Latest news with #Fenix8AMOLED
Tom's Guide
19-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I wore the Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Garmin Forerunner 970 for over a week — which should you buy?
The Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin Forerunner 970 are, in my opinion, the two best Garmin watches available, and I love testing both of them during my marathon training. They are laden with the same features to help you track and improve your training, and also boast best-in-class navigation tools as well as useful smart and activity tracking features. There are some important differences between them though, notably in their design, price and battery life, that will be key to picking between them. I've worn each for months at a time as my main sports watch, and compared the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 970 directly with a week wearing them at the same time. Here are the key things to consider if you're picking between them. The Garmin Forerunner 970 is the newer watch, having launched in May 2025, and it costs $749.99 / £629.99. There is only one model of the watch with a 47mm case that comes in three colors — black, white and grey/gold. In contrast, there are a lot of watches in the Garmin Fenix 8 range. There are three sizes — 43mm, 47mm and 51mm — and two screen options — AMOLED and memory-in-pixel, with the latter having solar panels around the watch face. This $150 saving is on the 47mm sapphire model of the Fenix 8 AMOLED, but the other watches in the range are also reduced if you want a smaller or larger watch, or one with solar charging. The Fenix 8 is a durable, good-looking sports and adventure watch with all of Garmin's top sports and navigation features. The Fenix 8 launched in August 2024 and is the more expensive watch. It costs from $999.99 to $1199.99, depending on which model and size of the watch you opt for. For the purposes of this article, I'm mostly going to focus on the Fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm watch, which is the most directly comparable to the Garmin Forerunner 970. If you want a solar watch or a larger or smaller device, then the Fenix 8 range has you covered, whereas you don't get those options with the Forerunner 970. The Forerunner 970 is the top Forerunner in Garmin's range and a more affordable alternative to the Fenix 8. As a newer watch it's not yet in sales, but it's still cheaper than the reduced Fenix 8 and has almost all the same excellent features in a lighter, slimmer design. Garmin Forerunner 970 Garmin Fenix 8 (47mm AMOLED) Price $749 $999 (steel); $1099 (titanium) Case size 47 x 47 x 12.9mm 47 x 47 x 13.8mm Screen size 1.4 inches 1.4 inches Resolution 454 x 454 pixels 454 x 454 pixels Screen material Sapphire crystal Glass or sapphire crystal Weight 56g 80g (steel); 73g (titanium) GPS battery life 26 hours 37 hours Smartwatch battery life 15 days 16 days Touchscreen Yes Yes Speaker/Mic Yes Yes Built-in flashlight Yes Yes Waterproof rating 5ATM 10ATM (40m dive) There are some shared elements in the designs of the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 970, which are both round watches with 1.4in AMOLED displays, built-in flashlights and five buttons. The screen on the Forerunner 970 is a little brighter than the one on the Fenix 8, however, and the design is considerably slimmer and lighter than the Fenix 8, which I found made it more comfortable to wear 24/7. There are advantages to the bulkier Fenix design though. It's more durable, with a larger metal bezel and metal back — the Forerunner 970 has a titanium bezel but the case is otherwise plastic — and the Fenix 8 is more waterproof, with a 10ATM rating to the 5ATM for the Forerunner 970. The Fenix 8 is also diveproof to depths of 40m, and has leakproof buttons that feel a little different to the ones on the Forerunner 970, which are more clicky. With the Forerunner 970 a scratch resistant sapphire crystal display comes as standard, but you have to opt for a more expensive model of the Fenix 8 to get this. The base model has a steel bezel with a glass display, with the sapphire model having a titanium bezel and sapphire crystal display. Both watches have a mic and speaker, Garmin's latest Elevate v5 optical heart rate sensor, which I found accurate in my testing, and offer multi-band GPS tracking. There are pros and cons to each watch when it comes to design. The Fenix 8 is better-looking in my opinion, and more durable, but the sleeker design of the Forerunner 970 makes it more comfortable and it fits better on slim wrists. There are minimal differences in the sports tracking and training analysis on the two watches, and both will be kept up to date with new features in software updates for the foreseeable future, as they are the latest models in their respective ranges. One difference is the scuba diving (single gas) and apnea diving modes available on the Fenix 8, and it also has a depth app. If you're a diver, it's clearly the one to go for. I've hundreds of miles with both watches and both have proved reliably accurate for heart rate and GPS tracking throughout my testing. They are both as good as sports watches get for tracking and analysis, and there's nothing to split them on this front. The Fenix 8 offers better battery life than the Forerunner 970, especially if you opt for one of the larger 51mm or solar-charging models of the watch, but also when comparing the 47mm Fenix 8 AMOLED to the Forerunner 970. For most of my use I had the display set to always-on with both watches, and I used them to track daily runs and other workouts. The Forerunner 970 lasts me four or five days on a charge, and the Fenix 8 lasts me six or seven days. If you set the screen to raise to wake then both will last longer and the gap between them grows larger. Both are pretty long-lasting for AMOLED watches, but the Fenix 8 wins this battle. For me, the lighter, slimmer design and lower price of the Garmin Forerunner 970 makes it the better option, and it's the one I'd get, especially as I don't need the extra battery life you get on the Fenix. However, there are some distinct advantages to the Fenix 8 such as that battery life, and the design is more premium and rugged, which might be enough to sway you to pay the extra if you don't mind wearing a larger watch.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Garmin's Fanciest Smartwatch Is $200 Off at REI Right Now
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Garmin has established itself as the go-to smartwatch brand for serious athletes. At the top of the brand's offerings is the Fenix 8, a multi-sport smartwatch that's more rugged and feature-dense than anything else on the market. More from Rolling Stone Sammy Hagar's Best of All Worlds Concert Livestream: How to Watch the Las Vegas Show Online Fire Up Your Next Backyard Party With Up to $285 Off Solo Stove's Fire Pits And Outdoor Pizza Ovens REI's Trail-Ready Camp Chair Weighs Just a Pound, and It's 30% Off Right Now But, with a price tag of $1,000 to $1,200, the Fenix 8's best-in-class features don't come cheap. Right now, however, REI is offering a rare discount on the ultra-high-end gadget for their Anniversary Sale, slashing $200 off three Fenix 8 models (the AMOLED, Solar Sapphire, and AMOLED Sapphire). This brings the starting price down to $800 for the most affordable version, the 47mm Fenix 8 AMOLED. Just be sure to take advantage of these savings somewhat quickly: the sale ends on June 16. $800 $1,000 20% off Buy Now on REI $900 $1,100 18% off Buy Now on REI $900 $1,100 18% off Buy Now on REI The Fenix 8 has two variants: The Fenix 8 AMOLED, which features a bright, crystal clear display, the Fenix 8 Solar, which features a solar-charged display. Both variants also come in Sapphire tims, which add a scratch-resistant sapphire lens. The primary difference is of course battery life: The Solar offers up to 48 days of battery life while the AMOLED offers up to 29 days. The watches also come in 47 or 51mm options (there's also a 43mm option, but most colorways in this size are sold out). In both Fenix 8 models, the features list is as long as an ultra marathon (see them all here). Some highlights include Garmin's famous GPS capabilities and robust navigation systems for off-the-grid runs, hikes or bike rides. It delivers all the health monitoring systems you'd expect from a high-end fitness watch and provides insight to your readiness levels before workouts and your stamina level throughout. You also get a flashlight on the watch, as well as speakers and a microphone for making calls. The build quality is extremely tough, and the watch can dive up 40 meters. If you're looking for a top-of-the-line fitness watch, be sure to grab a Fenix 8 now while it's on sale at REI. Best of Rolling Stone The Best Audiophile Turntables for Your Home Audio System
Digital Trends
08-05-2025
- Digital Trends
Garmin Fenix 8 and Tactix 8 get new voice feature update, but only for select owners
Garmin has just launched a beta update for the Voice Command feature on select Fenix 8 and Tactix 8 smartwatches, with the goal of enhancing the on-device voice assistant. This update, named Voice Command Files v1.12, promises some improvements to the voice assistant, though the specific enhancements haven't been disclosed yet. According to a message shared in the Garmin forums, this new beta update is available for users of the Fenix 8 AMOLED, Fenix 8 Solar, Tactix 8 AMOLED, and Tactix 8 Solar models. This update comes after the beta version 15.26, which was rolled out in late April and introduced support for Voice Commands specific to Applied Ballistics and Flying Apps on the Tactix watches, alongside various bug fixes. Recommended Videos The voice assistant on these Garmin smartwatches can recognize a range of commands, such as 'Find my phone,' 'Turn on airplane mode,' and 'Increase brightness,' among others. The release of Voice Command Files v1.12 includes 17 files, indicating support for multiple languages to cater to users around the globe. However, it's worth noting that some users have experienced a surprising drop in their body battery levels after installing beta version 15.26 or the new Voice Command Files v1.12. As of now, Garmin hasn't addressed this issue, leaving users eager for a solution. The Garmin Fenix 8 and Tactix 8 showcase Garmin's latest premium smartwatch advancements, each catering to unique user needs. The Fenix 8 is a versatile multisport GPS smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts, featuring a comprehensive suite of fitness tracking, advanced navigation, and a built-in speaker and microphone for calls and voice assistance. It offers various sizes and display types, including AMOLED and solar-powered MIP options, emphasizing durability and long battery life for extended use. Conversely, the Tactix 8 prioritizes tactical functionality for military personnel and demanding environments. While it shares many fitness features with the Fenix 8, the Tactix 8 includes specialized functions like night vision compatibility, a multi-color LED flashlight, and preloaded Applied Ballistics software for precise calculations, making it vital for mission-ready needs. Both series feature rugged designs, sapphire crystal lenses for durability, and comprehensive connectivity, tailored to their respective audiences.
