Garmin Launches fenix 8 Series — Their Most Advanced Multisport Watch Yet (Featuring New fenix E)
Have you ever wished that Garmin would put all their best features into one multisport watch? Wish granted with the fenix 8 series! AMOLED display? Check. Speaker & Mic? Check. More affordable option? Meet the fenix E. It's all below!
On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Garmin released the fenix 8 series—and they’ve finally put an AMOLED display on their flagship multisport watch!
But that’s not all.
The watch Gods are smiling down on us this year. They heard the prayers—when is Garmin going to put all the amazing premium features they’ve released on various GPS smartwatches in the last few years into one formidable multisport masterpiece?
The time has come.
And we’ve got our hands on one. Check out the new features on the new fenix 8 premium multisport watches.
The Garmin fenix 8 Series: Your Watch Wish List Realized
All That Glitters Is Gold: New Features on fenix 8!
- Finally, a Garmin fenix series with an AMOLED display! (Or choose a Solar option in the 47 mm and 51 mm that does not have AMOLED display.)
- Integrated speaker and microphone (previously only on the Garmin Venu 2 Plus & Venu 3)
- An LED flashlight is now standard on all fenix 8 sizes
- Garmin’s already industry-leading maps and navigation have been improved
- New user interface and improved watch face editor (it’s gorgeous on the AMOLED display)
- New leak-proof buttons and sensor guard
- Display size increases on 43mm (1.3”) and 47mm (1.4”)
- Outdoor Maps+ compatibility
- Adaptive round-trip routing
- Ski/Snowboard difficulty tracking
- Strength Training Plans (found inside Garmin Coach on GCM)
- Sport Specific Workouts (found inside GCM > Training/Planning > Workouts)
- Rec scuba diving
- Introducing a more affordable fénix — the Garmin fenix E with downsized hardware extras (see details below)
Everything That Was Already Running on All Cylinders with Garmin fenix Watches!
- Rugged durability: Titanium/Sapphire options
- Solar-charging options
- Unbeatable battery life
- Performance features, including Hill Score, Visual Race Predictor, PacePro, ClimbPro, Grade Adjusted Pro, just to name a few.
- Navigation features, like full color topo maps, multi-band GPS via SATIQ Technology, ABC sensors, worldwide golf maps—and much more (see below)!
- Activity features, such as tracking for tons of preloaded activities, HIIT workouts, animated workouts, and more!
- Industry-leading health features, including Morning Report, HRV status, Sleep Coach, altitude and heat acclimation, along with loads more!
What Is the Garmin fenix E?
The E stands for “Essential” and perfectly describes this more affordable Garmin fenix GPS watch option.
Historically, Garmin’s fenix series is among their most popular—and most expensive—GPS watches. They marry ruggedness with premium design and performance features to offer a smartwatch that can be used as a training watch for running, trail running, ultra running, triathlons, outdoor and water sports, back-country adventures, and ultra-running.
Plus, the advanced technology that runs through the Garmin DNA and ecosystem not only gives users the data they want to know about their performance, health and wellness, and recovery. It also allows them to store it and use their history to hone future training strategies and prepare however rigorously they prefer for future events. It makes recommendations based on real historical data. Amazing!
Unlike some sport watches (or smartwatches used for training), a Garmin won’t leave you with useless feedback dangling in the wind. They integrate technology that allows you to make the changes needed to go all out for goals and beat your best!
On top of that, these smartwatches are super savvy. You have a flotilla of widgets and settings that allow you to manage your day-to-day on your wrist. Plus on-watch music storage and contactless payment keep you in a convenient flow. Not to mention the robust suite of health and wellness features.
Interfaces evolve. Usability is perfected. Features are enhanced with each new generation of fenix.
But each year, the Garmin fenix series becomes more premium—as does the price. Not everyone can or is willing to drop over $1,000 on a premium multisport watch.
With the fenix E multisport watch, Garmin made the barrier to the most advanced training watch with a fiery bright AMOLED display a little less daunting.
While the fenix 8 lineup starts at $1,000 and goes up to $1,200, you can get a fenix E for $799.99. Inside, it is essentially the same watch. But where it backs off in build quality and hardware, it also backs off on the price tag.
Check out our comparison chart below to see what's different between the Garmin fenix 8 and fenix E (i.e., what the tradeoffs are for the lower price).
Garmin fenix 8 vs fenix E
Garmin fenix 8 Design Performance Improvements
When it comes to design, the previous Garmin fenix 7 Pro lineup was already rocking the rugged durability and performance categories. Built to U.S. military standard 810 for thermal, shock, and water resistance, it offered solar options and a built-in LED flashlight for the 7X size only.
Additionally, all fenix 7 watches were touchscreens with traditional 5-button operation as well.
The fenix 8 turns design up to an 11. Not only do you have full touchscreen functionality, but you get a stunning AMOLED display. And not only is 5-button operation at your disposal, you now have dive-rated, leak-proof buttons and a sensor guard.
As with previous generations, you have options for a more durable titanium bezel and sapphire power crystal for scratch resistance. But this year's Garmin fenix 8 series offers a larger display size in the 43 mm (1.3") and 47 mm (1.4") options—and all sizes feature a super-handy, super-bright LED flashlight.
To top it off, there's a new user interface and watch face editor so you can trick out your mesmerizing AMOLED screen!
Integrated Speaker and Microphone
After Garmin added this hardware to their Venu 2 Plus and, subsequently, the Venu 3 fitness smartwatch, some folks were scratching their heads over why it was not added to their upper echelon of watches.
We know it was because Garmin was already pushing the limits of what all could be stuffed into a watch and still strike the right balance between battery life, on-watch storage, size & weight, and cost.
But they've gone and done it.
The entire fenix 8 series comes with integrated speaker & microphone, putting phone calls, voice assistant access, off-line voice control, and voice memo creation right on your wrist!
Certain voice commands like “start a strength training activity”, “set a timer for 5 minutes”, “save waypoint” and more can be activated right from the watch—no phone connection is required.
Also, you can use the Garmin messenger app to communicate with family and friends via two-way text messaging right from the watch. Now even more reason to train where you want, when you want!
Thank you, Garmin.
Garmin fenix 8 Maps & Nav
When it comes to maps and navigation—Garmin is king. And queen. And the whole damn royal family.
Garmin fenix running watches were already leading the way with superior mult-band GPS, multicontinent topo maps—in fact, maps of every kind: golf, ski, road, trail ... and there's nothing like Garmin's full-color maps on an AMOLED display!
Plus use Nextfork map guide, round-trip routing, or subscribe to Outdoor Maps+.
The fenix 8 premium outdoor watch ups the ante with improved map/nav interface, adaptive round-trip routing, and ski/snowboard difficulty tracking.
View terrain contours on TopoActive maps and access preloaded maps for thousands of golf courses and ski resorts around the world. A new map interface allows users to easily customize map layers to get the most out of their navigation.
While exploring, enter a distance on the watch and receive suggested routes to stay on track and on time with dynamic round-trip routing.
Training & Activities
The Garmin fenix 8 adds new Strength Training and Scuba Diving to an already long list of performance features and training activities—so extensive it's hard to improve on.
But Garmin did with:
- Strength Training Plans (found inside Garmin Coach on GCM)
- Sport-Specific Workouts for training enhancement (found inside GCM > Training/Planning > Workouts): These are targeted, 4-6-week strength training plans to help meet personal goals, plus sport-specific workouts for athletes of all types, including trail runners, surfers, skiers and more.
- Rec Scuba Diving: Single Gas diving down to 40 meters
Garmin fenix 8 Series Battery Life
Garmin fenix watches are famous for their battery life—and this 2024 ultra-performing watch is not different! Check out the amounts of juice you get from these smartwatches that are purpose-built for endurance!
fenix AMOLED 43 mm:
- Smartwatch: Up to 10 days (4 days always-on)
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 15 days
- GPS Only: Up to 28 hours (22 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems: Up to 23 hours (18 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 21 hours
- All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 6 hours
- Max Battery GPS: Up to 49 hours
- Expedition GPS: Up to 10 days
fenix AMOLED 47 mm:
- Smartwatch: Up to 16 days (7 days always-on)
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 23 days
- GPS Only: Up to 47 hours (37 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems: Up to 38 hours (30 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 35 hours (28 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 10 hours
- Max Battery GPS: Up to 81 hours
- Expedition GPS: Up to 17 days
fenix Solar 47 mm:
- Smartwatch: Up to 21 days/28 days with solar
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 34 days/58 days with solar
- GPS Only: Up to 67 hours/92 hours with solar
- All Satellite Systems: Up to 48 hours/59 hours with solar
- All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 37 hours/43 hours with solar
- All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 13 hours
- Max Battery GPS: Up to 132 hours/283 hours with solar
- Expedition GPS: Up to 34 days/58 days with solar
fenix AMOLED 51 mm:
- Smartwatch: Up to 29 days (13 days always-on)
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 41 days
- GPS Only: Up to 84 hours (65 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems: Up to 68 hours (54 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 62 hours (49 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 18 hours
- Max Battery GPS: Up to 145 hours
- Expedition GPS: Up to 31 days
fenix Solar 51 mm:
- Smartwatch: Up to 30 days/48 days with solar
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 48 days/107 days with solar
- GPS Only: Up to 95 hours/149 hours with solar
- All Satellite Systems: Up to 68 hours/92 hours with solar
- All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 52 hours/65 hours with solar
- All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 18 hours
- Max Battery GPS: Up to 186 hours/653 hours with solar
- Expedition GPS: Up to 50 days/118 days with solar
fenix E AMOLED 47 mm:
- Smartwatch: Up to 16 days (6 days always-on)
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 21 days
- GPS Only: Up to 42 hours (30 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems: Up to 32 hours (24 hours always-on)
- All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 10 hours
- Max Battery GPS: Up to 75 hours
- Expedition GPS: Up to 14 days
Sizes, Models, Colors, & Price
Garmin fenix 8:
- 43 mm (1.3" display)
- Whitestone, stainless steel bezel, glass lens ($999.99)
- Soft Gold, stainless steel bezel, sapphire lens ($1099.99)
- Carbon Black, titanium bezel, sapphire lens ($1099.99)
- 47 mm (1.4" display)
- Slate Gray/Black, stainless steel bezel, glass lens ($999.99)
- Carbon Gray, titanium bezel, sapphire lens ($1099.99)
- Orange, titanium bezel, sapphire lens ($1099.99)
- Carbon Gray, titanium bezel, sapphire solar lens ($1099.99)
- Yellow, titanium bezel, sapphire solar lens ($1099.99)
- 51 mm (1.4" display)
- Slate Gray/Black, stainless steel bezel, glass lens ($1099.99)
- Carbon Gray, titanium bezel, sapphire lens ($1199.99)
- Orange, titanium bezel, sapphire lens ($1199.99)
- Carbon Gray, titanium bezel, sapphire solar lens ($1199.99)
- Yellow, titanium bezel, sapphire solar lens ($1199.99)
NOTE: Solar versions do not have an AMOLED display.
Garmin fenix E:
- 47 mm
- Black, stainless steel bezel, glass lens ($799.99)
- Slate Gray/Black, stainless steel bezel, glass lens ($799.99)
Why Get Your Garmin fenix Watch at PlayBetter?
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Still thinking about it? Pop over to our partner Dave's Youtube channel, Chase the Summit, and check out a Garmin fenix 8 review from a serious runner!