Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Which Should You Buy?

Garmin, as one of the top 10 best sports watch companies in the world, dominates the premium multisport GPS watch space and has a longstanding outdoor fanin its Fenix series. The Garmin Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro are top-of-the-range models and pack the latest tech, but deciding which one to get can be difficult.

Both watches feature a bunch of the same aspects, but the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro also adds some significant upgrades that could prove tomake it a better fit for some users. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll detail the differences between the Garmin Fenix 7 and the Fenix 7 Pro so you can decide.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Design and Build Quality

The Garmin Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro may initially appear almost indistinguishable. They sport rugged designs and quality materials, from stainless steel or titanium bezels to sapphire glass variants. The tough construction makes them perfect for adventure sports and outdoor activities.

Key Differences:

• Display technology: Fenix 7 Pro gets an upgraded MIP (Memory-In-Pixel) display that is brighter, thus allowing better visibility under varying ambient light conditions, including direct sunlight.
• Built-in Flashlight: Fenix 7 Pro watches come with a multi-mode LED flashlight built into the watch, making it a useful tool for outdoor enthusiasts who need it frequently.
• Weight and Body: The smartwatch is available in three sizes, 42mm (S), 47mm (Standard), and 51mm (X) sizes, with slight weight differences based on the materials used. The only weight difference is due to extra hardware additions in the Fenix 7 Pro.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Display and User Interface

Both watches feature transflective 1.3-inch (Fenix 7) and 1.4-inch (Fenix 7 pro) MIP displays and outdoor readability. That said, the Fenix 7 Pro offers higher brightness ratings and increased clarity, which makes it a marginally better performer in bright environments.

Both models also feature touchscreen and button navigation, making them easy to control on the go.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Performance and Features

The watches still share the same fundamental features, like sophisticated GPS navigation, topographical maps, multi-band GNSS support, and detailed performance metrics. But Garmin has made a number of substantial upgrades to the Fenix 7 Pro.

Fenix 7 Pro's Major Improvements

• Next-GEN Heart Rate Sensor: Fenix 7 Pro is equipped with an upgraded Garmin Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor that enhances the accuracy of heart rate variability when exercising or resting.
• Hill Score & Endurance Score: New to the Fenix 7 Pro, these specialty metrics offer a qualitative assessment of how well you could go the distance and how to adapt to a significant elevation gain.
• Enhanced Training Features: The Fenix 7 Pro benefits from real-time stamina tracking, adaptive training guidance, and a host of new sports profiles that make it more attractive to serious athletes and fitness buffs.
• More Map Features: While both wearables have topo, ski, and golf maps loaded, the Fenix 7 Pro features better visual clarity and layering for easier navigation.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Battery Life

One major selling point of the Garmin Fenix series is battery performance, with both the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro providing long-lasting battery life in between charges in a number of different modes.

The Fenix 7 Pro has longer battery life, particularly for outdoor users, thanks to improved solar efficiency.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Sports and Fitness Tracking

Both watches cover the spectrum of sports, from running and cycling to swimming and climbing. First off, the Fenix 7 Pro does bring a series of refinements to its fitness tracking experience.

• Improved Running Dynamics: With the Fenix 7 Pro, you’ll get more advanced running metrics, such as stride length, vertical oscillation, and even real-time stamina tracking.
• Better Recovery Insights: The Fenix 7 Pro boasts much-improved tracking of HRV status and sleep insights that provide more accurate recovery recommendations.
• Sophisticated Multi-Sport Profiles: With the Fenix Pro 7, the watch has new profiles available, and other sports like tail running, ultra running, and mountaineering have received targeted tracking.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Navigation and Outdoors Features

Both watches have high-end offerings for outdoor navigation, with multi-band GPS, ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, compass), and turn-by-turn navigation. But the Fenix 7 Pro takes the experience up a notch with:

• Release November 2023: Upgraded relief shading for topographic maps.
• Improvements in GNSS facility with robust positioning accuracy.
• And the Fenix 7 Pro has a built-in flashlight, which is helpful as a safety feature for nighttime adventures or other emergencies.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Body and Sleep Tracking

Garmin has long been a leader in health tracking; both watches include:

• Monitor heart rate (track 24/7, stress analysis)
• Pulse Oximeter (For altitude acclimation, SpO2 during sleep)
• Sleep tracking with deeper insights
• Body Battery energy monitoring
• Women’s health tracking
• Monitoring of hydration and respiration

What really sets the Fenix 7 Pro apart is the better sleep tracking algorithm and next-gen heart rate sensor for more actionable physiological information.

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Smartwatch Features

Although these watches are designed for sports and other outdoor activities, each has several smartwatch functions, including:

• Support for Music storage and streaming (Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music)
• Garmin Pay contactless payments
• Intelligent alerts for calls, texts, and app notifications
• ANT＋ and Bluetooth + Wi-Fi connectivity
• Apps and Widgets from the Connect IQ store

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro - Price and Value

The Garmin Fenix 7 is already an expensive smartwatch, and the added features of the Fenix 7 Pro come with an even steeper price tag. Depending on which model (Standard, Solar, or Sapphire) you're looking at, the price difference with the Fenix 7 Pro is between $100 and $150.

The still-packaged Fenix 7 offers powerful capabilities and top-tier performance for users who don't need the extra improvements. But if you want better mapping, more advanced fitness metrics, a next-gen heart rate sensor, and a flashlight that integrates into the watch, the Fenix 7 Pro is worth the higher price.

Conclusion - Which One to Pick?

Choose the Garmin Fenix 7 if:

• You want a premium GPS watch with stellar multisport tracking.
• You don’t need the built-in flashlight or improved display brightness.
• You’d like a slightly lower price point with no loss of key features.
• You’re fine with basic topographic maps and GPS performance.

Pick the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro if:

• You need a better display with improved visibility.
• You need a built-in flashlight for added safety and convenience.
• You need better heart rate monitoring and new fitness metrics.
• You use advanced topographic maps and want better GNSS accuracy.
• You need longer battery life and enhanced solar performance.

Final Thoughts

The Garmin Fenix 7 and the Fenix 7 Pro are cracking smartwatches that offer top-tier performance for athletes and outdoor adventurers alike. Whichever you choose, though, both models deliver next-level fitness tracking, advanced outdoor navigation, and trusty durability. You can also check the article before in our website to know more Garmin Watch models such as Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 8, Garmin Fenix 8 vs Garmin Instinct 3, Garmin Fenix 8 review and more.