Garmin Intuition 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8: Each Distinction Detailed!



The Intuition sequence and Fenix sequence are Garmin’s two most important ‘outside’ and adventure-focused watch sequence. And whereas these two fashions have continued to converge, there are a ton of variations. Someplace within the 100+ variations vary if you happen to had been so as to add all of them up (and people are simply big-ticket variations).

On this publish (and the above video), I dive into each single distinction I may discover, hands-on, with these two watches. It’s so simple as that. Let’s get into it.

The Pricing and Fashions:

First up, is the obvious – pricing. The Fenix 8 is 2-3x the worth of the Intuition 3, relying on which actual mannequin you get. The Intuition 3 begins at $399 and goes as much as $499, whereas the Fenix 8 begins at $999, and goes as much as $1,199

Thus, listed below are the core fashions from the Intuition 3 realm::

Intuition 3 AMOLED (45mm): $449USD
Intuition 3 AMOLED (50mm): $499USD
Intuition 3 SOLAR (45mm): $399USD
Intuition 3 SOLAR (50mm): $449USD

Be aware – I’m *NOT* together with the brand new Intuition E on this comparability. The Intuition E isn’t an Intuition 3, nor even an Intuition 2. It’s like an Intuition 1.5. And given I nonetheless can’t get readability on what options are literally within the darn watch (versus ripped out), I’ll wait till the unit I ordered has arrived. At this level, I see that mannequin as lifeless within the water from a value/options standpoint. However once more, it’s *NOT* an Intuition 3 or something close to it. Simply go purchase an Intuition 2 on sale for $200.

In any case, and on the Fenix 8 aspect:

Fenix 8 AMOLED (43mm): $999USD ($1,099 for Sapphire/Titanium)
Fenix 8 AMOLED (47mm): $999USD ($1,099 for Sapphire/Titanium)
Fenix 8 AMOLED (51mm): $1,099USD ($1,199 for Sapphire/Titanium)
Fenix 8 SOLAR (47mm): $1,099USD (Sapphire/Titanium solely)
Fenix 8 SOLAR (51mm): $1,199USD (Sapphire/Titanium solely)

Now, earlier than we get too far, I’ll level out that if value is the barrier to your Fenix, essentially the most logical resolution is Garmin’s personal Epix (Gen 2) at $399 most days. Keep in mind, the Epix naming is solely what they referred to as the AMOLED model of the Fenix 7/7 Professional, earlier than merging the names within the Fenix 8 sequence. And given the Fenix 8 was principally about including dive and speaker performance (slightly than some other new sport/health options), you received’t be lacking out if you happen to don’t care about dive/speaker. Be aware that the Epix Professional/Fenix 7 Professional are floating within the $600-$700 vary, and that features the Gen5 sensor and LED flashlight.

Nonetheless, the Epix at $399 provides you way more software program performance than the Intuition 3 AMOLED,  in a bundle that’s equally sturdy. It’s kinda a no brainer until you actually need the Intuition-specific look.

The {Hardware} Variations:

Subsequent, let’s take a look at how they differ from a {hardware} standpoint. Clearly, the largest distinction is frankly, simply the styling design. The Intuition sequence roughly imitates the look of a Casio G-Shock watch, whereas the Fenix lineup has a fairly constant design type of its personal, over the past 10 variations.

Nonetheless, setting that styling apart, there are sensible {hardware} and supplies variations, they’re as follows:

– Fenix 8 affords 3 case sizes (43/47/51mm) whereas Intuition affords two case sizes (45/50mm)
– Fenix 8 bezel supplies is both stainless-steel or titanium (relying on mannequin) vs plastic for Intuition
– Fenix 8 backing (underside) is metallic, whereas Intuition is plastic
– Fenix 8 has bigger shows at 1.3” & 1.4”, versus Intuition 3 AMOLED at 1.2”/1.3” and SOLAR at 0.9”/1.1””
– Fenix 8 has a touchscreen, Intuition 3 has no touchscreen
– Fenix 8 MIP-display is coloration, whereas Intuition 3 MIP show is black/white (each models AMOLED shows seem equivalent in coloration vary)
– Fenix 8 has sapphire show lens choice, Intuition 3 doesn’t
– Fenix 8 has a speaker for audibly taking part in voice/music/voice instructions/assistant, whereas Intuition 3 has a beeper solely
– Fenix 8 has a microphone for taking calls (if telephone is close by), whereas Intuition 3 doesn’t
– Fenix 8 has WiFi for syncing information/music/maps, whereas Intuition 3 has no WiFi
– Fenix 8 has offline music playback/storage (Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music), Intuition 3 doesn’t
– Fenix 8 has 32GB of storage, whereas Intuition 3 has 3GB (AMOLED) or 90MB (SOLAR)
– Fenix 8 has ELEVATE Gen 5 optical coronary heart fee sensor (with ECG & pores and skin temp), whereas Intuition has Gen 4 (no ECG/Pores and skin Temp)
– Fenix 8 has a nacho cheese dispenser, Intuition 3 doesn’t
– Fenix 8 has a depth gauge, for measuring diving all the way down to 40m, Intuition 3 doesn’t have any depth gauge
– Fenix 8 has inductive buttons (theoretically leak-proof design), whereas Intuition 3 has conventional o-ring seal buttons
– Fenix 8 has a ‘sensor guard’ to guard the microphone/barometer in between the 2 proper buttons, Intuition 3 doesn’t
– Fenix 8 weight ranges from 72g to 92g, whereas Intuition weighs 52g to 59g

Be aware that from a {hardware} standpoint, they’re related on this respect:

– Each models have 5 buttons
– Each models have barometric altimeters
– Each models have a magnetic compass
– Each models dual-frequency/multi-band GNSS/GPS with SatIQ
– Each models have a flashlight with white/purple LED
– Each models have SOLAR on the MIP shows (not on AMOLED)
– Each models use newer SOLAR panel tech on MIP shows (not on AMOLED)
– Each models use commonplace watch strap/band sizing and fasten methods
– Each models are appropriate with Garmin QuickFit bands/straps
– Each models have 100m water resistance score
– Each models have Garmin Pay
– Neither unit has built-in mobile connectivity (requires your telephone close by for mobile connectivity)

Subsequent, there’s the battery variations. Now clearly, there’s a whole lot of fashions right here, and so they all have completely different battery claims. Thus…umm…yeah. I’m simply gonna provide you with two battery charts. TLDR: Each AMOLED product traces truthfully provide you with comparatively related AMOLED life if evaluating 50mm Intuition 3 AMOLED to 47mm Fenix 8 AMOLED, and each SOLAR product traces provide you with comparatively related life between 50mm Intuition 3 SOLAR & 47mm Fenix 8 Photo voltaic. Right here’s the Intuition 3 lineup first:

The core line gadgets I’d personally be evaluating are:

1) Smartwatch battery life (always-on)
2) SatIQ battery life (the principle GPS sports activities mode). Within the Intuition chart above, SatIQ is presumed on for “All Programs Plus Multi-band”, accurately.

After which the Fenix 8 lineup subsequent:

In fact, the place issues get a bit loopy is on the Intuition 3 SOLAR aspect in fundamental smartwatch mode, the place you possibly can mainly get to limitless energy if you happen to’ve obtained sufficient solar.

Okay, obtained all that? Good, let’s begin wanting on the software program aspect, which is the place issues get fairly a bit extra advanced.

The Software program Characteristic Variations:

Garmin is arguably the king of software program differentiation between gadgets. Arguably, it’s why they’re so profitable as a enterprise, as a result of their capability to upsell you on higher-end gadgets with extra options. A few of these are apparent variations (e.g. no maps), however many are literally way more nuanced. I’d wager that on a tool just like the Garmin Fenix 8, there are in all probability between 800 and 1,000 options. Possibly extra. Each toggle is successfully a characteristic. Foolish issues like “Is the water salt or contemporary?” within the dive gasoline calculation settings, is a characteristic. As are different options you’ve possible by no means used, just like the beat sort for the operating metronome, or whether or not or not ‘Spot Soundings’ are enabled within the map view, or whether or not it avoids ferries throughout routing.

The purpose is, the under is my finest try at distilling these 1,000 completely different options into one thing manageable. However I’ll warn you, this listing is 1,000 options lengthy. As such, after I say “maps aren’t on the Intuition 3”, then in flip, the 30-50 completely different map-related options and settings aren’t there both. Most of them I received’t line-item out. Make sense? Good. Let’s get cooking.

– No mapping of any sort on the Intuition 3 (you route by way of breadcrumb routes)
– No unplanned offline routing (e.g., spherical journey routing, route to some extent by way of trails, and many others…) on Intuition 3
– No ECG options/Afib detection/Pores and skin Temp monitoring on Intuition 3
– No Endurance Rating on Intuition 3
– No Hill Rating on Intuition 3
– No ClimbPro on Intuition 3 (simply whole/full elevation plot)
– No Biking Potential characteristic on Intuition 3
– No Stamina characteristic on Intuition 3
– No JetLag advisor on Intuition 3
– No Scuba/Diving options on Intuition 3
– No Voice Assistants on Intuition 3
– No Voice Instructions on Intuition 3
– No Voice notes on Intuition 3
– No Calling on Intuition 3
– No Countdown calendars/timers on intuition 3
– No DogTrack widget on Intuition 3
– No Fish Forecast widget on Intuition 3
– No Restoration widget on Intuition 3
– No Shares widget on Intuition 3
– No ‘Focus Modes’ on Intuition 3
– No cloud re-processing of Intuition 3 GPS tracks (utilizing inside sensor information to enhance accuracy)
– No new UI on Intuition 3 (‘Lively Navigation’ menu, notifications menu)
– No customizable low battery alert on Intuition 3 (Fenix 8 can customise it)

Once more, that covers a lot of the main options, although after all, every one of many above options sometimes has a pile of options/settings inside it.

Be aware, the Intuition 3 AMOLED does technically have a metropolis map-thingy. It’s near-impossible to explain, as a result of it’s so ineffective. However primarily, if you happen to zoom out far sufficient on the empty ‘map’, you’ll see a single dot for medium to massive cities. I suppose the concept right here is that if you happen to’re so horribly misplaced that simply the appropriate common course in direction of an enormous metropolis will assist, then this may work. And had Garmin accomplished this for smaller cities, I’d say it really could be helpful. However if you happen to need assistance, navigating to an enormous metropolis is absolutely not tremendous useful. I wish to know the small city that may in all probability save me 3-4KM away, not a metropolis with an airport 50KM away.

In any other case, navigation on the Intuition 3 is actually simply following a breadcrumb path on the watch, with occasional flip notifications (e.g. to show left or proper). Right here’s side-by-side with a Garmin Fenix 8:

And whereas that usually will get you the place you’re going (because it has on many gadgets for shut to twenty years), in 2025 I battle to see how that’s aggressive to most different watches in the marketplace at or under this value level.

Sport Modes & Sensor Help:

Relating to sport modes, that is a completely ugly beast by itself, so, I’ve painstakingly written all of them out. However primarily the additive variations are in daring on the finish. You’re welcome.

Intuition 3 Sport Profiles (as of  Jan 14th, 2025): Multisport, Stroll, Golf, Climb, Bouldering, Fish, Hunt, Disc Golf, Horseback, Archery, Inline Skating, Stroll, Run, Treadmill, Path Run, Hike, Digital Run, Observe Run, Indoor Observe, Impediment Racing, Triathlon, Swimrun, Bike, Bike Indoor, MTB, eBike, eMTB, CycloCross, Gravel Bike, Bike Commute, Bike Tour, Street Bike, BMX, Pool Swim, Openwater Swim, Swimrun, Power, Cardio, HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, Elliptical, Stair Stepper, Stroll Indoor, Row Indoor, Climb Indoor, Ground Climb, Boxing, Blended Marital Arts, Ski, Snowboard, Backcountry Ski, Backcountry Snowboard, XC Traditional Ski, XC Skate Ski, Snowshoe, Ice Skating, Kayak, Row, SUP, Surf, Kiteboarding, Windsurf, Whitewater, Boat, Wakeboard, Wakesurf, Water Ski, Tube, Snorkel, Soccer/Soccer, American Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Cricket, Lacrosse, Rugby, Subject Hockey, Ice Hockey, Final Disc, Gaming, Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton, Desk Tennis, Platform Tennis, ATV, Snowmobile, Overland, Motocross, Motorbike, Horseback, Breathwork, Tactical, Gaming, Expedition, Different

Fenix 8 Sport Profiles (as of  Jan 14th, 2025): Multisport, Stroll, Golf, Climb, Bouldering, Fish, Hunt, Disc Golf, Horseback, Archery, Inline Skating, Stroll, Run, Treadmill, Path Run, Hike, Digital Run, Observe Run, Indoor Observe, Impediment Racing, Triathlon, Swimrun, Bike, Bike Indoor, MTB, eBike, eMTB, CycloCross, Gravel Bike, Bike Commute, Bike Tour, Street Bike, BMX, Pool Swim, Openwater Swim, Swimrun, Power, Cardio, HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, Elliptical, Stair Stepper, Stroll Indoor, Row Indoor, Climb Indoor, Ground Climb, Boxing, Blended Marital Arts, Ski, Snowboard, Backcountry Ski, Backcountry Snowboard, XC Traditional Ski, XC Skate Ski, Snowshoe, Ice Skating, Kayak, Row, SUP, Surf, Kiteboarding, Windsurf, Whitewater, Boat, Wakeboard, Wakesurf, Water Ski, Tube, Snorkel, Soccer/Soccer, American Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Cricket, Lacrosse, Rugby, Subject Hockey, Ice Hockey, Final Disc, Gaming, Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton, Desk Tennis, Platform Tennis, ATV, Snowmobile, Overland, Motocross, Motorbike, Horseback, Breathwork, Tactical, Gaming, Expedition, Different, ***Mountaineering, Journey Race, Extremely Run, Soar Rope, Sail, Sail Expedition, Tempo Coaching (Golf), Scuba Dive, Apnea Dive, Meditation***

Basically, the Fenix sequence provides you the scuba diving and free diving you’d anticipate, plus crusing sport profiles and some others. Although, I’d love to listen to the explanation they thought they’d for withholding Soar Rope from the Intuition. Is the Soar Rope Mafia so large that they particularly wish to upsell them?

Relating to sensor sorts, right here’s what every unit helps:

Garmin Intuition 3 sensors: Exterior HR (BT/ANT+), Velocity/Cadence (BT/ANT+), Energy (BT/ANT+), Foot pod (BT/ANT+), Garmin VIRB, Garmin Tempe, Biking Lights (ANT+), Biking Radar (ANT+), Prolonged Show (ANT+), RD Pod (ANT+), Xero Laser Areas, Garmin inReach, DogTrack, Sensible Trainers (ANT+), eBike (ANT+)

Garmin Fenix 8 sensors: Exterior HR (BT/ANT+), Velocity/Cadence (BT/ANT+), Energy (BT/ANT+), Foot pod (BT/ANT+), Garmin VIRB, Garmin Tempe, Biking Lights (ANT+), Biking Radar (ANT+), Prolonged Show (ANT+), RD Pod (ANT+), Xero Laser Areas, Garmin inReach, DogTrack, Sensible Trainers (ANT+), eBike (ANT+), ***Golf Membership Sensor, Rangerfinder, Headphones (Bluetooth), Shifting (ANT+), Shimano Di2 (ANT)***

The variations above being the final 5 sensor sorts can be found on Fenix, however not Intuition 3. Additionally, for lack of wherever else to say it – each watches assist offline information switch from the Garmin HRM-PRO sequence of straps, and each watches assist Garmin Rally energy meter pedal Biking Dynamic metrics.

Issues That Are The Similar:

Now, there’s an absolute boatload of options which can be both equivalent, or successfully equivalent (which means perhaps slight UI styling variations). They’re as follows:

– Each have Day by day Exercise monitoring that appears equivalent (e.g., steps/stairs/HR/and many others…)
– Each have sleep and nap monitoring  (besides wrist temp monitoring as famous above)
– Each have the identical flashlight ranges and software program options
– Each have Sleep Coach & Sleep Rating options
– Each have Garmin Physique Battery options
– Each have Garmin Coaching Readiness options
– Each have HRV monitoring/standing options
– Each have stress monitoring options
– Each have Blood oxygen monitoring (aka SpO2/PulseOx)
– Each have Respiration fee monitoring
– Each can create folders for widgets/glances
– Each do altitude acclimation
– Each have Well being Snapshot characteristic
– Each have Garmin Messenger app
– Each have Garmin Share app
– Each have music controls (of telephone)
– Each have tide monitoring options/widgets
– Each have moon part monitoring options/widgets
– Each assist Join IQ watch faces/apps/information fields
– Each have customizable watch faces
– Each have challenge waypoint and reference waypoint options
– Each have broadcasting of coronary heart fee (on each ANT+ & Bluetooth Sensible)
– Each have Garmin PacePro (on Fenix 8 may do unplanned PacePro routes)
– Each have triathlon auto transition
– Each have Efficiency Situations, Coaching Load, Coaching Load Focus, Load Ratio
– Each have energy coaching Muscle Maps & Exercise Animations (although not Intuition 3 SOLAR)
– Each have Garmin LiveTracking (with telephone close by)
– Each have security and incident detection options (e.g., fall/crash detection)
– Each have Battery Energy Saver Mode
– Each have Battery Energy Supervisor modes/customizations (e.g., Prolonged/Max Battery/Jacket/and many others…)

Lastly, in the case of accuracy, from a GPS monitor standpoint, each, as famous earlier, possible share the very same chipset, and from a specs standpoint, each are equivalent. Extra importantly although, all of my testing throughout openwater swimming, biking (street and gravel), operating (trails & street) and mountaineering, has proven them to be equivalent and extremely correct from a GPS perspective. Garmin’s multi-band/dual-frequency GPS implementation continues to be the market chief:

Nonetheless, in the case of coronary heart fee sensor accuracy, there’s a average distinction. The Intuition 3 options Garmin’s a lot older ELEVATE Gen4 optical coronary heart fee sensor, whereas the Garmin Fenix 8 makes use of the newer however nonetheless practically two-year-old Gen5 optical coronary heart fee sensor. That sensor is among the many finest within the business.

In lots of eventualities, you frankly received’t discover a distinction. Nonetheless, in tougher eventualities, you’ll. Difficult within the case of optical HR sensors means issues like out of doors biking (indoor biking is straightforward), chilly situations, or some very high-intensity interval situations. As a easy instance of these typically huge variations, right here’s an interval run final evening in cooler temps (~50°F/12°C). On this case, we see the Intuition 3 with Gen4 battle closely on these intervals, whereas the Gen5-based Fenix 8 had no points:

Inversely, on this path run in hotter temps, there was no significant distinction between the Intuition 3 and the reference information:

As at all times, you possibly can determine which options are most necessary to you. Be aware that there’s additionally the MIP-based/photo voltaic Enduro 3, which sits at $899, which has all of the Fenix 8 options besides the dive/speaker perform. However does comprise the newer Gen5 optical HR sensor.

Wrap-Up:

Finally, it’s in all probability going to come back all the way down to how a lot you worth maps or the optical HR sensors. These proceed to face out because the big-ticket gadgets. And as I’ve mentioned many occasions above right here, if you happen to don’t care as a lot concerning the optical HR sensor, then you possibly can simply choose up a Fenix 7/Epix (Gen 2) unit, which has nearly each software program characteristic outlined above, for just about the identical value because the Intuition 3 (and with higher case supplies). However after all, it’s not all about options. Some desire the styling of the Fenix, or maybe the lighter really feel of the Intuition 3.

Both manner, there’s loads of decisions on this market, from not simply Garmin, however Suunto (Suunto Race sequence), Polar (Polar Vantage sequence), or COROS (Tempo Professional or Vertix sequence). And, after all, much more finances choices just like the AmazFit (T-Rex 3).

Finally, most individuals are shopping for into the Garmin Intuition or Fenix ecosystem for the depth of the watch options, but additionally the depth of the net/app platform – neither of which their rivals come wherever close to.

With that – thanks for studying!