I own a forerunner 965 and a regular Fenix 7. I love both of them. I bought this Felix 8 a few weeks ago, received it a couple days ago and returned it yesterday. I agree with your summary. I really can’t explain why I had not figured the following from watching different reviews, before buying it. But, once I had this beautiful watch in hand, I felt like the only thing I gained was the option to answer phone calls (which I probably will not use often), a flashlight (super cool!), and voice command (again, probably won’t use too often). I really don’t see those three things being worth the $1200 for me right now. But, if someone does not own a Garmin yet and they have the cash to spend, and they decide to go with this one, then I have confidence that it will be a really nice watch as soon as all of the issues are settled. Last, I completely agree that offering different colors of the sensor guard would be awesome. Thank you for making your videos!
Fenix8 is my first Garmin watch. Lucky to have one,it exceeded my expectations and needs. It's so fun to use and user friendly for a newbie like me. Thanks for the review man,keep it up!
After giving my fenix 7x to my son and upgrading to the 8 51mm amoled. I'm happy, I love the watch. I love the new buttons, I think the amoled screen is way better and battery is not an issue. I've tonked this watch on treks and runs over the last 3 weeks and think it is fantastic. I'm a bit surprised how much it cost over what I paid for the 7x but my son wanted mine and he couldn't afford a new one so I obliged. To be honest, I'm glad I did.
Thanks for the kind words Kristoff! That was my goal to provide (almost) everything for people that may have little knowledge about the product all the way to people just wanting a subjective review of my own experience. Glad you liked the video 💪🏃
Bought mine on launch day. Been waiting for 2 years since I saw the Fenix 7. I regularly climb in the Himalayas & the 8 is a superb tool for tracking fitness levels, sleep tracking, recovery, HRV, SP02, & VO2 Max. The strength training buttons take a while to learn how to initiate sets & edit reps + kg features, but they are there. No need for sweaty fingers on the touch screen.
In Finland, the price of a Fenix 8 51 mm AMOLED with sapphire screen and brown leather band is a whopping 1349 euros. That translates to $1510 USD today. I sold my Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar this summer because rumors started to pile up on the 8 and ran with an Instinct 2 Solar for a couple of months. Was tempted to buy an Epix Pro Sapphire with brown leather band brand new for almost 900 eur ($1000 USD), but decided to wait. Then the Fenix 8 came, people went crazy "OOOH A NEW WATCH" and started selling their old watches. Picked up an Epix Pro 51mm Sapphire for 500 euros ($559 USD) and for the rest of my saved ~850 euros/$950 USD I haven't yet decided what to do with. I don't see the need to spend that kind of money in to a software update and a microphone, but that's just me. :)
If you have a Fenix 6 or 7 no need to upgrade - but for a Fenix 5 owner the upgrade was quite the change ! No freezing after first update. Amazing watch
@@robhunt8378 What's even worse is that buyers allow themselves to be milked like this. The only option is to vote with your wallet, don't let yourself be scammed like this people.
Was looking to upgrade my Fenix 5/Instinct combo and I saw the Chase the Summit review of F8 vs Amazfit T-rex 3. Bought the Amazfit which is 90% (or better) Fenix 8 at $300. Best decision ever 😊
Thanks Dave - very well thought out, structured and presented overview. For me, I'm considering upgrading my old FR935, so no question about the differences in functionality for me. Currently on a VO2Max quest, mostly through trail running, pool swimming, MTB and body surfing, this watch will certainly cover my needs and some (and a lot more!). Being in surf regularly probably makes the decision a little easier and frankly, I like good stuff and the price is OK for me, though a few hundred less wouldn't hurt. Anyway, as said, big thanks for this excellent overview and cheers from your latest Aussie subscriber - Dave
Just purchased my Fenix 8. Up grading from a Fenix 5x, so based on your excellent review it looks like I will see huge differences. Got a 10% discount, so price was a little better. Main reason for upgrading was the Amoled screen and bigger face size. Eye sight deteriorating with age 😂
Thank you sharing. Garmin released fenix 8 before the software was fully tested. I got my fenix 8 a few days ago. I got 3 software updates on the watch, and also did the updates using garmin express. So mine is fully updated with the latest map and software, my experience with the watch has been great.
I’ve got the 7x pro sapphire solar and got it for $800 with the new 8 release. I’m supremely happy with it and I’ve considered also getting the 8 too because as the saying goes….two is one and one is none but i think I’ll wait awhile. If I do get one it would be the 47 Amoled.
I had 7 different Garmin watches in the past 8y BUT now I saw Goodbye to Garmin because they became waaaaaaay to expensive for what you get. If you are not a sport fanatic or and have a lot of money to spare , go for it. But now there are really good alternatives for way less money !
Ordered my Fenix 8 last week. Really lo 25:02 oking forward to getting it in hand. When I used an iPhone I wore an apple watch ultra 2. Now that I'm using a pixel device I use the pixel watch 3 and I often forget I have the watch. I was fortunate enough to get 20% off the 51mm amoled version with my insurance discount.
I waited for the Fenix 8 to launch to buy an Epix 2. I Payed 400€ for it brand new on a local shop sale. Its 3x cheaper than the Fenix 8 and for me buying the 8 doent make sense at that price
I've already seen a few deals with the Epix Pro g2 for almost half the price of the F8. It seems like a nobrainer if you want to stay in the Garmin ecosystem.
Thanks to your video and other RUclips reviews I bought the Epix Gen 2 Sapphire version in 399 at Walmart., to be honest a no brain price with high end capabilities, great amoled display and very customizable with IQ Connect, I already download the new watch face of Fenix 8 if you want it Lol, I am an amateur road bike and Mtb raider and this is more than what I need, I recommend to others the same, take a look of the offering of new previous version because could be a better deal for you as it was for me.
I'm coming from an old Forerunner 945 for tracking and a Galaxy Watch5 Pro for daily use. This will be a big upgrade for me. I want one watch for everything and Garmin watches just haven't been good enough at basic smart watch features but it looks like it's finally there. I know the older models are cheaper now, but I don't mind paying the premium for longer support and new features. Going to wait until Dec/Jan. before buying though. Hopefully Garmin will have sorted out the bugs in the software by then.
What concerns me the most is that Garmin support has been responding to a reported problem with the watch for over two weeks. It's proof that support for 7 is dying. It's generally a problem where we have to move to 8 or Enduro 3.
I'm on software version 11.64 on the 51mm OLED. The only lag now is when switching between watch faces. I can't notice lag or micro freezes anywhere else. Only remaining bug that I notice is in the weather app. Crashes the app on the third screen of weather (doesn't crash the whole watch). Battery life last week was terrible. Dropped 26% in one day! Now it's at 78% after 5 days which includes 2 x 1 hour GPS walks. Is it worth the full MSRP? No. But I was able to get 20% off, and coming from the 7X and the MIP display, I'm happy with it.
That's interesting. They've gotten better, but still present in OLED in my opinion. I wonder if the fact the resolution is about twice as high causes that? Thanks for watching! 💪🏃
That's a great review from a real Garmin user. Great job, Dave ! 🤙 In my opinion Fenix 8 it's a very modern device and even if there are some similarities with the older versions, it's definitely a remarkable upgrade.
@@DaveDoesFitnessThis is most likely contributing to it. The new OS has become more complicated and Garmin seems to have rushed it to market. Adding to that, the processor on the Fenix 8 has not been upgraded from the Fenix 7 or Epix Pro in the last gen.
Great review. I’m weighing up upgrading my 5X. The bugs put me off a bit, so maybe I’ll wait a month or two like you suggested and see if they fix them.
Fantastic review, thanks! Just out of curiosity, have you thought about getting the solar version? And do you feel the AMOLED display was the right choice?
The biggest issue I have had with the F8 is when I created a manual course in Garmin Connect and uploaded it to the watch. The 9-mile route I created tuned out to be 75 miles shorter AND the created route and the F8 GPS mileage during the run were competing with each other. That said, it's a very cool watch.
@@BilloBob1231 I created a 9-mile road route in Garmin Connect and loaded it to the F8. It turned out to be 8.25 when I ran it. Confirmed on both my Apple watch as well as the F8. Thx
Awesome video - thanks Dave. I have an Apple watch Ultra and while I'd love to purchase the Fenix (even an earlier version- I'm concerned about loosing the Emergency activation feature. Does the Fenix have this? Thanks again!
I recently got the Epix pro ... I absolutely love this watch and the battery life is ridiculously good. This being said.. I am so done paying $1k for a damn watch and most tech increasing prices. Phones are ok because they do alot more and really serve a purpose in this day and age. But 1k for a watch that just gained a speaker and a software change... really? The main watch in garmins marketing wants to be the apple watch ultra so bad. I wouldn't be surprised if they release one every year to compete with apple. Garmin. This is telling of where garmin is taking their watch game. I'll be switching to apple watch when apple takes health tracking seriously (all day heart rate tracking) and they have better battery life.
Great video, I’ll be keeping my 47mm F7 pro sapphire till the F8 pro comes out then I might think about getting it might* still not 100% on it just yet
Please tell me honestly: Is it worth upgrading, when having a Fenix 6X Sapphire? Just using it casually, and track Backcountry Skiing, Gravel, Mountainbike and hiking… No training plans! Just pulse, calories and the tracks. Also use it in conjunction with Komoot, when planing or using existing tracks. Is the Fenix 8 - beside the nice display and the touch option - worth the money in that case?! How much battery lifetime will I loose against my Fenix 6X?!
great video - new subscriber - I Would imagine these watches are not really going to be upgraded on a yearly basis by anyone. See so many videos and comments saying an upgrade from last years model isn't worth it. HAHA of course its not. And if your watch is only a few years old - you are not the intended market. I think that apple have a lot to do with that mentality. Upgrade the phone every year, but you dont upgrade your TV every year - or your sound system every year - why expect to upgrade a watch thats designed to last many many (many) years.
Thanks for subscribing! I definitely agree with you that the marketing of technology products has a far greater effect on people than the actual benefit they get from the upgrade. There's a reason Apple is the most valuable company in the world and its not because they release phones with small changes each year, its because they convince people that they need them 😂
Hi, have you had any experience with the depth gauge and water temperature measurement while the watch was on your wrist? Are they accurate (or very close to accurate)? Or is the water temperature measurement affected by body heat?
Hey Dave, loved the video, thanks for sharing. Out of curiosity, what’s the watch face you’re using, I am trying to find a decent watch and yours looks pretty good. Appreciate it if you’d share. Thanks.
Great video! Do you feel that since the buttons are not mechanical with o-rings that they will be more durable? I know that they are like that for water, but how about being better for dirt and dust too?
Epix 2 Pro holds (almost) the same features as the Fenix 8. Forerunner 965 is (almost) identical in terms of the software, screen, battery and maps experience as the Epix 2 Pro. The price of the Forerunner 965 is 2 times cheaper than the Epix Pro 2 and 3 times cheaper than the Fenix 8....! Let that sink in :)
Some users say that there are freezing and rebooting problems with AMOLED screens. But MIB screen users say that they do not have these problems. Could this be true? Are you experiencing such a problem?
I have 5x and I'm looking forward to buy one of these, especially because diving options, as Im certified SSI diver. The only question I have is Isn't it better to await for the PRO version, hoping it will have upgraded CPU?
Thanks, what a great video! I'm thinking about to upgrade from FR965 to F8. I see the F8 as upgraded FR965 :-) I mean, the same screen with better protection. The FR965 is missing body temp and ECG measurements. I need both though and I'm currently using the Oura ring and a dedicated blood pressure meter for those ones. The Oura ring is already showing a weak battery issue so time to upgrade soon. In the Oura ring you can have warning of the higher body temp after sleeping and there is no such functionality in the F8 but do you see the temp rise/baseline data for the body temp?
Lags/delay issues are the same for MIP? Also, is there a difference with these kind of issues to Fenix 7 (Pro)? Would be very annoying for me to have to deal with this kind of laggyness in daily life.
Less lag on the MIP, Garmin does need to update their processors though. Lazy of them to not have done it now. Hopefully we see that on the next release.
I don’t get to expensive. Find me a better built watch that is dive certified last this long on a charge and map this well. Let alone all the data that is easily accessible without needing to download third party apps
Just bought the f8 sapphire 47mm coming from the epix pro gen2 and I regret it. Haptics feedbacks are off because slow, I can’t get to the new feel of the buttons, bugs or lags are frequent. I saw my epix as the ultra dependable tool it earned the status to be, and I underestimated the button feel importance on this. but this f8 haptic delay is making my brain wonder after every action if the watch actually performed the required action for not just long enough to be annoying. Hope they fix it.
My wrist has a circumference of 166mm I’m looking for the Enduro 3; this would be to massive for my relatively small wrist? If so I’m looking for the Fenix 7 pro 47 or the forerunner 955, what would be your advice. Thanks.
Thanks for the video, I was thinking about to switch to F8, but I am not sure. I have F7 solar and I have problems to read the time in darker conditions; I think amoled can help here a little. We expect tax changes in my country so it is also considerable to switch now, because the price will go higher as it is now, but still thinking what could be better wait on 8pro, or switch.
Was thinking about upgrading from my instinct to the fenix 8. I really enjoy the battery life of the instinct and the fenix 8 looks like it would hold up well. Also the diving features are awesome as I do a lot of diving
Thanks for the video! Pretty much the same experience I have had. Numerous restarts throughout the day, laggy software, unable to add locations for weather and headphones not connecting curious to know which headphones did you pair with it how was the Bluetooth connection?
Thanks for watching! I have a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones that are the only ones I've paired with them. The connection is quick and stays strong during runs
@@DaveDoesFitness appreciate your feedback. AirPod Pro two’s are very unstable and disconnect/turn off all of the time. I’ve tried beats fit pro and they seem to be a bit better but not the best. Ended up returning the watch and will wait until they hopefully get things ironed out.
I trade my 7x pro with F8 amoled, it might be stupid decision but if only F8 MIP have lower price i might have been choosing MIP. Since it has similar price ill take the risk to try new version in amoled. So far no issue but its only been 3 days, let see what happend in a week 😅
Hi, great video I just want to know some more feature regarding receiving calls. Normally i wear wireless bluetooth, so if i answer the incoming call from the watch, so the voice of the other person will come from the watch, mobile or my connected wireless bluetooth? If, by answering the call from the watch, the voice of other person comes from the watch, so does the watch has the option to switch the voice of other person to my connected bluetooth from the watch itself..? Or do i need to pull out my phone from my pocket to do so..? Please make a detail video of it Thanks....
Cant decide between F8 and Epix Pro as a 1st watch. I like F8 display 1,4 for better maps and cycling but Epix is 300€ cheaper and still good watch. I wont dive or use mic and speaker
Thank you for your videos . Instead of speeding it on fenix 8 . As an Apple user that wanted a more hybrid smart watch I thought this would be it. But for the price and multiple reviews talking about it being laggy and buggy. It made me supplement my watches with an Apple Watch Ultra 2 . I have a fenix 7 pro I can use for all my work outs .
Many bug issues.. Biggest issue is the deaming of screen brightness in low light conditions (in the night or in a dark room) i have set my brightness to maximum but in the night the watch is UNUSABLE!!!! The lag is another joke in my 1300€ super-expensive 51 amoled watch
Even though the pricing is pretty wild for this watch, if it had LTE I would justify it a lot easier. I've wanted LTE on a new training focused watch for a while and was really hoping the 8 would be it
I own a forerunner 965 and a regular Fenix 7. I love both of them. I bought this Felix 8 a few weeks ago, received it a couple days ago and returned it yesterday. I agree with your summary. I really can’t explain why I had not figured the following from watching different reviews, before buying it. But, once I had this beautiful watch in hand, I felt like the only thing I gained was the option to answer phone calls (which I probably will not use often), a flashlight (super cool!), and voice command (again, probably won’t use too often). I really don’t see those three things being worth the $1200 for me right now. But, if someone does not own a Garmin yet and they have the cash to spend, and they decide to go with this one, then I have confidence that it will be a really nice watch as soon as all of the issues are settled. Last, I completely agree that offering different colors of the sensor guard would be awesome. Thank you for making your videos!
Fenix8 is my first Garmin watch. Lucky to have one,it exceeded my expectations and needs. It's so fun to use and user friendly for a newbie like me. Thanks for the review man,keep it up!
Salesman detected it’s not worth the rediculous price tag.
After giving my fenix 7x to my son and upgrading to the 8 51mm amoled. I'm happy, I love the watch. I love the new buttons, I think the amoled screen is way better and battery is not an issue. I've tonked this watch on treks and runs over the last 3 weeks and think it is fantastic.
I'm a bit surprised how much it cost over what I paid for the 7x but my son wanted mine and he couldn't afford a new one so I obliged. To be honest, I'm glad I did.
This is the only review from numerous others on RUclips that covers pretty much almost everything, except maybe screen brightness. Well done!
Thanks for the kind words Kristoff! That was my goal to provide (almost) everything for people that may have little knowledge about the product all the way to people just wanting a subjective review of my own experience. Glad you liked the video 💪🏃
Bought mine on launch day. Been waiting for 2 years since I saw the Fenix 7. I regularly climb in the Himalayas & the 8 is a superb tool for tracking fitness levels, sleep tracking, recovery, HRV, SP02, & VO2 Max. The strength training buttons take a while to learn how to initiate sets & edit reps + kg features, but they are there. No need for sweaty fingers on the touch screen.
I have a fenix 6 and it does all the tracking you mentioned
In Finland, the price of a Fenix 8 51 mm AMOLED with sapphire screen and brown leather band is a whopping 1349 euros. That translates to $1510 USD today. I sold my Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar this summer because rumors started to pile up on the 8 and ran with an Instinct 2 Solar for a couple of months. Was tempted to buy an Epix Pro Sapphire with brown leather band brand new for almost 900 eur ($1000 USD), but decided to wait. Then the Fenix 8 came, people went crazy "OOOH A NEW WATCH" and started selling their old watches. Picked up an Epix Pro 51mm Sapphire for 500 euros ($559 USD) and for the rest of my saved ~850 euros/$950 USD I haven't yet decided what to do with. I don't see the need to spend that kind of money in to a software update and a microphone, but that's just me. :)
If you have a Fenix 6 or 7 no need to upgrade - but for a Fenix 5 owner the upgrade was quite the change ! No freezing after first update. Amazing watch
Nice video Dave! I appreciate you also reviewing this with honesty! 🔥
I went from fenix 7x pro to the fenix 8 51 mm OLED mostly because of the display. It was too dim on the 7x. I am very happy with the new watch.
These mini lags and freezes with every swipe are an absolute joke on a $1.2k watch. Garmin, what are you doing?
Milking their customers, that's what they're doing. And they're doing it very well!
@@robhunt8378 What's even worse is that buyers allow themselves to be milked like this. The only option is to vote with your wallet, don't let yourself be scammed like this people.
I've had mine since launch. Only one freeze, corrected by the 1st update
@@CyberEditing You're talking about total freeze while I'm talking about sluggishness and micro freezes.
Weird I have the Fenix MIP and never had an issues. Very smooth.
Best review I've seen of the fenix 8...... subscribed ✔️
Was looking to upgrade my Fenix 5/Instinct combo and I saw the Chase the Summit review of F8 vs Amazfit T-rex 3. Bought the Amazfit which is 90% (or better) Fenix 8 at $300. Best decision ever 😊
Thank you for the review Dave. Much appreciated.
Excellent review! Very well done and thought out. One of the best I've seen for sure. I have the 8 and can't agree more with your assessment
Dave, i really enjoy your videos. Thank you!
Thank you for your support! 💪🏃
Great info, great delivery and awesome presentation. New sub, good on ya.
Thanks for the sub! Appreciate your support 💪🏃
Thanks Dave - very well thought out, structured and presented overview. For me, I'm considering upgrading my old FR935, so no question about the differences in functionality for me. Currently on a VO2Max quest, mostly through trail running, pool swimming, MTB and body surfing, this watch will certainly cover my needs and some (and a lot more!). Being in surf regularly probably makes the decision a little easier and frankly, I like good stuff and the price is OK for me, though a few hundred less wouldn't hurt.
Anyway, as said, big thanks for this excellent overview and cheers from your latest Aussie subscriber - Dave
Cheers Dave, I'm glad you found the review helpful! I think the Fenix will serve you well 💪
switching from a Garmin Forerunner 645 Music this Fenix 8 is worth my money. I really really like it!
Same here switching from a 5y old 645 (no music) and happy with this pricey multi-sports tool !
Just purchased my Fenix 8. Up grading from a Fenix 5x, so based on your excellent review it looks like I will see huge differences. Got a 10% discount, so price was a little better. Main reason for upgrading was the Amoled screen and bigger face size. Eye sight deteriorating with age 😂
Hope you love it! Thanks for watching 💪🏃
Thank you sharing. Garmin released fenix 8 before the software was fully tested. I got my fenix 8 a few days ago. I got 3 software updates on the watch, and also did the updates using garmin express. So mine is fully updated with the latest map and software, my experience with the watch has been great.
Good honest review. Great idea about Garmin offering different colour options for the sensor protector.
Thanks for watching! I know I would definitely appreciate being able to change out the accent color of the sensor guard :)
Having the ability to change it out would be awesome. However, I really like the orange accent (the yellow on the solar is awful).
Bro if they offered this I would be very glad
Such a great review. I'd just add the very bad dimming on dark conditions.
Just bought one ^^ the Solar version, love it so far ~
Excellent review. I'm keeping my epix pro gen 2 titanium 47mm and I'll wait until the possible Fenix 8 pro amoled.
These guys are tripping got the fenix 8 its literal perfection dont even hesitate to buy it! So good
Great review , Dave ! 🤙
Thanks for watching! 💪🏃
Great review. Thank you very much!
I’ve got the 7x pro sapphire solar and got it for $800 with the new 8 release. I’m supremely happy with it and I’ve considered also getting the 8 too because as the saying goes….two is one and one is none but i think I’ll wait awhile. If I do get one it would be the 47 Amoled.
Keeping my epix pro saphire for sure at the moment
Seems like a good decision. Thanks for watching! 💪🏃
I have a Fenix 5 Plus and given all the consistent reviews, I am waiting for the Epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire to go on sale on Black Friday.
fenix 7 pro user, thamk you for the insights, i wont be upgrading until they offer e-sim functionality
Glad you liked the video! Thanks for the support 🏃💪
I had 7 different Garmin watches in the past 8y BUT now I saw Goodbye to Garmin because they became waaaaaaay to expensive for what you get.
If you are not a sport fanatic or and have a lot of money to spare , go for it.
But now there are really good alternatives for way less money !
Ordered my Fenix 8 last week. Really lo 25:02 oking forward to getting it in hand. When I used an iPhone I wore an apple watch ultra 2. Now that I'm using a pixel device I use the pixel watch 3 and I often forget I have the watch. I was fortunate enough to get 20% off the 51mm amoled version with my insurance discount.
Like the coverage of this product. I love mine so far.
Great review
Finally a review pointing out what it takes for dive capability. I'm new to such watches, any prophecy how and when the 1k price tag will get smaller?
I waited for the Fenix 8 to launch to buy an Epix 2. I Payed 400€ for it brand new on a local shop sale. Its 3x cheaper than the Fenix 8 and for me buying the 8 doent make sense at that price
Good choice. I still cant decide. I like fenix 8 47 with 1.4 display. But epix pro 47 is 300€ cheaper here and still awesome watch
I've already seen a few deals with the Epix Pro g2 for almost half the price of the F8. It seems like a nobrainer if you want to stay in the Garmin ecosystem.
@@noisetinI’ve been looking for deals on a Epix Pro but seem to only find $100 off retail at most.
@@DannyCruzCreations I'm already seeing deep sales at a few local stores. Just wait a bit longer and you should see them at your location too.
Thanks to your video and other RUclips reviews I bought the Epix Gen 2 Sapphire version in 399 at Walmart., to be honest a no brain price with high end capabilities, great amoled display and very customizable with IQ Connect, I already download the new watch face of Fenix 8 if you want it Lol, I am an amateur road bike and Mtb raider and this is more than what I need, I recommend to others the same, take a look of the offering of new previous version because could be a better deal for you as it was for me.
Hope you love it! It's served me for years and is a solid option 💪🏃
How does it work on indoor pools for laps? My Garmin 945 can be in error a lot of times adding laps or subtracting.
I'm coming from an old Forerunner 945 for tracking and a Galaxy Watch5 Pro for daily use. This will be a big upgrade for me. I want one watch for everything and Garmin watches just haven't been good enough at basic smart watch features but it looks like it's finally there. I know the older models are cheaper now, but I don't mind paying the premium for longer support and new features. Going to wait until Dec/Jan. before buying though. Hopefully Garmin will have sorted out the bugs in the software by then.
I’d get a 965 - the one I have - or would wait a little more, the 975 is coming soon. It’s more than enough, and cheaper
@@KnigthMare69 Nah. I don't want another Forerunner. Too cheap and plasticy. I want a heavier watch for daily use and something rugged like the Fenix.
What concerns me the most is that Garmin support has been responding to a reported problem with the watch for over two weeks. It's proof that support for 7 is dying. It's generally a problem where we have to move to 8 or Enduro 3.
I have a fenix 6 - can’t see why I would upgrade to the 8 rather than get an epix pro ?!?
Hi, do you know what features will be added to 8 pro? Thanks.
Great review! I’m using the Fenix 6X sapphire and still on the fence on upgrading to the 8 🤷♂️🤦♂️lol
Very helpful video
Glad you enjoyed it Mark! Thanks for watching 💪🏃
Try Holding the Button when entering the Weight. The Forerunner 965 has the same optic you can Jump 10KG steps by Holding the Button presst
Thinking of upgrading my 6x, but honestly the price difference for what you get makes me either want to hold onto the 6x or just get a Forerunner 965.
I'm on software version 11.64 on the 51mm OLED. The only lag now is when switching between watch faces. I can't notice lag or micro freezes anywhere else. Only remaining bug that I notice is in the weather app. Crashes the app on the third screen of weather (doesn't crash the whole watch). Battery life last week was terrible. Dropped 26% in one day! Now it's at 78% after 5 days which includes 2 x 1 hour GPS walks. Is it worth the full MSRP? No. But I was able to get 20% off, and coming from the 7X and the MIP display, I'm happy with it.
I’ve heard no lag issues in enduro or solar models.
That's interesting. They've gotten better, but still present in OLED in my opinion. I wonder if the fact the resolution is about twice as high causes that? Thanks for watching! 💪🏃
That's a great review from a real Garmin user.
Great job, Dave ! 🤙
In my opinion Fenix 8 it's a very modern device and even if there are some similarities with the older versions, it's definitely a remarkable upgrade.
@@DaveDoesFitnessThis is most likely contributing to it. The new OS has become more complicated and Garmin seems to have rushed it to market. Adding to that, the processor on the Fenix 8 has not been upgraded from the Fenix 7 or Epix Pro in the last gen.
The price of pushing a lot more pixels.
Great review. I’m weighing up upgrading my 5X. The bugs put me off a bit, so maybe I’ll wait a month or two like you suggested and see if they fix them.
Now, with beta 11.81, you have turn by turn voice messages 😎
what ?? 🤩
Thank you for the review bro ! Well made video
Fantastic review, thanks! Just out of curiosity, have you thought about getting the solar version? And do you feel the AMOLED display was the right choice?
The biggest issue I have had with the F8 is when I created a manual course in Garmin Connect and uploaded it to the watch. The 9-mile route I created tuned out to be 75 miles shorter AND the created route and the F8 GPS mileage during the run were competing with each other. That said, it's a very cool watch.
That's pretty strange. I haven't messed with preloaded routes as of yet so will have to do that. Thanks for sharing!
what are you saying? your numbers do not make any sense
@@BilloBob1231 I created a 9-mile road route in Garmin Connect and loaded it to the F8. It turned out to be 8.25 when I ran it. Confirmed on both my Apple watch as well as the F8. Thx
Great video! Has it gotten any more updates or improvements since you made this?
No buyers remorse with getting a Tactix 7 Amoled a few weeks ago in a sale
Nice review. I'll wait for the Fenix 8 Pro. (if they make one) :>)
thanks for the video,
when shall we expect the Tactix 8?
Grazie. Bella recensione e consigli sensati. Ottimo lavoro.
What I hate the most about the Fenix 8 OLED is the screen dimming on darkly lit environment instead of the opposite!
I love my fênix 8 amoled 🔥 it worth every dollar
Awesome video - thanks Dave. I have an Apple watch Ultra and while I'd love to purchase the Fenix (even an earlier version- I'm concerned about loosing the Emergency activation feature. Does the Fenix have this? Thanks again!
I recently got the Epix pro ... I absolutely love this watch and the battery life is ridiculously good. This being said.. I am so done paying $1k for a damn watch and most tech increasing prices. Phones are ok because they do alot more and really serve a purpose in this day and age. But 1k for a watch that just gained a speaker and a software change... really? The main watch in garmins marketing wants to be the apple watch ultra so bad. I wouldn't be surprised if they release one every year to compete with apple. Garmin. This is telling of where garmin is taking their watch game. I'll be switching to apple watch when apple takes health tracking seriously (all day heart rate tracking) and they have better battery life.
Think the watch faces are getting worse cheap looking 🤷♂️
Great video, I’ll be keeping my 47mm F7 pro sapphire till the F8 pro comes out then I might think about getting it might* still not 100% on it just yet
Please tell me honestly: Is it worth upgrading, when having a Fenix 6X Sapphire? Just using it casually, and track Backcountry Skiing, Gravel, Mountainbike and hiking… No training plans! Just pulse, calories and the tracks. Also use it in conjunction with Komoot, when planing or using existing tracks.
Is the Fenix 8 - beside the nice display and the touch option - worth the money in that case?! How much battery lifetime will I loose against my Fenix 6X?!
Great video and detail! I'm keeping my Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar and waiting to see the rumored Fenix 8 Pro.
Yes! I'm about to work on a quick video about those new Pros 👀
Were did you heard this rumours
@mightnmagic3095 There were some recent leaks. I'll have a video out soon!
great video - new subscriber - I Would imagine these watches are not really going to be upgraded on a yearly basis by anyone. See so many videos and comments saying an upgrade from last years model isn't worth it. HAHA of course its not. And if your watch is only a few years old - you are not the intended market. I think that apple have a lot to do with that mentality. Upgrade the phone every year, but you dont upgrade your TV every year - or your sound system every year - why expect to upgrade a watch thats designed to last many many (many) years.
Thanks for subscribing! I definitely agree with you that the marketing of technology products has a far greater effect on people than the actual benefit they get from the upgrade. There's a reason Apple is the most valuable company in the world and its not because they release phones with small changes each year, its because they convince people that they need them 😂
Hi, have you had any experience with the depth gauge and water temperature measurement while the watch was on your wrist? Are they accurate (or very close to accurate)? Or is the water temperature measurement affected by body heat?
Hey Dave, loved the video, thanks for sharing. Out of curiosity, what’s the watch face you’re using, I am trying to find a decent watch and yours looks pretty good. Appreciate it if you’d share. Thanks.
Is that a Chase The Summit shirt? 👌🏻
Hi Matt, thanks for popping by the channel! Sure is CTS gear. Gotta look good in in my videos 😁💪
Great video! Do you feel that since the buttons are not mechanical with o-rings that they will be more durable? I know that they are like that for water, but how about being better for dirt and dust too?
Epix 2 Pro holds (almost) the same features as the Fenix 8.
Forerunner 965 is (almost) identical in terms of the software, screen, battery and maps experience as the Epix 2 Pro.
The price of the Forerunner 965 is 2 times cheaper than the Epix Pro 2 and 3 times cheaper than the Fenix 8....!
Let that sink in :)
I have a tactix 7 pro in the mip display should I up grade too the fenix 8
Do you think it's worth upgrading from fenix 6 pro to fenix 8 amoled?
I have Epix 2 Gen 2 . I like small bezels on F8 ..
Some users say that there are freezing and rebooting problems with AMOLED screens. But MIB screen users say that they do not have these problems. Could this be true? Are you experiencing such a problem?
I have 5x and I'm looking forward to buy one of these, especially because diving options, as Im certified SSI diver. The only question I have is Isn't it better to await for the PRO version, hoping it will have upgraded CPU?
Thanks, what a great video! I'm thinking about to upgrade from FR965 to F8. I see the F8 as upgraded FR965 :-) I mean, the same screen with better protection. The FR965 is missing body temp and ECG measurements. I need both though and I'm currently using the Oura ring and a dedicated blood pressure meter for those ones. The Oura ring is already showing a weak battery issue so time to upgrade soon. In the Oura ring you can have warning of the higher body temp after sleeping and there is no such functionality in the F8 but do you see the temp rise/baseline data for the body temp?
I am new to garmin- should I get the fenix 8 or fenix 7pro? What would I be missing if I get the fenix 7pro
Lags/delay issues are the same for MIP? Also, is there a difference with these kind of issues to Fenix 7 (Pro)?
Would be very annoying for me to have to deal with this kind of laggyness in daily life.
Less lag on the MIP, Garmin does need to update their processors though. Lazy of them to not have done it now.
Hopefully we see that on the next release.
I don’t get to expensive. Find me a better built watch that is dive certified last this long on a charge and map this well. Let alone all the data that is easily accessible without needing to download third party apps
Just bought the f8 sapphire 47mm coming from the epix pro gen2 and I regret it. Haptics feedbacks are off because slow, I can’t get to the new feel of the buttons, bugs or lags are frequent. I saw my epix as the ultra dependable tool it earned the status to be, and I underestimated the button feel importance on this. but this f8 haptic delay is making my brain wonder after every action if the watch actually performed the required action for not just long enough to be annoying. Hope they fix it.
My wrist has a circumference of 166mm I’m looking for the Enduro 3; this would be to massive for my relatively small wrist? If so I’m looking for the Fenix 7 pro 47 or the forerunner 955, what would be your advice. Thanks.
Thanks for the video, I was thinking about to switch to F8, but I am not sure. I have F7 solar and I have problems to read the time in darker conditions; I think amoled can help here a little. We expect tax changes in my country so it is also considerable to switch now, because the price will go higher as it is now, but still thinking what could be better wait on 8pro, or switch.
So we can buy 4 amazefit Trex3’s and a bike from wallmart instead of the Garmin Fenix 8… that’s crazy
Was thinking about upgrading from my instinct to the fenix 8. I really enjoy the battery life of the instinct and the fenix 8 looks like it would hold up well. Also the diving features are awesome as I do a lot of diving
Thanks for the video! Pretty much the same experience I have had. Numerous restarts throughout the day, laggy software, unable to add locations for weather and headphones not connecting curious to know which headphones did you pair with it how was the Bluetooth connection?
Thanks for watching! I have a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones that are the only ones I've paired with them. The connection is quick and stays strong during runs
@@DaveDoesFitness appreciate your feedback. AirPod Pro two’s are very unstable and disconnect/turn off all of the time. I’ve tried beats fit pro and they seem to be a bit better but not the best. Ended up returning the watch and will wait until they hopefully get things ironed out.
Is their a Fenix 8 PRO model coming?
i switch from garmin instinct solar to fenix 8 and this is BIG step for me 😅
I trade my 7x pro with F8 amoled, it might be stupid decision but if only F8 MIP have lower price i might have been choosing MIP. Since it has similar price ill take the risk to try new version in amoled. So far no issue but its only been 3 days, let see what happend in a week 😅
I'm so undecided.... Should I wait for Pro? AMOLED or LCD? When will Pro be released?
Hi, great video
I just want to know some more feature regarding receiving calls.
Normally i wear wireless bluetooth, so if i answer the incoming call from the watch, so the voice of the other person will come from the watch, mobile or my connected wireless bluetooth?
If, by answering the call from the watch, the voice of other person comes from the watch, so does the watch has the option to switch the voice of other person to my connected bluetooth from the watch itself..? Or do i need to pull out my phone from my pocket to do so..?
Please make a detail video of it
Thanks....
Please reply
Cant decide between F8 and Epix Pro as a 1st watch.
I like F8 display 1,4 for better maps and cycling but Epix is 300€ cheaper and still good watch.
I wont dive or use mic and speaker
I knew things were getting raw when the calipers came out!
lol! And of course they all measured a tenth off from my original measurements 😭
Still epix2pro for me once my feix3 dies. For me
thx, very useful
Glad you like it! Thanks for watching 💪🏃
Thank you for your videos . Instead of speeding it on fenix 8 . As an Apple user that wanted a more hybrid smart watch I thought this would be it. But for the price and multiple reviews talking about it being laggy and buggy. It made me supplement my watches with an Apple Watch Ultra 2 . I have a fenix 7 pro I can use for all my work outs .
They should add a ‘CALCULATOR’ function….
Garmin does have a calculator app they publish in the Connect IQ store for free
Many bug issues.. Biggest issue is the deaming of screen brightness in low light conditions (in the night or in a dark room) i have set my brightness to maximum but in the night the watch is UNUSABLE!!!! The lag is another joke in my 1300€ super-expensive 51 amoled watch
If they come out with the pro, needs to have LTE!!
Even though the pricing is pretty wild for this watch, if it had LTE I would justify it a lot easier. I've wanted LTE on a new training focused watch for a while and was really hoping the 8 would be it