Garmin fenix 6, Pro, Sapphire & Pro Solar | Comparison & Review

Garmin fēnix 6 Watch Models — Quick Review

First and foremost, each fēnix 6 model in this Garmin smartwatch lineup is loaded with sport-specific smarts. Second, the fēnix 6 family tree is pretty extensive, consisting of 4 different SKUs (models) that come in 3 different sizes, which comes out to 11 separate watches (fēnix 6X does not offer a standard model).

In this article, we're focusing on the benefits of the models—what each one has to offer you from the wrist. If you want a more thorough understanding of the fēnix 6 series as a whole, jump your dauntless self over to this article.

fēnix 6 SKUs include the fēnix 6 (standard), Pro, Sapphire, and Pro Solar. And in a nutshell, the differences are as follows:

fēnix 6 (standard)
Loaded with extensive, to say the least, design, tracking, training, and health-monitoring features.

fēnix 6 Pro
The Pro version adds music compatibility, maps, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

fēnix 6 Sapphire
Everything you get with the Pro with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens on top.

fēnix 6 fēnix Pro Solar
Adds solar-charging technology to your fēnix 6 battery life.

The sport-specific savvy of the fēnix 6 pairs perfectly with your dogged determination. Off the charts in terms of design, tracking, training, health monitoring, and more, the fēnix 6 has the advanced features you want on-wrist—for everything from trial running to stand up paddleboarding. Check out this premium package of goodies that comes standard in this model:

• Get stats at-a-glance with an always-on 1.3” display that’s 18% larger than previous fēnix models.
• Turn heads with the gorgeous classic look of a black band with accented by a silver stainless steel bezel. (The smaller size fēnix 6S also comes in white.)
• Your fēnix 6 is tough, tested to U.S. military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance.
• Get a whole lot of health monitoring, including wrist-based heart rate, Pulse Ox, Body Battery™ energy monitor, and sleep score and insights.
• Track in the most challenging environments with access to more than one satellite imagery system (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo).
• Navigate smarter with ABC sensors: altimeter for elevation data, barometer to monitor weather, and three-axis electronic compass.
• Get the convenience of smart notifications, Garmin Pay™, and control the music on your phone.
• Extensive fēnix 6 battery life with up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 48 days in Battery Saver Watch Mode, up to 36 hours in GPS mode, up to 72 hours in Max Battery GPS Mode, and up to 28 days in Expedition GPS Activity.
• Always know your activity stats with step counter, calories burned, floors climbed, distance traveled, and intensity minutes.
• Go without worry with LiveTrack, a safety and connectivity feature that creates a real-time view of your location during an activity, so friends and family can follow along, live event sharing, Incident Detection (during select activities), and Assistance, which discreetly sends a message with your real-time location to your preloaded chosen contacts, making it easier for help to find you.
• Get on-watch activity-specific profiles for the gym, running, cycling, swimming, golf, and outdoor recreation.
• Level-up with training features, such as GPS speed and distance, interval training, advanced workouts and downloadable training plans, heat and altitude acclimation, VO2 Max (run), Training Status (lets you see if you’re training effectively by tracking your training history and fitness level trend.), Training Load (your total training load for the last 7 days calculated from estimated EPOC), Training Effect (instantly measures the impact of training on aerobic and anaerobic fitness), finish time, a virtual partner, course guidance, Garmin and Strava live segments, and activity history on watch.
• Size options: 1.2" display on fēnix 6S and 1.3" fēnix 6; see the 6 series comparison chart in this article comparing fēnix 6 sizes.

The ruggedly sophisticated fēnix 6 Pro offers everything the standard fēnix 6 provides, plus upgrades in mapping, connectivity, training features, activity profiles, and on-watch music storage. Here's what you get with the Pro:

• Get more robust navigation with added topo maps, road and trail maps, and preloaded ski resort maps.
• Add Wi-Fi connectivity to the fēnix 6's Bluetooth® Smart, ANT+® connectivity, to stay even more connected.
• Experience cool on-screen workout animations.
• Get the ultra helpful round-trip course creator for running and cycling.
• Take advantage of Trendline™ popularity routing to find and follow the best path for your activity.
• Use PacePro™ pacing strategies and keep on pace with grade-adjusted guidance as you run a course.
• Get premium golfing features and feel like you're wearing an advanced golf GPS watch.
• Enjoy music compatibility that allows you to store up to 2,000 songs on your smartwatch and leave your phone at home.
• Size options: 1.2" display on fēnix 6S, 1.3" on the fēnix 6, and 1.4" on the fēnix 6X; see the 6 series comparison chart in this article comparing fēnix 6 sizes.
• Available out-of-the-box fēnix 6 Pro color palettes:
  • fēnix 6 Pro : Black
  • fēnix 6S Pro: Black, Rose Gold Bezel/White Band
  • fēnix 6X Pro: Black

The rugged and stylish fēnix 6 Sapphire offers everything the standard fēnix 6 provides, plus upgrades in mapping, connectivity, training features, activity profiles, and on-watch music storage. And beyond the fēnix 6 Pro, it sports a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens for maximum durability and more color options to choose from. Here's what you get with the Sapphire:

• Each fēnix 6 Sapphire edition adds a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on your watch face.
• Get more robust navigation with added topo maps, road and trail maps, preloaded ski resort maps.
• Add Wi-Fi connectivity to the fēnix 6's Bluetooth® Smart, ANT+® connectivity, to stay even more connected.
• Experience cool on-screen workout animations.
• Get the ultra helpful round-trip course creator for running and cycling.
• Take advantage of Trendline™ popularity routing to find and follow the best path for your activity.
• Use PacePro™ pacing strategies and keep on pace with grade-adjusted guidance as you run a course.
• Get premium golfing features and feel like you're wearing an advanced golf GPS watch.
• Enjoy music compatibility that allows you to store up to 2,000 songs on your smartwatch and leave your phone at home.
• Size options: 1.2" display on fēnix 6S, 1.3" on the fēnix 6, and 1.4" on the fēnix 6X; see the 6 series comparison chart in this article comparing fēnix 6 sizes.
• Available out-of-the-box fēnix 6 Sapphire color palettes:
  • fēnix 6 Sapphire : Carbon Gray Bezel/Black Band, Titanium Gray/Orange, Black DLC/Red Nylon, Titanium
  • fēnix 6S Sapphire: Rose Gold Bezel/Powder Gray Band, Carbon Gray/Black, Rose Gold/Black Nylon, Light Gold/Shale Gray Leather
  • fēnix 6X Sapphire: Carbon Gray

The fēnix 6 Pro Solar offers everything the standard fēnix 6 provides, plus upgrades in mapping, connectivity, training features, activity profiles, and on-watch music storage. Additionally, beyond the Pro and Sapphire models, the Pro Solar gives you a solar-charing battery. Here's what you get with the Pro Solar:

• Solar-charging battery gives you more power the more time you spend in the sun. The fēnix 6 Pro Solar battery life looks like this:
  • Smartwatch: Up to 14 days/16 days with solar
  • Battery Saver Watch Mode:
    Up to 48 days/80 days with solar
  • GPS: Up to 36 hours/40 hours with solar
  • GPS + Music: Up to 10 hours
  • Max Battery GPS Mode:
    Up to 72 hours/93 hours with solar
  • Expedition GPS Activity:
    Up to 28 days/36 days with solar
• Get more robust navigation with added topo maps, road and trail maps, preloaded ski resort maps.
• Add Wi-Fi connectivity to the fēnix 6's Bluetooth® Smart, ANT+® connectivity, to stay even more connected.
• Experience cool on-screen workout animations.
• Get the ultra helpful round-trip course creator for running and cycling.
• Take advantage of Trendline™ popularity routing to find and follow the best path for your activity.
• Use PacePro™ pacing strategies and keep on pace with grade-adjusted guidance as you run a course.
• Get premium golfing features and feel like you're wearing an advanced golf GPS watch.
• Enjoy music compatibility that allows you to store up to 2,000 songs on your smartwatch and leave your phone at home.
• Size options: 1.2" display on fēnix 6S, 1.3" on the fēnix 6, and 1.4" on the fēnix 6X; see the 6 series comparison chart in this article comparing fēnix 6 sizes.
• Available out-of-the-box fēnix 6 Pro Soar color palettes:
  • fēnix 6 Pro Solar : Black Bezel/Slate Band, Slate/Black, Mineral Blue/Whitestone, Titanium Carbon Gray DLC
  • fēnix 6S Pro Solar: Light Gold Bezel/Light Sand Band, Amethyst Steele/Shale Gray
  • fēnix 6X Pro Solar:  Black, Titanium