The latest generation of premium sports watches brings intense competition between traditional fitness brands and smart technology giants. Recent extensive testing reveals how Garmin's new Fenix 8 performs against Apple's flagship Ultra 2 in real-world conditions, offering crucial insights for athletes and tech enthusiasts alike.
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| A GPS map illustrating the location accuracy comparison of various smartwatches during a 20-mile run, highlighting the capabilities of the Garmin Fenix 8 |
Advanced Features and Design
The Garmin Fenix 8 introduces innovative inductive buttons with haptic feedback, replacing traditional clicking mechanisms for improved durability and water resistance. Available in multiple sizes with either AMOLED or memory-in-pixel (MIP) displays, the watch adds smart features like a built-in speaker and microphone for phone calls and voice commands, though the audio quality doesn't quite match dedicated smartwatches.
Battery Life and Display Technology
Battery performance remains a crucial advantage for Garmin, with the Fenix 8 offering up to 16 days in smartwatch mode, or seven days with always-on display. The watch delivers up to 35 hours of GPS tracking with all systems and multi-band enabled, dropping to 10 hours with music streaming. This significantly outperforms most competitors in the premium smartwatch segment.
GPS and Tracking Accuracy
Real-world testing across a 20-mile race demonstrated impressive consistency in core metrics across different devices. The Fenix 8's dual-band GPS proved more accurate than GPS-only alternatives, with consistent mile markers and elevation tracking. Heart rate monitoring showed excellent accuracy compared to dedicated heart rate armbands, particularly during high-intensity activities.
Training Metrics and Analysis
While basic metrics like distance, pace, and cadence showed remarkable consistency across devices, more complex measurements like running power and training load calculations varied significantly between brands. Garmin's approach to training metrics tends to be more conservative but potentially more reliable for serious athletes.
Price and Value Proposition
At $300 more than the Enduro 3, the Fenix 8 positions itself as a premium multi-sport watch with comprehensive features including dive support up to 40 meters. The price premium brings additional smart features and display options, making it a compelling choice for athletes who want both advanced training capabilities and modern smartwatch functionality.