This product has been discontinued by the manufacturer. It's been replaced by the Garmin Fenix 6 Series, you may want to check out that review instead.
Right on cue, Garmin has released their next edition of the Fenix series – the Fenix 5. This follows a relatively steady annual release cadence of the Fenix series each year in January. Last year for example we saw the Fenix 3 HR, while the previous year was the Fenix 3. Prior to that was the Fenix 2 in the same rough timeframe.
This year the release is all about making the lineup more appealing to a broader user base. The Fenix 3 series was already Garmin’s most successful watch series ever. While the company has never released specific Fenix 3 numbers, they have beat around the bush publically in other ways, likely putting the Fenix 3 series at over a million units sold.
One of the challenges though with the Fenix 3 series has been its appeal (or lack thereof) to those with smaller wrists – most namely: females. While Garmin did try and appeal to that market segment with the rose-gold editions of the Fenix 3, it remained the same large size. The Fenix 5 aims to address that with a new smaller size.
At the same time, they wanted to appeal to folks that were increasingly looking to cell phones for maps on the trails – so they tossed in mapping in the Fenix5 as well. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here – instead, let’s dive into all the feature differences down below.
Oh, one last thing. Wondering why there’s not a Fenix4? That’s because the phonetic pronunciation of that in Chinese roughly translates to ‘fast rise to quick death’. Not exactly the starting point Garmin wanted to begin with.
What’s new and different:
So what’s new in the Fenix 5? Well, the two biggest pieces would be it now has maps on the Fenix 5X edition (legit maps!), and that there are two sizes now. Previously there was just one size with a crapton of different bands. Now there are three sizes with an equally large crapton of bands. But I’ll cover bands/sizes/editions in a later section below.
For now, let’s talk about all the differences – both nuanced and big. But first I need to explain that there are three editions of the Fenix 5:
Fenix 5S: 42mm wide, women’s/smaller wrist focused – offered in regular glass and Sapphire glass Fenix 5: 47mm wide, baseline – offered in regular glass and Sapphire glass Fenix 5X: 51mm wide, includes mapping – only in Sapphire glass
Each of these three editions is then split into basically two categories: Sapphire and non-sapphire. Except the 5X, which only has Sapphire. What’s most notable though is that the non-Sapphire editions do NOT have WiFi (kinda like Garmin Fenix Chronos). Whereas the Sapphire editions all have WiFi.
With that in mind, I’ll note each of the new features below, and whether they are specific to a given version. If no specific version is noted, then it’s applicable to all versions. In the below, I’m largely using the Fenix 3/Fenix 3HR as my baseline for changes.
Display: Went from 218×218 pixels to 240×240 pixels (except 5S, which stays at 218×218). Display: Went from 16 colors on Fenix 3 to 64 colors on Fenix 5 Display: Now supports Emoji, right to left languages (Arabic and Hebrew) Connect IQ: Fully supports CIQ 2.2.3+, as well as 64KB for Widgets, 32KB for Data Fields, and 128KB for apps Battery: Increased battery life up to 24 hours (Fenix 5) in GPS at 1s, or 14hrs for the 5S, and 20hrs for 5X Battery: Increased UltraTrac battery life to 75 hours (Fenix 5), with hopes of 100 hours Gyroscope: Added Gyroscope to all models, used to increase track points in UltraTrac mode User Interface: Slight tweaks to UI to match Fenix Chronos series User Interface: Added new quick access controls menu, to access apps/widgets Strava: Added Strava Live Segment support for Bike & Run Sensors: Added Varia Vision Heads Up Display Support (all ANT+ remote displays technically) Sensors: Added Varia Bike Lights (all ANT+ lights technically) Sensors: Added Varia Bike Radar Sensors: Added Shimano Di2 Shifting, ANT+ Gear Shifting Support (SRAM RED eTAP & Campagnolo EPS) Sensors: Added ANT+ Muscle Oxygen Sensors (MOXY/BSX) Optical HR Sensor: Revamped tech, now records 24×7 data every 1-2 seconds Optical HR Sensor: Flattened out even more, virtually flush with back of unit Training Data: Added FTP Estimation for cycling Training Data: Added new Training Load functionality Training Data: Added split of aerobic and anaerobic training effect Training Data: Now supports Swimming PR’s (along with previously added Swim Structured Workout support) Live Group Tracking: Added to all Fenix 5 models, à la the Edge 820 group tracking Golf: Added TruSwing, Greenview, and Autoshot features Other Sports Added: Mountain Biking, Treadmill and Indoor Track separated, Ski and Snowboard separated, Navigate app, and Track Me app Navigation Functions: Added Proximity and Navigation Alerts (for distance to waypoint, and time/distance remaining to destination) 5X Only – Mapping: Includes Topo maps in package, can add your own maps if you want 5X Only – Mapping: Ability to display mapping for current position 5X Only – Mapping: Ability to create automated running/riding routes (round trip mapping 5X Only – Mapping: Can find POI’s around you (i.e. food, including Chipotle) 5X Only – Mapping: Routing engine can ingest GPX & FIT files for saved routes
Got all that?
Ok, but what’s been removed or no longer present compared to the Fenix3 series? Well, according to Garmin it’s purely one thing: WiFi on the base models (Sapphire glass models have it).
But of course, sometimes you don’t quite find out all these nuances until the product has started shipping. I’ve seen cases in years past where even things present at CES are pulled in the final version. Said differently: Don’t count your chickens till they hatch.
Oh – and finally, before you ask – the Garmin Fenix Chronos folks will receive all of the above updates, except mapping of course, since it simply doesn’t have the storage or processing power to handle that.
Video Explainer!
Want the low-down in one easy to watch (and easy to share) video? No problem, I’ve distilled it all down below, complete with my best video editing skillz. Special effects included free of charge.
Was that video above not detailed enough for you? No problem!
I’ve got even more details, in geekfest fashion. The below video is simply a detailed walk-through of the menus on the watch. Basically, I press and push almost everything there is to push on the watch, in one handy-dandy video. It’s got no special effects, nor nifty transitions. But it has plenty of details:
Update – and here’s another video I put together at ISPO, this one focused on the charging cable, since there’s been tons of questions about that.
Don’t forget that I’ll be publishing other Fenix 5 videos to YouTube as we go forward, so definitely subscribe to the channel so you don’t get left behind!
Mapping on the Fenix 5X:
Ahh yes, mapping. Seen as the Holy Grail feature of wearables, and something that various companies have flirted with over time – but never quite got to stick. For example, way back when we had the Motorola Motoactive contain maps. Then there was the Leikr watch. And then even Garmin’s own Epix watch, exactly two years ago tomorrow. All of these have flopped for various reasons, of which all were totally unrelated to mapping. The maps were merely a casualty along the way.
But I think the Fenix 5 will change that, largely due to the popularity of the Fenix series. Of course, maps are only available on the Fenix 5X, which contains 16GB of storage on it. Whereas the other Fenix 5 units lack that storage, and thus lack maps. These maps come in the form of topographic and cycling maps (+ 40,000 golf courses), which show details not just of roads and routes, but also points of interest.
Points of interest include places like food, hotels, gas stations, tourist attractions, and more. Food being the most relevant of course to any endurance athlete. You can search around you, and route to them immediately.
When you route to them, you’ll get turn-by-turn instructions. And these are legit turn by turn instructions that include the street names:
In addition to routing to saved waypoints, or on courses, you can also generate Round Trip Routes. This is a feature we saw added to the Garmin Edge series a few years ago, allowing you to generate rides on the fly for a distance of your choosing. That’s now added here, allowing you to generate both runs and rides.
First, you’ll enter in a given distance you want to ride/run:
Then, you’ll specify whether or not you have a direction preference (any, or North/South/East/West):
And then finally, it’ll come back with three route options for you.
It’s pretty cool stuff.
The unit will not only show you the map and roads around you, but also elevation information about the route.
Outside of round trip routing, you can show the map whenever you’d like. The render time can take a few seconds though, depending on where you are. And creating of routes themselves seems to take about 20-40 seconds per route to create, which is a touch bit slower than that seen on the Edge series. But I suppose that’s faster than Googlin’ and figuring out a route yourself.
Within the settings there’s a bunch of different mapping display options you can configure as well – such as whether to lock to roads or not, or what maps you choose.
Note that one issue here is still the lack of ability to create routes on a mobile device and send them to your watch. Sure, you can create routes on a desktop and then transfer them via mobile phone, but you can’t create them on your phone using Garmin’s native tools. Garmin says that things are in the works there…though, they also said that 3 years ago.
Last but not least, you can indeed transfer your own maps to the device, using the same steps as seen with the Garmin Edge series. And you can also drag/drop any GPX/FIT file routes onto the device as well.
Bluetooth Smart Sensor Support:
Mark this date in your books: January 4th, 2017.
It’s the date hell froze over. Or at least, some small slice of it.
As of today, the Fenix 5 series now supports Bluetooth Smart sensors, making it the first Garmin device to support any Bluetooth Smart sensors (the VIRB action cam supports legacy Bluetooth automotive sensors).
You can now add Bluetooth Smart heart rate sensors to the Fenix 5, just by scanning for external HR sensors. For example, here’s the Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart only strap. You can see the Bluetooth Smart ID displayed in the user interface:
Garmin says that they’re starting off with the Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate sensors first, merely because that standard is the most stable (which is true). But that they plan to add other sensor types quickly. For example, I’d expect to see them add the cycling cadence/speed sensor and running footpod types, since those are generally considered as pretty stable specs. Whereas the BLE power meter continues to this day to be a @#$#@ for companies to get right on both sides of the aisle. Even in the last two weeks I’ve seen cases where major companies (Quarq & Polar) can’t agree on how the spec should be implemented, causing consumers to be left in the middle.
The good news on the power meter front is that quite frankly there are almost no power meters that aren’t ANT+ anyway, so that’s less of an issue. Virtually all BLE power meters are also ANT+ concurrently, thus making the issue largely moot.
Nonetheless, it’s fantastic to see Garmin go this direction, and hopefully a sign of things to come for other devices down the road.
The Fenix 5 Editions:
Trying to keep track of all the Fenix 5 versions? Join the club. Feel lucky you don’t have to type it all out and ensure it’s correct. Here’s the best way to think about it.
First, choose your watch size:
Fenix 5S – 42mm: This is the smaller one, unofficially targeting women Fenix 5 – 47mm: This is your standard issue one, officially targeting everyone Fenix 5X – 51mm: This is the mapping one, it’s bigger to fit in more battery/storage/processing
Here’s how these three look side by side, assuming you were just using the simple silicon band (no fancy bling) – Fenix 5S, Fenix 5, and then Fenix 5X:
Next though, you need to choose whether or not you want Sapphire glass. That drives whether or not you get WiFi. In theory, it also might prevent your unit from getting scratches on the lens. In reality, that’s usually not the case.
Fenix 5S: Non-Sapphire is $599, Sapphire is $699 Fenix 5: Non-Sapphire is $599, Sapphire is $699 Fenix 5X: This ONLY has Sapphire, starting at $699
Decided what size and version you want? Ok, good. Now you get to decide what bands you want. Here’s how that rolls out:
Fenix 5S – $599: White bezel with white silicone band (band officially called ‘Carrara’) Fenix 5S – $599: Silver bezel with turquoise silicone band Fenix 5S – $599: Silver bezel with black silicone band Fenix 5S Sapphire – $699: Black bezel with black band (+ includes a yellow silicone band) Fenix 5S Sapphire – $699: ‘Champagne’ bezel with gray suede band (+ includes a white silicone band) Fenix 5S Sapphire – $849: ‘Champagne’ bezel with golden color metal band (+ includes a black silicone band) Fenix 5 – $599: Slate gray bezel with black silicone band Fenix 5 – $599: Slate gray bezel with yellow silicone band Fenix 5 – $599: Silver gray bezel with granite blue silicone band Fenix 5 Sapphire – $699: Black bezel with black silicone band (+ includes a yellow silicone band) Fenix 5 Sapphire – $849: Slate gray bezel with metal band (+ includes a black silicone band) Fenix 5X Sapphire – $699: Slate gray bezel with black band Fenix 5X Sapphire – $849: Slate gray bezel with metal band (+ includes a black silicone band)
Oh no no, we’re not done yet. Finally, you need to decide if you want a bundle or not. The bundle is only offered in the following editions, so if you want an HR strap bundle (that comes with the HRM-TRI strap), for capturing swim workout data), then you have to pick one of the two specific bundles offered (neither 5S or 5X). Burger King this is not.
Fenix 5 – $699: Slate gray bezel with black silicone, with HRM-TRI strap Fenix 5 Sapphire – $769: Black bezel with black band + yellow silicone band, with HRM-TRI strap
Got all that? Good. That makes one of us.
Now, you may be wondering about all these bands. Officially they’re called QuickFit bands, as they are designed to pop on and off super-quick. And indeed, they do with a single button press. There’s virtually no risk of these popping off in an openwater swim or like, because the lever is below the band against your wrist.
The idea being you can buy extra bands of differing colors as you see fit. And oh – these QuickFit bands are also compatible with the Garmin Fenix3 series as well. Because I’ve gotten tired of typing out spec sheets, I’m going to go into abbreviated mode now. The bands are as follows:
QuickFit 22 (22mm for Fenix 5): Black/Granite/Yellow/Red/Blue Silicone – $49, Brown leather – $79, Stainless steel – $149
QuickFit 26 (26mm for Fenix 5X): Black/Yellow/Red/Green Silicon – $49, Brown leather – $79, Stainless steel – $149
Wondering when all this craziness will be available? Officially it’s by the end of Q1, which is the end of March 2017. Unofficially you never quite know. Stability felt pretty good on these units, though there were a few quirks here and there. But I’d peg it as better than I’ve seen in the past for a release date in March. So I think that’s reasonably realistic.
Size Comparisons!
You asked for it, it’s time to talk size between the units. Of course, size isn’t everything – but in this case, it might well be. The Fenix 5 is offered in three sizes, corresponding to the three models (5/5S/5X).
Now officially, here are the exact specs of the three sizes (plus the Fenix3 HR at the bottom for comparison):
Fenix 5S: 1.7” x 1.7” x 0.6” (42.0 x 42.0 x 14.5 mm) – 67g Fenix 5: 1.9” x 1.9” x 0.6” (47.0 x 47.0 x 15.5 mm) – 87g Fenix 5X: 2.0” x 2.0” x 0.7” (51.0 x 51.0 x 17.5 mm) – 98g Fenix 3 HR: 2.0” x 2.0” x 0.6” (51.5 x 51.5 x 16.0 mm) – 86g
But that can be hard to conceptualize, so instead, let’s make it easier in simple text. Note, in the below I’m specifically talking about the width of the watch (round part), not so much the depth.
Fenix 5S: Same size as Forerunner 735XT/230/235 Fenix 5: Slightly larger than the 5S, but smaller than Fenix3HR Fenix 5X: Virtually identical to Fenix 3 HR in size (except not as deep)
Note that technically the screen on the 5S has less pixels (218×218) vs the 5/5X (240×240), but it retains the same color (64 colors). There’s no changes in terms of contrast or display brightness between any of the watches, or compared to the Fenix 3 series. If you liked the Fenix 3 brightness, you’ll be fine with the Fenix 5. And if you didn’t like the Fenix 3 brightness, you probably won’t like the Fenix 5 brightness.
First up, let’s look at just the three core watches side by side:
Next, for fun, let’s add in the Fenix 3 HR as a bit of a benchmark on size. You can see that the Fenix 5X and Fenix 3HR are identical in terms of face size. This is why you can switch the new bands on the Fenix 5X to the Fenix 3/3HR lineup. Whereas the Fenix 5 and Fenix 5S won’t be compatible with the older Fenix 3/3HR bands.
Now let’s get all horizontal and see how they stack up. Here it’s super clear just how big the optical HR sensor bump is on the back of the unit.
What? You’re into optical sensor bumps. If that’s your thing – then here’s two more pictures comparing the Fenix 5 to the Fenix 3HR optical HR sensor bump:
Now let’s throw them all down on the pavement and see how they shake up. I tossed in the Fenix Chronos, FR920XT, and FR735XT in there. Note that the FR735XT shares the same exterior shell dimensions as the FR230 and FR235. So if you’re familiar with those watches, that should help you understand a bit.
And here’s the depth on them. You’ll notice just how much that bump from the Fenix 3HR has been reduced with the new optical sensor design on the Fenix 5 series (or even compared to Chronos). Keep in mind on Chornos it’s thinner in part because of the fact it has less battery. The sensor bump is still bigger on Chronos than the Fenix 5.
Next, just two lonely watches to more clearly show just how close the Fenix 5S and FR735XT are in size.
But I hear ya – sensor bumps aren’t your thing. Instead, it’s wrist fetishes. No worries, I’ve got you covered.
Phew – more than you ever wanted to know probably! One last tidbit. Remember that the Fenix 5X is thicker than the Fenix 5/5S because of the larger battery. That larger battery is required to handle the bigger processor on the 5X, which is in turn required to handle the maps and routing functions.
Product Comparison:
I’ve added in the Garmin Fenix 5 into the product comparison database. At present, I’ve consolidated it into a single product – inclusive of the Fenix 5, 5S & Fenix 5X, noting differences where applicable. At some point between now and eternity I’ll split them out in the database. In the meantime though, this allows you to compare it against the Fenix 3 series more easily. Though even then, the product comparison tool simply doesn’t capture some of the nuances of software differences between the two models. The reason being I try to avoid getting too crazy in minor software features in the database, else it just becomes massive to try and find the key differences in a product.
Note that you can create your own product comparison charts between watches I’ve had time with, here in the product comparison database.
Summary:
In some ways, the Fenix 5 series release is more evolutionary than revolutionary. There’s no doubt a boatload of additions for the Fenix 5 & 5S watches, mainly software tweaks and enhancements. Yet where it becomes more revolutionary is within the Fenix 5X lineup, which now includes maps on a wearable. Yes, Garmin has tried this before – but never in something as small and sleek at this form factor.
Perhaps the bigger news in this though is that Garmin is now opening up to Bluetooth Smart sensors. That’s a major turning point for the company that will undoubtedly have ramifications for not just themselves, but also for various products in the cycling/running segment. For example – will sensors like RunScribe and others soon be able to leverage Connect IQ functionality over Bluetooth Smart? This could, if played right, open up Connect IQ to far more devices than just those on ANT+. The possibilities are greatly expanded here.
There are some downsides though to the Fenix 5 series, most notably price. The watch continues to climb higher and higher. It used to be that the Fenix series was $399, then came $499 with the Fenix 3, and now it’s at $599 as the entry point for the Fenix 5 (matching the previous Fenix 3 HR initial price), with prices going up to $849 for the highest-end Fenix units. Not only that, but WiFi connectivity used to be baseline in all Fenix 3 units, and now it’s only available at $699 and above in the Sapphire models. Of course, all models now include optical HR sensors, whereas in the past that wasn’t the case with the less expensive options.
Last but not least, we don’t yet know how well it handles for things like GPS and barometric altimeter accuracy on final production models, as both the hardware and software won’t be finalized for at least another month or two. As such, this isn’t a full in-depth review, since I don’t have final hardware or software to base an opinion on. That’ll come later though – fear not.
With that – thanks for reading! Feel free to drop any questions down in the comments below, and I’ll be happy to try and get answers. Same goes for requests for photos and/or videos of various features. The two videos I uploaded above should cover the vast majority of questions (and in fact, even cover more detail than this post in some areas). But I’m always open for other video ideas.
—
Pre-orders: You can now pre-order the Fenix 5 series, scheduled for delivery by the end of Q1 (aka March). Here for the Fenix 5, the Fenix 5S, and the Fenix 5X. Doing so through the links here helps support the site and makes you awesome. Also – Clever Training Europe/UK is available for pre-orders here.
This will be my first Fenix purchase. I was wondering if it’s worth the extra money for the sapphire glass. I do a lot of lap swimming, hiking, and some trail running. I was wondering if the regular glass would hold up to like hitting lane lines or branches, etc.
I do a lot of the same activities and went with the non-sapphire version and just picked up a good watch face protector for it, specifically the IQShield protector for the Fenix 3 (it fits the F5 almost perfectly).
Honestly even if I had the sapphire version I’d still put a screen protector on it because they are too cheap and effective not to!
If you prefer a glass screen protector, this: link to amazon.com was linked by Ted W. above and should have a version that fits all 3 sizes.
Although if people with all 3 sizes could measure their model with a picture of it and a ruler over it, that would probably help a lot in getting the right size. Otherwise, you could probably measure yours when you got it, order the screen protector right away, and just baby it a bit for the first week till the protector got there.
Woops idk why I thought that protector was glass, but it appears to be film.
Here’s two glass ones for the Fenix 5, but they both don’t have any ratings yet (I guess they couldn’t yet) and are pretty low stock right now: link to amazon.com link to amazon.com
I have used IQ Shield on my watch 2, Fenix 3, and my daughter’s Vivoactive. We both swim several days a week for 1-2 hrs each day and they’ve stayed on well. Amazon carries them in packs and they have them for the F5 series (some preorder).
we each have different experiences. The KlearKare that I had for my F3 looks flawless and beautiful. My display was like brand new up until the day I sold my F3 on ebay, which happened to be yesterday :) a 100milers, many 100K, 50milers, 50k, and countless other trails runs. A great many trips and falls, and that protector work magnificently. The bezel showed wear from those falls, but even direct impact with the crystal it came away nice. Maybe sapphire is harder, but I’m not dropping $700 and gonna take the chance that slip will mark the display for life. $7 bucks more is worth it to me.
Couldn’t agree more Ted. If you’re dropping this kind of money on this kind of watch, you’re likely going to be putting it through the paces and the occasional sketchy situation on a somewhat regular basis. Can’t imagine not spending the extra ~10 bucks to protect the most vulnerable part of the device!
@mssbr yeap. I’m with you. Sure there are those that dont want to. and that’s ok. Maybe some protectors do look bad. The one I had, people could not believe that I had on installed on it. It was that clear and smooth.
This is just a warning to those pre-ordered with Clever Training. There have been multiple reports of credit cards being stolen shortly after placing the order.
(see the 5x thread here: link to forums.garmin.com)
I emailed them to see of they have reported anything but have not heard anything yet. So if you have pre-ordered be on alert.
I can attest to that. I attempted a preorder 2 times (I changed my mind twice on 5x vs 5) and since have switched jobs and discovered I get a Garmin Corporate discount so now just waiting for them to be available via the Garmin site. Both times I attempted with Clever Training my card info was stolen. Luckily I had fraud protection and was alerted within 24-48 hours of attempted charges.
Thanks for the heads up Drew. Not sure if a coincidence or not, but I pre-ordered on CT and then had a fraudulent charge show up on my credit card as well.
I have a Fenix 2 and am waiting for my 5x to arrive on Tuesday.
I love the fact the light on my 2 is red. Does the 5 series have this feature or an option to have the face glow red to read in the dark? From some pictures that I have seen, it seems like it doesn’t and the screen brightens when the light button is pressed.
So while Ray already covered a bit of what having wifi does and we all know that the sapphire glass should be more scratch resistant on it’s own (in case you really hate screen protectors), there’s also 2 other things to consider:
1) You get an extra band with the Sapphire version. If that’s a color you think already think you would get/like/use, then that’s $50 worth of band extra (cutting down the “extra” cost to only $50 difference). Are they overpricing the crap out of the quick release bands based on how much they probably cost to make? Yeah. But some people would still have wanted and gotten the second band anyways.
2) While you can (and perhaps should) use a screen protector anyways, all screen protectors have an effect on the readability of a screen, in particular in poor lighting conditions. While most have a very negligible effect, a very common complain for Garmin devices is already the difficulty of reading the screen in poor lighting conditions, so every little bit of visibility (including not having to have a protector) would probably be welcome to those people.
3) It’s the only way to get certain color options, and in my humble opinion the 5s and 5’s best color variants are all Sapphire Edition only (both champagne options for 5s, and the black bezel for the 5).
4) Some people have complained in the past about syncing issues with their phone and Garmin Connect Mobile – though this may also be related to their phone of course, and the version of Garmin Connect Mobile they’re running (and may be affected by future versions). Having a secondary way for it to still automatically sync would be a nice backup in case you are affected by those issues, in addition to the slight speed increase and not having to worry about your phone.
Is wifi alone worth $100 when you can just sync with bluetooth? Almost certainly not. Is a scratch resistant screen worth $100 when you can get a screen protector for <$10? Almost certainly not. But all the above combined does bring it to a much more reasonable level of value if you do find value in all those things put together. If you don't find value in all of those things (or even most of those things), it probably isn't worth it, which is probably the case for quite a lot of people.
I agree that the toughened glass is a good feature. I didn’t know about the additional strap, so that is a bonus.
So is the wifi solely an additional way to sync workouts to the device? I am still struggling to see why to choose a device with wifi over a device without.
For those subscribing to comments and may not yet have noticed, the full Fenix 5/5S/5X In-Depth Review is available now, here: link to dcrainmaker.com
As is usually the case, once I publish an in-depth review I close off the preview post to new comments. Simply to keep things relatively tidy. Fear not, you can still comment and continue the discussion on the review post.
I’ll likely close the comments a bit later tonight.
Two questions:
1. From your review are saying that the Fenix3HR and the Fenix5 (just the 5) are the same height? Is that considering the extra height the optical HR gave the Fenix3?
2. Bluetooth. Will my other bluetooth devices (headphones) compete with the LiveTrack feature? Or is there a way to have them both connect at the same time to my phone?
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? These companies help support the site! With Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
You can also pick-up tons of gear at REI via these links, which is a long-time supporter as well:
Alternatively, for everything else on the planet, simply buy your goods from Amazon via the link below and I get a tiny bit back as an Amazon Associate. No cost to you, easy as pie!
You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Check out
my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
I travel a fair bit, both for work and for fun. Here’s a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that I’ve put together and posted. I’ve sorted it all by world geography, in an attempt to make it easy to figure out where I’ve been.
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2023 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
This will be my first Fenix purchase. I was wondering if it’s worth the extra money for the sapphire glass. I do a lot of lap swimming, hiking, and some trail running. I was wondering if the regular glass would hold up to like hitting lane lines or branches, etc.
I do a lot of the same activities and went with the non-sapphire version and just picked up a good watch face protector for it, specifically the IQShield protector for the Fenix 3 (it fits the F5 almost perfectly).
Honestly even if I had the sapphire version I’d still put a screen protector on it because they are too cheap and effective not to!
If you prefer a glass screen protector, this: link to amazon.com was linked by Ted W. above and should have a version that fits all 3 sizes.
Although if people with all 3 sizes could measure their model with a picture of it and a ruler over it, that would probably help a lot in getting the right size. Otherwise, you could probably measure yours when you got it, order the screen protector right away, and just baby it a bit for the first week till the protector got there.
Woops idk why I thought that protector was glass, but it appears to be film.
Here’s two glass ones for the Fenix 5, but they both don’t have any ratings yet (I guess they couldn’t yet) and are pretty low stock right now:
link to amazon.com
link to amazon.com
I put screen protectors on my Fenix 3, looked awful after a few weeks due to dust sticking to the edges of the protectors. Not worth it IMHO
I have used IQ Shield on my watch 2, Fenix 3, and my daughter’s Vivoactive. We both swim several days a week for 1-2 hrs each day and they’ve stayed on well. Amazon carries them in packs and they have them for the F5 series (some preorder).
we each have different experiences. The KlearKare that I had for my F3 looks flawless and beautiful. My display was like brand new up until the day I sold my F3 on ebay, which happened to be yesterday :) a 100milers, many 100K, 50milers, 50k, and countless other trails runs. A great many trips and falls, and that protector work magnificently. The bezel showed wear from those falls, but even direct impact with the crystal it came away nice. Maybe sapphire is harder, but I’m not dropping $700 and gonna take the chance that slip will mark the display for life. $7 bucks more is worth it to me.
Couldn’t agree more Ted. If you’re dropping this kind of money on this kind of watch, you’re likely going to be putting it through the paces and the occasional sketchy situation on a somewhat regular basis. Can’t imagine not spending the extra ~10 bucks to protect the most vulnerable part of the device!
@mssbr yeap. I’m with you. Sure there are those that dont want to. and that’s ok. Maybe some protectors do look bad. The one I had, people could not believe that I had on installed on it. It was that clear and smooth.
This is just a warning to those pre-ordered with Clever Training. There have been multiple reports of credit cards being stolen shortly after placing the order.
(see the 5x thread here:
link to forums.garmin.com)
I emailed them to see of they have reported anything but have not heard anything yet. So if you have pre-ordered be on alert.
I can attest to that. I attempted a preorder 2 times (I changed my mind twice on 5x vs 5) and since have switched jobs and discovered I get a Garmin Corporate discount so now just waiting for them to be available via the Garmin site. Both times I attempted with Clever Training my card info was stolen. Luckily I had fraud protection and was alerted within 24-48 hours of attempted charges.
Thanks for the heads up Drew. Not sure if a coincidence or not, but I pre-ordered on CT and then had a fraudulent charge show up on my credit card as well.
I have a Fenix 2 and am waiting for my 5x to arrive on Tuesday.
I love the fact the light on my 2 is red. Does the 5 series have this feature or an option to have the face glow red to read in the dark? From some pictures that I have seen, it seems like it doesn’t and the screen brightens when the light button is pressed.
Thanks for any answers.
nope. No red. I liked it also. but I believe to many felt it was harder to read at night in the dark, or near twilight.
Thanks Ted. I was afraid of that, but I can live without it. Can’t wait till Tuesday!
Can anyone explain why to buy the Saphire edition Vs the standard edition. I don’t understand the benefit wifi within the device.
Any advice helpful.
So while Ray already covered a bit of what having wifi does and we all know that the sapphire glass should be more scratch resistant on it’s own (in case you really hate screen protectors), there’s also 2 other things to consider:
1) You get an extra band with the Sapphire version. If that’s a color you think already think you would get/like/use, then that’s $50 worth of band extra (cutting down the “extra” cost to only $50 difference). Are they overpricing the crap out of the quick release bands based on how much they probably cost to make? Yeah. But some people would still have wanted and gotten the second band anyways.
2) While you can (and perhaps should) use a screen protector anyways, all screen protectors have an effect on the readability of a screen, in particular in poor lighting conditions. While most have a very negligible effect, a very common complain for Garmin devices is already the difficulty of reading the screen in poor lighting conditions, so every little bit of visibility (including not having to have a protector) would probably be welcome to those people.
3) It’s the only way to get certain color options, and in my humble opinion the 5s and 5’s best color variants are all Sapphire Edition only (both champagne options for 5s, and the black bezel for the 5).
4) Some people have complained in the past about syncing issues with their phone and Garmin Connect Mobile – though this may also be related to their phone of course, and the version of Garmin Connect Mobile they’re running (and may be affected by future versions). Having a secondary way for it to still automatically sync would be a nice backup in case you are affected by those issues, in addition to the slight speed increase and not having to worry about your phone.
Is wifi alone worth $100 when you can just sync with bluetooth? Almost certainly not. Is a scratch resistant screen worth $100 when you can get a screen protector for <$10? Almost certainly not. But all the above combined does bring it to a much more reasonable level of value if you do find value in all those things put together. If you don't find value in all of those things (or even most of those things), it probably isn't worth it, which is probably the case for quite a lot of people.
Thanks @Michael Coyne for your reply.
I agree that the toughened glass is a good feature. I didn’t know about the additional strap, so that is a bonus.
So is the wifi solely an additional way to sync workouts to the device? I am still struggling to see why to choose a device with wifi over a device without.
Thanks
Hi All-
For those subscribing to comments and may not yet have noticed, the full Fenix 5/5S/5X In-Depth Review is available now, here: link to dcrainmaker.com
As is usually the case, once I publish an in-depth review I close off the preview post to new comments. Simply to keep things relatively tidy. Fear not, you can still comment and continue the discussion on the review post.
I’ll likely close the comments a bit later tonight.
Cheers!
Two questions:
1. From your review are saying that the Fenix3HR and the Fenix5 (just the 5) are the same height? Is that considering the extra height the optical HR gave the Fenix3?
2. Bluetooth. Will my other bluetooth devices (headphones) compete with the LiveTrack feature? Or is there a way to have them both connect at the same time to my phone?