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HomeRunningGarmin Fēnix 8 AMOLED Evaluation – iRunFar

Garmin Fēnix 8 AMOLED Evaluation – iRunFar


The Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED. All photographs: iRunFar/Craig Randall

The Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED ($1,000 to $1,200 relying on options, $1,100 as examined in 51-millimeter chrome steel model) is way more than a easy GPS operating watch; it’s in an identical class as challengers just like the Coros Vertix 2S and Suunto Vertical. These are watches with usually 30 or extra completely different sport and exercise choices, fabricated from rugged titanium or sapphire supplies with an enormous emphasis on mapping and navigation. But the one watch on this class up to now to supply an AMOLED possibility is the Garmin fēnix 8.

The 12 months 2024 was the 12 months of AMOLED for the key manufacturers and legacy watch sequence within the GPS operating and out of doors classes. The entire main gamers — Coros, Suunto, and Garmin — unveiled new watches boasting the gorgeous and high-definition AMOLED shows, previously reserved for the favored Garmin Epix.

Within the Garmin fēnix 8, Garmin has added an AMOLED model to one in all its hottest and highly effective units. Take a look again to our Garmin fēnix 7 assessment to check this new version with the prior within the fēnix line.

AMOLED requires loads of battery energy in comparison with its Reminiscence in Pixel (MIP) counterparts, so whereas the pattern in GPS operating watches is to supply longer and longer life — principally with MIP shows — Garmin, and to a lesser extent Coros and Suunto, with the Coros Tempo Professional and Suunto Race and Suunto Race S, are discovering methods to supply greatest in school mapping, optical coronary heart fee and oxygen sensors, and excessive efficiency GPS recording with out sacrificing a lot battery longevity whereas nonetheless delivering the AMOLED show enhancements.

What I’ve lengthy appreciated in regards to the Garmin fēnix sequence although is its capacity to switch my cellphone. It syncs to streaming service Spotify, comes totally loaded with labeled maps, and has the perfect, most intuitive consumer interface of any watch I’ve examined.

The Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED stays aggressive with the Coros Vertix 2S and Suunto Vertical in battery life, nevertheless it comes at a moderately giant value improve. The Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED is about $300 greater than its class opponents, with roughly the identical battery life, however a greater show and singularly supplied options.

Learn on to search out out if the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED is value the additional value whenever you’re contemplating a purchase order of a really well-rounded out of doors sports activities watch that can be utilized for ultrarunning. We additionally suggest you take a look at our greatest GPS operating watch information, the place we rated this watch among the many different high watches.

Store the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED

Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED Show

Garmin Fēnix 8 - on wrist

The Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED in use.

The Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED display screen is additional shiny, and paired with an anti-glare coating, it’s simpler to learn, even when the solar is instantly overhead. That is essential whenever you’re out within the mountains or deep in a canyon and don’t wish to be fiddling together with your watch to see the info. That brightness stage is adaptive too, so it adjusts relying in your surroundings, whether or not you’re within the shade or instantly beneath the solar.

The display screen is sharp, clear, and readable in nearly any situation. The upper decision makes textual content and icons pop, so that you’re not left squinting at small particulars whenever you want them most. One of many challenges with any watch in shiny daylight is glare and this has been a selected knock in opposition to AMOLED shows traditionally.

For top output sport watches for ultrarunners, AMOLED shows was once a difficult proposition. Certain, it appears to be like lovely and makes your previous watch appear to be a relic, nevertheless it comes at an enormous value to battery life. Or it used to.

AMOLED tech produces richer, extra vibrant colours and deeper blacks — the type of distinction you don’t get with a conventional MIP display screen. In case you’ve used the Garmin fēnix sequence up to now, or watches from the opposite main manufacturers within the GPS operating watch class, you’ll instantly discover the distinction.

This adjustment out of the field could be considerably annoying although. Generally, you wish to maximize battery life, which implies using inside battery saving options, like dialing again the display screen brightness and limiting power-hungry options when you have to stretch that final little bit of juice, nevertheless it’s the adaptive brightness that may typically hinder your expertise.

Take into consideration when doing intervals, monitor reps, or actually any exercise state of affairs whenever you wish to examine your tempo or another information rapidly. There could be critical lag between turning your wrist upward and the display screen turning into totally illuminated. This may be abated by turning on the always-on show possibility to your particular exercise, so that you just received’t should faucet the display screen or elevate to wake the machine each time you wish to examine your time, tempo, or altitude. However, particularly on lengthy runs, this will likely be a significant battery hog.

The display screen alone might warrant runners buying the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED over the still-exceptional Garmin fēnix 7, however the fēnix 8 AMOLED in addition to the Garmin fēnix 8 Photo voltaic ($1,100 to 1,200) additionally get some spectacular new options. I’ve at all times appreciated how shut the fēnix line involves killing off my smartphone dependence whereas operating, providing fantastic options like offline Spotify streaming and the perfect mapping of any sports activities watch, making it simpler to only depart your cellphone behind solely — at the very least on daylight runs in public locations, the place you don’t really feel such as you want a cellphone for security.

Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED Dimension, Weight, Look, and Really feel

Garmin Fēnix 8 - side view

A aspect view of the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED.

The earlier two variations within the fēnix line weren’t slight units, however the 51-millimeter Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED by comparability appears much more gargantuan. Luckily, the watch can also be supplied in 43- and 47-millimeter circumstances, however I examined the 51-millimeter model. This does appear higher suited to my body at 6 toes, 4 inches in peak, however even I wrestle to search out it completely snug for all-day put on. The burden of my stainless-steel take a look at unit is 102 grams.

Garmin has by no means had the panache of Suunto from a design and consumer interface perspective, however, particularly with an AMOLED model, Garmin’s appear and feel is way improved, veering away from the Android/open supply comparisons of previous to a barely extra trendy and complex colour palette throughout the customizable shows and menus.

Possibly my greatest gripe in regards to the watch’s really feel is the button sensitivity. The watch maintains a high and backside proper button structure, and a high, backside, and center button on the left. The issue is that they are often very mushy. They merely require an excessive amount of specificity for my liking and in comparison with different watches in related settings. With gloves over your fingers, it may be additional troublesome to begin and cease an exercise or navigate utilizing the buttons. Alternatively, the touchscreen performance when not carrying gloves may be very stable.

Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED Voice Instructions and Notes

In a nod to Siri and Alexa, the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED will get voice command capabilities, permitting you to begin a run, a nap, a timer, and plenty of different choices by holding the beginning/cease button on the highest proper and talking into the machine. The voice recognition app opens in an identical option to Siri by listening then enabling your command. Among the key voice instructions are:

  • Begin or cease an exercise;
  • Pause your run;
  • Alter settings like display screen brightness, don’t disturb mode, or music playback with out having to navigate by menus — I actually like this notably when utilizing my Spotify playlists, so that you don’t should click on by the cumbersome screens; and
  • Activate particular options, just like the flashlight or stopwatch.
Garmin Fēnix 8 AMOLED - back view

A again view of the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED.

The fēnix 8 AMOLED additionally integrates together with your cellphone’s voice assistant, corresponding to Siri for iOS or Google Assistant for Android. This implies you should utilize your watch to ship textual content messages or make calls, get climate updates, and set reminders or timers.

Whereas it’s not fairly a completely immersive voice assistant such as you get with a wise speaker in your house, it provides simply sufficient performance to make actions smoother, particularly whenever you want a fast adjustment or replace with out pulling out your cellphone or twiddling with the watch’s buttons and menus.

Since voice instructions nonetheless require touching a button on the machine, it isn’t as seamless as maybe if it was at all times on and hands-free. However voice instructions and recognition know-how deliver the fēnix 8 AMOLED ever nearer to its smartwatch counterparts from Apple and Google, and since I normally put on the machine full time, I truly take extra benefit of voice instructions throughout day by day life for options just like the flashlight or for nap timers and alarms.

Voice notes are one other very cool function that syncs and saves together with your GPS location. On journey runs or whereas navigating new routes this can be a worthwhile function for leaving your self reminders about landmarks, obstacles, or variations to route-finding. It’s way more seamless than pulling out your cellphone and recording the small print there.

There’s the useful new capacity to make the most of the built-in speaker and mic to allow you to make and take cellphone calls out of your wrist when your watch is paired to your cellphone. Alongside these traces, some bank card firms will let you register your card and let you use Garmin Pay for contactless funds at distributors — one other phone-killing perk!

Garmin Fēnix 8 AMOLED GPS Accuracy and Battery Life

One of many stand out options on the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED that carries over however is improved over the fēnix 7 is SatIQ, Garmin’s clever satellite tv for pc reception system. SatIQ is a GPS function that adjusts how your watch interacts with satellites in actual time. As a substitute of utilizing a continuing, full-strength GPS sign which drains battery, SatIQ dynamically adjusts to the circumstances round you.

SatIQ runs within the background to provide probably the most correct place monitoring when it counts, and conserving battery whenever you don’t want excessive precision. For instance, in case you’re out on a wide-open path or a comparatively flat part of a race, SatIQ may swap to utilizing simply GPS. Alternatively, in case you’re in an space with dense tree cowl, a valley, or rocky terrain, SatIQ will swap to pulling in indicators from international navigation satellite tv for pc techniques GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo to enhance accuracy. By continually monitoring the surroundings, SatIQ mechanically switches to the perfect satellite tv for pc configuration to your environment.

The end result? You get extra out of your watch, particularly on these lengthy days whenever you want each ounce of battery life to complete a race or coaching run. However it’s best to nonetheless alter your GPS-sampling fee (i.e. swap between efficiency modes) when you understand you have to get probably the most battery efficiency potential, and also you’ll additionally wish to flip off loads of different battery draining options corresponding to sensors or music playback when full battery life is required for monitor recording and navigation.

Actual world battery efficiency stats for the 51-millimeter model of the watch I examined, even with the AMOLED show, routinely offers me round 65 to 68 hours. This information got here by disabling SatIQ and with all satellite tv for pc techniques enabled and using the AMOLED battery saving options. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, in Expedition GPS mode, the fēnix 8 AMOLED ought to give about 31 full days of energy. AMOLED will not be accessible in Photo voltaic variations of the fēnix 8, so in a direct comparability to earlier fēnix fashions with photo voltaic, battery efficiency may very well be a little bit worse with the brand new fēnix 8 AMOLED.

Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED Total Impressions

Some folks will discover that the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED is a consolidation of the perfect options from the Garmin Epix — the show — and the prevailing Garmin fēnix 7 — its unbelievable mapping, battery, well being, and sensors know-how. This is perhaps so, though persevering with to construct on the muse of the SatIQ clever satellite tv for pc reception system to comprise and preserve battery life along side AMOLED is an thrilling improvement, proprietary to Garmin.

The actual alternative for a lot of will hinge on how vital show high quality is for you. I’ve to confess that it’s considerably onerous to return to different shows after spending loads of time with watches which have AMOLED shows.

There’s a big value for this know-how proper now although, so whether it is only a show dialogue, you may go for extra inexpensive AMOLED sports activities watches just like the Coros Tempo Professional or Suunto Race S. You’ll sacrifice quite a bit from a options standpoint by turning to those different units, and maybe most significantly, in case you worth a watch that may put far between you and your cellphone whereas providing loads of the identical options, the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED is a really worthy funding.

Store the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED

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  • Have you ever tried the Garmin fēnix 8 AMOLED? What have been your ideas?
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