Garmin Enduro 2 vs fenix 7X | Best Running
Watch Comparison

Like all Garmin's flagship multisport GPS smartwatches released in 2022, the Enduro 2 has some pretty hefty upgrades—including in the price category. Let's run down the list of sames and changes.

How Enduro 2 is the same as the orginal Enduro watch

• Both Garmin watches have a 1.4" display, 51 mm case, and weigh roughly the same: 70 g.
• Both have ultra-light nylon watch bands.
• Activity features and health-monitoring like wrist-based heart rate, Pulse Ox, advanced sleep monitoring, Body Battery, and more still remain.
  
• Solar-charging and power manager are still standard on each.
• These Garmin sport watches still share many training and performance features, such as trail run VO2 max, ultrarun activity, ClimbPro, MTB Dynamics, heat and altitude acclimation, performance metrics, recovery advisor, and daily suggested workouts.
• ABC navigation sensors: barometric altimeter, compass, accelerometer
• Multi-GNSS (multiple global navigation satellite systems)

What's new on the Garmin Enduro 2 ultraperformance GPS Watch?

• The Enduro 2 features a touchscreen along with traditional button operation.
• The new model has a Power Sapphire™ lens compared to the old Enduro's Power Glass™ lens.
• This model has a superbright LED flashlight with various intensities, plus a safety mode for running at night.
• Multi-frequency positioning for the most accurate tracking
• AutoSelect mode uses SatIQ™ technology to dynamically determine the GPS mode necessary to maximize battery life without compromising positional accuracy.
• The new Enduro 2 offers on-watch music storage—up to 2,000 songs + controls phone music.
• Real-time Stamina
• Preloaded full-color topoactive and ski maps
• The NextFork™ map guide shows the distance to the next trail intersection.
• Grade-adjusted pace helps you understand how to adjust your pace over varying terrain.
• An automatic rest timer logs your breaks.
• An Adventure Racing World Series-approved adventure racing app
• Up to 150 hours in GPS mode (Assumes continuous use for entire period in 50,000 lux conditions) compared to the original Enduro's 80 hours in GPS. (See Battery Comparison Chart below.)
• The Enduro 2 price is $1,099.99 compared to $799.99.

Let's start with the common ground among the Garmin Enduro 2, fēnix 7X Sapphire Solar, Forerunner 955 Solar, and epix (Gen 2) Sapphire.

All of these Garmin GPS watches offer:

• Touchscreen interface along with traditional 5-button operation
• Garmin's best GPS with multi-frequency positioning
• Garmin's latest Elevate™ wrist heart rate monitor
• Preloaded full-color topo maps
• ABC navigation sensors (accelerometer, barometric altimeter, compass) along with thermometer and gyroscope.
• Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor
• Advanced performance and training features (Training Status, Training Load, real-time stamina, etc.)
• VO2 Max run and trail run
• Daily workout suggestions
• Tons of built-in sports apps
• Running dynamics (with compatible accessory), PacePro, and Race Predictor
• Smart notifications, music storage, and Garmin Pay™
• Advanced golfing features
• Safety and tracking features

Garmin's calling the new Enduro 2 an ultraperformance multisport GPS watch. If you're wondering what "ultraperformance" adds up to feature-wise, well, here you go:

• 1.4” Power Sapphire™ lens for solar-charging
• AutoSelect mode uses SatIQ™ technology dynamically determines the GPS mode necessary to maximize battery life without compromising positional accuracy
• The rugged, lightweight design with light UltraFit nylon band
• Preloaded TopoActive and ski maps
• A superbright LED flashlight (twice as bright as the fēnix® 7X multisport GPS watch) offers variable intensities
• The NextFork™ map guide
• Grade-adjusted pace
• An automatic rest timer logs your breaks
• A variety of built-in sports apps
• An Adventure Racing World Series-approved adventure racing app
• Advanced performance metrics—plus endurance and stamina
• Traditional button controls that work in any environment are matched with a highly responsive touchscreen interface
• Battery performance with solar charging: up to 46 days in smartwatch mode (Assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions) and up to 150 hours in GPS mode (Assumes continuous use for entire period in 50,000 lux conditions)(See Battery Comparison Chart below)
• Adds music to your wrist—up to 2,000 songs stored on watch for phone-free listening
• All of Garmin's full suite of health-monitoring features

Both of these Garmin multisport watches for extreme outdoor go-getters now throw touchscreen operation in the mix on a larger 1.4" display, offer solar-charging technology with loads of options for battery life management, topoactive maps, superior GPS with multi-band frequency, and the best training and performance features for running and cycling, along with loads of sports apps.

The main differences between the Garmin Enduro 2 and the fēnix 7X Sapphire Solar are:

• With its nylon watch band, the Enduro 2 is lighter (70 g) than the more ruggedly built fēnix 7X Sapphire Solar (89 g)
• The Enduro 2 has an LED flashlight that is twice as bright as the fēnix 7X
• Garmin Enduro 2 offers a bit more battery life with 150 hours in GPS compared to 122 hours in the fēnix 7X (See Battery Comparison Chart below)
• AutoSelect mode with SatIQ™ technology comes with the Enduro 2
• The Garmin Enduro 2 has additional Ultra Run features including rest timer and Adventure Racing World Series-approved adventure racing app
• The NextFork™ map guide with the Enduro 2
• The Garmin fēnix 7X Sapphire Solar is $100 less than the Enduro 2

These two very running-specific watches offer solar-charging, power management, preloaded topo maps, superior GPS with multi-band frequency, and tons of built-in sports apps. And you can access it all with a touchscreen or 5-button operation.

However, these two Garmin smartwatches for runners differ in a few key ways, including some of the training and race tools they offer, including:

• The Forerunner 955 Solar comes out of box with morning report, race widget, HRV status, and training readiness
• The Garmin Enduro 2 has additional Ultra Run features including rest timer and Adventure Racing World Series-approved adventure racing app
• AutoSelect mode with SatIQ™ technology comes with the Enduro 2
• Get a 1.4" display/51 mm case on the Enduro 2 compared to the FR955's 1.3" display/46 mm case
• The Forerunner 955 is much lighter (53 g) than the more ruggedly built Enduro 2 (70 g)
• But the weight of the Enduro 2 offers up more superior battery life; it gets up to 46 days in smartwatch mode and up to 150 hours in GPS mode. Compare that to the Forerunner 955's up to 20 days in smartwatch mode and up to 49 hours in GPS mode. (See Battery Comparison Chart below)
• The Enduro 2 has a superbright LED flashlight, purpose-built for running
• The FR 955 has spectator messaging when paired with your phone

There's a lot different between these two top-shelf Garmin smartwatches. While they both have touchscreens + 5-button operations, are loaded with training tools and sports apps, kill it in the GPS category with multi-frequency positioning, and cost $1,000+ ... you're going to get two very different experiences with the Garmin epix 2 and the Enduro 2.

Here are the features that put each of these watches in a league of their own:

• The epix (Gen 2) has a vibrant AMOLED screen that none of these other Garmin watches offer
• Along with the other Garmin watches in this article, the Enduro 2 has solar-charging. The epix 2 does not. In fact, it has the least battery life of all of these watches. That being said, it's still really good, but just not comparably so at this price point.
• The Garmin Enduro 2 gets up to 46 days in smartwatch mode and up to 150 hours in GPS mode compared to epix 2's up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and up to 42 hours in GPS mode. (See Battery Comparison Chart below)
• While the Enduro 2 has a larger 1.4" display than the 1.3" epix 2, thes GPS wearables weigh the same
• The Garmin Enduro 2 has additional Ultra Run features including rest timer and Adventure Racing World Series-approved adventure racing app
• AutoSelect mode with SatIQ™ technology comes with the Enduro 2