Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: The Fenix wins big on battery life

Garmin’s obtained a brand new flagship in its rugged smartwatch class, the Garmin Fenix 8.

The corporate’s Fenix line of smartwatches has lengthy been the golden commonplace for sturdy smartwatches for athletes, however Apple put up a fairly good combat with its Apple Watch Extremely (now on its second iteration) rugged smartwatch.

The listing of specs on each these watches is extremely lengthy and consists of assist for a large number of sports activities and outside actions, however we will concentrate on a very powerful bits right here. You see, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 has at all times gained on Apple’s large ecosystem of apps and the flexibility to make standalone calls, and integration with Apple’s good assistant, Siri. However, Garmin’s Fenix watches have been at all times far forward in the case of battery life, however the capacity to make telephone calls from the watch was absent. So how does the brand new Fenix 8 match into this image?

What’s with the identify?

Earlier than we begin, let’s simply make clear on Garmin’s considerably complicated new naming scheme. The corporate used to divide its flagship watch class into Fenix and Epix watches. Now, Epix is gone; as an alternative, you could have the Garmin Fenix 8 Photo voltaic, which primarily means “Fenix 8, with solar energy, however with out an AMOLED show.” After which you could have the Garmin Fenix 8, which has no solar energy, however has an AMOLED show, which makes it a bit simpler to learn in direct daylight.

The Fenix 8 additionally is available in a number of sizes, for a complete of 5 variants. You may get the Fenix 8 Photo voltaic with a 47mm or 51mm show, whereas the Fenix 8 (with the AMOLED show however no photo voltaic) is available in 43mm, 47mm, or 51mm.

The Apple Watch Extremely 2 solely is available in one measurement: 49mm, has no solar energy, nevertheless it does have a really, superb OLED show.

Acquired all that? Nice, let’s proceed.

Large distinction in battery life

Doing a variety of very lengthy path runs? The Garmin Fenix 8 ought to be capable to sustain with you.
Credit score: Garmin

That is Apple Watch Extremely 2’s weak spot. It provides, per Apple’s specs, as much as 36 hours of battery life in regular use, and as much as 72 hours in Low Energy Mode. That is lots higher than the common Apple Watch, nevertheless it lags far behind Garmin’s greatest.

Garmin Fenix 8 provides a whopping 29 days of battery life, or 13 days with the always-on show possibility on. If you happen to go for the Fenix 8 Photo voltaic, this goes as much as 30 days, or 48 days with photo voltaic charging (this assumes a variety of publicity to daylight).

That is for the most important, 51mm variants of the Garmin. However even the smaller, 47mm model provides as much as 16 days (7 days with always-on show on), or 21 days (28 days with photo voltaic charging). Lastly, the 43mm model provides as much as 10 days of battery life, (4 days with always-on show on).

This will get much more difficult if you add the assorted use instances and choices that Garmin provides, akin to Battery Saver mode, Expedition GPS mode, or Max Battery GPS mode. If you happen to flip all satellite tv for pc techniques on and hearken to music, for instance, the battery life on the 51mm Fenix 8 goes right down to 18 hours. Try Garmin’s spec sheet for all the main points.

The underside line, nevertheless, is that with the Garmin (per DC Rainmaker’s extremely thorough testing), will get you one thing like 6 days of standard use with some sports activities use thrown into the combination, whereas additionally providing you with the choice to increase that into weeks if wanted.

Nonetheless no standalone calls

The Apple Watch Extremely 2 could make telephone calls even when your telephone is not with you.
Credit score: Apple

The Garmin Fenix 8 has one other huge addition: a microphone and speaker for calls, and invoking a private assistant. You’d suppose that this makes it on par with the Apple Watch Extremely…however sadly it does not, as a result of the Fenix 8, perplexingly, doesn’t have mobile connectivity, so it depends in your telephone to make calls.

Give it some thought: In case you have a watch with a battery that lasts for days, and the flexibility to make calls, you may be somewhat safer and extra linked if you go for an extended hike or different outdoorsy journey. But when stated watch depends in your telephone to make calls, then you definately’ll have to hold a telephone and an extra battery with you, which kind of defeats the aim of this function.

As is, it is nonetheless a welcome enchancment. With the brand new Garmin Fenix 8, you can reply that decision mid-workout with out reaching to your telephone. However the Apple Watch Extremely 2, which has mobile connectivity, nonetheless wins on this regard.

Voice assistant, however fundamental

Equally, the Garmin Fenix 8 now provides an offline Garmin voice assistant. This requires zero connectivity, which is sweet, and it’ll allow you to carry out fundamental duties like begin the timer, play some music, or begin a exercise. However that is just about as superior because it will get.

Garmin additionally helps Apple’s Siri, in addition to Google and Samsung’s voice assistant, however these work by way of your telephone (relying on the mannequin) aren’t immediately patched into Garmin’s smarts, so you may’t use them to manage Garmin-specific options.

In distinction, Apple Watch Extremely 2 is nicely built-in with Apple’s personal voice assistant, Siri. Garmin is closing the hole somewhat bit right here, and we have not examined it ourselves but, nevertheless it looks like Apple is forward on this regard.

New diving options

Hey leisure divers, Garmin’s obtained one thing for you.
Credit score: Garmin

When Apple launched its Extremely smartwatch, it did one thing attention-grabbing by including nicely thought out assist for leisure diving options. Usually, professional divers will need to use a devoted diving pc (Garmin sells these as nicely), however Apple Watch Extremely 2 has a pleasant set of options that can fulfill most leisure divers.

Now, Garmin Fenix 8 helps diving-related options as nicely — and sure, it does seem to be Garmin had its thoughts on the Apple Watch Extremely 2 when it designed the brand new Fenix.

On the {hardware} stage, the Fenix 8 now has a depth gauge and leak-proof steel buttons (the Extremely 2 does not have these). However it goes additional than that, primarily including a ton of performance from its pro-grade Descent lineup of diving watches. In brief, it helps scuba and apnea dive actions, and total matches the Apple Watch Extremely’s diving options. It’s extremely near a tie between the Fenix 8 and the Extremely 2, although Garmin’s pro-diving pedigree does give a slight nod to the Fenix 8.

About that worth

We have got unhealthy information right here. Garmin Fenix 8 begins $999.99, and that is for the 43mm AMOLED mannequin. The 47mm variant (each Photo voltaic and AMOLED) prices $1,099.99, and the most important, 51mm model prices $1,199.99.

That is pricier than the Garmin Fenix 7 at launch and, extra importantly, much more costly than the $799 Apple Watch Extremely 2. Apple merchandise aren’t low cost, and if you’re promoting a competing product at this a lot of a premium, it is a fairly large assertion — or a mistake.

Is the Garmin Fenix 8 higher than Apple Watch Extremely? Sure and no.

Garmin had an apparent intention to meet up with the Apple Watch Extremely 2 in all areas the place it lagged behind, whereas bettering even additional within the battery life division.

And yeah, at a look, the development do sound just like the Fenix 8’s obtained all the pieces the Extremely 2 has (sans Apple’s app ecosystem), whereas additionally providing massively higher battery life and extra versatile battery administration.

Nonetheless, the Fenix 8 nonetheless does not provide mobile connectivity, which is a little bit of a bummer, and its voice assistant is not as good as Siri. It additionally prices much more than the Apple Watch Extremely 2. Additionally, the Extremely 2 would possibly very quickly get changed with a brand new model, so we would recommendation to attend till Apple’s September 9 occasion till deciding on both mannequin.