Garmin Fenix 8 review - ultimate outdoor smartwatch

Technological advancements are propelling the smartwatch market, with the Garmin Fenix series standing out as a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. The latest flagship model, the Fenix 8, brings notable improvements in design, performance, and functionality. Through detailed reviews, it addresses key user concerns like battery life and diving depth, while also introducing solar charging features to enhance usability.

As the line between smartwatches and multi-function sports watches becomes increasingly blurred, competitors such as the Apple Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch Ultra have adopted strategies similar to Garmin's. In response, Garmin has launched the Fenix 8 at a price of $999.99, positioning it as a smarter and more advanced option to maintain its edge in a highly competitive market.

This detailed review delves into the Garmin Fenix 8, highlighting its key upgrades and ideal use cases. I’ll also explain why the Fenix 8 earns its place as the best Garmin watch to date.

Garmin Fenix 8 quick reference guide

• Release date: The Garmin Fenix 8 launched on August 27, alongside the Garmin Enduro 3.
• Price: Prices range from $999.99 to $1199.99, depending on the model and size you choose.
• What’s new?: The Fenix 8 introduces an AMOLED screen, built-in microphone and speaker, a 40m dive rating, and leakproof buttons.

Pros:

• AMOLED and solar-charging options
• Improved water resistance and rugged, dive-proof design (lightweight with titanium)
• Mic and speaker for voice commands, calls, and memos
• Predictably excellent training tools with hyper-accurate HR/GPS
• Built-in LED flashlight is useful
• Adds personalized strength coaching
• Improved navigation features

Cons:

• Doesn't offer a huge upgrade on Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro
• Too expensive overall
• Not fully standalone like the Apple Watch

Garmin Fenix 8 review - models, sizes and prices

The Garmin Fenix 8 series, launched on August 27, unifies the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro under a single lineup, introducing the first Fenix model with an AMOLED screen.

The Garmin Fenix 8 series introduces three models—Fenix 8 AMOLED, Fenix 8 Solar, and the budget-friendly Fenix E—priced between $799.99 and $1,199.99. While it offers advanced features like a mic, speaker, and dive capabilities, the price is higher than its predecessors, the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro, and rivals like the Galaxy Watch Ultra ($640) and Apple Watch Ultra 2 (starting at $799).

Here's a breakdown of what you can expect:

Models

• Fenix 8 AMOLED: Features a stunning AMOLED display for vibrant visuals, available in Gorilla Glass with stainless steel or Sapphire Glass with titanium for enhanced durability.
• Fenix 8 Solar: Equipped with a MIP solar display for improved battery life through solar charging, standard with Sapphire Glass and titanium finishes.
• Fenix E: A smaller, more affordable model with an AMOLED display but fewer features, such as no mic, speaker, or flashlight, and reduced memory.

Sizes

• Fenix 8 AMOLED: Available in 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm, providing options for different wrist sizes.
• Fenix 8 Solar: Offered in larger sizes of 47mm and 51mm to accommodate extended battery life needs.
• Fenix E: Comes in a single 47mm size, striking a balance between portability and functionality.

Prices

Fenix 8 AMOLED:

• 43mm – $999.99
• 47mm – $1,099.99
• 51mm – $1,199.99

Fenix 8 Solar:

• 47mm – $1,099.99
• 51mm – $1,199.99

Fenix E:

• 47mm – $799.99

Garmin Fenix 8 review - screen and battery life

The Garmin Fenix 8 introduces a vibrant AMOLED display, a major upgrade from previous MIP screens, offering superior brightness, contrast, and color saturation. Its screen remains clear and readable even in direct sunlight, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

Despite the power demands of AMOLED, Garmin's optimization ensures impressive battery performance. The 51mm AMOLED model lasts up to 13 days with always-on display during regular GPS use and notifications. For GPS, it provides 84-145 hours, demonstrating minimal drain during activities, like 3% for a 90-minute run.

The Solar models offer even greater endurance, with the 47mm Solar lasting 28 days in smart mode or 92 hours in full GPS mode, leveraging sunlight for extended use. Whether you prioritize AMOLED clarity or solar-powered longevity, the Fenix 8 delivers a perfect balance of display quality and battery life.

Garmin Fenix 8 review - GPS tracking and navigation

The Garmin Fenix 8 delivers outstanding GPS tracking, supporting GPS, GLONASS, and Beidou for reliable performance in various environments, including urban areas, mountains, and forests. Compared against the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Garmin Enduro 3, both renowned for GPS accuracy, the Fenix 8 consistently produced precise tracks, demonstrating minimal signal loss even in challenging terrains like valleys.

Its features cater to outdoor enthusiasts, offering dynamic round-trip routing to generate optimized circular paths based on location, ClimbPro for real-time slope and elevation tracking, and essential tools like offline maps, next-fork routing, and backtrack. These capabilities make it ideal for trail running, hiking, and navigating unfamiliar areas.

The addition of an AMOLED display enhances the overall user experience, providing clear visuals for maps and data. Combining advanced navigation tools with its sleek design, the Fenix 8 solidifies its place as a top-tier choice for outdoor adventure and exploration.

Garmin Fenix 8 review - sports monitoring and health features

The Garmin Fenix 8 tracks a wide range of sports, from running and cycling to extreme activities like rock climbing, skiing, and diving, offering detailed data and analysis.

Its diving function is comparable to Garmin's Descent series, automatically tracking dive depth, pressure, and temperature up to 100 meters. The watch starts dive mode at 1.2 meters and ends it when you resurface, requiring no user input.

The Fenix 8 includes training plans, adaptive coaching, and key metrics like training load and performance condition. It also offers targeted strength training plans with animations for each drill.

For wellness, it features sleep tracking, Heart Rate Variability, Body Battery, and recovery time recommendations, all in a daily Morning Report. Unique metrics like VO2 Max, race time predictions, Hill Score, and Endurance Score help track fitness progress.

Garmin Fenix 8 review - smart features for everyday use

The Garmin Fenix 8 is a sports watch that also works well for daily use, thanks to its AMOLED display for clear notifications and app interactions. It supports Bluetooth for receiving messages and notifications, with quick reply options.

Equipped with a voice assistant, it can perform tasks like starting exercises, setting timers, and saving locations without a phone signal. While lacking the advanced smart features of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Ultra, it offers Garmin Pay for payments, music storage, and streaming through Spotify and Amazon Music.

Customization options in the Connect IQ app store include various watch faces and color choices. The Fenix 8’s smart features, such as music storage and payments, make it stand out among sports watches.

Garmin Fenix 8 review - user interface and operating experience

The Fenix 8 features a user-friendly, intuitive interface with significant improvements over previous Garmin models. Its streamlined, card-like design allows for easy navigation, with functions like weather, exercise records, and health monitoring accessible through simple swipes. New gesture controls enable quick app switching and interface exit.

In sport mode, the data page is clearly organized, providing key metrics like heart rate, speed, distance, and calories. Users can customize the display to show the data they care about most.

The notification system has been enhanced, sorting alerts by priority, with low-priority notifications accessible via a swipe down.

Conclusion - is the Fenix 8 worth buying?

Yes, the Garmin Fenix 8 is an excellent sports watch with top design, performance, and features like GPS, dynamic routing, diving mode, and health monitoring. If you have the budget, it’s the best choice this year.

However, its high price may not be worth it if the new features aren’t essential. The Fenix 7 Pro or Epix Pro offer better value, and the Forerunner 965 is a more affordable option with similar core features.

While it outperforms the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Ultra in battery life and sports tracking, it lacks their smart features and app selection.