Garmin is adding a couple of new devices to its rugged adventure smartwatches lineup: the Fenix 7 series and the Epix. The former comes in three size variants while the latter is available in a single size. Both are designed for an active outdoor lifestyle.
Garmin Fenix 7 series specifications and features
The Garmin Fenix 7 series smartwatches are available in 42mm (Fenix 7S), 47mm (Fenix 7), and 51mm (Fenix 7X) size options. They sport 1.2-inch, 1.3-inch, and 1.4-inch color touchscreen displays, respectively. Coupled with five side-mounted physical buttons, engaging with the watches should not be a problem.
All three models 10ATM waterproof build, so they should be safe to use underwater. The devices also support all major GPS systems with the L5 positioning standard for better accuracy. Health features include wrist-based heart rate measurement, sleep tracking, SpO2, stress monitoring, breathing, and more. You also get tons of sports and activity tracking features, including running, swimming, cycling, golf, skiing, and many more. The watches come preloaded with the SkiView maps and 42,000 golf courses. We have NFC support as well, for contactless payments via Garmin pay.
The Fenix 7X adds a few exclusives on top of these features. Most notably, we have an LED flash unit here. Garmin says this should help users during nighttime activities. The flash unit can also be used in a strobe mode where it will flash red and white lights to match with a runner’s cadence.
Price & availability
The Garmin Fenix 7 series devices come in Standard, Solar, and Sapphire Solar editions, which vary in build materials. The Standard edition, which is only available for the Fenix 7s and the Fenix 7, gets fiber-reinforced polymer with stainless steel casing. The Solar and Sapphire Solar editions get solar charging panels, with the latter also getting a titanium body and sapphire glass protection for added durability.
Thanks to a larger solar surface area, the Fenix 7 series smartwatches also boast a longer battery life. According to Garmin (via The Verge), the Fenix 7S is good for up to 162 hours with GPS enabled (90 hours without solar charging). The Fenix 7 can run for up to 289 hours (136 hours without solar charging), while the Fenix 7X boasts a battery life of up to 578 hours (213 hours without solar charging). Of course, these numbers will vary based on your usage but you get a fair idea of what to expect in terms of battery endurance.
Prices start at $699.99 for the Standard Edition Fenix 7S and go all the way up to $999.99 for the Sapphire Solar edition Fenix 7X. Each combination is available in different color options, with Garmin offering a total of 16 color variants. The devices are now available to pre-order with shipping starting in 5-8 weeks.
Garmin Epix specifications and features
Garmin is reviving its Epix brand with a new model after more than seven years. The first Epix watch came way back in January 2015. With the latest offering, the company is looking to make a classic yet rugged smartwatch.
The new Garmin Epix features a 1.3-inch OLED always-on display (AOD) and keeps many of the features of the Fenix 7. We have the same extensive health monitoring and sports and activity tracking features. The 10ATM waterproofing and support for NFC and all major GPS systems also remain unchanged. The battery life is promised at up to 16 days without AOD and 6 days with AOD.
Price and availability
This Garmin Epix Gen 2 will cost you $899.99 for the base variant with a stainless steel body. At $999.99, you can get it in a titanium body with sapphire glass protection. The company says the watch will start shipping in 1-2 weeks.
2022-01-19 15:06:09