Garmin Fenix 7 Pro vs Garmin Epix Pro: How Not To Make Mistake with Choice?
Garmin has just launched two new remarkable watches: the Fenix 7 Pro and Garmin Epix Pro. They share several similarities in terms of design and features, making them both exceptional choices for outdoor adventurers.
These watches include advanced GPS tracking, allowing users to accurately navigate through challenging terrains and record their routes. Additionally, they offer an array of sensors, such as a heart rate monitor, altimeter, barometer, and compass, providing users with comprehensive data for analyzing their performance and environmental conditions.
While the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro have many similarities, there are also some key differences that may influence the decision-making process for potential buyers.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro vs Garmin Epix Pro: Video Review
| Epix Pro 42 (Stainless Steel/Titanium) | Fenix 7S Pro (Stainless Steel/Titanium) | |
| Dimensions | 42 x 42 x 14.1 mm | 42 x 42 x 14.1 mm |
| Display size | 1.2 inches | 1.2 inches |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Weight | 63g (case: 47g)/ 58g (case: 42g) | 63g (case: 47g)/ 58g (case: 42g) |
| Epix Pro 47 (Stainless Steel/Titanium) | Fenix 7 Pro 47mm (Stainless Steel/Titanium) | |
| Dimensions | 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm | 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm |
| Display size | 1.3 inches | 1.3 inches |
| Resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels |
| Weight | 78g (case: 55g)/ 70g (case: 47g) | 79g (case: 56g)/ 73g (case: 50g) |
| Epix Pro 51 (Stainless Steel/Titanium) | Fenix 7X Pro (Stainless Steel/Titanium) | |
| Dimensions | 51 x 51 x 14.9 mm | 51 x 51 x 14.9 mm |
| Display size | 1.4 inches | 1.4 inches |
| Resolution | 454 x 454 pixels | 280 x 280 pixels |
| Weight | 98g (case: 70g)/ 88g (case: 60g) | 96g (case: 68g)/ 89g (case: 61g) |
Design and Appearance
What sets these watches apart is the availability of three different case sizes, a notable addition to the Epix line. The inclusion of multiple sizes—42 mm, 47 mm, and 51 mm—caters to the diverse range of wrist sizes individuals have. This feature ensures a comfortable fit for everyone, allowing users to choose the size that best suits their preferences and personal comfort.
The inclusion of stainless steel or titanium bezels, depending on the specific model, adds an extra layer of durability and sophistication to the watches. The combination of the polymer case and metal bezels strikes a balance between strength and aesthetics, resulting in timepieces that are both rugged and visually appealing.
In terms of design and functionality, both the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro follow the classic five-button layout that is characteristic of Garmin watches. These buttons are strategically positioned around the watch case, allowing users to easily navigate through menus and access various features with intuitive button presses. This layout provides a user-friendly experience, even in challenging environments where dexterity may be limited.
One notable distinction between the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and the Epix Pro lies in the inclusion of a solar-charging display, a feature exclusively found on the Fenix 7 Pro. This innovative addition incorporates a photosensitive ring around the display, serving a dual purpose of harvesting sunlight to extend the watch’s battery life and functioning as an ambient light sensor.
In addition to the solar-charging display, the Fenix 7 Pro introduces an updated Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) touchscreen display. The MIP technology enhances the readability of the screen, especially in bright lighting conditions. This improvement ensures that users can effortlessly view their watch’s information and data even when exposed to intense sunlight or other challenging lighting situations.
The full-color AMOLED screen on the Garmin Epix Pro presents a visually striking experience. The use of AMOLED technology ensures vibrant and vivid colors, making the display visually appealing and enhancing the overall user interface.
The touchscreen functionality of the Garmin Epix Pro allows for easy navigation and interaction with the watch’s features. Users can effortlessly swipe, tap, and scroll through menus and options, enhancing the overall user experience. The responsive nature of the touchscreen ensures smooth and intuitive operation, contributing to a seamless interaction with the watch’s functions.
Features and health monitors
From a features standpoint, the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro offer a wealth of capabilities that cover health, wellness, performance tracking, and smart features. These watches not only inherit the extensive feature sets of their predecessors but also introduce additional enhancements and functionalities.
Both the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro provide comprehensive health and wellness tracking features. These include advanced heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, stress tracking, and even features like Pulse Ox, which measures blood oxygen saturation levels. Users can monitor their overall well-being, track trends, and gain insights into their health and fitness levels.
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro introduce an exciting feature known as Hill Score, which provides valuable insights into an individual’s performance and capabilities on hills. Hill Score is comprised of two key metrics: Hill Endurance and Hill Strength, each focusing on different aspects of hill climbing.
Garmin introduces a new metric called Endurance Score, specifically designed for endurance athletes, to provide a deeper understanding of their sustained performance capabilities. While traditional metrics like VO2 max offer valuable insights into aerobic fitness, the Endurance Score takes a more comprehensive approach by evaluating the ability to sustain prolonged efforts across various activities.
The Endurance Score aims to address a common challenge among athletes: two individuals with similar VO2 max numbers may exhibit entirely different endurance capabilities. By focusing on sustained efforts rather than just aerobic capacity, the Endurance Score offers a more nuanced perspective on an athlete’s endurance performance.
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro, building upon the success of the Enduro 2, have inherited the Up Ahead mode, enhancing the user’s situational awareness during activities. This mode introduces running points-of-interest checkpoints directly on the map, allowing athletes to gain a better understanding of what lies ahead, such as aid stations or other important landmarks along their route.
This feature is particularly useful for endurance athletes, as it helps them stay informed about essential locations during long-distance activities, enabling better pacing, hydration, and nutrition strategies.
In addition to the Up Ahead mode, the maps on the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro come with weather map overlays, providing users with valuable insights into upcoming weather conditions.
The Garmin Epix Pro introduces Red Shift Mode as a new feature aimed at improving visibility and reducing sleep cycle disturbance in darker conditions. By utilizing shades of red on the display, the watch enhances visual acclimation and minimizes the negative effects of bright light exposure. While similar features are present in other smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra and Huawei Watch Ultimate, Garmin has also been incorporating comparable functionality in their Delta smartwatches for years. The addition of Red Shift Mode to the Epix Pro further demonstrates Garmin’s commitment to providing a comprehensive and user-centric experience in various lighting environments.
Battery life
Since the announcement of the Apple Watch Ultra and its touted 36-hour battery life, Garmin has been consistent in emphasizing their approach to battery life measurement. They proudly claim to measure battery life in days, not hours, showcasing their commitment to delivering long-lasting power.
Both the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and the Garmin Epix Pro live up to this claim with their impressive battery performance. Thanks to their solar-powered capabilities, the Fenix 7 Pro and the AMOLED-equipped Garmin Epix Pro offer extended battery lives, providing users with uninterrupted usage throughout their adventures.
What caught my attention is that the Epix Pro, specifically the 51 mm variant, boasts the longest battery life in smartwatch mode among the two models. While the Fenix 7X Pro is known for its extensive features and capabilities, it is intriguing that the Epix Pro surpasses it in terms of battery longevity. It’s important to note, however, that the Epix Pro’s longest battery life of 31 days is achieved without having the screen always-on, which is a consideration to keep in mind.
Price and Availability
Customers have the option to choose between the standard edition and the Sapphire edition, which offers additional durability and scratch resistance. The Fenix 7 Pro is priced from $800 in the US providing users with a range of choices depending on their location.
The Garmin Epix Pro is priced slightly higher than the Fenix 7 Pro, starting from $900 in the US. These prices reflect the features, specifications, and performance offered by the Epix Pro.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro vs Garmin Epix Pro: Conclusions
The Garmin Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro are not in competition to replace one another; instead, they offer distinct options to cater to different preferences. The Garmin Epix Pro, with its AMOLED screen, caters to those who value a visually appealing display without sacrificing battery life and performance.
On the other hand, the Fenix 7 Pro, with its MIP display, caters to individuals who prioritize practicality and prefer always-on screens. The choice between the two models depends on whether you prefer MIP or AMOLED displays.
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