| Manufacturer | Garmin |
|---|---|
| Type | Premium multisport solar MIP GPS smartwatch |
| Series | Fenix |
| Released | 18 January 2022 (announced 18 January 2022) |
| Price at launch | Standard (7S, 7): GBP 599.99 / USD 699.99 / EUR 699.99. Solar (7S, 7): USD 799.99 / EUR 799.99; GBP 689.99 (7). Sapphire Solar (7S, 7): USD 899.99 / EUR 899.99; GBP 779.99 to 859.99 (7), depending on band. 7X Solar: GBP 779.99 / USD 899.99 / EUR 899.99. 7X Sapphire Solar: from USD 999.99 / EUR 999.99, up to GBP 1,049.99 / USD 1,199 with a titanium band |
| Predecessor | Fenix 6 |
| Successor | Fenix 7 Pro |
| Sizes | 42mm (small, 7S), 47mm (medium, 7), 51mm (large, 7X) |
| Variants | Standard (7S and 7 only; stainless steel bezel, Corning Gorilla Glass); Solar (stainless steel bezel, Power Glass solar lens); Sapphire Solar (titanium bezel, Power Sapphire solar lens, multi-band GNSS, preloaded maps, 32GB) |
| Colours | Vary by edition and band. Examples at launch: 7X Solar in Slate Grey with Black band; 7 Sapphire Solar in Titanium with Chestnut leather band and a second Black band; 7X Sapphire Solar in Carbon Grey DLC Titanium with vented titanium band |
Specifications as at launch. Features and activity profiles reflect the latest Garmin software.
Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Comparisons | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
The Fenix that made every edition a Pro: music, Wi-Fi and Garmin Pay come as standard, a touchscreen joins the five buttons, and solar reaches all three sizes from 42mm (small) to 51mm (large). Elevation tracks proved especially good, and in a 10-mile All Systems accuracy test it turned in the second most accurate result yet recorded from a Garmin watch.
Sapphire Solar is the only way to get multi-band GNSS, which makes the edition choice more important than the size; it also doubles storage to 32GB and preloads the maps. The Elevate Gen 4 optical heart rate was a slight disappointment, and the touchscreen has no pinch-zoom. Against the Epix (Gen 2), the choice is solar MIP endurance versus a more vivid AMOLED screen in the same size and weight.
Garmin Fenix 7
Rugged adventure watch with maps, solar options and days of battery between charges.
What’s new versus the Fenix 6
Hardware
- Touchscreen on every edition, alongside the five buttons
- Every edition effectively a Pro model, with music storage, Wi-Fi and Garmin Pay
- Solar editions in all three sizes, with a solar cell area about 15% larger than on the Fenix 6 Solar
- Multi-band GNSS on the Sapphire Solar editions
- New Airoha GNSS chip with an All Systems mode
- Garmin Elevate Gen 4 optical heart rate sensor
- Built-in LED flashlight on the 7X
- 32GB storage on the Sapphire Solar editions; 16GB on the others
Software
- Up Ahead for aid stations and checkpoints
- Real-Time Stamina
- Visual Race Predictor
- SkiView ski resort maps
- Health Snapshot
- Connect IQ Store on the watch
- Real-time settings sync from the Garmin Connect app
Specifications
The 7 (47mm) figures are shown in the table as the headline size. Differences for the other sizes and the Standard edition are noted below.
7S (42mm): 42 x 42 x 14.1mm, display 30.4mm (1.2″) at 240 x 240, weight 63g (case 47g) for Standard and Solar, 58g (case 42g) for Sapphire Solar, QuickFit 20mm band.
7X (51mm): 51 x 51 x 14.9mm, display 35.56mm (1.4″) at 280 x 280, weight 96g (case 68g) Solar, 89g (case 61g) Sapphire Solar, QuickFit 26mm band, built-in LED flashlight. Solar and Sapphire Solar editions only.
Standard edition: 7S and 7 only. Corning Gorilla Glass lens and no solar charging; otherwise as the Solar edition of the same size.
| Specification | Fenix 7 47mm Solar | Fenix 7 47mm Sapphire Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Display | ||
| Display type | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP), colour | |
| Display size | 33.02mm (1.3″) | |
| Resolution | 260 x 260 pixels | |
| Lens | Power Glass | Power Sapphire |
| Solar charging | Yes | |
| Touchscreen | Yes, plus five buttons | |
| Physical | ||
| Case size | 47mm (medium) | |
| Dimensions | 47 x 47 x 14.5mm | |
| Weight | 79g (case 56g) | 73g (case 50g) |
| Bezel material | Stainless steel | Titanium |
| Case material | Fibre-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover | Fibre-reinforced polymer with titanium rear cover |
| Band | 22mm QuickFit, silicone | |
| Water rating | 10 ATM | |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
| Sensors and positioning | ||
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, All Systems mode | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, All Systems mode, multi-band |
| Heart rate | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 | |
| ECG | No | |
| Pulse Ox | Yes | |
| Skin temperature | No | |
| Other sensors | Barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer | |
| Connectivity and storage | ||
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | |
| NFC (Garmin Pay) | Yes | |
| Storage | 16GB | 32GB |
| Music | Yes, music storage and playback on the watch | |
| Maps | Downloadable TopoActive maps via Wi-Fi | Preloaded TopoActive maps |
| LED flashlight | No (7X only) | |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
Battery life
Battery figures are the same for every edition of each size. Standard editions (7S and 7) match the battery-only figures; figures in brackets are with solar. Solar figures assume all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions. Multi-band figures apply to the Sapphire Solar editions only.
| Mode | 7S (42mm) | 7 (47mm) | 7X (51mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch | Up to 11 days (14 days with solar) | Up to 18 days (22 days with solar) | Up to 28 days (37 days with solar) |
| Battery saver watch | Up to 38 days (87 days with solar) | Up to 57 days (173 days with solar) | Up to 90 days (1+ year with solar) |
| GPS Only | Up to 37 hours (46 hours with solar) | Up to 57 hours (73 hours with solar) | Up to 89 hours (122 hours with solar) |
| All Satellite Systems | Up to 26 hours (30 hours with solar) | Up to 40 hours (48 hours with solar) | Up to 63 hours (77 hours with solar) |
| All Systems + Multi-band (Sapphire Solar) | Up to 15 hours (16 hours with solar) | Up to 23 hours (26 hours with solar) | Up to 36 hours (41 hours with solar) |
| All Systems + Music | Up to 7 hours | Up to 10 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Max Battery GPS | Up to 90 hours (162 hours with solar) | Up to 136 hours (289 hours with solar) | Up to 213 hours (578 hours with solar) |
| Expedition GPS | Up to 26 days (43 days with solar) | Up to 40 days (74 days with solar) | Up to 62 days (139 days with solar) |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |||
Features
A full breakdown of Garmin platform features is available at Garmin features explained.
Plan
- Daily Suggested Workouts for running and cycling
- Garmin Coach training plans for running and cycling
- Cardio, strength, HIIT, yoga and Pilates workouts with on-screen animations and muscle map
- Race Widget and race predictor
- Round-trip course creator and Trendline popularity routing
- Morning Report
Prepare
- Training Readiness, Training Status and Training Load
- HRV Status
- Recovery Time
- Body Battery energy monitoring
- Sleep score, sleep coach and nap detection
- All-day stress and respiration tracking
- Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation
- Health Snapshot and Jet Lag Adviser
- Heat and altitude acclimation
- Women’s health and hydration tracking
Perform
- VO2 max, Hill Score and Endurance Score
- Real-Time Stamina
- Wrist-based running power and running dynamics
- PacePro, grade-adjusted pace and trail run auto climb
- Up Ahead for aid stations and checkpoints
- TopoActive maps, preloaded on Sapphire Solar editions and downloadable on the others
- SatIQ on Sapphire Solar editions
- SkiView ski resort maps
- 43,000 preloaded golf courses with Virtual Caddie
- Multisport auto transition
- Strava Live Segments and Garmin Live Segments
Connect
- Smart notifications, with text replies on Android
- Garmin Pay contactless payments
- Music storage and playback on the watch
- Incident detection and assistance during select activities
- Live event sharing
- Compatible with the Garmin Messenger app
- Connect IQ Store on the watch
- Real-time settings sync with Garmin Connect
- LED flashlight on the 7X
- Smart trainer control
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Obstacle Course, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running |
| Cycling | Biking, Road biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel biking, Bike commuting, Bike touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX |
| Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| Multisport | Triathlon, Swimming/Running |
| Gym and fitness | Strength, HIIT, Cardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor rowing, Jump Roping, Indoor Climbing, Boxing, Mixed martial arts, Indoor Walking, Pilates, Yoga |
| Outdoor | Walking, Hiking, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery, Inline Skating |
| Other | Winter sports: Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing, XC Skate Skiing | Water sports: Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating, Sailing, Sail Racing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Sailing Expedition, Whitewater, Snorkeling | Team sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball | Racket sports: Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball | Motorsports: Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motorcrossing, ATVing, Snowmobile | Other: Jumpmaster, Tactical |
Garmin Fenix 7
Rugged adventure watch with maps, solar options and days of battery between charges.
Comparisons and upgrade guides
- Garmin Fenix 7 Pro review, the successor and what it adds over the Fenix 7
- Before you buy the Fenix 7: think Sapphire, the edition and size choice
- Why tfk moved from the Fenix 7 to the Epix 2, MIP against AMOLED
Quick answers
When was the Garmin Fenix 7 released?
Garmin announced and released Fenix 7 on 18 January 2022. The launch price started at GBP 599.99 or USD 699.99 for the Standard 7S and 7, and reached GBP 1,049.99 or USD 1,199 for the 7X Sapphire Solar with a titanium band.
Is the Fenix 7 waterproof?
Fenix 7 has a water rating of 10 ATM. It includes Pool Swimming and Open Water Swimming profiles as well as Triathlon.
Does the Fenix 7 have maps?
Yes, Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar editions have preloaded TopoActive maps, and the other editions download TopoActive maps over Wi-Fi.
Does the Fenix 7 have a flashlight or ECG?
Only the 51mm Fenix 7X has a built-in LED flashlight. No Fenix 7 edition has ECG.
Does the Fenix 7 have solar charging?
Solar charging is on the Solar and Sapphire Solar editions in all three sizes. The Standard 7S and 7 have a Corning Gorilla Glass lens and no solar charging.
What size and weight is the Fenix 7?
Fenix 7 comes as the 42mm 7S, the 47mm 7 and the 51mm 7X. The 7 is 14.5mm thick, weighs 79g as the Solar or 73g as the Sapphire Solar, and takes a 22mm QuickFit band. Garmin rates it for up to 18 days as a smartwatch, or 22 days with solar.
Further reading
- Garmin Fenix 7 review
- Fenix 7 All Satellites mode accuracy test
- Multi-band GNSS on the Fenix 7 and Epix 2
- Fenix 7 and Epix 2 tips and tricks
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
Related watches
Successor: Garmin Fenix 7 Pro, the 2023 update to the Fenix 7 series.
Also consider: Amazfit T-Rex Dual Solar, a sapphire and titanium expedition watch with offline maps, dual-band GPS, solar charging and a bright AMOLED display.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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