Just finished a support call with Garmin. I purchased the new Fenix 8 AMOLED for me and my wife. We noticed something about the display last night. Even if you have it set to full brightness, if you walk into a dark room the display dims substantially. Thought it might be a software bug but was told by Garmin engineering that the AMOLED display has a built-in sensor that automatically controls the brightness (kind of like auto-brightness on other displays). The problem is that it can't be turned off nor fixed with a software update. This would create a big problem for anyone using the watch outside at night or in dark environments. This is an absolute deal-breaker for me as I want to be able to control my display brightness in every situation, and I should for $1200.00. Hope this helps others that are trying to decide whether to purchase a Fenix 8 AMOLED version. Thanks for the great videos!
This was also in the Epix watches. Ist doesn’t affect readability outside at night because it only dims if it is dark enough. If it gets brighter, it will ramp up the backlight accordingly.
I have the Epix Pro 51mm and the brightness stays the same whether in the dark or light. The support person I spoke to said new on Fenix 8 AMOLED. Regardless, it is a deal breaker for me. Just wanted to make sure others know before they spend that much $$$$.
@@mjktechgeek genuinely curious why this is an issue? Dim AMOLED in a dark room is still more than readable. I would have the opposite problem, it would be super irritating if the screen stayed super bright in a dark room or at night. (I also have an epix pro and the screen adjusts brightness automatically fwiw)
These DC Rainmaker high level and detailed reviews, written and video, constitute a real public service. I veered from the Fenix/Tactix path last year and purchased the Epix Pro 51mm, which has been wonderful. While the stunning display is addictive, and the Epix consistently gets 11 days of always-on runtime, with GPS activities, I’m really intrigued by the redesigned Enduro. It is exactly what I hoped Garmin would introduce: a lean Fenix Solar with incredible battery life. The price is the same as the previous model, when you account for the inclusion of one band instead of two, and, I think, represents a true bargain, relatively speaking. I ordered mine from Garmin and, despite the 4-7 day estimated wait, Garmin actually shipped it within a few hours. Good times 😊
I turned on gesture mode backlight on Fenix 7 pro and I'm super happy now. Has barely affected battery life and I can see in all conditions with no problem. I really have no desire for a Fenix 8 now. The biggest draw for me is the modern look with the nice, thin bezel, other than that it has the same HR sensor and GPS chipset.
This vid is Superbly informative. Bought the Fenix 8 Amoled 51 on the day it was launched. This is an excellent tool for my Himalayan climbing training prep.
So good thankyou I've been waiting for this upload. As just purchased my first smart watch and was a little lost . Going to watch this a few times I think. Appreciate your work
The speaker and mic have been extremely useful for me. The voice command feature is fantastic to navigate the watch while running (it can literally navigate to whatever you need on the watch), and the phone assistant has been very useful. I upgraded from F7 standard and it's been a fantastic upgrade for me. A few bugs being ironed out which was disappointing however its getting better and better the more I figure out what else it can do. I'm getting used to the AMOLED however the screen on the 47mm model is fantastic and has been great on the trails.
As a person with a small wrist, I hate this move. I don‘t need diving or a bad voice assistant for 1100€. I want a Long battery life and passive always on dispay …. I wish the enduro came in smaller sizes. I hope my 7S lasts for a couple more years until there are better and more reasonably prices options on the market,
I got the Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm two weeks ago and it is fantastic. I upgraded from a Fenix 6x Pro (51mm). I still cannot get texts to display on the Fenix 8. If the 6 can do it I am sure it is hidden better. I do get a vibration. I am not as active as Ray but am working to get better, i just got a new hip so new activities will take a little longer. I changed the plastic band to a metal band and it works great. There is no need to make the watch tight like i used to do before i upgraded the 6x with the metal band. Watching Rays stuff i remembered that he liked the Epic 2 (AMOLED) better than the Fenix 7. I thought about it for a week or two then just purchased the AMOLED instead of the solar. Either watch would be a good choice. Battery life on the AMOLED is good, GPS activities do consume a lot of battery.
Hi Ray. I have a Vivoactive 3, for 3 years now which is pretty basic but I love it! I am a runner/hiker/biker/rower. I am considering buying the Fenix 8. By the way, when you explained the notifications/text, I saw the language Dutch. I am from the Netherlands but moved to BC, Canada in 2015.
I was a big fan of MIP screens, like my previous three Garmin Fenix watches. Yesterday I bought the new Fenix 8 Amoled, since I was impatient and I could not wait a month for the solar edition. I was not sure about this purchase, but really I don't regret it, the screen is great in most scenarios, except under the direct sun. The graphics and animations makes the watch looks 10 years newer than my previous Fenix 7 Pro.
yeah that's whats killing me too. Waiting on the 51mm Fenix 8 solar to ship out. bought it when it got released but the wait is killing me. Glad you're liking the AMOLED fenix. Display does look super crisp compared to MIP. debated heavily myself but MIP has always been my go to since i don't like charging too much and i always want to see the watch's time. With the always on display this seems to significantly decrease the battery life.
@@kk4649k I have this watch 3 days, and I lost only 15% (5% per day) with always ON display but gesture OFF, as the brightness is adjustable according to light conditions. During these 3 days, I did 2 runs , 1 hour each with multiband gps and all satellites active. I made the settings for screen like this, so the watch to be closer to my previous Fenix 7x pro solar in terms of screen. The battery until now is better than I expected. Maybe this happens because I don't wear the watch during the sleep or inside the home, so the screen is closed completely. The MIP is always ON, even if you don't wear the watch, so it still consume a small energy. With my usage I believe that I will get the same autonomy as my previous watch. P.S. - It's the 51mm version.
@@ugursayan238 Because I had both screen technologies, personally I prefer Amoled, as I do outdoor activities during the afternoon/evening, or early morning. Battery autonomy is similar in my case. Screen on Amoled is much better in most conditions. Only under the direct sun (mid-day) the MIP is better. Nowhere else.
MIP user here. The 47mm amoled lasts 37 hrs in GPS Mode. Okay, cool. But what if you use the map in parallel? What is your experience with the dark mode navigation. A map facing north should increase the battery live too. If I could hike with this watch >20 hrs without charging - I’m in…
Broadcast HR has also been key for me on the bike rides where I don't want to wear a chest strap but still want to have my Edge computer for navigation.
Hi DC, I’m looking for advice on a new Garmin watch to replace my Forerunner 245. While the 245 still works fine, the battery life has started to decline and can no longer last a full day of hiking. I’m serious about cycling but use a dedicated Wahoo device for that. For my Garmin watch, I use it to log various activities (hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, etc.), but I’m not serious about training in any of them. I don’t need training or navigation features-just reliable activity logging. I am looking for: - Multiband GPS for the most accurate tracking with battery that can last all day while recording activities. - Lightweight and small-something that stays out of the way. I chose the Forerunner 245 previously for its size, even though I’m not a runner. - I’m not too concerned about price or value, as I understand that small size and long battery life are not easily coexist. I’d really appreciate your advice-thanks so much for your help!
Here from my first forerunner 210, love reading and watching your very detailed guides and review! But you’re minimising the voice assistant features.. having a connected home I will go “open garage door” when returning from my rides leaving phone and key in the backpack. Having the capability to easily answer phone calls from the watch even when I’m in my precious 59 minutes EMTB escape.. that’s a massive downside 😂
I just caved for a Fenix 8 47mm after using a Forerunner 955 pretty much since its release. There were just a few options on the Fenix series I wanted to try out and am loving it so far! Not gonna lie, the flashlight alone is a huge selling point for me
Thanks for this amazing review @Dcrainmaker! How does the MIP/Solar Fenix 8 display look under water? We noticed on land, the MIP/Solar Fenix 8 angle range of visibility is surely not as wide as the AMOLED (ie if you move left or right of the Solar watch face, you won't see the display any longer), but are curious how the Fenix 8 MIP/Solar display looks while swimming/diving?
Very nicely you have not mentioned that RUclips music app is not supported 😂. Hopefully it will be very soon as I just switched from Fenix 6 to Fenix 8
Yup, I agree, I think they really nailed the Enduro 3 here. They took away some material things that most Enduro 3 owners don't care about (fancy materials) that drive up price without delivering most people any real-world value.
Totally agree. Hours away from receiving my E3 in exchange for 7Xss, upgrade because of better HRM and EKG functionality as well as more battery. I’ll wait for a more mature voice control and better audio system until the F10 comes out.
Im late to the Garmin party. I have done a lot of research, and im still on the fence which garmin to buy (looked at all ranges)..in the end i went for fenix 8 solar 47. This is my firet ever garmin watch. I dont dive! But there you go. I'll keep this watch for years to come, esp for the price. I could have brought a nice entry luxury watch for the price !
I LOVED the Epix 2, but something about the back of the watch would cause a red itchy circle on my skin. It seemed to be something about the sensor plastic surface, based on the location of the skin irritation. I tried everything: using a rubber cover for the charging port, washing the back of the watch daily and after runs/workouts, swapping wrists every few days, but I finally had enough of dealing with the issue. I really miss the better fitness functionality, but no issues with skin sensitivity on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 I replaced it with. Would love to have the Fenix 8, but not sure I want to risk having to deal with this again. I realize this is something that was my own skin’s reaction to the material (others clearly don’t have this problem), but it was a disappointment given how much I liked the watch.
Garmin's a bit behind on solar unit production so units are hyper-limited, and in my case, mine got caught up in DHL international hell for a week or so. But finally untangled, you can see it here in this video. Ultimately, I don't know if I'd have a reason to do a standalone MIP variant. I'll probably aim to do some battery life checking, but otherwise it's identical. Further, since I did an Enduro review, that's the exact same new UI as found on the Fenix 8 Solar.
@@Dcrainmaker Hi Ray, I'm interested too specially about battery life / solar if there's any difference between F7 Sapphire Solar and F8 Solar; also if the new solar panel is more efficient than F7 SS panel. Thanks
Jupp, im interested too, particularly in a 1on1 comparison between the 7(X) Pro and the 8 Solar (51mm). I would really love to learn more about the display clarity, visibility in sunlight & indoors and of course your opinion on those two in comparison to each other.
@@Dcrainmakerdo you think Garmin is plotting to remove MIP entirely from the Fenix line in upcoming iterations? It seems like they didn’t want reviewers to have the solar variant so it pushes more buyers to AMOLED. I know a lot of people including myself will consider other brands if this becomes the case. Just asking for your opinion.
Thank you for this extensive beginners guide. The bezel of the fenix 8 amoled is titanium, right? It’s already scratched.. 😅 Not so robust after all I would say.
Thanks! It would be useful if at some point you could do a tutorial on managing with more than one Garmin watch. I don't wear them all the time and have different ones at different locations and I am finding it frustrating.
I'm curious, since you test many watches for extended periods and engage in various workouts, how do you track and organize all your workout data? Do you use a specific app or have another method for compiling everything? Great review! 👌😍
Thanks for uyour videos Ray! Do you know when all devices will get coach marathon training? Will the advanced work outs migrate to fenix 7 Will dynamic routing migrate as well.
Plan and set up your fenix 8 map for a few hour hike and show the map use during the hike and scenarios/options. Example, the trail is blocked and need to plan a new route. Emergency, You need to get back to your start point asap. You decide to take a different route but same end point. Thank you!
Phenomenal overview as always - but can you make up my mind - Amoled or Mips - I'm currently using a Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar, my 5th Fenix... I've always LOVED the battery life, but I'm not gonna lie my resistance to Amoled is fading 😔
Thank you for this review! Just setting up my new Fenix 8 now and did it right along with your video. Question - what is your favorite watch face? Also, I cannot seem to get the same color palette as your watch shows. How diid you do it?
Hi Ray, great review, thank you! I'm still undecided on the amoled screen. For the past 8 years I've always used garmin watches with MIP screens. Living in Greece, the Solar option makes sense as well, especially for sailing (btw, I'm waiting for Quatix 8 which I assume will come with both screen options). The amoled looks really good but the gesture thing to wake it up feels annoying. Also, from my experience with garmin watches, after a couple of years, the gesture option starts underperforming..
Great video, hard to keep up, which is why I’m so glad we have professional reviews like these! QQ: Is Garmin coming out with Forerunner 975? The 965 went on sale this past Labor Day, but based on your 965 review, I decided to wait for 975? I have the 945 currently. Would love your thoughts on this; thanks again
Great breakdown, Ray! Capacitive buttons but still no wireless charging or LTE :~( I'm going to try to skip this version and stick with the Epix V2. The next version should improve on the speaker/mic and hopefully add in aforementioned features.
I was checking on the other div8ng watches but then i thought, am i going to keep this in the drawer till my next dive? Now it make sense use it for everything
Great review! What's your take on that beazle? It seems that it takes up a lot of scratches in quite a short time?? I know you put your watches through a lot of tough adventures but this thing is not older than months and it looks like there's already quite some damage...
Thank you so much. Could you perhaps assist with a question? I have choosen WALK & RUN as my 2 favourite activities. I would like to switch between these 2 activities concurrently without having to STOP and SAVE each activity. Would these be possible and how? Thanks again.
Excellent coverage. When on a mountain ridge without phone signal, if you have an incident will this watch send a message and location information to your Partner?
One thing I was hoping to see more on was the dynamic round trip routing they added since it’s not on older models. Any idea if that will get back ported or how exactly that works? Thank you for your videos!!
Hello, thank you for the video. We can see a lot of scratches on the bezel. This really surprising for a brand new titanium watch. What is you feeling about durability ?
Again, awesome video Ray!!!! I have found with the Enduro 3…there is NO way to shut off the chimes when starting/stopping activities. I have emailed and chatted with Garmin to no avail. It drives me nuts!!!
If this watch had LTE, it would be the most insane, James Bond type watch out in the world. I can't wait until Garmin adds LTE to the Fenix. Hoping they do. I would buy it in an instant.
Something that would be cool is if that speaker guard was removable and when you buy a new band the same guard color would come with it and you could switch them. I feel some band colors won’t look good with the orange guard
Are built-in watch faces the same between Amoled, MIP and Enduro versions? Would love to see video just showing the different watch faces. Can you set the top right button to activate the phone assistant or this “gesture” is reserved only for the on-device/offline assistant?
Believe it or not, I follow you from Afghanistan, For many years, I have been following your channel, because I am a Fan of Garmin.
we believe you! Do you have a Garmin device already?
Ray’s on a roll. Complete and in depth coverage of Garmin’s new lineup!
Thanks! Now I shall sleep.
By the way. And may be Yiu have such info.
Is Enduro 3 suitable for repair like a F5/F6/F7 or they like FR series ? Thx!
This was hugely helpful. I bought the watch yesterday and I am a newbie to Garmin. Saved me hours 👍
Just finished a support call with Garmin. I purchased the new Fenix 8 AMOLED for me and my wife. We noticed something about the display last night. Even if you have it set to full brightness, if you walk into a dark room the display dims substantially. Thought it might be a software bug but was told by Garmin engineering that the AMOLED display has a built-in sensor that automatically controls the brightness (kind of like auto-brightness on other displays). The problem is that it can't be turned off nor fixed with a software update. This would create a big problem for anyone using the watch outside at night or in dark environments. This is an absolute deal-breaker for me as I want to be able to control my display brightness in every situation, and I should for $1200.00. Hope this helps others that are trying to decide whether to purchase a Fenix 8 AMOLED version. Thanks for the great videos!
This was also in the Epix watches. Ist doesn’t affect readability outside at night because it only dims if it is dark enough.
If it gets brighter, it will ramp up the backlight accordingly.
Because the definitely don’t have a built in led flash light for low vis times and areas or anything 💀
I have the Epix Pro 51mm and the brightness stays the same whether in the dark or light. The support person I spoke to said new on Fenix 8 AMOLED. Regardless, it is a deal breaker for me. Just wanted to make sure others know before they spend that much $$$$.
@@mjktechgeek genuinely curious why this is an issue? Dim AMOLED in a dark room is still more than readable. I would have the opposite problem, it would be super irritating if the screen stayed super bright in a dark room or at night. (I also have an epix pro and the screen adjusts brightness automatically fwiw)
Not an issue in the slightest.
These DC Rainmaker high level and detailed reviews, written and video, constitute a real public service. I veered from the Fenix/Tactix path last year and purchased the Epix Pro 51mm, which has been wonderful. While the stunning display is addictive, and the Epix consistently gets 11 days of always-on runtime, with GPS activities, I’m really intrigued by the redesigned Enduro. It is exactly what I hoped Garmin would introduce: a lean Fenix Solar with incredible battery life. The price is the same as the previous model, when you account for the inclusion of one band instead of two, and, I think, represents a true bargain, relatively speaking. I ordered mine from Garmin and, despite the 4-7 day estimated wait, Garmin actually shipped it within a few hours. Good times 😊
Please do a video on this new "Strength training" plans especially from like runner perspective etc.
You’re the GOAT Ray, right on time for my Fenix 8 (switching from Apple Watch) thanks
Just got an Enduro3 and this guide is gold for someone coming from an Apple Watch - thx so much!!
Your reviews are the best, the scuba diving option was a great move by Garmin since the price of the Garmin Descent is much more expensive
I turned on gesture mode backlight on Fenix 7 pro and I'm super happy now. Has barely affected battery life and I can see in all conditions with no problem. I really have no desire for a Fenix 8 now.
The biggest draw for me is the modern look with the nice, thin bezel, other than that it has the same HR sensor and GPS chipset.
Thanks for covering and comparing all of the new watches, features, and details, and comparing them to previous versions. Awesome stuff man!
This vid is Superbly informative. Bought the Fenix 8 Amoled 51 on the day it was launched. This is an excellent tool for my Himalayan climbing training prep.
So good thankyou I've been waiting for this upload. As just purchased my first smart watch and was a little lost . Going to watch this a few times I think.
Appreciate your work
Looks like there are numerous scratches on the bezel when seeing the top down shots. Assuming it easily marks?
Yes it does
The speaker and mic have been extremely useful for me. The voice command feature is fantastic to navigate the watch while running (it can literally navigate to whatever you need on the watch), and the phone assistant has been very useful.
I upgraded from F7 standard and it's been a fantastic upgrade for me. A few bugs being ironed out which was disappointing however its getting better and better the more I figure out what else it can do. I'm getting used to the AMOLED however the screen on the 47mm model is fantastic and has been great on the trails.
Hello from Japan. I wanted to see a size comparison for smartwatches, so this was helpful.
I always appreciate your thorough and unbiased feedback.
I have an Epix and still learnt a few new things from this video. Thanks a lot Ray.
As a person with a small wrist, I hate this move. I don‘t need diving or a bad voice assistant for 1100€. I want a Long battery life and passive always on dispay …. I wish the enduro came in smaller sizes. I hope my 7S lasts for a couple more years until there are better and more reasonably prices options on the market,
That Fenix 8 solar looks incredible
I got the Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm two weeks ago and it is fantastic. I upgraded from a Fenix 6x Pro (51mm). I still cannot get texts to display on the Fenix 8. If the 6 can do it I am sure it is hidden better. I do get a vibration. I am not as active as Ray but am working to get better, i just got a new hip so new activities will take a little longer. I changed the plastic band to a metal band and it works great. There is no need to make the watch tight like i used to do before i upgraded the 6x with the metal band. Watching Rays stuff i remembered that he liked the Epic 2 (AMOLED) better than the Fenix 7. I thought about it for a week or two then just purchased the AMOLED instead of the solar. Either watch would be a good choice. Battery life on the AMOLED is good, GPS activities do consume a lot of battery.
I was on my Epix and I saw "Gaming" activity. I thought it would probably be a timer but it's got a whole thing, matches, even stress level 😂
Hi Ray. I have a Vivoactive 3, for 3 years now which is pretty basic but I love it! I am a runner/hiker/biker/rower. I am considering buying the Fenix 8. By the way, when you explained the notifications/text, I saw the language Dutch. I am from the Netherlands but moved to BC, Canada in 2015.
Hello! Indeed, we've been living in the Netherlands the last 5-6 years!
I am still using an instinct 2 solar. Fexnix would be too much for activities I do but I love these a lot
I was a big fan of MIP screens, like my previous three Garmin Fenix watches. Yesterday I bought the new Fenix 8 Amoled, since I was impatient and I could not wait a month for the solar edition. I was not sure about this purchase, but really I don't regret it, the screen is great in most scenarios, except under the direct sun. The graphics and animations makes the watch looks 10 years newer than my previous Fenix 7 Pro.
yeah that's whats killing me too. Waiting on the 51mm Fenix 8 solar to ship out. bought it when it got released but the wait is killing me. Glad you're liking the AMOLED fenix. Display does look super crisp compared to MIP. debated heavily myself but MIP has always been my go to since i don't like charging too much and i always want to see the watch's time. With the always on display this seems to significantly decrease the battery life.
@@kk4649k I have this watch 3 days, and I lost only 15% (5% per day) with always ON display but gesture OFF, as the brightness is adjustable according to light conditions. During these 3 days, I did 2 runs , 1 hour each with multiband gps and all satellites active.
I made the settings for screen like this, so the watch to be closer to my previous Fenix 7x pro solar in terms of screen. The battery until now is better than I expected. Maybe this happens because I don't wear the watch during the sleep or inside the home, so the screen is closed completely. The MIP is always ON, even if you don't wear the watch, so it still consume a small energy. With my usage I believe that I will get the same autonomy as my previous watch.
P.S. - It's the 51mm version.
Friends, I am thinking of buying a new 8. But I am very undecided because of the screen and charging differences. AMOLED? MIP ?
@@ugursayan238 Because I had both screen technologies, personally I prefer Amoled, as I do outdoor activities during the afternoon/evening, or early morning. Battery autonomy is similar in my case. Screen on Amoled is much better in most conditions. Only under the direct sun (mid-day) the MIP is better. Nowhere else.
@@ugursayan238 I'm in the same boat.
MIP user here.
The 47mm amoled lasts 37 hrs in GPS Mode. Okay, cool.
But what if you use the map in parallel?
What is your experience with the dark mode navigation. A map facing north should increase the battery live too.
If I could hike with this watch >20 hrs without charging - I’m in…
It lasts 47hrs in GPS mode🙂 so I would say that’s possible. You could also disable Wlan and bluetooth to get even longer batterylife
I wish they would disclose this. GPS and map battery life. They go with GPS and music, obviously appeals to more people.
Broadcast HR has also been key for me on the bike rides where I don't want to wear a chest strap but still want to have my Edge computer for navigation.
Video came just in time before my Fenix 8 arrives today
Boom, enjoy!
@@Dcrainmaker eerste Garmin horloge, ben benieuwd!
Me too, mines on charge ready to fire up for the first time 😀
Insanely detailed, much appreciated
Fantastic review and the finale was just excellent
Hi DC, I’m looking for advice on a new Garmin watch to replace my Forerunner 245. While the 245 still works fine, the battery life has started to decline and can no longer last a full day of hiking.
I’m serious about cycling but use a dedicated Wahoo device for that. For my Garmin watch, I use it to log various activities (hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, etc.), but I’m not serious about training in any of them. I don’t need training or navigation features-just reliable activity logging. I am looking for:
- Multiband GPS for the most accurate tracking with battery that can last all day while recording activities.
- Lightweight and small-something that stays out of the way. I chose the Forerunner 245 previously for its size, even though I’m not a runner.
- I’m not too concerned about price or value, as I understand that small size and long battery life are not easily coexist.
I’d really appreciate your advice-thanks so much for your help!
I think the best buy is now the Epix2 Pro. You get 51mm, Amoled, Enduro battery, titanium, and sapphire crystal.
Nope - this is miles better. I have both.
@@KylePieriwhich one is better do u mean
Sorry @@Fido9x the fenix 8 is 100% better.
Here from my first forerunner 210, love reading and watching your very detailed guides and review! But you’re minimising the voice assistant features.. having a connected home I will go “open garage door” when returning from my rides leaving phone and key in the backpack. Having the capability to easily answer phone calls from the watch even when I’m in my precious 59 minutes EMTB escape.. that’s a massive downside 😂
I just caved for a Fenix 8 47mm after using a Forerunner 955 pretty much since its release. There were just a few options on the Fenix series I wanted to try out and am loving it so far! Not gonna lie, the flashlight alone is a huge selling point for me
The flashlight is the sole reason I sold my FR965 to get this.
Thank you Ray. I also learned some things about my Fenix 7! Ordered my Fenix 8 last week!
Thanks Ray for all the hard work!
Thanks!!!
Best video on RUclips 👍🏻
Thanks for this amazing review @Dcrainmaker! How does the MIP/Solar Fenix 8 display look under water? We noticed on land, the MIP/Solar Fenix 8 angle range of visibility is surely not as wide as the AMOLED (ie if you move left or right of the Solar watch face, you won't see the display any longer), but are curious how the Fenix 8 MIP/Solar display looks while swimming/diving?
+1
+2
Dude, great video. With all the info in it I still can't decide on a Fenix 7, 8 or Ultra 2 🤦
I actually got all the way to the Reese’s headphones. Great indoor ride content. Also, I’m heavily leaning Enduro 3.
Haha...glad you got that far! Thanks!
@@Dcrainmakercould you possibly shed some light (haha) on the drawbacks of MIP?
Looks like youve gotten that titanium case scratched already. I like the orange but makes me think going to the black model would show scratches less.
Could you please confirm if the product is suitable for use in saunas and hot tubs? I would like to know the temperature tolerances for the product.
Very nicely you have not mentioned that RUclips music app is not supported 😂.
Hopefully it will be very soon as I just switched from Fenix 6 to Fenix 8
Is it just me, or is the Enduro 3 a masssive win from Garmin? 🙈 Nice video Ray! 🔥🍿
Yup, I agree, I think they really nailed the Enduro 3 here. They took away some material things that most Enduro 3 owners don't care about (fancy materials) that drive up price without delivering most people any real-world value.
@@Dcrainmaker fair play to them. 👏🏽 It really looks like they made all the right calls with this one!
@@Dcrainmaker100% this.
Might be the secret best seller of Fenix v enduro. Purely on value alone
@@joshmorgan3750 Wouldn't surprise me, it's an obvious choice for anyone who loves value, MIP and battery life 🙈
Totally agree. Hours away from receiving my E3 in exchange for 7Xss, upgrade because of better HRM and EKG functionality as well as more battery. I’ll wait for a more mature voice control and better audio system until the F10 comes out.
Im late to the Garmin party. I have done a lot of research, and im still on the fence which garmin to buy (looked at all ranges)..in the end i went for fenix 8 solar 47. This is my firet ever garmin watch. I dont dive! But there you go. I'll keep this watch for years to come, esp for the price. I could have brought a nice entry luxury watch for the price !
I LOVED the Epix 2, but something about the back of the watch would cause a red itchy circle on my skin. It seemed to be something about the sensor plastic surface, based on the location of the skin irritation. I tried everything: using a rubber cover for the charging port, washing the back of the watch daily and after runs/workouts, swapping wrists every few days, but I finally had enough of dealing with the issue. I really miss the better fitness functionality, but no issues with skin sensitivity on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 I replaced it with. Would love to have the Fenix 8, but not sure I want to risk having to deal with this again. I realize this is something that was my own skin’s reaction to the material (others clearly don’t have this problem), but it was a disappointment given how much I liked the watch.
great video! can you please do garmin mk3i?
ang do a comparison between mk3i and Fenix 8?
Where is the Solar review? Why are none of the early reviewers putting out content about the MIP solar versions?
Garmin's a bit behind on solar unit production so units are hyper-limited, and in my case, mine got caught up in DHL international hell for a week or so. But finally untangled, you can see it here in this video. Ultimately, I don't know if I'd have a reason to do a standalone MIP variant. I'll probably aim to do some battery life checking, but otherwise it's identical. Further, since I did an Enduro review, that's the exact same new UI as found on the Fenix 8 Solar.
@@Dcrainmaker Hi Ray, I'm interested too specially about battery life / solar if there's any difference between F7 Sapphire Solar and F8 Solar; also if the new solar panel is more efficient than F7 SS panel. Thanks
@@linxrolinux
Me too I have the same questions.. mainly for the screen difference between F7 & F8 solar
Jupp, im interested too, particularly in a 1on1 comparison between the 7(X) Pro and the 8 Solar (51mm). I would really love to learn more about the display clarity, visibility in sunlight & indoors and of course your opinion on those two in comparison to each other.
@@Dcrainmakerdo you think Garmin is plotting to remove MIP entirely from the Fenix line in upcoming iterations? It seems like they didn’t want reviewers to have the solar variant so it pushes more buyers to AMOLED. I know a lot of people including myself will consider other brands if this becomes the case. Just asking for your opinion.
Thank you for this extensive beginners guide. The bezel of the fenix 8 amoled is titanium, right? It’s already scratched.. 😅 Not so robust after all I would say.
Would love to see walk through guides like this for bike computers as well!!!!!(Karoo, Edge etc)
Thanks! It would be useful if at some point you could do a tutorial on managing with more than one Garmin watch. I don't wear them all the time and have different ones at different locations and I am finding it frustrating.
I'm curious, since you test many watches for extended periods and engage in various workouts, how do you track and organize all your workout data? Do you use a specific app or have another method for compiling everything?
Great review! 👌😍
Is epix pro will get the new os? Or is it specifically design for Fenix 8 ?
A comparison between the Fenix 8 amoled 51mm sapphire vs the Epix gen 2 51mm sapphire would be nice. Keep up the great work
Thanks for putting this togheter!
Thanks for uyour videos Ray!
Do you know when all devices will get coach marathon training?
Will the advanced work outs migrate to fenix 7
Will dynamic routing migrate as well.
Plan and set up your fenix 8 map for a few hour hike and show the map use during the hike and scenarios/options. Example, the trail is blocked and need to plan a new route. Emergency, You need to get back to your start point asap. You decide to take a different route but same end point. Thank you!
Phenomenal overview as always - but can you make up my mind - Amoled or Mips - I'm currently using a Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar, my 5th Fenix... I've always LOVED the battery life, but I'm not gonna lie my resistance to Amoled is fading 😔
will go looking for a DCRain beginners guide to Garmin as not owned one before.
Super Video 👍
Am Mittwoch soll meine Fenix 8 kommen 😉
Thank you for the video. I’m going to buy a Fenix 7
Will you be reviewing the Resees Headphone? I sure hope so. Youi're the best Ray.
Q1: How much effort did it take to scratch your bezel?
Q2: Is a titanium bezel provided?
Thank you for your great work!
Thanks for the video. How is the Fenix 8 MIP display compared to the Fenix 7 MIP? Thanx
Thank you for this review! Just setting up my new Fenix 8 now and did it right along with your video.
Question - what is your favorite watch face? Also, I cannot seem to get the same color palette as your watch shows. How diid you do it?
Hi Ray, great review, thank you! I'm still undecided on the amoled screen. For the past 8 years I've always used garmin watches with MIP screens. Living in Greece, the Solar option makes sense as well, especially for sailing (btw, I'm waiting for Quatix 8 which I assume will come with both screen options). The amoled looks really good but the gesture thing to wake it up feels annoying. Also, from my experience with garmin watches, after a couple of years, the gesture option starts underperforming..
I already have the Tactix Pro, Tactix AMOLED, and Epix Gen2, but this video makes me very interested in the Fenix 8. Haha. 😅
Do it buy it 😈😂
Great video, hard to keep up, which is why I’m so glad we have professional reviews like these! QQ: Is Garmin coming out with Forerunner 975? The 965 went on sale this past Labor Day, but based on your 965 review, I decided to wait for 975? I have the 945 currently. Would love your thoughts on this; thanks again
Great breakdown, Ray!
Capacitive buttons but still no wireless charging or LTE :~(
I'm going to try to skip this version and stick with the Epix V2. The next version should improve on the speaker/mic and hopefully add in aforementioned features.
This is solid.
Thanks!!
Still daily wearing my enduro 2. Im going to wait for fenix 9. Hopefully they also make a bigger 53mm model like their descent mk2i 💅
I was checking on the other div8ng watches but then i thought, am i going to keep this in the drawer till my next dive? Now it make sense use it for everything
Such a good review. Keep up the amazing work.
Dc is the best ,👻
Very nice deep dive, Ray! How snappy do the 8 feel when using them compared to the 7 or Epix? Did Garmin use a faster processor by any chance?
U r the best man i always see ur videos keep it up
Wonderful review! The ending was really surprising and funny!
Thanks!!!
Thank you for the comprehensive review
Great review! What's your take on that beazle? It seems that it takes up a lot of scratches in quite a short time?? I know you put your watches through a lot of tough adventures but this thing is not older than months and it looks like there's already quite some damage...
Hello great review!
Do you know if it s possible to answer a call while in an activity without stopping the activity?
Thank you so much. Could you perhaps assist with a question? I have choosen WALK & RUN as my 2 favourite activities. I would like to switch between these 2 activities concurrently without having to STOP and SAVE each activity. Would these be possible and how? Thanks again.
Fyi the ECG capability is available in Singapore as well, it's not just the US
Excellent coverage. When on a mountain ridge without phone signal, if you have an incident will this watch send a message and location information to your Partner?
Perfect… downloaded to watch on my flight home, thanks Ray
Enjoy, and have a good flight!
One thing I was hoping to see more on was the dynamic round trip routing they added since it’s not on older models. Any idea if that will get back ported or how exactly that works? Thank you for your videos!!
I love how they removed the reflective solar panel. So good.
Thank you for this video! Which size do you prefer?
Of course after I get the Samsung Ultra 7. Garmin releases what I really wanted.
Hello, thank you for the video. We can see a lot of scratches on the bezel. This really surprising for a brand new titanium watch. What is you feeling about durability ?
I think I prefer the font and general display in the last gen. Looks more purposeful in a way
Can you share more about the Next Fork function when on an MTB Trail? How do you set that up?
Superb review!
Thank you, waiting for the Tactix 8 😊
I feel like decoding how and when Garmin releases the Tactix updates/cycles is an art that nobody has mastered.
Again, awesome video Ray!!!!
I have found with the Enduro 3…there is NO way to shut off the chimes when starting/stopping activities.
I have emailed and chatted with Garmin to no avail.
It drives me nuts!!!
Hello, do you know if the water temperature measurement function is good? Is this measurement independent of body temperature?
If this watch had LTE, it would be the most insane, James Bond type watch out in the world. I can't wait until Garmin adds LTE to the Fenix. Hoping they do. I would buy it in an instant.
Something that would be cool is if that speaker guard was removable and when you buy a new band the same guard color would come with it and you could switch them. I feel some band colors won’t look good with the orange guard
🙈
I agree they should let us buy different sensor guard colors
@@heiselblock come with new watch bands too
Finally there's Inline Skating!!! 🤯
Is there a HYROX activity installed, or do we have to that manually? Grtz from the Netherlands!
Thank you. Now it's enduro turn.
After four minutes of video, I've realized my mistakes...
Are built-in watch faces the same between Amoled, MIP and Enduro versions? Would love to see video just showing the different watch faces.
Can you set the top right button to activate the phone assistant or this “gesture” is reserved only for the on-device/offline assistant?