Garmin Fenix 3 - When it involves sports pursuit, things do not get additional action packed than the Garmin Fenix three. Designed for the person who's not content with a bit weekend cardiopulmonary exercise, it's capable of pursuit path running, skiing, open water swimming and even gymnasium work to call a number of. In short, the Fenix three is Action Man's wrist-based companion.
You'd expect no less considering the eye-watering worth of $599 for the Sapphire version we tend to tested – and therefore the huge normal edition still commands $499. however will it out-perform the most recent wearables from the likes of Fitbit? And with costs plummeting for its forerunner the Garmin Fenix two, is it value forking out for? we tend to got it dirty to search out out.
Garmin Fenix 3: options and style
The previous Fenix was one in every of the chunkiest sports watches we've ever used, and whereas the Fenix three continues to be fairly monumental, it has been on a considerable diet.
We tested the Sapphire version, that retails for a large $599, and advantages from a toughened lens and a metal strap. At 16mm deep and eighty two grams (sans strap), it's shed over 1cm from its region compared to the Fenix two, however it's still a hefty piece.
The weight hasn't modified abundant, and most of the majority is that the battery, and its longevity is one in every of the Fenix's killer options. The Fenix three can last 5 weeks as a watch, and last twenty hours victimization GPS (and up to fifty hours in lower power hiking mode). However, once combined with the metal strap, the load soars to 186g, and it's virtually unmanageably significant. Luckily, there is a rubber strap within the box that we tend to straightaway swapped it for.
It's a shame because the metal band appearance nice, and offers a far classier look. Users with chunkier arms may well keep the metal strap, however the rubber is additional sensible for sport, and that we hazard that the majority can find yourself keeping that in place. That slightly undermines the premise of the Sapphire edition, and makes North American nation feel that saving $100 and obtaining a typical Fenix three may be a smarter alternative.
The insane battery life suggests that you'll track an entire weekend's value of hiking while not taking the charger with you, and ultra-runners will not bother the constraints of the battery.
Of course, the 5 weeks of battery is diminished faster by the smartphone notifications, that may be a new addition to the Fenix vary. just like the Garmin Vivoactive, push notifications – calls, texts, Uber updates, SkyBet's desperate pleas – area unit all displayed on the gliding joint.
Of course, battery life is helped by the 218 x 218 'colour' screen, that is meant to be 'transflective', which suggests it's still visible in direct daylight.
Colourful it definitely is not - often you are treated to a red or inexperienced arrow to aide navigation.
The screen itself is implausibly boring, however definitely straightforward to look at once you are outside within the open. At night, you'll have to press the backlight button at the highest left to illuminate it, briefly.
Some could prefer to we tend toar the Fenix three as their main watch – we did not largely owing to its cumbersome size. Yet, if you do, you will be able to access daily step data, that is fed into the app. it'll conjointly track your sleep if you wear it to bed, though the expertise of sleeping with the Fenix connected to your arm created North American nation condole with Terry Waite, UN agency slept bound to a Lebanese radiator for four years.
Sleep pursuit is extremely restricted, and you just get a graph showing the hours you spent in bed, however a minimum of that half was correct. The graph conjointly shows what quantity you touched in this time – however candidly, who cares?
Garmin Fenix 3: Activity pursuit
With pursuit for hiking, climbing, race athletics, train running, running, cycling, swimming, open water swimming, skiing, indoor workouts and triathlon, the Fenix three may be a candidly wonderful sports watch.
Disregarding the additional niche sports, in many ways the Garmin Fenix three is not too completely different to the Vivoactive smartwatch. each have a variety of multisport pursuit, GPS, and smartwatch options – however it is the breadth of knowledge from the Fenix three that stands it apart.
Each sport boasts Associate in Nursing impressive vary of knowledge, and up there with the most effective GPS running watches on the market – the list of metrics caterpillar-tracked across the sports is just too comprehensive to travel through here, however explore the list to the left. except for general pace and distance knowledge is data on pulse, VO2 Max, recovery, additionally as cadence and vertical oscillation, and that is only for running.
What's additional, there is a integral compass, and your progress for walking and ascension is planned on the watch, thus you'll see your current heading, and therefore the path you've got planned, that is handy after you wish to finish a circular hike – or so, avoid going around in a circle.
The only caveat is that to access pulse stats, you may have to be compelled to try the Fenix three with a chest strap, as in contrast to bands just like the Mio Fuse or Fitbit Surge, there is not any optical pursuit from the gliding joint.
This is still a retardant space for the full sports pursuit business. the foremost correct thanks to track advanced metrics like pulse or body position continues to be by a chest strap, nevertheless it's uncomfortable and ungainly. However, wanting round the market, there is very little humor competition to the Fenix 3's skillfulness and accuracy from any of the new pretenders – even from the likes of Mio.
When you are out on a run or cycle, the knowledge is displayed over 3 screens, that you employ the physical buttons to cycle through. we tend to attended choose the space and pace screen, however if you are coaching victimization pulse zones, there is a screen for that too.
Unlike the Vivoactive, the information is displayed additional clearly, with huge numbers that area unit straightforward to look at your stats whereas you are within the zone, and therefore the huge hefty buttons on the facet area unit straightforward to press mid-stride, and that we were comfy creating tweaks whereas out on the paths.
Garmin Fenix 3: The app
Of course, after you get home you'll be wanting to review your stats, which suggests firing up the smartphone app. luckily, the Fenix three has been given access to the Garmin Connect mobile app, that s obtainable for iOS and golem.
The app itself is great and positively one in every of the most effective within the business. what is additional, there is a web-based version with a bunch of choices, from plotting running routes to absorbing your friends in challenges to earn badges.
The mobile app is extraordinarily well set out, and for the foremost half, seamless to use. Everything synced quickly and simply, while not the frustrating limbos we've experiences victimization alternative fitness trackers.
All workouts area unit set call at written account order, and you'll quickly cut into into stats, that area unit tabbed across the highest, thus it is not too overwhelming. At the instant, there is not a good deal of research at intervals the app, and you may have to be compelled to suppose your own expertise to decipher the information.
With the inbuilt compass, you'll got wind of advanced workouts victimization the net Garmin Connect before you head, and have the watch guide you on waypoints, that very helps once out on the paths.
Garmin Fenix 3: Smartwatch notifications
A new addition to the updated Fenix three is smartwatch vogue notifications. once paired along with your smartphone – and in vary – any notification can flash abreast of the watch, and prompt you with a buzz.
It's a tight system, and it works well – in spite of that applications you employ. However, it does not work additionally because the street urchin Vivoactive, partially attributable to the reduced screen legibility, and since notifications will be split across multiple screens, requiring you to hit the down button to browse the last half of the message.
Again, it comes back as to whether you plan to wear the Garmin each day. As a smartwatch it is not very effective, however if your phone starts ringing within the middle of a path run, it's extraordinarily handy to check whether or not it's value respondent or ignoring.
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