Garmin Fenix 8 Review

Streets ahead of competitors’ features, the Garmin Fenix 8 has also further distanced itself in terms of pricing. You’ll grow to appreciate the haptics on the new, soft-press buttons and instantly fall in love with the beautiful screen, before being wowed by the market-leading battery life for this type of watch.

Buy: Fenix 8 AMOLED

Buy: Fenix 8 Sapphire AMOLED

Garmin has introduced yet another series of changes to the on-screen menus, which will still confuse anyone new to the company’s products. Those hoping to avoid countless key presses by using voice commands will be disappointed by their limitations. Meanwhile, those wishing to make and take calls directly on their Fenix will still rely on their nearby smartphones but will be somewhat satisfied with the ability to control messages, voice calls, and phone assistants from the watch.

The latest Fenix superficially resembles previous models. However, this time, there are some notable improvements, such as the sensor guard, larger display areas on certain models, and clever new ways to lock and unlock the touchscreen using swipe gestures.

It is undoubtedly the best Fenix ever. However, the minor feature upgrades fail to justify the price increase. If you already own a Fenix 6 Pro, 7, or 7 Pro, it’s hard to justify the upgrade unless you have cash to burn. Even for first-time Fenix buyers, the 7 Pro/Epix 2 Pro models are more sensible alternatives and often heavily discounted.

I like it. But…

This detailed review of the Garmin Fenix 8 starts with a summary, considers the alternatives and reasons to buy, and then covers in detail the new features before the results of detailed accuracy tests.

I bought this myself and have no links to Garmin. I appreciate any support you give for the work here by using the affiliate links.

Garmin Fenix 8 Review

85%

Summary

 

Once again, Garmin has produced an excellent physical watch, though the visual design and internal components remain similar to previous Fenix models and competitors like the Polar Grit X2. While Fenix 8 doesn’t have the aesthetic appeal of watches like the Suunto Race, it excels where it matters most: functionality.

Does the Fenix bring anything significantly new? Not much. However, the in-activity experience remains excellent, and the map functionality has slightly improved. The new dive experience is as thoughtfully designed as Garmin’s other sports profiles, and Garmin continues to offer unrivalled support for third-party sports ecosystems and sensors. Every piece of data you rely on is as seamlessly integrated as ever.

Despite its strengths, Garmin has added half-baked audio capabilities. Unlike the Apple Watch, the Fenix cannot independently make or take calls, depending instead on a smartphone connection. While the new mic and speaker are steps toward a richer connected experience, the implementation feels clunky. The two (!) voice interfaces seem more like tech-driven experiments than customer-focused designs. Even when the audio features work, the sound quality barely passes the ‘meh’ threshold—disappointing for a watch at this price point.

Garmin’s watch faces have traditionally been a weak spot, with some looking childish and dated. However, this has significantly improved with sleek, vibrant faces that offer personalized data-rich complications. They shine on the latest AMOLED displays, though they are less impressive on older MIP screens. That said, the performance of Solar charging has taken a major leap forward, and battery life remains one of Garmin’s core strengths.

Garmin continues to tweak the menu and quick-access widget design but hasn’t quite nailed it yet. For new users, navigating the complex interface remains a challenge. The menu and sports profile start screens are still far from intuitive, and while the widgets do present their data well, they lack the visual appeal one expects from a premium sports watch.

If you want the best, you want a Fenix. Starting at $1,000, it’s undeniably a premium product, but at this price point, you’re paying for niceties rather than essentials. For those who already own a Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 7, or 7 Pro there’s little reason to upgrade beyond personal preference. The new features simply don’t justify the escalating price.

For those looking primarily for a smartwatch rather than a dedicated sports device, the Apple Watch or Pixel Watch may be better options. These offer superior smart features and benefits outside of fitness tracking that come from that. Many potential Fenix buyers may find themselves better served by these alternatives. If the price makes you baulk, the new Fenix E offers the new interface with old tech at a discount. If you want a cheaper, prettier watch, many opt for Suunto Race and the low-end Chinese alternative would be the Amazfit T-Rex 3.

The Garmin Fenix 8 remains an exceptional sports watch, unmatched in accuracy and performance for fitness enthusiasts. However, if you’re expecting a flawless smartwatch experience, you might be left wanting. For those deeply invested in sports and outdoor activities, it’s hard to beat—but the smartwatch experience still lags behind the competition.

• Buy: Fenix 8 AMOLED starts at $1000
• Buy: Fenix 8 Sapphire AMOLED
• Buy: Garmin Fenix 8 Solar (no links yet)

Pros

• Awesome display
• 16 days as a smartwatch
• Speaker and Microphone control
• built-in LED flashlight
• New Strength coach
• 24×7 health and wellness features
• Rugged and durable shell
• Advanced physiology
• Advanced mapping and routing
• Advanced multisport features
• Recreational dive features
• Advanced ski, XC ski, surf and golf features
• Daily suggested workouts
• Full ABC sensors
• Advanced music support
• Womens Health
• Tap and pay (try Curve)

Cons

• Many bugs at launch
• Laggy maps and screen transitions
• Soft button press
• Few sporty improvements over previous model (7 Pro)
• Audio features need more coherent thought
• Speaker is just acceptable
• Optical HR errors

• Buy Garmin Fenix 8
• Buy Garmin Fenix E
• Buy Garmin Enduro 3

Garmin Fenix 8 – Options

Garmin Fenix 8 is the premium Fenix don’t get it confused with the lower specified Fenix E. The premium is for either Solar charging or high-resolution AMOLED glass screens. You can’t have both.

Here are the seven Fenix 8 options in a table, with a band the number of options rises to eighteen.

47mm is the normal size and 43mm is the size for thin-wristed people.

I recommend the harder sapphire lens option for any expensive sports watch.

Who Should Buy Fenix 8?

Fenix 8 will be great for almost anyone for all sports unless you have specific requirements.

Fenix 8 is Garmin’s top-end adventure, multisport watch now accredited for recreational diving. A serious diver might instead opt for a Garmin Descent and a serious triathlete might opt for a Forerunner 965. The most ultra of runners could go for Garmin Enduro 3. All these top-end Garmin watches are essentially the same except for subtle variations in hardware and features tweaked to suit your intended sport precisely.

If you are an adventurer, survivalist or explorer, Fenix 8 is the Garmin for you. Fenix 8 is also the one to go for if you prefer more rugged looks.

If you plan to wear a Fenix 8 as your all-day watch and need it to look more refined, consider the better-looking watch faces available for high-resolution AMOLED screens.

A Review of the Alternatives to Garmin Fenix 8?

These watches are all top-end multisport adventure watches with maps and navigation: Polar Grit X2 Pro; Coros Vertix 2/2S; Suunto Vertical/Race/Race S; and Apple Watch Ultra.

Garmin wins when you want every possible feature and Fenix 8 handles advanced mapping and navigation better than the competition. Garmin also has the most comprehensive physiology metrics but the rest are not far behind. Watch Ultra has the best smart features for your iPhone and can uniquely make and take calls and messages without a smartphone present.

When weighing up the alternatives consider how you plan to use the watch away from your sports. If you do 4 hours of sports a week and wear the watch 24×7 then maybe Garmin isn’t the best option for you, maybe a smartwatch is better. If you planned a 3-month adventure in the Amazon go for a Fenix 8.

Garmin Fenix 8 – What’s New?

The dive-compatible buttons are new and the solar panels perform much better than previously. The case looks have changed with the sensor guard on the right-hand side protecting a new mic and speaker, these give us Garmin’s first attempt at voice control and audio playback. Other than subtle changes to some display sizes the most noticeable onscreen change is the revamped activity interface which has a familiar yet different feel.

Revamped Interface

The watch interface has many changes compared to Fenix 7. My overall opinion on the changes is that the watch’s organisation of its features is more logical, and aesthetics are sometimes better but access to anything other than a simple workout or widget remains contrived.

Let’s go through the new features in detail.

Temporary Touchscreen Unlock

This is an excellent feature, although it seems to appear at times and in places where I would expect not to have to unlock the touchscreen eg when dialling a phone number

Swipe down the lock icon to temporarily unlock the screen. Doesn’t affect the buttons.

Customisation

Text Size now allows a wider degree of personalisation to help those of us with poorer eyesight.

Widgets

The left button-up no longer defaults to the widget glances and instead goes to the Notification Centre. This can be disabled.

The widget glance has a more professional look than before. However, the simplistic design looks like it is based on a rectangular screen…it’s round.

Widget charts are improved in line with recent changes to the Forerunner line, with richer colours. The charts take up more of the available screen space. Once again the charts are sometimes truncated and appear designed for a rectangular watch face rather than one on a $1000 premium sports watch. Some cheaper smartwatches do this difficult design task better.

Activity/Sport Changes

The start sports screen is split horizontally. Above the line are pinned your favourites and a folder of other often-used sports. Below the line are generic watch options.

Once you select a sport, it again appears above a horizontal line but this time below the line are sport-specific options like training and active CIQ data fields. You can also change the screen layouts here plus swipe left to right through Activity stages: Stage 1 is the sport overview, stage 2 is the data pages of the sports and stage 3 is the music controls.

I’ve been using this for a while and am unsure about it. It feels vaguely better but I have a nagging feeling that the screen flows, layouts, screen lock and number of button presses could all be improved. Access to the sports options is an improvement but the rest seems like an attempt to copy the Apple Watch poorly.

Map

A map scale arc is at the top and map controls are accessed by a hamburger menu via the start button. The changes here are great and work well.

Touch unlock works here too and locks after about 6 seconds of non-use.

Audio Commands during Sport – Garmin Fenix 8 Review

TL;DR – Poor usage experience but the new hardware just about does the job

After you press and hold the start button you can speak a limited number of instructions to Fenix 8 to initiate actions on the watch like ‘Start A Run’.

This feature is limited nearly to the point of uselessness but will hopefully improve

• Press and hold the start button; you cannot say ‘Hey Garmin’ – on most occasions, you might as well do the button actions instead of trying to use voice.
• Any close variant to this limited list of 30 voice commands will work, you don’t have to say the exact phrase.
• It takes about 4 seconds to execute

Adjusting the brightness, taking a voice note, starting a timer and saving location might be some of the more useful commands. I used it most to show the map.

One of the most ridiculous things I did was use a voice command to start the smartphone assistant.

Fenix 8 Power – Solar Improvements, Battery Life & Charging

Claimed battery lives are excellent and Garmin makes a good attempt to show how they vary according to different kinds of settings and use cases. In my testing, I used maximum accuracy mode and topped up the battery every 4 days or so, I never got close to empty. I tend to use SatIQ on my Garmin watches and would generally recommend that unless you plan multi-day expeditions when you should use one of the multi-day modes or even customise a power profile.

It’s hard to compare all those battery modes to all those of the competition, but this table should give you a decent overview. Garmin, Suunto and Coros are the best.

Audio Control of smartphone assistant

TL;DR – Poor usage experience

You can control Siri, Google Assistant or Bixby from your Fenix with the Phone Assistant.

Fenix relays the audio to and from your phone, you hear the response from the Fenix speaker; none of the words you speak are transcribed on the Fenix screen.

Use the smartphone assistant shortcut or press and hold the start button and give the audio command “Start the phone assistant”

I’ve used the phone assistant on the Apple Watch and Garmin’s implementation is significantly inferior. There is so much wrong with it but for the occasional interaction you’ll be thankful for it…for the rest of the time you’ll reach for the smartphone instead.

Making and taking calls – Garmin Fenix 8 Review

TL;DR – Poor usage experience

I thanked the assistant for the helpful advice to ‘unlock my smartphone first’. It was in my backpack, so I couldn’t unlock it.

You can tap a number on the Fenix to call it with your phone. Contacts must be synced from your phone into Garmin Connect, otherwise you lose call and messaging functionality. You lose functionality with iPhone and you can’t do anything about it.

The audio quality was reasonable going each way and depends on the quality of the line from your phone to the recipient’s phone. However, in outdoor environments, ambient noise significantly affects audibility but the call performance was in line with that on one of my Apple Watches.

Garmin Strength Coach 2024

TL;DR – Excellent Coach Features, faff to enter the weight numbers

A recent addition to Garmin Connect is the strength coach that complements existing running and cycling plans.

Coach is a comprehensive training tool and calendarises a range of push and pull days for different muscle groups. The workout details on the Fenix 8 include animated explanations to show the correct execution of each exercise.

tip: Get the starting abilities correct, previous versions did not update the plan based on execution levels

Dive – matches Apple Watch Ultra 2 features

Garmin’s pro dive watches are the Descent MK3i and Descent G1 Solar, Fenix 8 has been updated to cover the needs of most recreational divers. This followed a similar move by Apple in 2023 with Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin has matched Apple feature for feature.

The new induction buttons aid waterproofing and are complemented by many additions to dive software and features, as shown below…plus there’s a dive-focussed watch face (but it’s not very good).

New Watch Faces

There are nine new watch faces which take advantage of the colour capabilities of the new display. Most are good, some are excellent and the odd one or two are not so great. Choosing the right colours and data fields to match your bands and personal preferences makes a big difference to aesthetics and usefulness.

My favourite is radial precision

Detailed Garmin Fenix 8 Accuracy Test Review – GPS, HR, Elevation & Battery

Overall the GPS accuracy is very good and the HR is mostly good, failing particularly during hard intervals.

Here are some test results for those who want to delve into the details from well over 20 hours of detailed testing alongside competitor watches.

Optical Heart Rate Accuracy

I compared Garmin’s 5th generation ELEVATE heart rate sensor to the excellent Polar SENSE optical armband and Garmin HRM PRO Plus chest strap for almost every test. I then added heart rate from other optical sensors on competitor sports watches. I tested over a range of runs, hikes and bike rides and here is a selection of the results.

Generally, Garmin’s HR results were good. However, when the tracks were visually similar to competitors, Garmin’s ELEVATE always averaged 0.5-1.0 bpm higher than the other devices. Garmin may have underrecorded HR at slower speeds (walk/hike) and minor HR issues existed at the start of some workouts. The only failure was during intervals when peak heart rates were significantly missed.

GPS Accuracy

For most tests, I compared the Fenix 8 to a Garmin FR965 (SatIQ) plus one other competitor sports watch set to maximum accuracy – Coros Vertix 2, Polar Grit X2 Pro, Suunto Race S, or Apple Watch. I used maximum accuracy for the Fenix 8 too unless I forgot and used SatIQ (which should still give the maximum accuracy when needed).

Test 1 – Trees & Narrow Alley Ways

These were challenging GPS test conditions with tall trees and narrow alleys (<1m wide). Fenix 8 performed excellently everywhere.

Test 2 – Similar – Lots of Trees, Awful Rain

These were challenging test conditions with tall trees and torrential rain. Fenix 8 performed excellently.

Test 3 – Some Trees, Open Common Lands, Town Centre

An easier test apart from in a Town Centre where the Fenix DID have a problem, failing to stay close to the occasional building is a sign that the dual frequency side of the algorithm isn’t properly working.

Test 4 – Hard Run, Easy GPS

Perfect along an avenue of trees and out in the open.

Test 5 – Long Bike Ride

Perfect throughout.

Test 6 – North Downs Hike

The zoomed-in details show the Fenix on a steep uphill trail through dense tree cover. I can’t see the actual path on the image but Fenix’s path differs from the others, I’m not sure if Fenix is wrong (it probably is).

Test 7 – Town centre Near Tall buildings

The Suunto RACE probably beat Fenix 8 here and, indeed, Fenix 8 was close to failing this test. the track looks fine when zoomed out but there are significant errors at the detail level. This is consistent with all the other (latest, dual frequency) leading GPS watches in the same environment. I’m not surprised. This is a difficult test though so I’m not disappointed.

Test 8 – Suburban Grid

In easier GPS conditions Fenix 8 was very good apart from one unexpected blip. Better than Suunto RACE this time.

Elevation Accuracy Tests

I had convinced myself there was a problem with unstable elevation readings but after a manual calibration, it was OK as these two charts show

Battery Test

This chart shows the battery charge falling during a three-and-a-half-hour hike. The estimated battery capacity of 19 hours with All + Multiband (not SatIQ) and ‘Normal’ power mode is far short of Garmin’s 32-hour claim (with SatIQ). This review was written close to the Fenix 8’s launch and there are numerous other user reports of lower-than-expected battery life. Garmin won’t make baseless claims, so I stopped testing battery life to await software fixes also noting that battery capacity degrades over the years.

Other test results estimated battery capacity with SatIQ and all constellations/dual frequency as: 36.6 hours, 34.5 hours, 37.5 hours, and 31.2 hours in line with Garmin’s 35-hour claim. Without SatIQ, battery life in full accuracy mode was less than 20 hours on 2 occasions – 18.8 hours and 16.5 hours.

With GPS disabled for an indoor workout, the 54-hour battery life was lower than expected.

Garmin Fenix 8 Review of Undocumented Technical Features

You can check out the official Garmin Fenix 8 technical specifications here on the Garmin site. however not everything is documented, here are some tidbits for you.

GNSS (GPS) Chipset Changes

The capabilities of the Fenix 8 appear the same as previous models except something had changed. The GPS firmware has been bumped to an entirely different version and the Beidou and QZSS regional satellite constellations are newly supported. Fenix 8 may well have a wholly new GNSS chipset, although, with my knowledge of component suppliers, I’m struggling to say which it is.

Undocumented Logs

This video shows how to access a developer menu. There is little there at present but over time it will likely have crash logs and other developer features added.

CIQ Data Fields

For the first time, Fenix 8 allows four different CIQ data fields (‘apps’) per sports profile. The overall memory limit is unchanged but now you can have 4 rather than 2 CIQ data fields. More details here.

CPU is unchanged

User benchmark tests show that the core performance of Fenix 8 is unchanged, meaning the CPU is the same. Very disappointing.

Take Out: Garmin Fenix 8 Review

Once again, Garmin has produced an excellent physical watch, though the visual design and internal components remain similar to previous Fenix models and competitors like the Polar Grit X2. While Fenix 8 doesn’t have the aesthetic appeal of watches like the Suunto Race, it excels where it matters most: functionality.

Does the Fenix bring anything significantly new? Not much. However, the in-activity experience remains excellent, and the map functionality has slightly improved. The new dive experience is as thoughtfully designed as Garmin’s other sports profiles, and Garmin continues to offer unrivalled support for third-party sports ecosystems and sensors. Every piece of data you rely on is as seamlessly integrated as ever.

Despite its strengths, Garmin has added half-baked audio capabilities. Unlike the Apple Watch, the Fenix cannot independently make or take calls, depending instead on a smartphone connection. While the new mic and speaker are steps toward a richer connected experience, the implementation feels clunky. The two (!) voice interfaces seem more like tech-driven experiments than customer-focused designs. Even when the audio features work, the sound quality barely passes the ‘meh’ threshold—disappointing for a watch at this price point.

Garmin’s watch faces have traditionally been a weak spot, with some looking childish and dated. However, this has significantly improved with sleek, vibrant faces that offer personalized data-rich complications. They shine on the latest AMOLED displays, though they are less impressive on older MIP screens. That said, the performance of Solar charging has taken a major leap forward, and battery life remains one of Garmin’s core strengths.

Garmin continues to tweak the menu and quick-access widget design but hasn’t quite nailed it yet. For new users, navigating the complex interface remains a challenge. The menu and sports profile start screens are still far from intuitive, and while the widgets do present their data well, they lack the visual appeal one expects from a premium sports watch.

If you want the best, you want a Fenix. Starting at $1,000, it’s undeniably a premium product, but at this price point, you’re paying for niceties rather than essentials. For those who already own a Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 7, or 7 Pro there’s little reason to upgrade beyond personal preference. The new features simply don’t justify the escalating price.

For those looking primarily for a smartwatch rather than a dedicated sports device, the Apple Watch or Pixel Watch may be better options. These offer superior smart features and benefits outside of fitness tracking that come from that. Many potential Fenix buyers may find themselves better served by these alternatives. If the price makes you baulk, the new Fenix E offers the new interface with old tech at a discount. If you want a cheaper, prettier watch, many opt for Suunto Race and the low-end Chinese alternative would be the Amazfit T-Rex 3.

The Garmin Fenix 8 remains an exceptional sports watch, unmatched in accuracy and performance for fitness enthusiasts. However, if you’re expecting a flawless smartwatch experience, you might be left wanting. For those deeply invested in sports and outdoor activities, it’s hard to beat—but the smartwatch experience still lags behind the competition.

Buy Garmin Fenix E: Price and Availability

You should be able to get your hands on a Fenix E immediately. These links should click through to a choice of retailers in your region and at the latest local prices:

• Buy: Fenix 8 AMOLED starts at $1000
• Buy: Fenix 8 Sapphire AMOLED
• Buy: Garmin Fenix 8 Solar (no links yet)
• Buy: Enduro 3 MIP
• Buy: Garmin Fenix E AMOLED, $799,
• Buy: Garmin Epix Gen 2 – typically $45o renewed or $700 new ($800 on Garmin.com)
• buy: Garmin Epix Gen 2 Pro – other sizes available – typically starts around $875 ($900 on Garmin.com)