So you’re looking for a solar powered Garmin with lasting battery life and premium features. Should you go for a fenix or an Enduro?
With the recent release of the Garmin fenix 8 and the Enduro 3, this choice has gotten a little murkier.
The Garmin fenix 7X Pro, the garmin Fenix 8 Solar, and the Garmin Enduro 3 are all very similar. So which watch is the right choice?
Let me highlight the key differences – of which there are only a handful – and give you some guidance. But ultimately, it’s up to you to choose the best watch given how you’ll use it.
The Price Difference Between the Garmin fenix and the Enduro
Let’s start with the obvious question – which watch costs more? Then we can get into the feature differences.
The Garmin fenix 7X Pro Pro is the oldest watch of the three, so you’d think it was the cheapest. But it’s not. It originally retails for $999.99. Now that the fenix 8 has been out for a while, you may find steeper discounts – down to $750 or so.
That may make it a little cheaper than the Garmin Enduro 3. The Enduro was released last summer with a retail price of $899.99 – cheaper than the fenix 7X Pro used to be and but more than its typical discounted price.
Meanwhile, the garmin Fenix 8 Solar is significantly more expensive. It retails for $1199.99. The smaller version is slightly cheaper, but it also comes with less battery life.
You’re probably wondering, then – what does the fenix 8 bring to the table? Not a ton, considering the premium price.
The Garmin fenix 7X Pro vs Garmin Enduro 3
Before we look at the newer fenix, let’s consider how the older fenix stacks up against the Enduro.
The two watches are remarkably similar. They’re the same size, the same build, and at launch they had pretty much all of the same software features. Either watch will help you navigate trails or play golf courses.
They have the same MIP display with sapphire glass, the same Elevate 5 heart rate sensor, and Garmin Pay. They each come with the LED flashlight – the most useful, silly little feature ever.
The Enduro 3 is essentially everything the fenix 7X Pro is … with one significant improvement: solar charging.
On most Garmin watches, the solar charging leaves something to be desired. Most people don’t get anywhere near the exposure needed to get the advertised benefits, and even if they do … those benefits aren’t all that significant.
But the Enduro 3 changes that in a big way. It has the capacity for more solar charging – so you’re more likely to actually get a useful amount of energy. Combine that with the large battery, and you really are likely to see a significant improvement over battery life.
Between these two watches, there’s not much reason to choose the Garmin fenix 7X Pro – unless you really like the style of the older watch or you find a really good deal on the older watch. Now that the discounts are getting steeper on the fenix 7X Pro, you may find it worth your while to go with the older, cheaper watch.
The one time the fenix is the better choice is when you a) don’t care that much about battery life and b) want a smaller size.
The Enduro only comes in 51mm, while the fenix 7 Pro also comes in 42mm and 47mm. These smaller versions have less battery life – it’s the necessary compromise for a smaller body – and will benefit less from solar charging. But otherwise, they’re basically just as good as the Enduro.
So if you want to go big and/or you want to maximize battery life – go with the Enduro. If you want to go small, go with the fenix.
The Garmin fenix 8 Solar vs Garmin Enduro 3
Now when you compare the two newer watches – the fenix 8 Solar and the Enduro 3 – there are two significant feature differences. But with the much larger price tag, most people will probably be better off with the Enduro.
The fenix 8 Solar brings two major features to the table – dive features and a microphone.
The dive features are a niche thing. It turns your fenix into a dive computer, and it brings in dive features that typically were reserved for niche watches for divers – like the Garmin descent. It’s the kind of thing that either you want it – or you don’t care.
The other feature is a microphone. The built in microphone enables you to take voice calls on your watch, access your phone’s voice assistant, and dictate text messages. This is a cool feature – one which Garmin first introduced with the Venu 3. But how bad do you want it? Is this worth an extra $300?
Meanwhile, the Enduro brings something to the table vis-a-vis the fenix 8. It has a larger battery, and it features much better solar charging capabilities. If battery life is a concern, the Enduro is hands down a better watch. And it’s $300 cheaper, to boot.
The only other potential advantage to the fenix is, again, that it comes in a smaller size. The fenix 8 Solar does not come in 42mm (like the AMOLED version or the fenix 7 Pro). But it does come in 47mm, and that version is $100 cheaper.
So if you don’t care as much about battery life, you really want the microphone, and you prefer a smaller watch … the fenix 8 Solar is an ok choice.
But really, I just can’t see how the microphone justifies that increase in price. If the differential were $100, or if there were some other benefits to the fenix, then I might consider it. But as is, it just seems like a lot of extra money – without enough differentiation.
A Note About Future Feature Updates
Now that a year has gone by since the launch of the newer watches, they’ve benefited from some feature updates. And it’s becoming increasingly clear that Garmin will only roll out new features to the latest watch in a product line.
For example, the Forerunner 570 and 970 introduced some new metrics (running economy) and new features (triathlon training plans and multisport workouts). Those are slated to be released on both the fenix 8 and the Enduro – but they’re not going to be rolled out to the older fenix 7 Pro.
The Enduro 3 and fenix 8 are in the same family, and they’ll likely receive the same features if/when new features are rolled out. But over time, this will create a little more distance between the newer watches and the fenix 7 Pro.
This does give a slight advantage to the newer watches – which will continue to grow over time. But this is balanced by the increase in discounts on the older fenix 7 Pro. It’s still a great watch, and for the right price it’s definitely worth foregoing future features improvements – which don’t tend to be earth shattering anyway.
The Bottom Line: The fenix 7X Pro, the Enduro 3, or the fenix 8 Solar
A year ago, there was no point in getting the fenix 7X Pro – because it cost about the same as an Enduro 3. But recently, the price has come down, and it’s worth considering if you want a premium watch on a budget. You get most of the same features and hardware at a reduced price.
But the Enduro 3 isn’t that much more expensive than the fenix 7X Pro. It also benefits from better battery life and solar charging. Plus, you’ll receive new feature updates for the next year or two until a newer watch comes out in this product line. If you’re not strapped for cash, I’d still probably lean towards the Enduro 3 over the older fenix.
If you’re stuck between the Enduro 3 and the fenix 8 Solar, there are a couple significant differences to consider. If you think you’ll actually use the microphone, then it’s a clear advantage to the fenix, although it’ll cost you $300. But I think most people would be better served with the Enduro 3. It’s cheaper, and you’ll get much better battery life.
The one group that should be excited about the fenix 8 is scuba divers who also run. The fenix 8 includes most of the dive features found on the Descent, and it’s significantly cheaper. I’ll be frank – I don’t know enough about diving to know the difference. But if the fenix does what you need, then that’s a good deal.
So you really need to ask yourself – do I care about dive features and/or a microphone? If so, is the $2-300 premium worth it? Then consider the garmin Fenix 8 Solar.
But if the answer to either of those questions is no, then you should be looking at the Garmin Enduro 3. Of all the new options, it seems to be the best choice that balances features, hardware, and a reasonable price.