Garmin Enduro VS Fenix: What’s the Best for Runners?

Garmin Enduro

Garmin Enduro just came out. Any serious runner who is out for a new watch is probably wondering what to pick – which is precisely why we are going to be comparing the Garmin Enduro VS the Fenix 6!

These are two of the best smartwatches out there for fitness tracking right now. So, without any further ado, let us take a closer look at them!

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Garmin Enduro VS Fenix: Specifications

 
Garmin Enduro
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar
Garmin Fenix 6
Pricing $799.99 USD $799.99 USD $549.99 USD
Storage 64 megabytes 32 gigabytes 64 megabytes
Display 1.4 inches, 280 x 280, MIP (Memory-in-pixel) 1.3 inches, 260 x 260,  MIP (Memory-in-pixel) 1.3 inches, 260 x 260, MIP (Memory-in-pixel)
Connectivity GPS, Bluetooth, and ANT+ GPS, Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi GPS, Bluetooth, and ANT+
Battery 70/80 hours up to 95 days in expedition GPS activities with solar charging 36/40 hours up to 36 days in expedition GPS activities with solar 36 hours up to 48 days in battery saver mode
Noteworthy features Solar charging, ANT+, VO2 max monitoring, height tracking, MTB dynamics, heat and altitude acclimation, performance metrics, navigation sensors, respiration tracking, Garmin Pay, Safety tracking, Thermometer, and more Music apps, 3rd party apps, Solar charging, ANT+, VO2 max monitoring, height tracking, MTB dynamics, heat and altitude acclimation, performance metrics, navigation sensors, respiration tracking, Garmin Pay, Safety tracking, Thermometer, and more ANT+, VO2 max monitoring, height tracking, MTB dynamics, heat and altitude acclimation, performance metrics, navigation sensors, respiration tracking, Garmin Pay, Safety tracking, Thermometer, and more

Features, Storage, and Pricing

As you can see in the spec sheet above, Garmin’s new smartwatch doesn’t differ a lot in terms of features compared to older models. In fact, it’s actually a big downgrade compared to the similarly priced Fenix 6 Pro Solar. 

Or at least that’s true for as long as we are talking about music, music apps, and storage. Cause other than that, you won’t find any major differences, if any at all in terms of workout-related features. 

So, even with the first look, you can tell that the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar offers a better balance between workout tracking and entertainment. The new Garmin Enduro, on the other hand, as its name suggests, is entirely focused on endurance/battery life. But more about that later. 

Then there is also the much cheaper Fenix 6 – which is obviously worse in every single way than both the Fenix 6 Pro Solar. One of its biggest downsides is no doubt the lack of solar charging which brings down the overall battery life by a lot. But if you want an Enduro on a budget, we’d say it’s still a viable choice. 

Speaking of which, battery life is a bit more complicated than what the specifications table may indicate. That is why we are going to be talking a bit more about that later on. 

When it comes to storage, according to the official Garmin website, both the Garmin Enduro and the cheaper Fermin 6 only offer 64 megabytes of memory. But the Fermin 6 Pro Solar, on the other hand, comes with 32 gigabytes. That’s roughly equal to 32,000 megabytes. 

This kind of makes sense considering the fact that both the Enduro and Fermin 6 don’t support music apps. So they don’t need a lot of extra space. However, at 800 bucks. we’d certainly prefer having more storage space. Even if we are talking about apps or local music. 

It could be that the power-efficient processor of the Enduro can’t handle something like that. But considering how it’s compatible with all the other workout-related features, we highly doubt it. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Display and Connectivity

Moving on to displays, both the Enduro and Fermin smartwatches seem to be using the same kind of display technology and roughly the same resolution – if you take size into consideration. 

Speaking of size, the Enduro does come with a display that’s 0.1 inches larger. And while that’s not a massive difference by any means, it is a welcome addition nonetheless. In simpler terms, there should be little to no difference when it comes to display size and quality. 

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Thankfully, both the Garmin Enduro and the Fermin 6 series offer ANT+ connectivity along with Bluetooth for smart notifications. This means that you  get both the options of connecting your watch to a smartphone and/or other workout equipment as well. 

If you want to learn more about ANT+, feel free to check this article out

One thing to keep in mind is that the Fenix 6 Pro Solar also offers Wi-Fi. And while that’s not going to make a difference when working out, it’s a welcome addition for indoor usage when you want to use the watch independently from a smartphone. 

Battery Life and Endurance

This is the strong point of the Garmin Enduro. Thanks to its ultra-efficient processor, you can get anywhere from 70 to 80 hours when the GPS is always enabled up to 95 days with expedition GPS. The only catch is that to get 95 days, you’d also need to be exposed to strong sunlight for the solar glass to do its job – which is to be expected. 

Garmin Enduro VS Fenix 6

But that’s not all there is to it. Even when you use it in its ‘normal’ smartwatch mode, you should be able to get up to 50 days. 

If that doesn’t sound like a lot, don’t forget that the much cheaper Fermin 6 can only last up to 14 days as a simple smartwatch and up to 48 with everything disabled. The Fermin 6 Pro, on the other hand, gets a couple of extra days in smartwatch mode thanks to its solar panel and up to 36 days with expedition GPS mode. 

So, when it comes to endurance and battery life, there is no doubt about it. The Garmin Enduro is king. 

For a point of reference, even some of the best smartwatches out there such as the Galaxy Watch 3 typically won’t last for more than a couple of days. Even less power-hungry fitness trackers like the Mi Band 3 barely get up to a month with everything disabled. So, almost 100 days of battery life with an always-on-display is pretty impressive, to say the least. 

While we are on the topic of endurance, it’s worth pointing out that both the Garmin Enduro and the Fenix series have a waterproof resistance of up to 10 ATM. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever manage to break them while just running in the rain or swimming. 

Garmin Enduro VS Fenix: Which Should you Pick? 

Now, when everything is said and done, choosing a smartwatch or any other piece of smart equipment is highly a matter of personal preference. But here is our take on it: 

  1. Garmin Enduro: The best pick if you want the best battery life. No smartwatch out there beats it if we are talking about endurance. But it’s worth keeping in mind that you are also sacrificing storage room and the option of having music-streaming apps
  2. Garmin Fermin 6 Pro Solar: A middle balance between endurance and functionality. While you won’t get anywhere near the battery life that the Enduro offers, you still get up to 36 days in GPS expedition mode along with 32 gigabytes of storage and the option of installing music streaming apps
  3. Garmin Fermin 6: The poor man’s Enduro. It doesn’t offer a solar panel or support for 3rd party music streaming apps and it also only comes with 64 megabytes of storage/memory. Its battery life is also noticeably worse than the 6 Pro Solar. Overall, it may be the worst out of the 3 watches, but it’s also the cheapest

Again, when everything is said and done, this comes down to personal preferences and needs. What’s your pick? Garmin Enduro, Fenix 6, or Fenix 6 Pro/Solar? Feel free to let everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!

Also, if you liked this article, feel free to stick around as we regularly post pieces on well-being, gadgets, smartwatches, fitness accessories, and also tech in general!

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