Garmin Fenix E - First Thoughts Review - A pointless addition (2024)

My first thought on the Garmin Fenix E is that it is an almost entirely pointless addition to Garmin’s Fenix lineup. It is 99% identical to the standard Garmin Epix Gen 2 47mm and Garmin even agrees with me with this comparison on Garmin.com. Despite the same MRSP/RRP, the older Epix is now widely discounted by at least $250.

Garmin Fenix E Review to follow? No. Read this review instead!

What’s Going on Here?

Historically Fenix has been Garmin’s flagship brand. It majors on pro adventure and multisport usage and part of its appeal is uber-long battery life.

Epix Gen 2 was a re-launch of the decade-old Epix brand and Garmin effectively made it a copy of the Fenix adding a super-bright, high-resolution AMOLED screen. Those screens ate battery and perhaps Garmin saw that as contrary to one of the key tenets of the Fenix brand.

Garmin’s marketing problem became that the majority of customers want pretty screens. Add improvements in battery lives over the last few years and an Epix 3 would be the model that outsold Fenix. All of Garmin’s brand investment in Fenix would be lost.

So what’s happening here is that the old Epix and Fenix lines are merged into Fenix 8 and Garmin is killing the Epix brand. Except it can’t quite do that as it’s also hiking the prices at the same time and needs something at a lower price point for its customers who seek out something more than a Garmin Instinct 3 or something more than perhaps offered by, say, Apple Watch Ultra.

So Garmin has kept Epix Gen 2 alive, as is, but rebranded it as the Fenix E, where ‘E’ means Essential.

Garmin Fenix E Models & Pricing

You can only get the 47mm model at $799.

This is hardly a budget watch. However, when the original Epix was launched in April 2022 I described it as the best sports/adventure watch ever. It’s still an awesome watch, it’s just that it will soon be 3 years old in terms of its core tech.

Garmin Fenix E Options

There is only stainless steel or grey options alongside Gorilla Glass as standard.

Garmin Fenix E Hardware

There’s a 1.3″ AMOLED colour touchscreen display and Gen 4 optical HR sensor. Both are older tech in the sense that the screen is smaller than the newer range and the optical HR lacks skin temperature and ECG. It weighs a respectable 76g.

Also lacking in comparison to the newest Fenix 8 are the sensor guard, inductive dive buttons and flashlight. there’s also half the storage which comes in at 16Gb (cf 32Gb)

Garmin Fenix E Software

This is where it gets interesting and here lies the justification for you buying Fenix E.

Where the sensors allow, you will get the same software experience as Fenix 8. Thus you won’t get ECG because the sensor can’t support it but you will get the enhancements to navigation with features like dynamic round trip routing, and you’ll get the new strength coach, and more besides.

So the difference here is that you will get the guarantee of future software updates whereas the older Epix Gen 2 (not Pro) will pretty much stay as-is.

Garmin Fenix E:- Boat Loads of Existing Features

If you are new to Garmin or upgrading from an old Instinct, you can expect a huge leap in features and presentation. Here’s a taste of what you can expect.

PERFORMANCE FEATURES

• Endurance Score: Uses VO2 max, training loads, and other factors to gauge your ability to sustain prolonged effort.
• Visual Race Predictor: Estimates your pace for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon distances.
• PacePro Technology: Provides GPS-based pace guidance for race-day strategy on a selected course or distance.
• ClimbPro Feature: Displays real-time information on current and upcoming climbs on downloaded courses.
• Grade-Adjusted Pace: Shows your equivalent running pace on flat ground or when ascending, based on effort.
• Training Status: Offers insights on whether you’re training productively, peaking, or strained.
• Performance Metrics: Advanced metrics such as VO2 max and training load to gauge performance.
• Multisport Auto Transition: Automatically detects and records sport changes between swim, bike, and run in multisport activities.
• Hill Score: Measures uphill running capability and progress based on VO2 max and training history.
• Daily Suggested Workouts: Displays a week’s worth of adaptive daily workouts.
• Recovery Time: Recommends recovery time before your next high-effort workout based on recent training.
• Race Widget: Provides training tips, personalized daily suggested workouts, and more for race preparation.
• Wrist-Based Running Dynamics: Displays crucial running metrics like cadence, stride length, and ground contact time.
• Garmin Coach: Offers adaptive or prebuilt training plans for race preparation, milestones, or fitness improvement.

ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS

• Track Your Activities: Utilizes preloaded activity profiles to track and gain insights from various pursuits, including team sports.
• HIIT Workouts: Tracks HIIT workouts, including AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata, or custom workouts.
• Animated Workouts: Displays animated workouts for cardio, strength, yoga, and Pilates on the watch screen.
• Backcountry Ski and Snowboard: Tracks ascent and descent data, cadence, stride length, and grade.
• XC Ski Power: Measures exercise load with an HRM-Pro Plus chest strap (sold separately).
• Surf Activity: Records waves surfed, maximum speed, distance travelled, and captures video with Surfline Sessions™ technology.
• MTB Dynamics: Tracks ride details with specialized Grit and Flow measurements.

FIND YOUR WAY

• Outdoor Maps+: Provides premium mapping content like satellite imagery and enhanced topographic maps via subscription.
• Multi-GNSS Support: Tracks using multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo).
• ABC Sensors: Utilizes an altimeter, barometer, and 3-axis electronic compass for navigation.
• Multicontinent Topo Maps: Offers TopoActive maps from around the world with additional maps downloadable via Wi-Fi®.
• NextFork Map Guide: Displays the distance to the next intersection and trail name for navigation.
• Up Ahead Feature: Provides awareness of selected POI checkpoints ahead, such as aid stations, during a race.
• Courses with Turn-By-Turn Directions: Creates or syncs courses for turn-by-turn directions.
• SkiView Maps: Displays run names and difficulty ratings for over 2,000 preloaded ski resorts worldwide.
• Golf Course Maps: Preloaded full-color CourseView maps for over 43,000 golf courses worldwide.

HEALTH FEATURES

• Morning Report: Customizable overview of sleep, training outlook, HRV status, weather, and more upon waking.
• HRV Status: Provides insights into overall health, recovery, and training performance during sleep.
• Wrist-Based Heart Rate: Constantly samples heart rate to gauge effort during activities.
• Pulse Ox Sensor: Tracks blood oxygen saturation while awake or asleep, providing altitude adaptation insights.
• Sleep Coach: Offers sleep score and personalized coaching for improving sleep quality.
• Nap Detection: Tracks and logs naps to analyze benefits and recommend optimal nap times and durations.
• Jet Lag Adviser: Guides minimizing jet lag effects through light exposure, sleep schedule, and exercise.
• Body Battery Energy Monitoring: Monitors energy levels to find the best times for activity and rest.
• Stress Tracking: Indicates whether you’re having a calm, balanced, or stressful day.
• Health Snapshot Feature: Logs a 2-minute session to record key health stats for sharing with healthcare providers.
• Respiration Tracking: Monitors breathing patterns throughout the day and night.
• Hydration Tracking: Logs daily fluid intake and reminds you to stay hydrated.
• Altitude and Heat Acclimation: Monitors adaptation to current elevation or heat based on health metrics.

CONNECTED FEATURES

• Garmin Connect App: Accesses health and fitness information, connects with friends, and more.
• Garmin Messenger App: Enables two-way text messaging on your wrist.
• Smart Notifications: Receives emails, texts, and alerts when paired with a smartphone.
• Music: Downloads songs and playlists from Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music for phone-free listening.
• Garmin Pay Contactless Payments: Allows for easy payments with participating providers.
• Garmin Share: Facilitates sharing saved locations, courses, and workouts with friends’ Garmin devices.
• Safety and Tracking Features: Send a message with a live location if you feel unsafe or if an incident is detected.
• Stocks Tracker: Tracks up to 50 favourite stocks from your wrist.
• Connect IQ Store: Adds watch faces, data fields, and apps via a paired smartphone.
• Power Manager: Displays how various settings and sensors impact battery life.

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:

• Garmin Fenix E AMOLED $799
• Garmin Epix Gen 2 – typically $45o renewed or $700 new ($800 on Garmin.com)
• Garmin Epix Gen 2 Pro – other sizes available – typically starts around $875 ($900 on Garmin.com)
• Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED – starts at $1000

Take Out: Garmin Fenix E – First Thoughts Review

This is a great watch, albeit with 3-year-old tech. You might feel a little cheated if you bought one without knowing that.

Even if this watch pushes all your sporting buttons and your Visa card is quivering with excitement, I would think twice before buying one. Really consider the Epix 2 as an alternative; better still, get the Epix Gen 2 Pro. But if you bought one of those you would have to accept that new software features will be in more limited supply than if you opted for Fenix E and its allure of future-proofing.