Sunday Runday
On this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks concerning the world of wearables, apps, and health tech associated to operating and well being, in his quest to get sooner and fitter.
I am not snug reviewing my Garmin Fenix 8 but. It is Garmin’s most densely packed watch but, with sufficient options that it will take me a pair extra weeks to offer them justice. However after years testing $400-ish Garmin watches and ready years for my first Fenix, the Fenix 8 hasn’t totally lived as much as my sky-high expectations.
I obtained and unboxed my Garmin Fenix 8 later than most, nonetheless getting my bearings whereas Fenix 8 homeowners observed it crashing in chilly water or displaying thousand-hour naps (or naps once they weren’t napping). Irritated Garmin discussion board customers noticed a bevy of different software program points, some area of interest however others widespread.
By October, the Fenix 8 had obtained some helpful patches, however I nonetheless encountered issues like enter lag when navigating the primary UI. After I tried to finish a two-mile stroll exercise, the watch froze on the “Saving” display for hours and refused to manufacturing facility reset till I plugged it into my laptop. Then, the battery drained at an insane charge (about 85% in below two days) till I charged and restarted it.
Issues have calmed down for me since then, each for battery life and normal navigation. Nevertheless it nonetheless appears evident that Garmin will need to have been on a time crunch to launch the Fenix 8 on schedule — presumably shareholder-related concerns — given the variety of Fenix 8 glitches that went unresolved till after launch. And that is not an important look if you’re charging extra money than every other health watch model and rather more than the Fenix 7 sequence (which began at $799).
I am going to level out now that I like the Fenix 8 so far. For starters, the revamped UI improves on what I noticed on the Garmin Venu 3 final 12 months, significantly seeing steered exercises and programs immediately below the exercise begin menu. I recognize the AMOLED/MIP choices so you’ll be able to prioritize battery life or higher visible high quality. And regardless of the plastic-to-titanium swap, my 47mm unit does not really feel overly heavy at 73g.
By way of new options, the Fenix 8 added energy teaching to Garmin Coach about six months after I wrote a chunk demanding Garmin make indoor exercises higher with tailor-made strategies. As a runner, I am nonetheless easing into energy coaching, nevertheless it’s already a step over what most health watches supply for reps and newbie steering.
You additionally get a microphone and speaker linked to an offline voice assistant, which is not restricted to passthrough instructions to your smartphone. You maintain down the Begin button, say a easy command like “Begin a Voice Notice” or “Present me the climate at this time,” and see the related app or widget in a number of seconds. I nonetheless suggest utilizing watch face shortcuts to drag up related knowledge for the reason that processing is a bit gradual, nevertheless it helps keep away from looking out by way of menus.
Whereas I often depend on AllTrails on my telephone for choosing climbing trails upfront, Garmin’s new round-trip routes let me search for alternate aspect trails that’ll take the identical period of time however let me try new surroundings, and it is a good change of tempo!
Plus, you get the identical revamped well being sensor suite because the Venu 3, related dive options to the Descent MK3 with leak-proof {hardware}, dual-band GPS accuracy to match the most effective Forerunner watches, and a built-in flashlight that is fairly much like the one I examined within the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic. Its 17-day battery life is not a lot increased than different Garmin watches, however its 35-hour multi-band monitoring is superb.
Once more, these are welcome additions! Garmin threw every thing it had into one titanium bundle, so you’ll be able to go from climbing to operating to diving to snowboarding to {golfing} and have just about every thing you want.
However I convey up previous Garmin watches as a result of many of those previous options really feel just about similar to the cheaper watches. For instance, the Fenix 8 LED is sweet for emergencies however not particularly vivid, burns by way of your complete battery in a number of hours, and makes you maintain your wrist at an unnatural angle to light up what’s in entrance of you — similar to the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic flashlight.
The Fenix’s new mic and speaker allow impromptu calls with out grabbing your telephone, however similar to the Venu 3 and Venu 2 Plus, you may sound quiet on the opposite finish, and it’s possible you’ll want to carry the speaker near your ear in the event you’re wherever loud.
I am not an enormous fan of MIP shows, so I am totally on board with the AMOLED swap. That mentioned, it has the identical measurement and PPI because the Venu 3 or Forerunner 965 shows, and I assume the brightness and refresh charge are similar, too. Particularly, I dislike the little delay you see when scrolling by way of widgets with the touchscreen.
By way of accuracy, the Fenix 8 GPS has been predictably hyper-accurate so far, however that additionally applies throughout the board right down to the $350 Forerunner 255 with dual-band monitoring. And whereas its coronary heart charge monitoring did excellently towards my COROS optical armband in most instances, matching its common and maintaining with fast HR adjustments, it has the identical infuriating challenge as my Forerunner 965: After I begin a tough monitor run with out ramping up, it’s going to spend the primary lap failing to register my sooner coronary heart charge by about 20–30 bpm, forcing me to pause and provides the Fenix 8 time to search out the right knowledge and skewing my cardio/ anaerobic load totals.
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I believe many well-off Fenix 8 consumers select the flagship model as a mix standing image and catch-all health software. They like its titanium fashion and that it can deal with each sport below the solar, even when they solely go diving or snowboarding every year throughout holidays and largely run, bike, or hike with it. Higher to have and never want than want and never have, proper?
In my case, the Fenix 8 could find yourself being my favourite Garmin watch as a result of it collects the most effective bits from the Forerunner, Venu, and Intuition lineups. However is that sufficient to say the Fenix 8 is “definitely worth the value,” as plenty of present Fenix 8 opinions say?
The Garmin Fenix 8 is not an inexpensive watch, nevertheless it’s in the end as much as you to find out whether or not it is definitely worth the excessive price ticket.
When journalists and tech YouTubers say a tool is so good that they’d spend $1,000+ on it, they most likely imply it. However they did not; they obtained it free of charge. We typically attempt to not let that affect our suggestions, and there isn’t any stress to justify or nitpick an costly buy like common customers really feel. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless laborious to say if one thing is “too costly” when your funds is not affected.
After I reviewed costly smartwatches just like the $650 Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely or $800 Apple Watch Extremely 2, I needed to rigorously choose their true worth when you’ll be able to spend half as a lot on their siblings and get many of the identical options (just like the Fenix 8). They’re nice watches however too costly for many individuals, and the Fenix 8 deserves that scrutiny, too.
One level in Apple and Samsung’s favor was that their flagship watches have been technically “standalone” due to built-in LTE assist. Since Garmin hasn’t provided LTE outdoors of the Forerunner 945 LTE and Bounce LTE for teenagers, your Fenix 8 nonetheless has your short-lived smartphone as a ache level for staying in contact on lengthy excursions.
In my case, the Fenix 8 is very good to have, particularly the brand new navigation options. However I do not “want” it, and if I have been purchasing for the finest Garmin watch for my wants, it might be laborious to justify spending that further $500 for streamlined software program, voice instructions, and dynamic routing when the $600 Forerunner 965 has many of the identical necessities.
I’ve overrated the Fenix in my head for some time, and an $1,100 price ticket implies a sure degree of greatness. However the acquainted tech, buggy launch, and lack of emergency mobile mixed with that value are sufficient to offset barely simply how improbable a health watch that is.
Bought a grand? Nice!
If you happen to actually need the “finest” Garmin watch, that is it. It is long-lasting, has essentially the most superior Garmin software program throughout each main sporting sort, lasts a pair weeks per cost regardless of the additional smarts, and appears nice doing it. Simply…nicely, ensure you even have the cash for the Fenix 8! You could be completely proud of a Forerunner or Venu at half the worth in the event you do not want every thing and the kitchen sink.