Garmin Fenix 8 Series
Many features of the Garmin Fenix 8 have been revealed ahead of the watch’s release date.
According to German retailer Uhrenlounge, the Fenix 8 will be available in a number of variants, including multiple sizes and two display options. Its listing has since been removed, but the details are now known.
Garmin’s watch lineup is always expanding and always filling in any gaps in the lineup, and the Fenix 8 represents all of that concept in one product. Here are seven of the key improvements you need to know about.
It is available in MIP and OLED display variants.
Garmin has been rapidly expanding its OLED watch lineup over the past couple of years. It seemed likely that the Fenix 8 would be all about OLED, but the watch will apparently be available in both OLED and MIP variants.
MIP, memory in pixels, is the old display type that was standard on all of Garmin’s high-end lines. It thrives in bright conditions, where an OLED has to compete with ambient light by increasing display power.
Garmin OLED and MIP watches often have pretty comparable battery lives on a spec sheet these days. But a MIP watch will drain much less quickly than an OLED watch that’s used a lot outdoors, with the “always on” display mode enabled.
The Fenix 8 has up to three sizes
There are three sizes of the Fenix 8: 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm. These are familiar millimeter numbers, similar to the Fenix 7’s 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Garmin use the S and X model names used by the Fenix 7 series, alongside other Gamin ranges.
However, not all sizes are available in two screen versions: OLED and MIP. The MIP version is only available in the larger 47mm and 51mm versions.
Solar charging is reserved for MIP models (again)
Just like the Fenix 7 series, the Fenix 8 comes with solar charging capabilities. But only the MIP editions get this capability.
Garmin has yet to release a watch with an OLED display and solar charging. While I expect Garmin to try to add such a watch to its lineup, it makes more sense for it to be offered as a wearable with a MIP display, which can be very power efficient.
Solar charging is also expected to be 50% more efficient. It’s not yet clear whether this is due to a new solar cell design or simply a larger solar charging area. Current designs use a dedicated area around the display and less efficient solar charging across the entire display surface.
Battery life up to 48 days
Battery life is even better than the Fenix 7 lineup, with up to 48 days for the MIP versions with solar charging, and up to 29 days for the OLED version.
The most durable model of the Fenix 7 Pro is rated for up to 37 days of use, for the 51mm model.
The borders are getting smaller and the screen size is getting bigger
While the Garmin Fenix 8’s case sizes are largely familiar, some of the actual displays get a size upgrade.
The 47mm Fenix 8 is said to feature a 1.4-inch display, compared to 1.3 inches for the 47mm Fenix 7 Pro. The larger 51mm models, however, remain at 1.4 inches across generations.
The speaker and microphone are on board
The Fenix 8 is said to feature a microphone and speaker. This would allow it to use Garmin’s built-in digital assistant, first tested in the Venu 2 series.
This also means that you’ll likely be able to take hands-free calls with the Fenix 8, which isn’t possible with the Fenix 7 Pro.
Garmin’s Fenix 8 is ready for diving
Watch out for the Apple Watch Ultra. The Garmin Fenix 8 is reportedly ready for diving.
Most popular high-end Garmin watches typically have a water resistance of 10 ATM, which is fine for surface swimming, but not for diving. The Fenix 8 can apparently withstand diving up to 40 m, as can the Apple Watch Ultra.
The Garmin Fenix 8 is expected to be officially announced on August 27.
