurate GPS-Solely mode (for some battery testing I used to be doing to see if the tradeoffs had been price it), whereas the opposite two had been in SatIQ (enabling them to make use of multiband as circumstances warranted). In my Enduro 3 evaluate, I’ll present some side-by-side bits the place one other Enduro 3 watch on my buddy was in SatIQ mode (and we had been side-by-side the whole day). However for now, my watches:
You possibly can see the 2 extra granular tracks of the Fenix 8 & Epix Professional in SatIQ mode, just about an identical, whereas the GPS-Solely Enduro 3 was a bit extra free-form (as anticipated in that mode).
As we transfer alongside the overhang of some huge cliffs, all three watches are stunning intently, however you may see some slight variations on this very steep switchback part.
Whereas on some higher elevation meadows with open air, the three are far tighter collectively.
This regardless of the circumstances on the time being dumping rain, hail, and wind. Together with endless thunderstorms:
Lastly, a fast openwater swim (totally different from the photograph above, which additionally felt like a swim). Or, it was fast till I ran right into a flotilla of jellyfish. No less than they had been fairly:
In any occasion, as for the precise GPS tracks, these too had been fairly, just about spot-on with the swim buoy. That tiny blip you discover simply north of the island is the place I discovered the jellyfish flotilla, and acquired distracted going underwater taking pictures of them. However even then, the GPS tracks had been inside a number of meters of the reference. Right here’s the info:
Finally, as I stated firstly, the accuracy right here for GPS continues to be among the many greatest (if not one of the best) within the wearables world. And from a coronary heart price standpoint, it’s precisely what we noticed with the Fenix 7 Professional & Epix Professional final summer time, with typically very robust accuracy and solely uncommon errors.
Now curiously, one characteristic that’s considerably hidden away, is a brand new choice to robotically course of GPS tracks for correction, utilizing inner sensor information. Which means, if the watch detects that the GPS accuracy was non-ideal through the exercise, it’ll flag the file to be analyzed by Garmin Join on-line, leveraging the sensor information contained in the watch (e.g. accelerometers, compass, gyro, and so on..) to attempt to appropriate for stated unhealthy GPS information. That is particularly for less than pedestrian exercise and openwater swims (since these are actions that may take a look at issues like arm motion to attempt to normalize towards). The idea sounds roughly akin to what Suunto has beforehand referred to as ‘FusedGPS’, besides it appears like Garmin is leveraging cloud compute to seemingly run extra variables. Notice that map information isn’t a part of the correction set (whereas Apple, for instance, does use map information for the corrections).
In the entire examples above, I used the end-state recordsdata {that a} shopper would finally see. Which means, the corrected recordsdata, and all utilizing the Garmin SatIQ (Autoselect) setting. Notice that it *solely* will appropriate non-ideal recordsdata. Completely nice GPS circumstances don’t get corrected.
Nonetheless, for funsies, by a considerably convoluted course of, can present you earlier than/after examples. This will get most fascinating while you begin to have a look at utilizing the GPS-only setting (the bottom stage of GPS accuracy, however the least battery burn), after which letting the corrections type issues out afterwards. I’m going to do a very separate submit with all that information, alter this week. But it surely consists of loads of fascinating information units, together with further Fenix 8watches on my hike in numerous configuration settings.
(Notice: All the charts in these accuracy sections had been created utilizing the DCR Analyzer device. It means that you can evaluate energy meters/trainers, coronary heart price, cadence, velocity/tempo, GPS tracks, and many extra. You need to use it as nicely on your personal gadget comparisons, extra particulars right here.)
Battery Testing:
Relating to battery testing, the unit seems to simply meet the specs laid out for it, in each smartwatch mode in addition to sports activities/GPS modes. Within the case of smartwatch mode, I used the 47mm (medium) sized AMOLED unit in an always-on show configuration. In doing so, I used to be getting a robust 6 days of battery life regardless of 1-2 hours of GPS time per day (SatIQ mode). I’ll be spending extra time with the opposite sized fashions (together with the Photo voltaic variants) within the coming weeks to plot that battery life, however I solely had so many wrists accessible, and the opposite wrist had the Enduro 3 on it.
In the meantime, for GPS battery life, I targeted on two longer checks of hikes within the 8.5 to 10 hour vary, into the mountains with difficult GPS circumstances. For this primary hike, the unit was on SatIQ with navigation enabled, and left on the map web page *the whole time*. Critically. All the time-on show as nicely, thus, the most important battery burning chance. Right here, you may see the outcomes (the Enduro 3 was additionally left in map always-on mode, however in GPS-only mode):
The following day, I modified issues up. I left the Fenix 8 AMOLED in largely ClimbPro mode (information fields, which burn much less battery than the map web page), and did the identical for the Enduro 3. Nonetheless, I additionally added a GPS-only Fenix 8 as nicely (related to a HR strap), to see how which may differ. As you may see, the Fenix 8 in SatIQ mode simply beat the claimed specs for battery burn, and that’s ignoring the truth that the battery specs don’t account for navigation (which burns extra battery):
Once more, extra testing to return on the varied fashions, however every part is trying very strong on this realm.
Wrap-Up:
As an organization, Garmin hasn’t gotten to the extent of latest success it’s loved with out producing nice watches merchandise. And from an engineering and technical standpoint, the Fenix 8 is a superb watch. I don’t have any substantive points there, except for some minor gripes in regards to the new consumer interface adjustments seeming a bit pointless at occasions. However like most issues, I’ll get used to it. However when it comes to options like the brand new dive performance, it’s nicely executed and importantly, doesn’t really feel like a play to make you exit and purchase a Descent MK3 as an alternative. For the overwhelming majority of divers, it’ll be precisely what they needed.
Thus, I think folks will discover themselves in considered one of two camps in terms of their opinions of the Fenix 8:
A) Really feel that the pricing soar of $200-$300 for MIP-based house owners, and $100 for AMOLED house owners are unjustified given the dearth of non-dive/non-speaker options
B) Are thrilled with thew new speaker and dive options, and don’t thoughts the extra price.
For me, I largely fall within the first camp. I really like the brand new dive options and admire Garmin saved a lot of the options from the Descent lineup. But on the similar time, I personally simply don’t care a lot for the microphone/speaker options. I not often use them, and options like audible path/climbing turn-by-turn notifications that I would truly use, aren’t there (they nonetheless depend on your telephone). As a substitute, the a lot desired mobile/LTE connectivity (for no less than security options), continues to be lacking. That’s arduous to reconcile when my youngsters $149 Garmin Bounce watches have had it for practically two years, and the Forerunner 945 LTE for 3 years. I’d have had no issues paying the additional $100-$200 for that.
I get there’s great demand inside Garmin for an annual Fenix launch cycle. However the important thing to creating an annual launch cycle work (ala Apple, Google, or Samsung), is that they hold pricing principally the identical every year, and bringing in modest {hardware} enhancements, alongside different software program/characteristic enhancements. Sure, Garmin does an exceptionally good job the remainder of the 12 months in delivering Fenix software program options to present watches (excess of Apple/Google/Samsung), underneath their quarterly firmware replace program. And maybe the ‘downside’ is that they’ve delivered so lots of these ‘presents’ just lately, that there simply wasn’t a lot left to present right here on Fenix 8 by itself. And sadly for Fenix 7 house owners, not one of the new UI items/options are going again to earlier watches.
Level being, whereas the Fenix 8 may be very a lot one of the best Fenix (or Epix) that Garmin’s ever made, I feel it missed the mark when it comes to balancing new outdoor-focused sports activities options with the brand new pricing scheme. Particularly when you think about the value of the present Fenix 7 models which are continually on sale.
With that – thanks for studying!
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