The Garmin Fenix 8 is the latest addition to Garmin's Fenix series, designed for athletes, adventurers, and fitness enthusiasts seeking the best in wearable technology. This smartwatch combines cutting-edge health and performance tracking with advanced navigation, superior durability, and an AMOLED display, making it one of the most comprehensive wearables available. With its built-in mic and speaker, dive-ready design, and solar-charging options, the Fenix 8 offers something for everyone—whether you’re a hardcore athlete or an outdoor enthusiast.

This review will cover the design, features, sports tracking, health monitoring, and battery life of the Garmin Fenix 8. We’ll also compare its capabilities to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 , highlighting key differences to help you make an informed decision.

The Garmin Fenix 8 combines rugged durability with a sleek, premium aesthetic. The watch offers two primary display options: AMOLED and solar-charging memory-in-pixel . The AMOLED display provides vivid visuals with excellent contrast, making it easy to read in all conditions, from direct sunlight to cloudy days. The solar-charging model uses a memory-in-pixel display, which, while not as bright as AMOLED, extends the battery life significantly. This versatility makes the Fenix 8 suitable for both everyday wear and extreme outdoor use.

The Fenix 8 is available in three sizes: 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm, and it comes with customizable watch faces and interchangeable bands, such as silicone or UltraFit nylon. Built to withstand the elements, the Fenix 8 features a 10ATM water resistance rating, enabling it to survive dives up to 40 meters. The construction, using titanium or steel bezels and sapphire crystal screens, ensures that the Fenix 8 can handle the toughest environments.

Additionally, leakproof buttons have been added for better usability during water-based activities, and the built-in flashlight is useful for nighttime adventures or emergencies.

Key Features for Garmin Fenix 8

Multi-Band GPS and Navigation

The Garmin Fenix 8 is equipped with multi-band GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), using GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo to provide ultra-precise tracking. This is particularly useful in environments where traditional GPS signals may struggle, such as dense forests, urban canyons, or mountainous regions. The Fenix 8’s dual-band GPS ensures that athletes and adventurers can rely on accurate navigation regardless of the terrain.

Additionally, the Fenix 8 supports turn-by-turn navigation, topographical maps, and real-time feedback through the ClimbPro™ ascent planner. These features allow athletes to upload custom routes, track progress in real time, and prepare for changes in elevation, making the Fenix 8 a top choice for hikers, mountain bikers, and ultra-runners.

In comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also features dual-frequency GPS, improving its accuracy over the standard GPS seen in most wearables. However, Garmin’s topographical maps and in-depth off-road guidance tools give the Fenix 8 an edge for serious adventurers. While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 excels in urban navigation and offers basic mapping features, it lacks the detailed exploration tools available on the Fenix 8.

• Multi-band GNSS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo.
• Navigation features: Topographical maps, turn-by-turn directions, ClimbPro™ ascent planner.

Advanced Health Monitoring

The Garmin Fenix 8 sets the standard for health monitoring with a comprehensive suite of sensors. Its improved sensors bolster its 24/7 heart rate tracking, delivering highly accurate readings during intense workouts. Whether you're running, cycling, or swimming, the Fenix 8 ensures your exertion levels are tracked with precision.

One of its standout features is the SpO2 sensor, which tracks blood oxygen levels —an essential metric for high-altitude athletes and those involved in intense training. Additionally, the watch offers HRV (Heart Rate Variability) tracking, which monitors how well your body handles stress and recovery, providing invaluable insight for athletes looking to optimize performance and avoid overtraining.

Another key feature is Garmin’s Body Battery™ energy monitor, which combines data from sleep, heart rate, and stress levels to give users a clear view of their daily energy reserves. This feature is particularly useful for planning workouts and recovery sessions.

In comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, and sleep tracking. However, it lacks the HRV tracking and Body Battery™ energy monitor that make the Fenix 8 a better choice for athletes focused on optimizing their performance and recovery.

• Key metrics: HRV, SpO2, heart rate, sleep tracking, Body Battery™ energy monitor.

Sports Features and Training Insights

With over 30 activity profiles, the Garmin Fenix 8 offers specialized tracking modes for running, cycling, swimming, skiing, diving, and more. Each profile provides tailored metrics, ensuring that athletes receive the most accurate data for their chosen activity. For example, the running profile tracks VO2 max, ground contact time, stride length, and pace, while the cycling profile integrates with third-party power meters to measure cadence and power output.

One of the Fenix 8’s most impressive features is its diving capability. With a 40m dive rating and metrics that track depth, time underwater, and ascent speed, it is a standout option for those who need an all-in-one device for both land and underwater activities.

Post-workout, the Fenix 8 analyzes your training with features like Training Readiness, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. These tools help athletes balance their endurance, aerobic, and anaerobic performance. These tools ensure that athletes avoid overtraining while maximizing their fitness gains. Garmin’s daily suggested workouts provide users with tailored exercises based on recovery status and fitness level.

While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports running, cycling, and swimming profiles with basic metrics, it lacks the niche-specific activity tracking and in-depth training insights that the Fenix 8 provides. Garmin’s superior data precision and recovery tools make it the better option for athletes who want granular control over their training.

• Sports modes: Running, cycling, swimming, skiing, diving, and more.
• Training insights: VO2 max, Training Readiness, Recovery Time, daily workout suggestions.

One of the Fenix 8’s strongest features is its battery life, which is particularly impressive for a smartwatch with an AMOLED display. The 51mm AMOLED model offers up to 10 days of battery life in watch mode (or 4 days in always-on mode ), while the solar models extend this to 30 days in watch mode with solar assistance.

Garmin also introduces a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing users to take calls directly from their wrist and use voice commands to control the watch. This is useful for setting timers or checking stats without needing to look at the screen. Additionally, the built-in flashlight is another standout feature, ideal for outdoor activities in low-light conditions.

Compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which offers up to 36 hours of battery life with dual-frequency GPS active, the Fenix 8 far exceeds Apple’s battery life, especially when using its solar-charging model. For adventurers on long trips, the Fenix 8’s battery life is a game-changer.

Pros and Cons

The Garmin Fenix 8 is a powerhouse among multi-sport smartwatches, offering a compelling combination of rugged durability, advanced health monitoring, and cutting-edge sports tracking. Its AMOLED and solar-charging display options, alongside multi-band GNSS navigation, make it an ideal companion for outdoor adventurers and serious athletes. Whether you're navigating mountain trails, diving into the deep sea, or tracking advanced running metrics, the Fenix 8 delivers performance and reliability.

Compared to competitors like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Fenix 8 stands out in areas like GPS accuracy, sports-specific tracking, and battery life—particularly with its solar models. While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 excels in smartwatch functionality and ease of use, the Fenix 8’s comprehensive training tools and recovery insights make it the better choice for athletes who require in-depth fitness data.

For those seeking a premium, durable, and highly functional smartwatch for outdoor adventures and high-performance fitness, the Garmin Fenix 8 is an excellent choice. Despite its higher price point, the features and capabilities it offers make it a worthwhile investment for serious users.