Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2), 51 mm, Glass, Slate Grey, Black

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That latter detail is crucial, in our view, because it means you can still get a Fenix-level battery if you're willing to make a compromise on the display (which, technically, you'll already have to if you choose a Fenix instead of an Epix). In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the upcoming Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Series and Epix Pro (Gen2) smartwatches. But where Garmin watches still come into their own is with the depth of their fitness features, like the excellent Morning Report, and the Epix 2 Pro will likely get many of the ones we've seen on the Forerunner 965. Garmin watches also tend to have more buttons, which are better than touchscreens in many fitness scenarios, and connect to a huge range of training equipment using ANT+ and Bluetooth BLE sensors. And here’s what’s inside: The watch, a USB-C Garmin charging cable, and some paperwork that tells you nothing of value. For instance, the Fenix 7 Pro and the Epix Pro both use the new Elevate Gen 5 bio-sensor, have two brand new features added (Hill Score and Endurance Score), integrate a physical flashlight into the watch case, and more. Which one should you get, though? I was sent a sample of both a little over a week before the launch, and after spending some quality time with them, I think I know the answer.

epix Pro Series of next-gen smartwatches Garmin announces the epix Pro Series of next-gen smartwatches

There's also a more simplified version available, too, letting you ditch those additional stats to show off time, date, and heart rate only if things get a bit too busy for you. If you've seen the Nike watch face you can find on the Nike+ edition of the Apple Watch, then DigiSport will feel familiar.Garmin's more niche watches, like ones from the Approach, Marq, Enduro and Descent lines, are almost always supported by developers, too. The thing is, all these smartwatches use the same excellent Garmin fitness platform and the Garmin Connect app, so if one is “too much,” then another may be just right. For my lifestyle, the Vivomove Trend is ideal, but for Digital Trends’ Editor-in-Chief Andrew Martonik, who runs marathons, the Forerunner 955 is the sweet spot. It’s not for me, but it could be perfect for you Andy Boxall/Digital Trends Enduro 2, epix (Gen 2), Fenix 7 series, Forerunner series, Instinct 2 series and MARQ (Gen 2) users are in for a treat If you spend a lot of time outdoors exploring, this is the kind of free face to have loaded up onto your Garmin. Garmin’s move to add AMOLED screens to its watches has seen the battery life suffer, but it’s not suffered as badly as many may have anticipated. It managed to successfully add in more power-hungry display technology, and still offer strong battery performance with or without that screen set to always-on.

Pro and Epix Pro to see which is I used the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro to see which is

Along with a boat that slowly moves across your face, you can see your step count along with the time, battery status, and whether you've got a Bluetooth connection to your paired smartphone. You can simply display your Parkrun ID and barcode to be scanned along with ICE emergency information if you have any problems on your 5k jaunt. If you want one of the most premium sports watches around, there will also be the usual Sapphire versions available for a small markup when the Epix 2 Pro likely arrives in late May or mid-June. In practice, I’d say that the new sensor has performed well in my testing for runs and indoor workouts, but I haven’t seen enough to suggest that it’s going to be as reliable as a dedicated heart rate monitor. The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro have very similar builds and come in three sizes, which is new for the Epix line. Having three different case sizes (42 mm, 47 mm and 51 mm) allows people to enjoy the best Garmin adventure watch experience regardless of their wrist sizes.We still rate the Apple Watch Ultra as one of the best smartwatches you can buy, and it could be the better choice if you're predominantly looking for a smartwatch that has tons of apps and a stunning screen. On one hand, we can see how it'll become a solid performance insight alongside something like Garmin's Race Predictor, which has never really accounted for endurance and has instead been more heavily influenced by VO2 Max trends and the speed you're showing in your training. As the Epix Pro 2 is the newer and more advanced model, it's no surprise that this comes in a bit more expensive.