Here is an interesting price history of the Garmin Fenix 3 – one of the base models. It’s in GBP but the same principle applies for other currencies.
The likelihood of a Fenix 4 in 2016 is now low. The likelihood of one in Q1.2017 is quite/very high, in my opinion.
I expected and hoped for a Fenix 4 sooner.
The current price of £294 is not too bad historically but you can see it has been lower. This REALLY IS a soon-to-be replaced model and so I would also imagine there is a GREAT chance of a lowest-ever price on Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Wait if you can.
The Fenix 3 is now a very well featured little beast. Most of those features work pretty well. You have to decide if you want a well-working but soon-to-be-superseded model or something else.
The only comparable ‘something else’ out there is the Suunto SPARTAN ULTRA. As of September 2016 that is a very good hardware package whose software/firmware is going to be continually improved throughout 2017. The SPARTAN is ‘rare’ at the moment, whereas the Fenix 3 can be seen on many wrists and has been one of Garmin’s biggest sellers. Both have a similar kind of prettiness that I like. I’m wearing a SPARTAN now FWIW.
You have a difficult choice. Choose wisely.
I’ll have to sell my cat in order to buy the Fenix 4 for the next review. Please save the cat and, if you are going to buy one/anything, use one of the links below (and search a bit). Muchas gracias amigos.
| Garmin Fenix3 (Sapphire) | £422.00 | Link | $599.99 | Link |
| Suunto Spartan Ultra | £475.00 | Link | $699.00 | Link |
I just got back from vacation today and our cat peed on the couch so she is as good as sold lol, jk. No but seriously, I am purchasing the next F4. I have been searching the ends of the earth (obviously not very hard) for a be all, do all watch that looks great and also has plenty of fitness functions. About 2 years ago I had my eye set on an Atlas Wearable but just couldn’t get over the aesthetics. I probably would have pulled the trigger but they were still in the process of funding and production and so forth. I feel like with the Garmin Fenix, I can work out with it on and then change the band and wear it out to dinner. I looked up the Spartan online and the reviews all basically said that the idea is great but def needs hardware upgrade. I am interested in seeing trying a Spartan in person just to see what it’s all about. As of right now I am saving up because I know that I’ll want to buy the sapphire package and that won’t be cheap.
The suunto does not necess need a HARDWARE upgrade. It does NEED a FIRMWARE/SOFTWARE upgrade. that is why a few of us are holding off with the reviews until this month’s suunto firmware release.