Simply the best SPORTS watch that has been made to date. (obviously the fenix 7x pro where the only difference is the screen). Note that both the fenix and the epix refer to the pro versions with the new heart rate monitor.
I emphasize the word sports because there are crazy misunderstandings with Garmin watches! The watch is aimed at professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all kinds who take their activities seriously. The purpose of my review is to help this category of people; if you want a smartwatch for beauty and smart functions or if you exercise occasionally, buy something else. Here we are talking about a professional tool.
Let's get to the point.
- The greatest GPS accuracy I have personally seen in a watch, and I have tested over 20 from Garmin and other companies. It doesn't lose a millimeter, locks in seconds in canyons, under bridges and buildings, even below the surface of the sea. I have done tests with anything you can imagine, the results are impressive!!
- The best heart rate monitor that Garmin has made.
The accuracy in recording heart rates is impressive in every activity from running and swimming to gym and jump rope where the difficulty level increases. A comparison was made with a chest strap and in the majority of activities there was complete alignment (small deviations of 2-5 beats were observed in extremely demanding activities with fluctuating heart rates, e.g., interval training with a jump rope, etc.).
So we are talking about the best heart rate monitor you can find in a watch.
- The battery of the watch is simply from another planet; having everything open except for pulse ox and with activities of 1-2 hours daily, the watch easily lasts 25-30 days.
Note that the above does not apply in the always display on setting but in the setting where the watch activates only when you look at it.
- Beautiful screen like all AMOLEDs, you waste a bit of battery (less than you think compared to the fenix 7x pro) but you gain in enjoyment in the user experience. However, it is purely a matter of taste what someone will choose.
- Smart functions yes, it cannot be compared to a purely smartwatch (e.g., it does not have a speaker for calls) but it responds excellently to basic functions. You receive any notification you want from any app, you can pay contactless from the watch, find your phone, etc., etc. In my opinion, when you buy this watch, all these, although welcome, are not a purchase criterion. Personally, I find them indifferent.
- Improved sleep tracking with countless features, excellent accuracy compared to previous Garmin watches, and it's highly positive that all kinds of naps are now recorded.
- For the loaded sports profiles, we could talk for 2 days. It truly has everything that might come to your mind. The key in all this has always been what algorithm is used in each sport and consequently what its accuracy is. I will tell you where I have tested it.
Running, trail, hiking, swimming, the measurements are close to perfection. Personally, I was amazed by its measurements in the gym where it accurately records everything (e.g., how many push-ups you do), the jump rope where it counts the jumps with small deviations, of course. In all the above, the heart rate measurements are close to perfection.
- The flashlight, although I didn't realize it at first, is the most useful feature on the watch.
- Regarding statistics and fitness indicators, they have taken it to another level... It really measures everything you can imagine: fitness, endurance, uphill ability, recovery times, readiness level, energy levels, and much more. Most of these seem to have relative accuracy. The conclusion is that this is the top sports watch currently on the market with endless customizations, fitness and health metrics. With very accurate measurements that are unlikely to disappoint you almost anywhere.