Garmin fenix 5

[buzzard75]

Garmin has announced three new fenix watches, the fenix 5, 5S, and 5X. They are supposed to launch sometime Q1 2017. Each model features a different size case. The 5S is 42mm, the 5 is 47mm, and the 5X is 51mm compared to the fenix 3 HR's 51.5mm. The thickness also varies with the 5S at 14.5mm, the 5 at 15.5mm, and 5X at 17.5mm compared to the fenix 3 HR's 16.5mm. They all support GPS and GLONASS as well as wrist based heart monitoring, hence the comparison to fenix 3 HR size. As features go, they appear to all be identical with only one model, the fenix 5x with the larger face, having map functionality. All models are available in a sapphire face version and feature quick change bands for personalization.

The biggest detractor for me for the fenix 3 HR was the size of the case since I have small wrists. I'm glad to see things getting shrunken down. Knowing that Garmin works about as reliably with Windows 10 as my Band 1 does, this very well could be my replacement watch when it launches. What do you folks think?

https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/fenix/#

 

[J Frost]

I have been thinking about a Garmin Fenix to replace my now broken band 2.
Do you know if this will allow you to speech to text on wp10?
Have you read anything in the battery life?

 

[buzzard75]

I don't believe any of the Garmin watches do speech to text like the Band and Cortana.

Their quoted battery life depends on the watch style. The 5X is up to 12 days in smartwatch mode, 20 hours in GPS mode, and 50 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode. The 5 is up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, 24 hours in GPS mode, and 75 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode. And the 5S is up to 9 days in smartwatch mode, 14 hours in GPS mode, and 40 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode.

Now whether or not it will actually hit those numbers remains to be seen. Any of them would be an improvement over my current Band 1. I'm lucky if I get a day out of it without the HR tracking on.